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The Atlanta Braves won a close game in Arizona on Saturday, beating the Diamondbacks 3-2 to hand the D-backs their fifth straight loss. Tommy Hanson, the ace of the Braves staff, pitched seven strong innings and allowed just one run en route to picking up his second win of the season.

After pummeling opponents with a devastating offense for the past few weeks, it was nice to see the Braves take a close game and lock it up in the late innings.

The Braves scored one run in each of he first three innings, and Dan Uggla launched his second home run of the season in the third, giving the Braves a 3-2 lead that the held for the remainder of the game.

Tommy Hanson looked sharp in his start. He gave up a run in the first and second inning, but commanded the strike zone and retired the last 12 batters he saw, handing the ball off to Jonny Venters in the eighth. Venters struck out the side, all but marking the tally in the win column for Fredi Gonzalez and Co. 

Craig Kimbrel then came in for the ninth and recorded his fifth save in as many attempts this season. Kimbrel and the rest of the Atlanta bullpen have shown that, if given a lead, they can hold a game and shut down a lineup in their tracks.

Saturday’s win was reassuring for Braves fans. Atlanta’s offense had been blowing opponents out of the water, and no pressure was put on the pitching staff recently, with the Braves leading the league in runs scored.

Hanson had a great outing after beginning the 2012 season with three rather mediocre starts. The 25-year-old righty bounced back on Saturday and posted a seven-inning, five-hit, two earned run performance that gave the Braves their 10th win in 11 games. 

Fans can take comfort in the fact that Atlanta’s pitchers retired the last 18 Arizona batters in a row. Tommy Hanson had seven strikeouts in as many innings, and Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel each struck out the side in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to lock up the win for the Braves.

The Braves are winning games with both their offense and pitching, putting them in great position in the NL East and the rest of the 2012 season.

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The New York Yankees flat-out embarrassed the Boston Red Sox with a nine-run comeback that turned a 9-0 deficit into a 15-9 win for the Bombers and sent the Sox to rock bottom.

It finally seemed like the Red Sox were going to get their 2012 campaign against their arch-rivals going in the second game of the first series of the season.

The Red Sox were in a bad way going into this game with their players not taking kindly to a loud-mouth manager and a poor start. To add to that, it was the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park and the Yankees had just smacked five homers the day before.

New York was about to allow its rivals to gain some kind of momentum and blow them out of the water. Boston’s 9-0 lead looked insurmountable.

And then the sixth inning came. And then the seventh and the eighth. Before they knew it, the Yanks were in the lead and completely demoralizing a team that was already in trouble.

Talk about kicking them when they’re down. The Bombers did that to the Sox and then some.

A chorus of boos followed Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine and had to put some semblance of a grin on the collective faces of Yankee fans. This cringe-tastic moment was more evidence of a team and fan base in turmoil.

Funny how on the weekend when they’re celebrating the history of their ballpark, the Red Sox collapse against the Yankees was one of the most memorable (positive or negative) games in Fenway Park’s history.

Normally you’d feel bad for a team that looks so bad, but this is the Red Sox and as a Yankee fan, that thought process doesn’t exist.

If the Yanks can leave Boston with a sweep, they will be able to put the Sox in their rear-view mirror and into further misery as they spiral into what is looking like an inevitably poor season.

The Yanks and Red Sox are going in completely different directions with the Bombers going in the right one and the Sox going in the wrong one. Such a prospect couldn’t be better for the Yanks hopes of winning the American League East.

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The Chicago Cubs poured it on the Reds 6-1 today as their bats finally came alive to end their losing streak at six.

Paul Maholm earned his first victory in a Cubs uniform, and the Cubs were finally able to prosper with runners in scoring position.

Here is what we learned from this Cubs win.

Paul Maholm looked great: 

Maholm looked masterful all day as he kept Reds hitters off-balanced as they managed only four hits off of the lefty.  What was impressive with Maholm today is he threw fourteen first pitch strikes to the twenty six hitters he faced as he was able to induce seven ground-ball outs.  

Maholm will never be a power pitcher, which is evident by his low strikeout total in in this outing with five, but with his change in pitch speed to keep hitters guessing, he can continue to have outings like this more often. 

Steve Clevenger should start:   

Clevenger is taking full advantage of his playing time and even though he had not played a game since April 17th, he looked extremely comfortable behind the plate and with the bat in his hand.  

