Pitching, pitching, pitching

A record-tying eight starting pitchers were selected in the first round of the 2012 draft, including four consecutive picks from fourth to seventh overall. It's the most starters taken in round one in five years, when half the league's 14 franchises also took starters. The 2000 draft featured eight starters taken, led by Tim Hudson taken No. 1 by Carolina.

This year's record first-round run started with Brandon Beachy at No. 2, taken by the Bridgewater Mallers, and ended with the final pick of the round, 16th overall, by the Hopatcong Floating Fish in Josh Collmenter. The 2007 draft also featured four straight starters taken, that time the first four picks: Jered Weaver, Anibal Sanchez Cole Hamels and Josh Johnson.

Javier Vazquez became at least the fourth starting pitcher to be chosen twice in the first round, and likely the longest time between the selections. Edinson Volquez was taken third overall by New Jersey (now Hopatcong) in 2009 and 12th in 2011 by Bridgewater. Johnson was selected fourth overall twice -- in 2007 by Philly and in 2009 by Sardine City, where he still plays. Juan Guzman went first overall in 1992 to Maine, and again in 2000, sixth overall by Hillsborough.

Vazquez was taken ninth overall by the Kentucky Hillbillies in 2001 and this year was grabbed by the Sardine City Straphangers with the 12th overall selection. Also taken in round one of the 2001 draft? Freddy Garcia, fifth overall by the Honolulu Sharks, who was also selected this year by the Hillsborough Hit Men in the supplemental seventh round.

Morris Division happenings

Bridgewater held their position atop the Morris Division with a 4-0, 4-hit shutout. Starter Erik Bedard was removed after 2 innings after a 3 hour rain delay (Amityville's starter Hiroki Kuroda also was removed) and the Maller bullpen took over. Juan Aceves pitched 4 of the innings, giving up only 1 hit and striking out 4. The Ant Slayers held the Mallers to only 5 hits, but still gave up 4 runs, including 3 in the 9th.

Blue Ridge won their 4th straight to remain tied with the Mallers - a 4-3 edging of New Jersey. The Bombers only got 4 hits in the game and scored all their runs in the first 2 innings. The Buddahs tried to claw their way back, but ended up one run short. For New Jersey it was their 6th straight loss.

Josh Johnson outduelled Jake Peavy in a 2-1 Sardine City win over Vancouver. Johnson pitched 8 innings and gave up only 3 hits and struck out 7. Peavy pitched 7.2 innings, giving up 3 hits as well and struck out 11. Vancouver dropped their 4th straight and fell 2 games out of the division lead.

Yovani Gallardo held the Sugar Bears to just 2 hits in Carolina's 5-1 win yesterday. Gallardo pitched 8 innings and struck out 9.

Hamilton cycles in defeat to Newark

The battle between Newark and Marietta hasn't gone the Mighty Men's way, losing the first two, including yesterday's 10-9, extra inning loss. But they have one thing up on the Sugar Bears - most cycles. Yesterday, Josh Hamilton managed a rare feat, hitting for the cycle. Overall he was 4-6 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs. Hamilton started his day by hitting a leadoff double in the 2nd inning, then followed that up with a single in the 3rd. The two easiest components of the cycle were out of the way. In the 5th inning, Hamilton hit a two-run homer that gave the Mighty Men a temporary 6-5 lead. Lest you think that the extra innings gave Hamilton some extra opportunities, he hit his triple in the 7th inning, again breaking a tie and giving the Mighty Men an 8-7 lead. After that, he was done, though the game wasn't... Hamilton would bat two more times, striking out in the 8th and flying out in the 10th. For the curious folks, the last cycle was hit by Vladimir Guerrero last year, then with Blue Ridge against Las Vegas on June 17.

