Slammers Jump to Big Lead Over Bomba

The Slammers scored 10 runs and drove in eight more thanks to three home runs by Mark Teixeira, Jed Lowrie, and Edwin Encarnacion on Monday, giving the team the early lead in its pivotal series with Bomba.

Bomba could not get the offense going in the first day of the series, scoring just three runs while driving in  one. Todd Helton, Miguel Cabrera, Michael Bourn, Jimmy Rollins and Robinson Cano combined to go 4-for-27 with nine of the team's 12 strikeouts.

Scully's Slammers 8, Los Coche Bomba 1

The Slammers dominated the mound as well as the plate Monday. James McDonald struck out five over eight scoreless innings giving up just five hits while walking one to earn a quality start. Reliever Brandon League, who lost his closer role in Seattle, pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Matt Harrison earned a quality start for Bomba, giving up two runs over eight innings while fanning five. Luis Perez and Greg Holland pitched well in relief but the enigmatic Francisco Rodriguez gave up four hits and two runs while recording just one out to damage the team ERA and WHIP. James Shields will pitch tonight for the Slammers as they try to take over the quality start lead.

The Cys 6, Marin Menehunes 2

Both teams got off to a fast start in this series on the mound and at the plate. The Cys scored nine runs and drove in 11 thanks to Starlin Castro and Willin Rosario. Castro went 2 for 5 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base while Rosario was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI. Jason Kipnis continued his hot play for the Cys, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a stolen base. The Menehunes were also swinging a hot bat Monday led by Kelly Johnson's 3 for 4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Josh Reddick also added his 14th homer of the season. Young Matt Moore was stellar on the mound for the Cys, striking out 10 over seven innings to earn a quality start. Veteran Barry Zito earned a quality start for the Menehunes while relievers Casey Janssen, Matt Belisle and Ramon Ramirez combined to pitch 3.2 shutout innings with Janssen earning a save. Edwin Jackson starts tonight for the Cys with a chance to take the quality start lead for the team.

Vicious Fishes 7, High Cheese 1

A single pitching performance can alter a series and that was the case for Chris Sale Monday. Sale struck out 15 over 7.1 innings to earn a quality start for the Vicious Fishes. Carlos Zambrano also had a quality start and five strikeouts as the team jumped out to a 29-1 lead in the strikeout category. To make matters worse for High Cheese, ace Jered Weaver left his game with a back injury. Both teams missed a golden opportunity offensively when bench players posted high scores. Ty Wigginton had a home run and six RBI for High Cheese while Dexter Fowler had a home run, five runs scored, three RBI and  stolen base for the Fishes. Sonavabench! Jake Arrieta and Dan Haren start tonight for the Fishes while Joe Saunders pitches for High Cheese.

Jersey Boys 7, HUMA 4

Home runs from Curtis Granderson and Alfonso Soriano and solid bullpen work have the Jersey Boys in the lead. Soriano went 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored while Granderson was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Joel Hanrahan earned a save and Edward Mujica a hold as the veteran relievers combined to pitch two scoreless innings. HUMA had a meltdown on the mound Monday, as Doug Fister and Jordan Zimmerman combined to give up 10 earned runs over 11 innings. Scott Diamond rescued the staff with a quality start. At the plate, Jarrod Saltalamacchia continued his hot play, slugging another homer for HUMA. The Jersey Boys could grab the quality start lead and another point in the series when veteran hurlers Justin Verlander and Andy Pettitte pitch tonight.

Lower Haighters 7, The Bulls 3

Both teams got off to an excellent start on the mound Monday. Closers Joe Nathan and Addison Reed each pitched scoreless innings and earned saves for the Lower Haighters while James Russell, Santiago Casilla and Wilton Lopez were perfect in relief for the Bulls with Casilla recording a save. The difference was the quality start from Shaun Marcum. Marcum struck out nine over seven innings while allowing just one run for the Bulls. At the plate, Adam Dunn and Giancarlo Stanton both homered for the Lower Haighters while Marco Scutaro drove in three runs and stole a base for the Bulls. The erratic Ricky Romero pitches tonight for the Lower Haighters while Jason Vargas is on the mound for the Bulls.

Bacon at Mile 11 8, The Machine 2

It was an offensive free-for-all Monday, as these teams combined for eight homers, 17 runs and 18 RBI. The hit parade was led by Chase Headley, who had two homers, three RBI, and two runs scored for the Machine. Darwin Barney and John Mayberry also went long for the team. Eric Hosmer, Troy Tulowitzki, Mike Trout, and Logan Morrison all hit home runs for Bacon. Lance Lynn struck out eight and earned a quality start and Matt Capps had a save as Bacon took the lead in five of the six pitching categories. Francisco Rodriguez earned a hold but allowed a run for the Machine. Rookie Jarrod Parker pitches tonight for the Machine while Anibal Sanchez starts for Bacon.

Twinkle Toes 6, Home Run 101 4

Juan Nicasio was unfortunate to be pitching in Wrigley Field when the wind was blowing out so he gave up six runs over six innings for Twinkle Toes Monday. Closer Brett Myers was also rocked, giving up a run in relief while recording just one out. Vinnie Pestano, who has been steady all year for Home Run 101, earned a hold in a perfect inning but Cory Wade gave up a run without recording an out. Offensively the two teams combined for six runs and nine RBI with Howie Kendrick and Aramis Ramirez knocking in five of those runs for Home Run 101. Ryan Vogelsong will try to settle things down for Twinkle Toes when he starts tonight.