Mill Creek moves on in Williamsport
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Coach Scott Mahlum knew it wasn't necessarily win or go home on Tuesday afternoon for the 13 boys on his Mill Creek, Wash., baseball team.
A loss would have required Jeffersonville, Ind., winners of the Great Lakes Region, to outscore Mahlum's Northwest Region champions by two runs.
Mahlum had no interest in seeing his boys go into the next round of the Little League World Series on the heels of a loss.
But he won't have to worry about his boys backing in now after they eliminated Jeffersonville, 3-2, in seven innings.
Catcher Alex Jondal knocked in the winning run on a two-out single into the alley in left-center to score Jason Todd, the starting pitcher for Mill Creek.
"I thought it was gone," Todd said.
On a day when the wind ruled, the ball had little chance of clearing the fence, but the ball landed untouched between center fielder Austin Hines and left fielder Tyler Sariscsany.
Jondal's single finished off an inning that looked as if it would end with the heroics going to someone else.
With Chris Wenger pitching, shortstop Derrick Mahlum, the coach's son, walked. Todd walked, too. But on his walk, the ball escaped catcher Josh Burke. Mahlum tried to reach third, but Burke's throw gunned him down there.
Todd tried for second on the throw, and he made it. But he moved up to third when third baseman Hayden Robb's throw skipped into the outfield.
Jeffersonville went to a five-man infield for first baseman Joakim Soderqvist, whom Wenger fanned. Up came Jondal, who had two hits earlier.
"I had two strikes," Jondal said. "I didn't want to pop anything up. I just wanted to get a hit so we could win."
And a hit he got, assuring Mill Creek would advance from Pool A play into the next round of the Series. It will play Hawaii, winners of Pool B. The hit also assured that Jeffersonsville would not advance.
That didn't take away from the pride coach Derek Ellis had for his Indiana boys, who were winless in three games.
"They played hard -- all the way up to this point," Ellis said.
Despite the loss, Ellis watched a splendid performance from his son, Derrick, the starting pitcher. He held Mill Creek to two runs on five hits.
Yet he found himself just trying to keep pace with Todd, the right-hander who struck out 11, holding Jeffersonville to two runs -- one unearned. His performance made the prospects of Mill Creek advancing look good.
Copyright 2001-2008 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Ethier's walk-off single sinks Phillies
LOS ANGELES -- Remember those two horrible Dodgers losses in San Francisco over the weekend?
They don't.
"Good teams don't live in the past," Russell Martin said after racing home from second base on Andre Ethier's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 comeback win over the Phillies on Tuesday night.
"Right now, we're a good team and we're always concentrating on what's next. The past is over and done with and there's nothing you can do but learn from it. This shows the type of character we have, to come out against a good team and win the first two games of the series."
The slumping Martin led off the ninth by getting hit on the foot by a J.C. Romero slider. Martin moved to second on James Loney's groundout to bring up Ethier, who entered the game in an eighth-inning double-switch.
The left-handed Romero threw the left-handed Ethier nothing but hard stuff. Ethier took the first two for a ball and a strike, fouled off three tough ones before lining the last one over shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Martin barely beat the throw home from left fielder So Taguchi, and the celebration was on.
"It's a great feeling. You want to be the guy in that situation," said Ethier. "I've faced him before [1-for-2 previously with an RBI] and he's tough on lefties. He's got a great sinker, he's able to execute, he gets lefties to roll over and I was trying not to. I got something over the plate, fouled off tough ones to get into the situation to put a good swing on the ball."
The win only allowed the Dodgers to keep pace with the first-place D-backs, but in the wake of the weekend's disappointment, there seems to be more at stake.
"We feel this is an important week for us," said manager Joe Torre, who moved past Joe McCarthy for seventh place on the all-time win list for managers with 2,127.
"We have to play Philadelphia and Milwaukee and they're in pennant races themselves. We have to find out where we are. After two tough losses in San Francisco, to get back-to-back wins is important. It's been a team effort the last few weeks, we've really played hard. The addition of Manny [Ramirez] has picked up the personality of the club."
Matt Kemp had three hits for the third consecutive game, scoring twice. Ramirez drove in one run, was hit by a pitch preceding Casey Blake's game-tying sacrifice fly in the eighth and, in a real Dodgers rarity, was intentionally walked in the first inning, only for Blake to answer the challenge with an RBI single. Blake has nine RBIs in his last 10 games.