He provided an offensive spark the Cubs desperately needed as he went 3-for-4 while driving in a run to boost his batting average to a whooping .588.  It is time for Sveum to take a closer look at who should be starting as his catcher.

Cubs were 5 for 15 with Runners in Scoring Position: 

The Cubs were finally able to drive runners in scoring position including four two-out RBIs.  Hopefully, this trend continues.

Starin Castro committed his seventh error: 

You can hear the moaning all across Chicago as Castro had two errors in today’s contest.  In spring training, we were told about the improvements the Cubs made on Castro’s defense, but we are still very eager to see where this hard work is at.  

If it was not for the Cubs atrocious record overshadowing his poor fielding performance, he would be sitting on the hot seat everyday.   

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Technically speaking, Edwin Jackson‘s complete game gem against the Reds on Saturday was a better performance than when he threw his no-hitter with the Diamondbacks.

In his no-hitter, Jackson walked eight batters and threw 149 pitches. The “game score” for that game was an 85.

Saturday, Jackson’s “game score” was 87.

Jackson needed just 92 pitches to get through nine innings in the contest, allowing just two runs on one hit and one walk while striking out nine.

Ironically, Jackson summed up how he felt about his performance like this: “I felt all right. It’s not necessarily the best I’ve felt but it’s all mental.”

Really, Mr. Jackson?

Not the best you’ve ever felt?

Well, I’m quite curious to see what happens when you actually feel like you pitched well.

Regardless, Jackson’s performance continues a trend of great pitching for the Nationals.

After Saturday’s game, the Nationals team owns a combined ERA of 1.82. Opponents are hitting just .170 against the staff, while effectively limiting baserunners (0.95 WHIP).

The win gave the Nationals their fifth straight, putting them atop the NL East with a 7-2 record.

If the Nationals’ pitchers keep up a level of production even remotely close to their current level, Washington will be a tough team to beat in 2012.

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The St. Louis Cardinals ended a modest two-game winning streak for the Chicago Cubs as they won 5-1.   Here is what we learned from this Cubs loss.

Chris Volstad’s struggles continues:  It has not been a promising start for Volstad, as one bad inning led to his downfall.  Granted, everything should have been avoided if Starlin Castro did not make that error, but he had opportunities to pitch his way out of that fateful fourth inning.  What is promising is he did not allow a walk in this outing, but he did throw 101 pitches in just six innings.

Geovany Soto and Marlon Byrd struggles impact the lineup:  Obvious statement, but Byrd and Soto were 0-for-8 in today’s game and they are providing zero impact at the bottom of the lineup. They were 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.  It might be time to give Steve Clevenger some more playing time behind the plate.

Will leave a lot of runners left on base:  Outside of the previous two games, the Cubs were struggling with runners in scoring position.  Today, the Cubs were able to score one measly run while stranding seven, and there were only 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.  The Cubs do not have the offensive ingredients to to ensure this will not be the norm every day.

Alfonso Soriano is hot out of the gate:  Typically a slow starter to begin the season, Soriano has been red-hot to begin the season.  He notched two hits in today’s game and he is currently batting .313 on the season.  Unfortunately, we are still awaiting his first home run.

Follow me on Twitter @RyanNAnthony

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Howie Kendrick finished with three hits and three RBI, and C.J. Wilson limited New York to one run over six innings as Los Angeles of Anaheim won 7-1 Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

The Angels snapped a three-game losing streak while ending the Yankees‘ four-game winning streak.

After stranding two runners in the first inning, the Angels opened the scoring in the second inning. Vernon Wells singled to center field with one out. Chris Iannetta then hit a fly ball down the right field line that just cleared the wall to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.

Kendrick started the third inning with a leadoff single and came around to score on Albert Pujols’ RBI double.

Iannetta walked to lead off the fourth inning, and Erick Aybar singled with one out. Kendrick then followed with a home run to left field to give the Angels a 6-0 lead.

After allowing a single to the first two Yankee hitters of the game, Wilson did not allow another hit until one out in the bottom of the fourth. The Yankees’ lone run scored on Robinson Cano’s one-out single in the fifth. However, Wilson retired Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to limit the damage.

David Phelps’ middle relief work was one of the few bright spots for the Yankees. Phelps entered the game after Kendrick’s home run and only allowed one run on one hit with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings. His only blemish was a Wells solo home run in the top of the fifth.

