Gallardo, Brewers handle Cain, Giants
Trying to rebound from a recent losing streak with a patchwork starting rotation, the host Milwaukee Brewers turned to Yovani Gallardo.
And starting opposite another one of the National League's best young pitchers, Gallardo didn't disappoint. Milwaukee's 23-year-old burgeoning ace outdueled San Francisco's Matt Cain, lifting the Brewers to a 5-1 victory over the Giants on Friday night.
Gallardo (8-4) provided a big lift to a team that had lost five of its previous six games and is missing two starters. Dave Bush is injured and Manny Parra is in the minor leagues working out his control issues.
"Based on the circumstances that we're in right now with starting pitching, it's that much more important for us to win every time he does start," Ryan Braun said. "He's been great for us all year. He's been our guy."
Braun drove in a pair of runs and slumping shortstop J.J. Hardy homered for the Brewers. It was only the second loss in seven games for the Giants.
"I thought if I make quality pitches, they would get themselves out," said Cain (9-2). "But they didn't."
Friday's game figured to be a low-scoring pitching showdown. Gallardo certainly delivered, giving up a first-inning home run to Pablo Sandoval before settling down to retire 16 Giants in a row between the second and seventh innings.
"He's got four pitches that he mixes up very frequently," San Francisco's Nate Schierholtz said. "He doesn't stick to one thing. You can't really sit on one pitch with him. He kept his curveball down."
Gallardo struck out nine while giving up 4 hits and 3 walks, exiting to a standing ovation with two outs in the eighth. He said he didn't get caught up in the matchup with Cain.
"You've still got to go out there and pitch your game," Gallardo said. "You can't try to do too much. That's when you get in trouble."
Twins 3, Cardinals 1: Glen Perkins (3-4) worked 7 dominant innings in 92-degree heat and the visiting Twins got key hits from Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer in a victory over the slumping Cardinals. St. Louis has totaled 3 runs in during a three-game losing streak.
Joe Mauer was 1-for-2 with 2 walks and is batting .396 for the Twins, who are 38-37 overall but 11-5 in interleague play.
Yankees 9, Mets 1: Three errors by Mets infielders led to a 4-run second inning, Alex Rodriguez added his 564th home run to pass Reggie Jackson on the career list, and CC Sabathia (7-4) pitched the visiting Yankees to a victory.
Fill-in leadoff batter Brett Gardner had a career-high 5 hits, including his third home run of the season and a triple.
Twins 3, Cardinals 1: Glen Perkins (3-4) worked 7 dominant innings in 92-degree heat and the visiting Twins got key hits from Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer in a victory over the slumping Cardinals. St. Louis has totaled 3 runs in during a three-game losing streak.
Joe Mauer was 1-for-2 with 2 walks and is batting .396 for the Twins, who are 38-37 overall but 11-5 in interleague play.
Astros 5, Tigers 4: Miguel Tejada had a double and drove in 2 runs to lead the host Astros to past Detroit, snapping the Tigers' seven-game winning streak.
Red Sox 4, Braves 1: Josh Beckett (9-3) threw 7 scoreless innings against the host Braves and David Ortiz homered, leading the first-place Red Sox to a victory.