In another extra inning affair, Carolina topped Arkansas 4-3. The Falcons took an early 3-0 lead in the 1st inning on a 3-run David Wright homer. Carolina finally tied the game up in the 8th with a 3-run inning. It seemed like no one would score until the 14th inning, when Arkansas got into trouble giving up back to back singles with one out. After intentionally walking the bases loaded, Aramis Ramirez came through with the game winning single. Amazing that the game was so close considering that the Mudcats outhit the Falcons 18-7 in the game, leaving 19 baserunners stranded throughout the game.

Justin Verlander held the O-Bombers to only 2 hits in 8 innings, earning his 9th win in a 12-2 blowout. Freddy Sanchez hit two home runs and drove in 4 runs in the game and Russell Martin was 2-3 with 3 RBIs. The Hitmen maintain a 4-game lead over the red hot Mudcats.

Josh Johnson pitched a complete game, holding the Cutters to 2 runs on 6 hits in a 7-2 Sardine City win. Johnson had struggled this season before an injury sidelined him for a month, then struggled in his first two starts. But he turned things around in his next start against Arkansas and now pitched this gem against Hoboken. Johnson's record was 3-13 before going on the DL and he is now 5-15.

Mighty Men streak ends at 10

Two more teams have been mentioned in trade rumors. Hoboken and Sardine City, both likely to be sellers, have put out announcements that several players are available. The Cutters have made it known that second baseman Ian Kinsler could be had, though we suspect that he won't be going anywhere. Meanwhile Sardine City has put up half their team, mostly role players and relievers.

Newark ended Marietta's 10-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory. Chien-Ming Wang improved to 17-3 on the season with a solid 7-inning effort. Chipper Jones hit a 2-run homer in the 7th to give the Sugar Bears the lead. Jones was 4-4 with 3 RBIs in the game. The Sugar Bears gain a bit of a cushion, pushing the Mighty Men out to 1 1/2 games.

Alex Rodriguez and Torii Hunter carried the Amityville Ant Slayers to a 13-3 win over Blue Ridge. A-Rod was 2-4 with 6 RBIs and Hunter was 4-5 with 5 RBIs, as both players hit two home runs each. Chris Volstad was the recipient of the run support, improving to 10-9 and holding the Bombers to 1 run on 4 hits in 7 innings.

Justin Verlander struck out 10 and yielded 5 hits in 8 innings of work as the Hired Hitmen took out the O-Bombers 7-3. Freddy Sanchez and Mike Lowell each hit 2 home runs and drove in 3 RBIs to lead the Hillsborough offense. The Hitmen are now up by 4 games in the Morris Division.

Derrek Lowe held the Buddahs to 3 hits in 8 shutout innings to lead the Rat Pack to a 2-0 final. Ichiro Suzuki was 3-3 as the Rats dealt Jamie Moyer his 5th loss in 5 decisions. The Rats are 5 1/2 games out of first.

Hoboken's Matt Garza had the other shutout of the night, pitching 8.1 innings of 5 hit ball, while striking out 7 Straphangers. Josh Johnson, returning from the disabled list, pitched 6 solid innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 8. Johnson fell to 3-14 on the season.

Philly evens the series, Sharks on the edge

Philadelphia stormed back with back-to-back shutouts of the Mighty Men to tie the series back up at two. The Endzone Animals scored seven in the first inning en route to a 15-0 victory. Josh Johnson pitched six innings, limiting the Mighty Men to five hits and two walks and striking out seven. Meanwhile, rookie Jeremy Sowers was hammered for seven runs (six earned) in 2/3 of an inning. Jimmy Rollins had 4 RBIs and Albert Pujols hit a pair of homers to lead the team. The two teams return to Philadelphia on Thursday, with game two of the Francisco Liriano-Johan Santana matchup. Santana was roughed up last time, so we'll see if he can outduel the rookie.

Meanwhile, it will take a miracle for Honolulu to come back from a 3-0 deficit after a 9-4 loss to Newark yesterday. Chien-Ming Wang pitched eight solid innings to earn the win and Gregg Zaun had 3 RBIs to lead the offense. The Sharks will fight for their survival today in Honolulu.