The Dodgers turned to rookie starter Clayton Kershaw and he responded with a career-high eight strikeouts (including five straight) and a quality start, but allowed single runs in each of the first three innings.
"I was making mistakes, but after the first three innings, my curveball improved and that made the difference," said Kershaw.
Kershaw left after six innings, trailing in his duel with Cole Hamels, 3-1, and the short-handed Dodgers bullpen followed with three hitless innings. Joe Beimel, on Joe Beimel Bobblehead Night, went 1-2-3 in the seventh.
"It felt good, I can't lie," said Beimel. "My family and friends are here and I get to pitch in the game and we win. It's a real exciting night for me."
Then Hong-Chih Kuo -- with Jonathan Broxton unavailable after making 33 pitches in Monday night's save and Cory Wade too sore to pitch -- rebounded from his blown save Sunday by pitching scoreless in the eighth and ninth against the Phillies, raising his record to 4-2 and lowering his ERA to 1.70.
"He shows no fear out there," said Torre. "He's dealing with pressure. In Spring Training, the only thing I heard was how many injuries he's had. Knock on wood, he's been terrific."
Juan Pierre, in a rare start, scored the Dodgers' second run after a bunt single. Jeff Kent had a key walk preceding the Chad Durbin pitch that struck Ramirez on the left arm to load the bases for Blake. Nomar Garciaparra returned from the disabled list and started at shortstop.
Copyright 2008 Sporting Life UK Ltd, All Rights Reserved.
Upton out of lineup for lack of hustle
ST. PETERSBURG -- B.J. Upton was out of the Rays' starting lineup Wednesday afternoon, as manager Joe Maddon was miffed that the outfielder didn't run out a ground ball in Tuesday night's game.
"When it comes down to individual effort, it takes absolutely zero talent -- zero -- to try hard and play hard every day," Maddon said. "I'm OK with physical mistakes, with mental mistakes; I'm accepting of all that. The part that I'm not accepting of is the part that you can control. And that's your effort."
The Rays skipper was particularly upset about Upton's lack of hustle given the talk him he had with the team in Kansas City, following a similar incident with Akinori Iwamura.
"Without any gray areas, [I] told them exactly what was going to happen," Maddon said of the meeting. "And it's happening."
Upton gave a lackadaisical jog to first base in his final at-bat, after hitting the ball back to pitcher Edward Mujica, and Maddon would have preferred to remove the outfielder immediately but was out of position players.
The 23-year-old Upton has often shown flashes of superior effort, including a stellar catch in the seventh inning on Tuesday, retiring Cleveland's Ben Francisco on a deep fly ball.
"You just can't pick and choose when you put your effort out there," Maddon said. "It has be all the time."
Typically a laid-back manager, Maddon said he addressed the matter directly following Tuesday's game and that Upton "listened" accordingly.
"It just comes down to respect," Maddon said. "Respect for yourself and respect for the organization."
Following Wednesday's game, Upton took no issue with Maddon's stance.
"I didn't run it out," Upton admitted. "Lesson learned. It's over. Done with. Moved on."
Maddon was also ready to put the situation behind the club.
"It's a dead issue," he said. "I want to be consistent in what I say. He will be back [Thursday]."
In Upton's place, the Rays gave recently recalled infielder Ben Zobrist a start in center field on Wednesday and inserted Willy Aybar into the shortstop role for Zobrist.
Although the club is still without regular shortstop Jason Bartlett in the field, the infielder was in Wednesday's lineup as the designated hitter.
During Sunday's game, Bartlett was hit by a pitch on his right index finger, and although he has taken batting practice, the shortstop sat on both Monday and Tuesday.
"He's OK to hit, he just couldn't throw today," Maddon said.
Bartlett was seen playing light catch prior to Wednesday's game and the Rays are hopeful he will be ready to join the defense for Thursday's game in Seattle.
"It's soon," Maddon said of Bartlett's return to shortstop.
Backstop Shawn Riggans -- who was also hit by a pitch in Sunday's game -- was out of Wednesday's lineup as well.
After taking a blistering fastball in the chest, Riggans reported to be more sore on Tuesday than he was initially and the club decided to use caution with its backup catcher.
Copyright 2001-2008 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Tigers send Jones to 15-day DL
CLEVELAND -- The Tigers placed reliever Todd Jones on the 15-day disabled list Thursday while they await test results to determine the extent of his right shoulder injury.
