The Juice: C.C. Sabathia earns 200th career victory; Max Scherzer improves to 13-0
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C.C. Sabathia reached a career milestone on Wednesday, earning his 200th victory in the Yankees 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Sabathia needed a season-high 121 pitches to work through seven solid, but not quite dominant innings in the win. Though he allowed only two runs, Sabathia faced constant traffic after allowing seven hits and walking three. But in true workhorse fashion, which fits the description of Sabathia's career so far, he battled through it and kept his team in the game.
New York's offense finally took advantage of Sabathia's outing in the sixth when they plated their only three runs of the game. Robinson Cano delivered the biggest blow, a game-tying two-run double. Lyle Overbay followed with a sacrifice fly to supply the difference. Sabathia also extended his personal winning streak against Minnesota to 11 dating back to July 29, 2007.
13 and counting...: Max Scherzer continued the historical start to his 2013 season in the Tigers 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. In improving to 13-0, Scherzer becomes only the third pitcher in last 100 years to begin a season with that record. Rogers Clemens was the most recent back in 1986. He eventually made it to 14-0 before suffering his first defeat in his 16th start.
Scherzer earned his 13th win by throwing 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball with seven hits allowed and eight strikeouts. Offensively, Detroit gave Scherzer all the support he needed in a four-run second inning. Alex Avila’s three-run homer capped that frame. Later in the game, Victor Martinez would add a two-run homer to put on the finishing touches.
One streak continues, another begins anew: After dropping a 3-1 game to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday that snapped their nine-game winning streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates got back in the win column on Wednesday with a 6-5 victory over their cross-state rivals. Left-hander Jeff Locke won his eighth consecutive decision on the mound for Pittsburgh despite an uneven outing. In 5 2/3 innings, Locke allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks. Pedro Alvarez's three-run homer in the fifth proved to be the game's biggest hit.
Send'em home, Gomes: Obviously Jonny Gomes wasn't interested in extra innings. Summoned to pinch-hit in the ninth inning, the Boston Red Sox slugger hit a solo home run to the monster seats at Fenway to give his squad a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres.
Will Smith saves Royals on Independence Day: After a nearly three hour rain delay to begin the game and another delay after outfielder Alex Gordon went down after crashing into the wall, the Kansas City Royals rallied late and eventually defeated the Indians 6-5 on Eric Hosmer's seventh inning home run. Do you know what that means?
#Royals get W early on July 4, meaning Will Smith is winning pitcher on Independence Day. Can’t make this stuff up: http://t.co/7XOwDvqYcI
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2013
MORE SCORES
Brewers 4, Nationals 1: Bryce Harper misplayed a flyball that led to two unearned runs. He also finished 0 for 4 at the plate.
Marlins 6, Braves 3: With scouts from the Giants, Padres, Rockies and Rangers on hand to watch his start, Ricky Nolasco was impressive in holding Atlanta to two runs over seven innings. Could this be his final start with the Fish?
Orioles 4, White Sox 2: Did Chris Davis hit a home run? Yes — his 32nd.
Mariners 4, Rangers 2 (10 inn.): The Mariners have won two in a row for the first time since May 29-30.
Reds 3, Giants 2 (11 inn.): No-hitter one day, walk-off win the next. Life is good in Cincinnati.
Randall Delgado outpitched Matt Harvey to earn Arizona's first win from a starting pitcher since June 5.
Astros 4: Rays 1: Chris Carter homered twice and knocked in all four for Houston.
Dodgers 10, Rockies 8: Yasiel Puig suffered a bruised left hip after crashing into the outfield fence but Hanley Ramirez picked up the offense with four hits, including a home run in the ninth.
Cubs 3, A's 1: Matt Garza gave the Cubs revamped bullpen little chance to implode by tossing eight innings of one-run ball. Good plan.
Cardinals 12, Angels 2: Albert Pujols is 0 for 7 with three strikeouts through the first two games of the series.
''I'll tell you what — there's something special going on here. All the guys pull for each other every night. We're not out of a game, ever. And I think the Pirates of the past could get out of a game early, we'd kind of get down on ourselves a little bit and think that hill's too tall to climb. But nothing here these guys can't do.''
— Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke
The Stanley Cup makes its triumphant return to U.S. Cellular Field.
• Boston's walk-off victory was their eighth of the season, tying them with the Giants for the most in MLB.
• The Dodgers were the last team in baseball to score 10 runs in a game this season.
• Matt Harvey tied a career-high with five earned runs allowed.
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