Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Sept. 3
San Francisco at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m. EDT). NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum (13-4, 2.33 ERA), who leads the majors with 222 strikeouts, pitches for the Giants in the finale of a three-game series between playoff contenders. On the mound for the Phillies is 37-year-old Pedro Martinez, a three-time Cy Young winner.
STARS
Tuesday
—Cole Hamels, Phillies, pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts for his fourth career shutout in a 1-0 victory over San Francisco. The left-hander extended his scoreless innings streak to 19, tying a career best, and won for the first time since July 28.
—Josh Hamilton, Rangers, snapped out of his extended power drought with two home runs, leading Texas past Toronto 5-2 for a doubleheader sweep. The Rangers won the opener 5-2.
—Jorge Posada, Yankees, homered twice and New York beat Baltimore 9-6.
—Tim Hudson, Braves, returned to the majors and pitched Atlanta to a 4-3 victory at Florida after a rain delay of 2 hours, 50 minutes. Hudson gave up two runs in 5 1-3 innings in his first big league start since having elbow ligament replacement surgery almost 13 months ago.
—Jose Morales, Twins, had a pinch-hit single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give Minnesota a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
—Placido Polanco and Carlos Guillen, Tigers, homered on successive pitches, lifting Detroit to an 8-5 win over Cleveland.
SIDELINED
Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. had an MRI that showed inflammation in his balky left knee but no structural damage. Griffey had arthroscopic knee surgery in October. He had the knee drained earlier this season. Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said Griffey likely will not play until Thursday.
WELCOME BACK
All-Star third baseman David Wright was activated from the disabled list and played his first game for the Mets since getting hit in the head by a fastball from San Francisco’s Matt Cain on Aug. 15. Wearing his bulky, new protective batting helmet, Wright went 1 for 3 with a single and scored a run during New York’s 8-3 loss at Colorado. … The Cardinals activated third baseman Troy Glaus, sidelined all season following shoulder surgery in January, from the 60-day disabled list although manager Tony La Russa couldn’t promise him regular playing time.
BAD TIMING
A pair of All-Stars got injured in the thick of the pennant race. Texas third baseman Michael Young strained his left hamstring while running out a grounder in the second game of a doubleheader against Toronto. An MRI was scheduled Wednesday for Young, the longest-tenured Rangers player. He’s in his ninth full season and has never reached the playoffs. Down in Florida, shortstop Hanley Ramirez left the Marlins’ 4-3 loss to Atlanta with a tight left hamstring. The team said he is day to day. Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said the “cramp” likely had a lot to do with a long rain delay, and doesn’t think the injury will sideline his star slugger.