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MLB Capsules - NL: Astros beaten by Padres
HOUSTON (AP) — For six innings, J.A. Happ was able to keep up with Aaron Harang.
But in the seventh the Padres pieced together three straight hits off the lefty and scored three times to take the lead and hang on for a 4-2 win over the Astros on Friday night.
Happ (1-2) went seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
"Happ battled and pitched really well," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "You really can't say enough. The seventh inning came up and bit him. They got some good swings on the ball. Once they got some guys on, we kind of positioned ourselves to try to stop them from scoring any more runs, but they were able to push three across."
Nick Hundley started the seventh with a single, and Chris Denorfia, who had homered in the fifth, doubled. They both came home on a two-run single by Ryan Ludwick. Eric Patterson added a sacrifice fly after that to up the lead to 4-1.
"I felt good. I felt like I was throwing the ball well," Happ said. "I threw a couple balls in there in the seventh. They weren't necessarily bad pitches, but maybe they weren't executed the way I would have liked. It's frustrating."
Happ, who gave up a run in 7 2-3 innings in his last start, never had a 1-2-3 inning, but got good defense from Carlos Lee, who had two outfield assists, and from his infield, which turned two double plays. Happ threw just 86 pitches.
"He was making some pitches," Mills said. "The guys were making some plays. Carlos making the two throws were big for us. He was efficient and throwing strikes. He was keeping them off balanced. Denorfia put the good swing on the home run and double."
Happ said he felt like he could have pitched the entire game the way he was going.
"I was feeling good, my pitch count was good," Happ said. "I was getting ahead and getting groundballs for the most part. They got those two balls that dropped in there, and then the big hit. I was trying to get ahead with a strike, and I threw it down the middle, and he jumped on it."
The Astros couldn't get anything going off Harang. The Padres starter allowed just one run on three hits over six innings and struck out eight. At one point, Harang (3-0) sent down 16 of 17 batters.
"He's a veteran, and he knows what he's doing up there," Astros first baseman Brett Wallace said of Harang. "He keeps you off balanced. He has four pitches that he mixes well together."
Houston still had a chance to tie it late against Padres closer Heath Bell bringing the tying run up in the bottom of the ninth, but Jason Michaels flew out to center to end it.
Despite the chance to tie late and Happ keeping Houston in the game, the Astros never really threatened against the Padres.
"Happ threw great. He gave up four in seven innings," Wallace said. "That's a quality start, so hopefully, we give him more runs than that. The Padres have a great staff, and they showed that tonight."
NOTES: Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, who played both with and against Jackie Robinson, was in Houston to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. He, along with several former Astros players met with current players Bourn, Bill Hall and Jason Bourgeois for a reception before the game. Irvin, who is 92, was pleased to take part in the celebration. "He was a wonderful pioneer," Irvin said. "He did a great job of integrating baseball and not only did he make it better in baseball, but he made it better in all the sports." ... Astros SS Clint Barmes, on the disabled list with a broken left hand, said his recovery is going well and will have X-rays on Monday with hopes to begin a rehabilitation stint in the minors soon.
Lopez on DL with elbow injury
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros have placed reliever Wilton Lopez on the 15-day disabled list with nerve irritation in his right elbow.
Lopez is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in six appearances this season. He was 5-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 68 appearances last season. His time on the disabled list is backdated to Thursday.
Houston also purchased the contract of 28-year-old Jose Valdez from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. Valdez is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and two saves in three appearances for the RedHawks this season. This is the first time Valdez has been in the majors.
Other NL Capsules
Chacin goes distance in Rockies' seventh straight win
DENVER (AP) — Jhoulys Chacin tossed a six-hitter for his first career complete game, Chris Iannetta hit a bases-clearing triple and the Colorado Rockies won their seventh straight, beating the Chicago Cubs 5-0 on Friday night.
The Rockies are off to their best start in franchise history, improving to 11-2 behind the performance of Chacin, who's picking up the slack quite nicely with ace Ubaldo Jimenez sidelined due to a cracked cuticle on his right thumb.
In windy and cool conditions, Chacin (3-0) struck out seven and walked two. He smacked his fist into his glove when the Rockies recorded a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.
Matt Garza (0-2) turned in a third straight erratic performance, surrendering five runs and seven hits in six innings.
Nationals 4, Brewers 3, 10 innings
WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam LaRoche's 10th inning fielder's choice scored Jayson Werth with the winning run.
With one out, Werth grounded to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who threw wildly to first. Werth took second on the error. Werth stole third without a throw.
After the stolen base, the Brewers played a five-man infielder with left fielder Ryan Braun playing between first and second. LaRoche bounced to first against Zach Braddock (0-1) and Prince Fielder's throw home pulled catcher Jonathan Lucroy off the plate, and Werth scored the winning run.
