honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Greinke masterful again

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kansas City's Zack Greinke pitched a six-hitter with 10 strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox. His ERA is 0.40.

CHARLIE REIDEL | Associated Press

spacer spacer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Walking through Kauffman Stadium for the first time since returning from hip surgery, Royals third baseman Alex Gordon looked over and saw teammate Zack Greinke arriving for his next start.

"There's the man," Gordon said. "You're the guy I've been hearing about."

For good reason.

Baseball's best pitcher in April, Greinke (6-0) kicked off May with another gem: 10 strikeouts in a six-hitter for his second shutout in four starts. The right-hander didn't walk a batter and baffled the White Sox to become the majors' first six-game winner after lifting Kansas City to a 3-0 win last night.

"He's the best in the league right now," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

More than 6,500 fans bought walk-up tickets — pushing the attendance to 21,843 — to watch Greinke's sixth start of the season and he didn't disappoint.

"It was real exciting," said Greinke, who dropped his ERA to a nearly negligible 0.40 and pushed his strikeouts to a majors-best 54. "Definitely my favorite game of the year, if not ever."

INDIANS 9, BLUE JAYS 7:

Josh Barfield singled home the go-ahead run in the 12th inning and visiting Cleveland beat Toronto. Mark DeRosa opened the 12th with a double to right off Shawn Camp (0-1). One out later, Luis Valbuena walked and Barfield followed with a single up the middle, scoring DeRosa. Grady Sizemore added a two-run double.

RED SOX 6, YANKEES 4:

Jon Lester (2-2) matched a career high with 10 strikeouts, Mike Lowell and Jason Bay homered and visiting Boston beat New York in a rain-delayed game that ended at 1:10 a.m. Jonathan Papelbon pitched 1 2/3 innings for his seventh save, striking out Robinson Cano with the bases loaded to finish it.

ANGELS 5, ATHLETICS 2:

Torii Hunter drove in three runs, Joe Saunders (4-1) pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning and visiting Los Angeles beat Oakland. Baldwin High alum Kurt Suzuki hit a solo homer in the seventh for the A's.

ORIOLES 8, RAYS 4:

Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer and Brian Roberts added a two-run shot to help visiting Baltimore stop a six-game losing streak. Markakis, after the first two Baltimore batters walked, made it 3-0 with his three-run shot off Scott Kazmir (3-3) in the first.

TWINS 7, TIGERS 2:

Francisco Liriano had a season-high nine strikeouts and Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run triple in a five-run seventh, leading visiting Minnesota over Detroit. Liriano (1-4) allowed four hits and two runs over 7 1/3 innings.

RANGERS 6, MARINERS 5:

Chris Davis hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Felix Hernandez (4-1) in the sixth inning and visiting Texas beat Seattle. Davis' drive gave Texas a 6-4 lead and sent Kevin Millwood (3-2) to his first win over Seattle in his last six starts.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PHILLIES 6, CARDINALS 1:

Ryan Howard hit his seventh career grand slam, tying Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt for the Phillies record, in a victory over host St. Louis that included a frightening injury to Rick Ankiel. The Cardinals center fielder crashed headfirst into the fence after chasing down a line drive to the gap in the eighth. He was carted off the field strapped to a gurney and wearing a neck brace.

MARLINS 3, REDS 2:

A throwing error by shortstop Paul Janish sent home the winning run in the 14th inning, and host Florida beat Cincinnati. With runners at first and second and none out, Jorge Cantu grounded to first baseman Joey Votto, who threw to second for a forceout. Janish's relay bounced past pitcher Daniel Herrera (0-1), who was covering first, and Ronny Paulino scored without a play.

BREWERS 7, PIRATES 4:

Rickie Weeks hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the ninth after a supposedly unavailable Ryan Braun tied it an inning earlier with a two-run double, helping visiting Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh. Braun underwent an MRI exam in Milwaukee earlier in the day, flew to Pittsburgh, and was cleared to play.

NATIONALS 9, ASTROS 4:

Adam Dunn delivered a two-run single during a five-run sixth inning, and Ryan Zimmerman matched a career high with four hits for host Washington. Zimmerman's first-inning single extended his Nationals-record hitting streak to 22 games.

DODGERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 2:

Los Angeles became the first National League team since 1900 to win its first 11 home games, overcoming an Arizona triple play to beat the Diamondbacks. Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs.

METS 6, BRAVES 4:

Carlos Beltran hit a pair of two-run homers and David Wright added a two-run shot for visiting New York. John Maine (2-2) won despite setting a career high with six walks.

CUBS 4, GIANTS 2:

Ryan Theriot homered, Ryan Dempster pitched seven strong innings and host Chicago beat San Francisco. Dempster (2-1) allowed two runs and five hits, struck out seven and walked two.

ROCKIES 9, PADRES 6:

Chris Iannetta hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning for visiting Colorado. The defeat was San Diego's 12th in 14 games.