Jones revealed after his rough outing Wednesday night against the Indians that he has been pitching through shoulder pain. The 40-year-old right-hander had been feeling it for the last six weeks, by his estimation, but it reached the point Wednesday that he couldn't loosen up properly or extend through his pitches. His admission after the game confirmed a suspicion manager Jim Leyland said he'd had for about the last two weeks.
The timetable coincides with Jones' struggles, which eventually led to Leyland's decision last weekend to start using Fernando Rodney as closer. Jones has allowed 25 hits over 16 2/3 innings since June 15, during which he has a 6.48 ERA. That includes Kelly Shoppach's home run Wednesday night.
Jones was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam in Cleveland on Thursday afternoon While the Tigers finished up their four-game series against the Indians at Progressive Field.
Detroit recalled sidearming lefty reliever Clay Rapada from Triple-A Toledo to take Jones' place on the roster for Thursday only. Rapada made the drive from Toledo to Cleveland in the morning in time for the first pitch and was one of the few fresh relievers the Tigers had for the game after Wednesday's 13-inning victory.
Rapada allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits over 1 2/3 innings on Thursday, raising his ERA to 4.30 in 15 appearances. He was optioned back again after Thursday's game to make room on the roster for Kyle Farnsworth, who was acquired Wednesday from the Yankees in the Ivan Rodriguez trade. Farnsworth will join the team Friday at Tampa Bay.
"I'm looking forward to it," Leyland said, "because we need the help."
Copyright 2001-2008 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Hardy goes yard twice as Brewers roll
PHOENIX -- The Brewers took an early lead with their bats. They saved a much-needed win with their gloves.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy stayed hot with two home runs and three RBIs as the Brewers roughed up D-backs starter Randy Johnson, then hung on with some defensive gems for an 8-6 win at Chase Field on Tuesday.
Joe Dillon also homered, Corey Hart had three hits and scored twice and Mike Rivera drove in two runs in a rare start at first base as Milwaukee made a winner of Jeff Suppan (5-6), who struggled with command but still managed to snap a personal two-game losing streak.
Johnson (4-7) lasted only 3 2/3 innings in his shortest start this season and surrendered seven runs. Hardy figured in four of them, hitting a two-run home run to straightaway center field in the first inning, a solo home run in the second and then walking and scoring for the third time in the fourth.
"We know he's not the same as he used to be," Hardy said of the left-hander Johnson. "He's not throwing 100 mph with 93 mph sliders, but he's still a really good pitcher. It's nice to get out there and get out to an early start."
The Brewers needed all the runs they could get. Suppan was staked to leads of 3-0 and 7-1 but surrendered five runs on nine hits in five innings and allowed Arizona to get as close as 7-5 entering the sixth inning.
Milwaukee's defense prevented the D-backs from finishing the comeback. Third baseman Bill Hall went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts but made a pair of highlight-worthy defensive plays, and Rivera, who spelled Prince Fielder at first base, may have saved the game with an unassisted double play in the eighth.
"Tonight was basically an offensive game," Suppan said. "But I think defensively, we came out and made some incredible plays throughout the entire game."
Hall ranged right for speedy second baseman Orlando Hudson's grounder and made a leaping, no-hop throw to Rivera for the second out of the first inning. He also made a spectacular diving catch to rob Augie Ojeda of an extra-base hit down the line in the sixth, and picked a ground ball on a short hop before throwing out Justin Upton in the ninth.
The other gem belonged to Rivera, who made his first start since Spring Training at first base so Fielder could have a day off against Johnson. With one out, a run in, a runner on first base and Arizona threatening against reliever Guillermo Mota in the eighth inning, Arizona catcher Miguel Montero hit a rocket to Rivera, who made a diving catch of what appeared to be a fair ball, then tapped first base before Chris Young could get back.
"I was holding the runner and he just hit it right at me," Rivera said. "I'm just glad that I can contribute."
Hardy was more effusive in his praise.
"That play was huge," Hardy said. "[If the ball gets through] they score a run there and have another runner in scoring position with one out."
The Brewers made defense a priority in Spring Training. With nights like Tuesday, it appears to have paid off.
"We might have 'Web Gems' covered tonight," Hall said. "I think defense won the game more than our offense did tonight."