Chad Gaudin (1-1), the Nationals' fifth pitcher, pitched a scoreless 10th.
Marlins 4, Phillies 3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs hit a go-ahead two-run single against his former team.
It may have been a costly loss for the NL East-leading Phillies because Roy Oswalt left with a lower back strain. Oswalt pitched six impressive innings before getting hurt. He allowed two runs and four hits, striking out six. He didn't allow a hit until Logan Morrison led off the fifth with a home run into Philadelphia's bullpen.
Five Marlins relievers combined for four scoreless innings after starter Javier Vazquez struggled through five. Edward Mujica (2-1) worked the sixth. Leo Nunez finished for his fifth save in as many tries.
Danys Baez (1-1) relieved J.C. Romero in the seventh and walked Gaby Sanchez. John Buck followed with a soft single to center to load the bases. After Donnie Murphy popped out to second, Dobbs lined a two-run single to left to put the Marlins ahead 4-3.
Pirates 6, Reds 1
CINCINNATI (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched his second career complete game in gusty winds, limiting the NL's most prolific lineup to five hits, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended their four-game losing streak.
Gusts sent food wrappers racing across the field and played havoc with flyballs — one of Cincinnati's wind-blown flies landed for a hit. Morton (2-0) lost his shutout when Jay Bruce homered with two outs in the ninth. His only other complete game was a shutout against the Cubs on Sept. 30, 2009.
Garrett Jones and Neil Walker homered off Bronson Arroyo (2-1), who gave up a season-high five runs in only four innings.
Giants 5, Diamondbacks 2
PHOENIX (AP) — Matt Cain had his third strong outing in three appearances this season and Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer.
Cain (2-0) allowed one run on four hits in six innings — plus two batters. The right-hander, coming off a superb postseason, threw six scoreless innings, then gave up a popup double down the right field line to Stephen Drew and hit Melvin Mora to end his night in the seventh. Drew later scored, just the third run charged to Cain in 19-plus innings this season.
Sandoval's third homer of the year, off Daniel Hudson in the first inning, provided all the offense the Giants needed. Sandoval also walked and scored on the first of Miguel Tejada's two doubles.
Hudson (0-3) matched his career best with 10 strikeouts but allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and three walks in six innings.<
Cardinals 11, Dodgers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman each homered in consecutive at-bats.
The Cardinals' offense continued unabated as they reached .500 for the first time this season, with five wins in their last six games. They battered the Dodgers' staff for 19 hits a night after winning the series opener 9-5 and collecting 16 hits.
The Cardinals' offensive power extended to the bottom of their lineup, too. Yadier Molina had four hits — all singles — and starter Kyle Lohse singled, too.
Lohse (2-1) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. The right-hander struck out six, including Aaron Miles in the seventh for his 1,000th career strikeout, and walked one.
Jon Garland (0-1) struggled in his season debut, giving up nine hits and five runs in four-plus innings.
Other NL News
Mets-Braves postponed because of rain
ATLANTA (AP) — The New York Mets will have to play their second doubleheader in three days, and they're not happy about it.
Mets officials called the commissioner's office on Friday night when plans were being discussed to reschedule Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves, which was postponed by rain.
The Mets, concerned about the implications to their pitching staff, lobbied unsuccessfully against a doubleheader on Saturday. New York was swept by Colorado in a doubleheader Thursday in New York after being rained out Tuesday.
New York is scheduled to return to Atlanta on June 14-16 and again Sept. 16-18. The Mets preferred to reschedule Friday night's game for one of those series.
"It is what it is," Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said. "I'm not going to get into anything with the Braves."
The teams will play a traditional doubleheader Saturday, with the first game beginning at 4:10 p.m. The second game will start approximately 30 minutes after the end of the first game.
The announcement of the postponement, following a delay of 55 minutes, came shortly after fans were advised the National Weather Service had issued a severe storm warning for Atlanta and a tornado warning for North Georgia.
Friday night's scheduled starters — Atlanta's Derek Lowe and New York's D.J. Carrasco — will start Saturday's first game.
Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens will make his season debut in the second game against New York's Mike Pelfrey.
The storm is expected to pass through Atlanta Saturday morning, leaving clear skies for the doubleheader.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez approved of the plan to make up the game as soon as possible instead of later in the season when the Mets return to Atlanta.
"Let's play it," Gonzalez said. "You don't know what the weather is going to be like in June or September."
The Mets moved Carrasco out of their bullpen when right-hander Chris Young's start was pushed back to Sunday due to tendinitis in his surgically repaired arm.
Young said Friday night he felt better after throwing in the bullpen on Thursday. He said he will go through his routine on Saturday with the intent of pitching Sunday.
