A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #134...PINSTRIPES cruise past O's...RAYS go Extra to beat RANGERS...GIGANTES opening a GIANT Lead in the NL West

The New York Yankees cruise past the Baltimore Orioles in Round Two of Four Rounds 8-5. Th Bombers get a Huge Outing from Starter Phil Hughes as he went 6 Strong only getting in trouble in the the 6th allowing 3 Runs. The Yanks put a Crooked Number 5 in the 5th and on Yanks Hot Corner A-Rod's 300th on a 2-Run Shot chased O's Starter Chen as he gave up 7 in 5 1/3.

The Yankees lead the O's by One and the Rays by 2 Games as they had to go Extra Inning to get by the Rangers on Ben Zorbrist's 2-Run Walk-Off in the Bottom half of the 11th Frame. Rangers Starter Holland went 8 innings giving up 1 Run and whiffing 11 Rays. Rays Starter Hellickson went 6 Innings and allowing 1 Run and striking out 5 Rangers. The Rays pick up a Game on the O's and the Rangers give a Game to the A's who beat the Mariners 6-1. The A's lead the AL Wild Card but if they somehow falter down the Stretch it would be a 1-Game Playoff between the Rays and O's...Wow!

Moving over to the Senior Circuit the Dodgers find themselves in a Heap of Trouble losing to the Gigantes 5-2 and it was going to the Wire 2-2 until San Fran put up a Crooked Number 2 in the Bottom Half of the 7th breaking the Tie at 2-2.

Dodgers Starter Beckett was charged with all 4 runs and chased after 6 1/3. Giants Starter Lincecum was also chased after 6 1/3 but allowed only 2 runs. Dodgers 3-6 Hitters of Kemp, A-Gon, Ramirez, and Ethier combined to go 0-17 and 1 RBI and that was the Story of the Contest. The Dodgers now are 5.5 Back of the NL West leading Gigantes but if they win the next 2 games will leave only 3.5 back but beating the Gigantes of late has been a Tall Order for the Boys in Blue.

The Dodgers move a 1.5 Games back of the #2 Seed in the NL Wild Card Redbirds and a Tie with the Buccos.

Note: Numbers from MLB.com