Scott White, Nando Di Fino chat replay (8/20)
Francisco Rodriguez nearing big save milestone
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
Rodriguez allowed two one-out singles in the ninth inning, but retired the final two batters with ease to close out a 3-1 win. Rodriguez struck out two batters in the outing while throwing 20 pitches, or his fifth save in as many tries.
Rodriguez has an 0.68 ERA on the season, with 13 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings of work.
Edward Mujica bounces back from subpar outings
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
Mujica retired the Cubs in order on three fly balls, needing just eight pitches to end the inning and close out a 4-1 win. MUjica now has 21 saves in 21 opportunities, ranking his second in the National League. He also has a 1.97 ERA in 32 innings of work.
Jason Grilli finally blows first save
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
Pitching with a small margin for error in a 1-0 game, Grilli allowed a one-out home run to Jay Bruce, the first he has allowed in 41 appearances dating back to Sept. 9 of last season. The Pirates would go on to lose the game, 2-1, in 13 innings.
Grilli's ERA rose to 1.10 in the game, and he still leads the National League with 25 saves. He has 54 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings of work, and has allowed just four runs overall.
Craig Kimbrel reaches 20-save plateau
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
Kimbrel tossed a quick ninth inning, setting the Mets down in order while racking up two strikeouts. He needed just 12 pitches to save his 10th game in a row.
Kimbrel has now allowed a run in 13 straight appearances, lowering his ERA to 1.65. He has 20 saves in 23 opportunities.
Jonathan Papelbon blows another save
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
Papelbon allowed a leadoff single in the inning, but appeared to be on the verge of getting out of with a pair of quick outs. Unfortunately, he could not close the inning out, issuing a walk and then a game-tying single that sent the game into extra innings.
The Phillies would go on to lose, 6-2, in 11 innings. Papelbon has blown two opportunities for saves in 16 chances, with a 1.95 ERA.
J.P. Howell struggles in return from suspension
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
Howell entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and recorded the first out, before giving up consecutive singles and being pulled from the game. Both runners came around to score, leaving him charged with two runs in one-third of an inning, in a 6-4 loss.
Howell has a 2.81 ERA on the season while pitching mostly in middle relief.
Michael Brantley parks two home runs
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
The light-hitting outfielder only now has four HRs on the year. Both homers were solo shots and he added a sacrifice fly RBI in the sixth inning in the 6-3 Cleveland win.
Brantley finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and is batting .277. He was 0 for 10 in his previous three games before homering twice Wednesday.
Michael Morse hitless in return
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
Morse went 0 for 2 with a strikeout in the defeat as C.J. Wilson allowed just two hits. He's batting .252.
Morse is going to be playing some outfield going forward as soon as his quad can stand it. He'll also be splitting time at first base with Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales as Smoak cannot play all three games in a series, MLB.com reports.
Ernesto Frieri lights out again
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com
The closer went 1-2-3 in the ninth with one strikeout. He needed just 13 pitches and eight went for strikes. His ERA is now at 2.61 on the year.
Frieri has not allowed a run, hit or walk over his last five appearances and has three saves over that span. He's 16 for 17 in save chances this season with 45 Ks over 31 innings.
Juan Uribe returns from back issue
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
Uribe went 0 for 3 in the game with a walk, in a 6-4 loss. He did not appear in the second game of the doubleheader. Uribe is batting .267 on the season.