Ricco said if the Mets have any concerns about Young's ability to pitch deep into Sunday's game after their bullpen may be taxed in Saturday's two games, the team may have to make a roster move to call up another pitcher.
Ricco and Collins discussed the options in a telephone conversation with general manager Sandy Alderson after Friday night's game was postponed.
"Everything is on the table," Ricco said.
Each team will wear No. 42 jerseys in the first game, as planned for Friday night, as part of baseball's annual tribute to Jackie Robinson.
The Braves announced that fans holding tickets for Friday night's game can exchange for any other game this season, subject to availability, including Saturday's doubleheader.
Jurrjens was one of the Braves' top starters in his first two seasons. He was 13-10 with a 3.68 ERA in 2008 and 14-10 with a 2.60 ERA in 2009. He was slowed by hamstring and knee injuries last season, when he was 7-6 with a 4.64 ERA.
The right-hander sustained the oblique injury in Atlanta's spring game against Toronto on March 24.
He wasn't convinced he needed to be placed on the disabled list, but the Braves made the move on April 3, retroactive to March 25.
"Actually, it's behind me," Jurrjens said Friday. "Right now I'm just happy I'm back. Nobody's going to be happy going on the DL if you think you can pitch, you know? I understand the point of view; I respect that. It's behind me."
Jurrjens said the injury "wasn't severe at all."
Jurrjens pitched six innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, allowing two runs on four hits against Norfolk.
NOTES: OF Jason Bay (strained left rib cage) was 0 for 2 with a walk in three innings in an extended spring training game Friday. ... C Ronny Paulino caught four innings and was 0 for 2 for Class A St. Lucie in his first rehab game. He is on the 15-day DL with anemia.
-- Charles Odum
Greinke throws simulated game, rehab start is next
WASHINGTON (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Zack Greinke threw a 30-pitch simulated game Friday, another step in his return from a cracked rib.
The 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner, Greinke was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in a December trade to be Milwaukee's ace. But he injured himself playing pickup basketball early this spring and opened the season on the disabled list.
He hopes to make his first rehab start at Class-A Brevard County on Tuesday.
"It was pretty good all around," Greinke said after the simulated game. "It might not be the sharpest or the best, but I'll be ready. I feel like I can execute some stuff, just get the endurance and hopefully get ready."
Greinke will need at least three rehab starts before he's ready to rejoin the Brewers, manager Ron Roenicke said. Greinke told him by the third start he should be able throw 70 pitches.
"If he makes that jump, he's pretty much ready," Roenicke said.
"Yeah, he's ready to go. We'll see how he comes out of it (Saturday). If he's OK, if he's OK, we have a plan made out for him."
Greinke, who'll will throw 30-35 pitches in two innings in his first start, is eager to come back, but doesn't want to rush his rehab.
"They don't want me to come in and pitch for three or four innings or whatever and not be ready," Greinke said.
Jimenez's next start pushed back to Tuesday
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have juggled their starting rotation, pushing ace Ubaldo Jimenez's return to the mound back a day.
Jimenez, who's on the 15-day disabled list with a cracked cuticle on his right thumb, was scheduled to throw Monday to open a three-game series with San Francisco. Instead, Esmil Rogers will face Tim Lincecum and the Giants, while Jimenez starts Tuesday.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Friday the decision was made not so much because of the condition of Jimenez's cut, but to keep Rogers on his regular pitching schedule.
Lefty Jorge De La Rosa will start Wednesday.
Jimenez allowed six runs, five earned, in his opening day start April 1 against Arizona. He's eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday.
Diamondbacks put Heilman on DL; recall Collmenter
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed reliever Aaron Heilman on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis and recalled rookie pitcher Josh Collmenter from Triple-A Reno.
Heilman's move to the DL is retroactive to April 14. It's the first time the 32-year-old right-hander has gone on the disabled list in his nine-year major league career. Heilman has a 12.15 ERA in four games with Arizona this season. He was charged with six runs on seven hits and a walk over 1 2-3 innings Wednesday night against St. Louis.
The 25-year-old Collmenter allowed two hits and struck out seven over six innings in his lone start for Reno last Sunday at Salt Lake City.
Oswalt leaves with back injury
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phillies right-hander Roy Oswalt left his start against Florida with a lower back strain after six innings Friday night.
Oswalt got hurt while running to first after putting down a bunt in the bottom of the sixth. He stayed in and ran the bases, but came out after trying his warmup pitches.
Oswalt, a three-time All-Star, has been durable throughout his career. He's made at least 30 starts eight straight seasons, though he's been on the disabled list six times.
LHP Beimel rejoins Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pirates purchased the contract of left-handed relief pitcher Joe Beimel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. Beimel, in his second stint with the Pirates, was a non-roster invitee to Bradenton this spring and began the regular season in Single-A due to left elbow inflammation. All told, he pitched three scoreless minor-league innings. To make room on the 25- and 40-man rosters, the Pirates designated LHP Garrett Olson for assignment.
