Around the Horn - 4/21

The Boston Red Sox exposed the Texas Rangers bullpen time and time again this weekend. On Sunday, the Sox rallied from a 5-0 deficit for a 6-5 win. Rangers closer C.J. Wilson didn't retire any of the 5 batters he faced in the 8th inning and let an inherited runner score as well. This was on the heels of Saturday's blown game when Manny Ramirez capped a 3-run 8th inning rally with a 2-run game winning home run. The two teams are at it again right now as part of the Patriots Day celebration in Beantown.

Dustin McGown pitched the Blue Jays to a 3-2 win over the Tigers on Saturday. On Sunday it was light hitting shortstop David Eckstein taking the Tigers down with a 3-run home run. And the Jays released disgruntled and slumping DH, Frank Thomas.

Andy Sonnastine pitched a complete game shut out of the White Sox on Saturday and the White Sox avenged it with a shutout of their own on Sunday. John Danks allowed just 3 hits over 7 innings and struck out 8 to pick up his 2nd win. Jim Thome had 4 hits, including career home run #512, tying him with Ed Mathews and Ernie Banks for 19th on the all-time list.

Twins pitching dominated the Indians over the weekend. Nick Blackburn lead a 3-0 shutout on Saturday, helped by a Justin Morneau home run. Morneau played the hero on Sunday when he singled in the game winner in the 10th inning of a 2-1 game.

Ervin Santana's trade value was near zilch after the 2007 season. Right now the Angels have to be ecstatic that they kept him He tossed 8 innings of 3-hit, 8 K ball on Saturday as the Angels beat the Mariners, 4-1. Santana improved to 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA. The Mariners salvaged the final game of the series with a 4-2 win on Sunday. Miguel Batista pitched 7+ shutout innings and Richie Sexson stayed hot with a home run.

The Mets beat the Phils for the 4th straight time on Saturday, but Chase Utley and the Phillies snapped that streak on Sunday Night Baseball. Utley's two home runs, giving him 3 in 2 days, gave the Phillies a 4-0 lead. The Mets rallied to tie it before Pedro Feliz won the 'Pedro' battle over Pedro Feliciano with a solo home run in the 7th. Perhaps Pedro Martinez should have intervened.

The Braves swept the Dodgers in a 3-game set behind Mark Teixeira's 5 RBI in the two weekend games. Andruw Jones finally hit his first home run as a Dodger in Saturday's loss. The once 4-2 Dodgers have lost 9 of 12.

The Marlins put two more in the Nationals loss column. After Kevin Gregg blew a 2-run lead in the 9th on Saturday, Wes Helms got him off the hook with a walk-off RBI single in the Marlins half of the frame. On Sunday, Scott Olsen dominated the Nats over 7 innings to improve to 3-0 in Florida's 6-1 win.

The Pirates pitching staff is hurting this morning after allowing 13 runs in both weekend games to the Cubs. On Saturday Derek Lee and Daryl Ward pounded 2-run home runs in a 13-1 win. Sunday's 13-6 rout saw Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Theriot get 4 hits each and combine for 6 RBI.

Aaron Cook pitched the Rockies back above .500 with a 3-2 win over the Astros. But the Rockies pen quickly dropped them back on Sunday, blowing a 4-3 lead late. Kaz Matsui and the fast aging Miguel Tejada combined for 3 RBI in the 8th inning.

The Brewers and Reds played back-to-back 10 inning games. Bill Hall's 2-run double won it for the Brew Crew on Saturday, but Eric Gagne blew a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 10th on Sunday. Ken Griffey Jr. singled in the game winner as the Reds took the finale of the 3-game series.

The Giants took two of three from the Cardinals with a weekend sweep. Tim Lincecum and the bullpen shut the Cards out 3-0 on Saturday and the Giants bats came alive on Sunday in an 8-2 win. Bengie Molina drove in 3 runs and Jonathan Sanchez tossed 5 shutout innings. The Cards finally scored 2 in the 9th to avoid back-to-back shutouts.

The Diamondbacks followed up their 9-0 drubbing of the Padres on Friday with a 10-3 drubbing on Sunday. The Dbacks scored 6 runs in the 8th inning to put the game out of reach. The Padres finally came back with some offense on Sunday in a 9-4 win. Justin Huber hit his first major league home run, a 3-run shot off of Randy Johnson.

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