Justin Huber
...had a pinch hit at bat yesterday for the Padres, in their 9-0 pounding of the Dodgers. He lined out to right field with 2 out and noone on in the 6th inning. The Padres started their interleague series in Cleveland today, with Tony Clark filling the role as DH. Having a DH means a lot less chances for pinch hitting; however I reckon Huber will get a start in the next two days, as the Padres meet more left handed Indians pitchers.
Ryan Rowland-Smith
...did a bloody outstanding job today as the Mariners clean up guy. Seattle's reliever-turned-starter, knuckleballer RA Dickey got smashed by the Washington Nationals. Dickey gave up 8 hits and 7 runs over 1.2 innings, before John McLaren had seen enough and called for Rowland-Smith to mop up the mess.
After Dickey had allowed 6 runs in the second inning, and only managed two outs, Rowland-Smith came in to face Felipe Lopez, with a runner on second. He drew a grounder to second on his first pitch to put an end to the bloodshed, and that was the end of the runscoring for the Nationals.
In the third, Rowland-Smith had Wily Mo Pena fly out to center on a 1-0 fastball. He then walked Willie Harris on 5 pitches, before getting Cristian Guzman to fly out to center on a 1-0 fastball and then having Elijah Dukes fly out to right on a 3-1 fastball.
The Nationals continued to show some pretty poor plate discipline, and Rowland-Smith had Lastings Milledge ground out to second on a 1-0 fastball; Dmitri Young struck out on 3 pitches, wiffing at an 80mph changeup. Jesus Flores then flew out to right on a 1-1 changeup.
In the fifth, Rowland-Smith battled with Ronnie Belliard for 9 pitches but gave up a walk. Felipe Lopez then popped up to the catcher on a 1-2 changeup. He then finished the inning by getting Wily Mo Pena to ground into a force out to get Belliard out at 2, and had Willie Harris ground out.
RRS's line for the day: 3.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. His ERA is now down to 2.08. He has not given up an earned run in his last 10 starts.
Grant Balfour
... has maintained his spot in the Rays' pen. There was some concern that when Rays closer Troy Percival came off the DL, that Balfour could end up back at AAA Durham. A week ago, Balfour said:
It's a waste of time to worry about. I've got no say-so. They're going to do
what they're going to do. If they want to keep me here, they're going to try and
maneuver me around to keep me here. If they don't want to, they're going to let
me go, I guess. I really want to be here. But I have no control over it. I just
have to go out there and pitch well and make the decision hard for them
However, the Rays were spared any difficult choices, by an injury to another reliever - Al Reyes. Reyes has tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, and was put on the DL the same day Percival returned, meaning Balfour's spot is secure for now.
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