Salomon Torres worked the ninth inning for his 14th save and Hardy handled most of the offense. He extended the longest hitting streak by a Brewer this season to 13 games, a run that started a day after Hardy moved permanently back to the No. 2 spot in manager Ned Yost's batting order. Hardy missed a week in the middle of his streak with a bum left shoulder, but in 14 games since the switch he's batting .351 with four home runs, eight doubles and 12 RBIs.
In his first 57 games, Hardy hit .246 with four home runs, nine doubles and 18 RBIs.
"I think those couple days off were the best thing," Hardy said. "[The shoulder] is the best it's been all year."
The lineup shuffle didn't hurt. When he was hitting seventh, Hardy usually batted in front of the pitcher because the Brewers were hitting catcher Jason Kendall ninth.
"Batting in front of the pitcher kind of played mind games with me," Hardy said. "I wasn't too excited about it. I feel comfortable anywhere in the lineup as long as it's somewhere not in front of the pitcher."
Yost is happy to have Hardy's bat heated up. But he's not thrilled about using the batting order as an excuse.
"You can't out-think yourself depending on what spot you're hitting in the lineup," Yost said.
Suppan was not exactly sharp. Over his past three starts, Suppan has surrendered 12 earned runs in 12 2/3 innings.
On Tuesday, he was just good enough.
"He got through five innings with the lead, and I'll take that," Yost said. "He didn't let it get away."
Copyright 2001-2008 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
GM Byrnes enjoys return to Fenway
BOSTON -- Josh Byrnes enjoyed his return to Boston, but the D-backs general manager would have preferred another win or two.
Byrnes, who was the Red Sox assistant GM for three years before Arizona hired him following the 2005 season, watched his team drop two of three at Fenway Park this week.
"Unique to win a World Series here after 86 years, my first daughter was born here, so there was a lot wrapped into those three years," said Byrnes, who helped put together the Red Sox team that won the 2004 World Series.
Byrnes made the rounds of the Red Sox front office, renewing old acquaintances and even briefly sitting at his old desk, which now belongs to assistant GM Jed Hoyer.
As far as his current team goes, Byrnes sounded confident despite its recent struggles. Arizona began the year 20-8 thanks to a combination of good pitching and an offense that was at or near the top of the National League for much of April.
Since then, D-backs pitchers have done their part, but the team's core young position players have had more than their fair share of troubles at the plate. But the fact that they had success early in the year is one of the reasons Byrnes remains convinced that better times are ahead.
"That means these players can perform at a high level, and we're still only in June," Byrnes said.
D-backs manager Bob Melvin has shifted players up and down in the batting order to try to spark the offense, but he, too, is confident they will turn things around.
"These are our guys," Melvin said. "We've just got to keep grinding, keep battling."
The battle will continue in Florida as the D-backs wrap up this nine-game road trip with a three-game series against the Marlins. Success on the road has been elusive over the past two months.
Arizona was 9-5 away from Chase Field in April, but is just 7-19 since, and has been swept four times.
"That's surprising," Byrnes said. "It's obviously a habit we've got to break."
Road teams are faring poorer than in years past.
"I think parity is part of the equation," Byrnes said. "When teams are closer, generally the advantage goes to the home team."
Copyright 2001-2008 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Manny out with tight right hamstring
PHILADELPHIA -- Manny Ramirez was not paying tribute to his pal Bartolo Colon when he took a mighty swing and miss in Tuesday's game. However, like Colon, Ramirez experienced some pain from the force of the swing.
While Colon had to go to the disabled list with a back injury, Ramirez merely experienced a tweak in the right hamstring that has bothered him for roughly a month. After exiting in the seventh inning on Tuesday, Ramirez was out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Phillies.
The Red Sox are off on Thursday and with the designated hitter back in effect when the Sox return to Fenway, Ramirez should be back in the lineup on Friday night against the Cardinals.
"We've got a day game today, day off [Thursday]. We'll try to use some common sense," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
Along those same lines, first baseman Kevin Youkilis was out of the lineup for the third straight day with back stiffness.
Youkilis should be back in there on Friday.
"Yeah, I think so," Francona said. "I just think, and again, today, as much as you like having Youk play, you play one and maybe sacrifice three or four, it just doesn't make sense. I think he's making progress. He's sore. We've all had it. You get a back [problem] and it hurts. It will go away."
Without two of their most productive hitters in the lineup, the Sox had Mike Lowell hit cleanup and Sean Casey bat fifth.
Coco Crisp made the start in center field and batted seventh, with Jacoby Ellsbury leading off in left.
Copyright 2001-2008 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
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