Wilson (2-0) earned the win after only allowing one run on six hits over six innings. Three Angels relievers held the Yankees hitless over the final three innings.

Phil Hughes (0-2) started for New York and only lasted 3.1 innings. He struck out six, but allowed six runs on eight hits.

The final game of the series will be Sunday. Jerome Williams (0-0) of Los Angeles of Anaheim will face New York’s Ivan Nova (1-0).

Notes: Vernon Wells’ home run in the fifth inning was the 250th of his career… Robinson Cano tallied his first RBI of the season with a fifth-inning run-scoring single.    

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It’s easy for the Hiroki Kuroda doubters to come out in full force after his shaky debut with the New York Yankees, but realistically, you can take very little from any starter’s first outing of the season.

If first starts were everything, CC Sabathia wouldn’t be that good.

New York’s No. 2 starter went 5.2 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits with fours walks and two strikeouts.

Right off the bat, Kuroda got into trouble thanks to predictably shaky fielding from Eduardo Nunez. The young infielder booted the first play of the game which was a routine ground ball and should’ve been an easy out.

The Rays made the most out of the extra out and after retiring the next two batters, Kuroda’s control issues became apparent after two consecutive walks. Luke Scott would make him pay with a two-run single to give Tampa Bay an early lead.

Had Nunez made that play, it’s safe to assume Kuroda gets out of the first with a 1-2-3 inning and maybe that changes his fortunes. At the very least, he would’ve allowed only four runs and that would’ve been enough for a Yankee offense that scored six in the game.

Kuroda was lifted in the sixth inning with two outs and two runners on. Clay Rapada successfully got out of the jam without anymore damage.

Keeping the ball down will be the name of the game in Kuroda’s next start. He was missing high and often against the Rays as evidenced by the numerous fly ball outs he was getting.

It’s far too early to have a debate about a NL West pitcher moving to the AL East. Pitchers both good and bad get off to slow starts and I won’t be surprised if Kuroda does the same with his new team.

And don’t expect Kuroda to keep his ERA in the low threes like he did last season.

He’ll be right around where he was tonight and that is allowing three to four runs per start.

Doing that consistenly will help Kuroda have a career-high win total when 2012 is said and done thanks to the offensive production the Bombers will supply.

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This afternoon Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett got to pay witness to what is likely to become the best show in baseball—Miguel Cabrera followed by Prince Fielder. 

It wasn’t his finest hour, Beckett’s that is. For Cabrera and Fielder it was the beginning of what is sure to be a fantastic array of towering home runs and line-drive rockets taking exit from the playing fields coming to an American League ball park near you. 

Beckett seemed to battle Tigers hitters that fell after Fielder’s place in the lineup, having stretches of eight and five hitters in a row retired, but nearly each time Cabrera or Fielder’s number came due at the plate, Beckett’s ERA paid a price. 

Cabrera and Fielder along with fellow teammate Alex Avila took Beckett deep five times and knocked him out of the game after just a 4 2/3 innings effort. Becket gave up seven runs before exiting following back-to-back home runs to Cabrera and Fielder in the bottom half of the fourth. 

Both Cabrera and Fielder hit differing home run shots, Cabrera’s first, a two-run shot that brought home Austin Jackson left the park with ease. Fielder showed his strength pushing a towering home run to the opposite left field fence and the onslaught was on.

Cabrera smashed a floater that was first ruled a ground-rule double after it was questioned whether the ball snuck under fencing on the fly and not over the fence. Replay clearly showed that the ball cleared the outfield wall and then bounced back into the fence where it became lodged.

Cabrera’s second homer of the season was followed by a laser off of Fielder’s bat and the Tigers had the first of what is sure to be many back to back displays this summer. 

Mixed in there was a two-run shot off the bat of Avila, also an opposite field bomb, bringing home Delmon Young who had singled earlier in the fourth inning. Young and Avila both finished the day with two hits for the Tigers. 

Avila chipped in two RBI to go with Cabrera’s three and Fielder’s two as the three sluggers combined to knock in seven of the Tigers’ 10 runs on the day. 

The only thing that didn’t go well for the Tigers on Saturday afternoon was starting pitcher Doug Fister’s left side injury. Fister was cruising along in the fourth inning having scattered three hits when he pulled himself from the game due to the injury. 

