This week saw an interesting series of interleague matchups throughout the major leagues, where they split the four game set between the two teams' ballparks. Two teams ended their interleague showdown in exciting fashion on Thursday. It started in the afternoon, where a player who reminds everyone of David Ortiz, came up clutch like Big Papi. Kennys Vargas hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Minnesota Twins past the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.
Joe Mauer tied the game at one with a solo home run in the eighth inning. This came after Jason Heyward gave the Cardinals a lead in the pitching duel at Target Field with a solo shot in the top of the seventh.
Vargas recorded his first career game-winning hit at any level, which helped him break out of a recent slump. He is just 5-for-27 since being called up from Triple-A Rochester. He was also able to avenge him ruining a bases loaded jam earlier in the game, where he grounded into a double play to end the rally.
The win for the Twins hands the Cardinals their first loss in 35 games when leading after seven innings this season. Minnesota will host the Chicago Cubs in another interleague series this weekend, while St. Louis visits the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.
Meanwhile in Hollywood, it was another walk-off, but not the typical game-winner that everyone is use to. Enrique Hernandez scored on a two-out balk called on reliever Keone Kela in the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
The balk came after walks to Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier to begin the ninth. Two outs later Kela was caught flinching by umpires Jim Joyce and Marvin Hudson with Jimmy Rollins at the plate to end the game.
Dodgers' closer Kenley Jansen got the win after a perfect ninth inning to run his record to 2-0. Starter Zack Greinke allowed just four hits over seven innings, while striking out eight and walking none. The stellar start lowered his ERA to 1.81, but he is now 0-2 with a 1.99 ERA in his past eight starts. The Dodgers have scored less than three runs in six of those starts.
Anthony Ranaudo allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings and struck out four in his second spot start of the season. He was called up earlier Thursday from Triple-A Round Rock to give everyone in the rotation an extra day off. He gave up six runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings on April 15th, which was a 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at home.
Los Angeles moves on to host their rival San Francisco Giants over the weekend, while the Rangers remain on the road to visit the Chicago White Sox beginning Friday.
Joe Mauer tied the game at one with a solo home run in the eighth inning. This came after Jason Heyward gave the Cardinals a lead in the pitching duel at Target Field with a solo shot in the top of the seventh.
Vargas recorded his first career game-winning hit at any level, which helped him break out of a recent slump. He is just 5-for-27 since being called up from Triple-A Rochester. He was also able to avenge him ruining a bases loaded jam earlier in the game, where he grounded into a double play to end the rally.
The win for the Twins hands the Cardinals their first loss in 35 games when leading after seven innings this season. Minnesota will host the Chicago Cubs in another interleague series this weekend, while St. Louis visits the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.
Meanwhile in Hollywood, it was another walk-off, but not the typical game-winner that everyone is use to. Enrique Hernandez scored on a two-out balk called on reliever Keone Kela in the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
The balk came after walks to Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier to begin the ninth. Two outs later Kela was caught flinching by umpires Jim Joyce and Marvin Hudson with Jimmy Rollins at the plate to end the game.
Dodgers' closer Kenley Jansen got the win after a perfect ninth inning to run his record to 2-0. Starter Zack Greinke allowed just four hits over seven innings, while striking out eight and walking none. The stellar start lowered his ERA to 1.81, but he is now 0-2 with a 1.99 ERA in his past eight starts. The Dodgers have scored less than three runs in six of those starts.
Anthony Ranaudo allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings and struck out four in his second spot start of the season. He was called up earlier Thursday from Triple-A Round Rock to give everyone in the rotation an extra day off. He gave up six runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings on April 15th, which was a 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at home.
Los Angeles moves on to host their rival San Francisco Giants over the weekend, while the Rangers remain on the road to visit the Chicago White Sox beginning Friday.
