Braun powers Sardines to third straight

Today is Double Header Day! There will be no games tomorrow, then we have another Double Header on Sunday.

Ryan Braun just missed the cycle yesterday, ending up a double short in a 6-3, extra inning game. Braun hit a bases-loaded triple in the tenth to give the Straphangers the lead and eventually their third straight win.

Newark and D.C. also took their match to extra innings. D.C. tied the game up at six in the bottom of the eighth. Both bullpens battled it out for the next four innings. D.C.'s Jonathan Papelbon had held the Sugar Bears hitless through 3+ innings, but in the 13th, Marco Scutaro, of all people, crushed one to give Newark the lead. Joaquin Benoit closed out the bottom of the inning to preserve the win.

Hillsborough continues their domination over the Rat Pack with a 3-0 blanking. C.C. Sabathia went the distance, giving up eight hits and one walk for his fourth win of the year. Since starting out his first three games with a 14.54 ERA, Sabathia has righted the ship (3-2, 2.83 ERA, 29 K in 35 IP). Brad Hawpe provided all the offense in the game with a 3-run blast in the sixth.

Blog Bits

Andy Pettitte won his 108th career game, snapping a tie with Kevin Appier and moving within one victory of David Cone at No. 10 all-time. He's also one start away (it will be his 300th) from Appier for 12th all-time.

Greg Maddux's next start will match Tom Glavine's record of 455 games started.

With his HR Thursday night, Chipper Jones finished the day at 351 HRs, tied with Gary Sheffield and Vlad Guerrero for 12th on the all-time HR list.

Pedro goes for 200

As mentioned in yesterday's entry, Arkansas' Pedro Martinez will try for his 200th career victory Saturday against South Boston. He'll be facing Dontrelle Willis. Martinez will be only the second in DMBL history to achieve 200, Greg Maddux being the first.

Philly's Brandon Webb pitched a gem against Vancouver last night. Webb limited the Iron Fist to one run on four hits over 8.1 innings. Philly is now a half a game out of first with Arkansas idle yesterday.

Marietta's Francisco Liriano is continuing where he left off in spring. Liriano is now 3-0 on the season and held the potent Sugar Bears offense to only three hits in seven innings at Newark. Liriano has a 1.71 ERA on the year.

Philly cut Marco Scutaro, who had been taking David Eckstein's place in the lineup. The Animals decided to go with Khalil Greene who had recently been signed. Journeyman infielder Todd Walker was signed to provide some help at second base.

Oswalt back on track

There was a bit of a pitchers' duel in Vegas yesterday. South Boston's Aaron Harang and Las Vegas' Chris Young battled it out. Young gave way to the bullpen in the sixth, but Harang took a 1-0 shutout into the eighth before surrendering two runs in the bottom half of the inning. There were only 11 hits between the two teams in the game.

Honolulu's Roy Oswalt finally straightened out his season. After getting clobbered in his first two starts, Oswalt turned in a complete game two-hit performance against Arkansas, surrendering only one run. Oswalt struck out 6.

Hoboken's Scott Kazmir probably had the best game yesterday, holding D.C. to one run on four hits in eight innings, while striking out nine and walking only one.

The injuries are starting to pile up. Hoboken and Philadelphia both placed team members on the DL. Hoboken lost outfielder Geoff Jenkins for two weeks and signed Damian Miller. The Cutters plan to replace Jenkins with Pat Burrell. Scrappy Philly shortstop David Eckstein may be lost for a month. Philly signed infielder Marco Scutaro who was released before the season by Team Buddah and last played a regular season game for Carolina back in 2005.