The injury to Fister has placed him on the 15-day disabled list and has now been reported as a left costochondral strain, according to MLB.com beat writer Jason Beck. Reliever Brayan Villarreal has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo.

Instead, the Tigers would have to rely on their bullpen to carry the day. The pen was as good as anyone could ask, and then some.

Duane Below who a week ago lost out on the Tigers’ No. 5 rotation spot to Drew Smyly provided a solid effort in relief and earned his first Major League win as a result of his 2 1/3 scoreless innings. 

The rest of Detroit’s bullpen staff held serve and kept the Red Sox in check for the most part, scattering four hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. Octavio Dotel, Phil Coke and Joaquin Benoit each chipped in to assist Below’s efforts and left Boston shutout on the day. 

It was, however, a day of what Tigers fans will expect to see with great regularity as the weather warms up and their biggest sluggers get comfortable in their northern digs—Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder hitting the ball to the farthest reaches of Comerica Park’s deep alleys and tight lines.

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For the second time in three days, the Blue Jays and the Indians needed extra innings to determine a winner. This marks the first time in Blue Jays history that the team has started the season with back-to-back extra inning games, and the first time since 2007 that this has happened in Major League Baseball.

Both the Blue Jays’ and the Indians’ hitters had difficulty getting things started today, as both Brandon Morrow and Ubaldo Jimenez each pitched seven innings, giving up only one hit and two runs. 

The Blue Jays seemed to have won the game in the top of the ninth inning when Kelly Johnson hit a solo home run with no men out off of Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano. The Blue Jays continued to hit well in the top of the ninth, but could not muster another run in the inning, leaving base runners on first and third base to end the inning. 

This proved costly to Toronto, as new Blue Jays closer Sergio Santos blew his first save opportunity of the season, giving up a solo home run to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to open the bottom of the ninth inning. Santos recovered to retire the next two batters, sending the game to extra innings.

The 10th and 11th innings were scoreless, and neither teams could record a hit as fans feared that this game may be headed into the evening as was the case on Thursday.

Toronto broke the game open in the top of the 12th after a Rajai Davis double scored both Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie, who scored all the way from first base. The Blue Jays would add two more runs in the inning, which proved to be enough even though Cleveland would add one run in the bottom of the inning. The Blue Jays prevailed once again by a score of 7-4. 

Casey Janssen, who was a perfect 6-0 last season, won his first game of the season as the Blue Jays improved to 2-0. 

The Indians look to avoid the series sweep tomorrow, as veteran Derek Lowe faces off against Toronto rookie Joel Carreno at 1:05 PM EST. 

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One year ago on Opening Day, a Cubs’ pitcher Ryan Dempster gave up six runs off six hits with four walks, earning a loss against the Pirates.

Today, like last year, Ryan Dempster opened the season for the Cubs with a loss. However, Dempster’s performance today was near perfect against the Nationals.

Facing the strikeout superstar Stephen Strasburg, Dempster struck out 10 batters allowing two hits in seven and two-thirds innings. He actually recorded twice the amount of strikeouts that Strasburg recorded (yet Sportscenter seems not to have noticed).

Dempster pitched a solid seven innings, and almost finished the eighth, before he was pulled in favor of Kerry Wood, a decision manager Dale Svevum likely would redo.

Officially, Ryan Dempster was charged with one run in the game. This appears to be his slight gaffe of the game.

In the eight inning, Ian Dresmond recorded a hit off of Dempster. Dempster would eventually get pulled and Dresmond would eventually score. However Dempster was pulled because of pitch count and Dresmond scored because Kerry Wood walked the next three consecutive batters, sending Dresmond home.

Wood walked Dresmond from first to home without recording an out, making the run hardly the fault of Dempster. But as stats go, Dempster was charged with the run. However he did not record a loss.

Let’s look at the pitching battle between Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Dempster.

Both pitched seven full innings and recorded one run. Dempster allowed three fewer hits, and Strasburg walked two fewer batters. The real difference comes in strike outs and Dempster proved dominant.

Pitching inside strikes and taking control with his cutter, fastball, splitter and slider, Ryan Dempster struck out twice as many batters (10 total) than Strasburg.

Even though the “W” flag isn’t flying over Wrigley Field, Ryan Dempster should be proud of his performance today. With more pitching like that and hopefully more offense, Chicago is bound for wins and lots of them.

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