THREE UP
Brian McCann got the big hits the Braves desperately needed in a 4-1 win over the Nationals. His RBI single gave them their first lead in a week, a stretch of 48 innings, at 1-0. He added a three-run homer as the Braves snapped a season-high five-game skid.
Mike Maroth was stellar in his debut for the Cardinals, pitching into the eighth inning of his team’s 2-1 loss to the Mets. The lefty yielded just two hits and one run, a third-inning solo shot by Carlos Gomez, striking out four while allowing just two walks. But …
… The real hero in the game was Mets right fielder Shawn Green, whose solo home run leading off the bottom of the 11th off Russ Springer gave his team the win. The blast to right-center on a full count was just the Mets’ third hit of the game and handed Springer his first loss.
THREE DOWN
Jeremy Bonderman melted down in the third inning of the Tigers’ 8-3 loss to the Rangers and saw his 17-game unbeaten streak end. After getting two outs he loaded the bases, gave up a two-run single, then threw away a comebacker to allow another run to score.
Stephen Randolph saw his ERA balloon to 17.36 for the Astros in a 6-1 loss to the Brewers. He came on in a 3-1 game to start the eighth and gave up Prince Fielder’s 27th homer, followed by three consecutive doubles before recording his only out and being removed.
After pitching a perfect seventh inning out of the bullpen for the Twins, Matt Guerrier struggled in the eighth, yielding three runs in a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Matt Stairs’ two-run homer broke a 3-3 tie and Guerrier then loaded the bases before he was finally pulled from the game.
