The last place I expected to see an 8-7 game was in the Mariners/Twins contest, but that was the final score as Seattle won the game in ten innings. It was the fifth time this month the Twins scored at least seven in a game, but the third time they lost. They are 5-6 on the season when scoring five runs or more, the only team in the majors with a losing record. (The median win % is .805.)
The Mariners knocked out 15 hits, twelve of them singles. They did get a two-run homer from Jack Cust in the first inning, but the winning run was typical of the whole game for Seattle. Two singles, and Ichiro sacrifice and a walk loaded the bases, then Luis Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to give the Mariners the lead. In a hit fest, the Mariners played for one run and got it.
Jim Thome hit two home runs for the Twins, and needs seven more for 600.
Josh Outman matched Jered Weaver for seven innings, both allowing just one run in the Athletics/Angels game. The Oakland bullpen broke in the eighth, however, as the Angels scored three runs for a 4-3 win. The Oakland closer, Brian Fuentes, saved nine games in 11 chances, but is 1-7 overall with a 5.06 ERA. He has taken the loss in four of the six games during the Oakland losing streak.
Torii Hunter starred on both sides of the ball:
Hunter threw out Andy LaRoche in the seventh inning and had an RBI double in the eighth, leading the Los Angeles Angels over the skidding Oakland Athletics 4-1.
“Throwing the runner out is much better,” said Hunter, playing his first full season in right field after winning nine Gold Gloves in center. “Defense is everything to me, man. I’ve got to be honest. I’ve gotten better as a hitter, but defense is what got me here and I’ll never forget that. So I never slack on defense, no matter if I’m struggling at the plate or not.”
Hunter is off to a slow start at the plate this season, but this was his third multi-hit game in a row.
Kyle Lohse lasted one more inning than Dustin Moseley, and that allowed the Cardinals starter to get the win as the Cardinals scored two in the ninth innings for a 3-1 victory in San Diego. Lohse continues to impress, with one run in eight innings lowering his ERA to 2.06. Batters are hitting just .199 against him after hitting .336 against him last season.