Beimel is a native of St. Marys, Pa., and attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He is a veteran of 532 appearances, and sports a 23-31 career record.
Elsewhere
Dykstra charged with bankruptcy crime
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra was arrested for investigation of grand theft, a day after he was charged with a federal bankruptcy crime, authorities said Friday.
Dykstra, 48, was arrested Thursday night by Los Angeles police at his Encino home on suspicion of trying to buy a stolen car, police spokesman Officer Christopher No said. He did not have other details. Dykstra remained jailed Friday.
His arrest came a day after Dykstra, in an unrelated federal complaint, was charged with embezzling from a bankruptcy estate. He faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted.
Dykstra, who bought a Ventura County mansion once owned by hockey star Wayne Gretzky, filed for bankruptcy in 2009, claiming that he owed more than $31 million and had only $50,000 in assets.
Federal prosecutors contend that after filing, Dykstra hid, sold or destroyed more than $400,000 worth of items from the $18.5 million mansion without permission of a bankruptcy trustee.
The items allegedly ranged from sports memorabilia to a $50,000 sink. At one point, he sold "a truckload of furnishing and fixtures" for cash at a consignment store, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office.
It was not immediately clear whether Dykstra had obtained an attorney, U.S. attorney's office spokesman Thom Mrozek said.
Dykstra spent 12 years in the big leagues and helped the Mets to the World Series championship in 1986. He was a three-time All-Star in the 1990s while with the Phillies. He had the nickname "Nails" and was known for his rowdy behavior on and off the field.
In 2007, the Mitchell Report on steroid use in pro baseball mentioned allegations that Dykstra had used steroids. Dykstra has denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
After retiring, Dykstra had a number of business ventures, including owning a car wash, and wrote a stock-picking column on TheStreet.com, a financial website founded by TV host Jim Cramer. However, he also was the subject of a number of lawsuits.
In January, his housekeeper alleged that Dykstra forced her to provide sexual favors but he denied the allegations and Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges.
Gooden gets probation in NJ DUI case
HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) — Former major league baseball star Dwight Gooden has been sentenced to five years' probation after pleading guilty in New Jersey to child endangerment.
At sentencing Friday, state Superior Court Judge Donald Venezia also ordered Gooden to undergo outpatient drug treatment.
The charges stem from a March 2010 traffic accident in Franklin Lakes. Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said Gooden was under the influence of cocaine when his vehicle collided with another and that Gooden's then 5-year-old son was riding in the back seat without a seat belt. No one was hurt.
The 46-year-old former pitcher for the New York Mets and New York Yankees could have faced up to three years in state prison under the plea bargain previously reached with prosecutors.
But Venezia found that Gooden, who lives in Old Tappan, met the criteria for sentencing under New Jersey's drug dependency law, which allows defendants to avoid imprisonment by agreeing to participate in a treatment program.
Gooden, nicknamed Doc and Dr. K because of his phenomenal strikeout numbers early in his career, and was Rookie of the Year in 1984. He won 194 games in his 17-year career. His pitching helped lead the Mets to a World Series title in 1986 and a National League East crown in 1988. He also was a member of Yankees teams that won championships in 1996 and 2000.
But drugs and legal troubles plagued his career and continued after his retirement in 2001.
Besides the Mets and Yankees, Gooden also pitched for Cleveland, Houston and Tampa Bay.
MLB players all wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day
NEW YORK (AP) — Jackie Robinson's family has taken part in a pregame tribute at Yankee Stadium on the 64th anniversary of the day he broke baseball's color barrier.
Friday was Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball. All players, managers, coaches and umpires wore his No. 42 in memory of the Brooklyn star, who made his debut in 1947.
Wife Rachel Robinson and daughter Sharon were honored before the Yankees played Texas. They were joined by Yankees stars Mariano Rivera, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano.
Rivera is the last big leaguer still regularly wearing No. 42. The number has since been permanently retired.
Texas manager Ron Washington and Yankees manager Joe Girardi visited Little Leaguers in Newark, N.J., as part of the Jackie Robinson celebration.
Umpire leaves game after being hit on left ankle
DENVER (AP) — First base umpire Jerry Layne gingerly limped off the field after being struck in the left ankle by Carlos Pena's line drive in the second inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies.
Layne stayed down on the grass for several minutes Friday night as the cart was summoned to carry him off the field. The crew chief then walked off under his own power, heading straight into the clubhouse.
Pena sent a 3-2 pitch from Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin right at Layne, who was standing close to the foul line. The veteran umpire attempted to jump out of the way just before the ball hit him. Second base umpire Bob Davidson moved over to first to take Layne's place.
