Colby Rasmus Carries Limping Bulls

Colby Rasmus hoisted the bedraggled Bulls on his back Tuesday night, trying to carry the injury-riddled team to victory. Rasmus went 2 for 5 with two home runs, two RBI, and two runs scored. He's scored three of the team's seven runs in the series and blasted two of its three homers. With Matt Kemp, Jonathon Lucroy, and Emilio Bonifacio still injured, Rasmus' contributions are welcomed for the Bulls.

The Bulls 7, Scully's Slammers 3
Rasmus isn't the only hero for the Bulls in the first two days of this series. Catcher Kelly Shoppach hit a home run Tuesday and drove in two runs and second baseman Ryan Theriot collected his third RBI of the series. On the mound, the bullpen was solid as Joaquin Benoit, James Russell, and Scott Downs combined to pitch two scoreless innings with Benoit and Russell earning holds. The Bulls also received good news from the injury ward. Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez will return to the lineup today after missing the first two days with a sore knee and pitcher Bud Norris is scheduled to make a rehab start on Saturday and could return to the rotation for the next series. The Slammers have their own injury concerns with Matt Holliday struggling with a sore hip flexor and Joe Mauer nursing a bruised right quad. Holliday was able to DH Tuesday and drove in a run. Carlos Peña drove in two runs with a homer while reliever Ross Detwiler pitched 3.2 perfect innings, striking out three. The Bulls have an opportunity to take command of the Quality Start and Strikeout categories tonight as Jason Vargas, Felix Doubront, and Phil Hughes all take the mound. The Slammers will pitch Yovani Gallardo.

The Cys 8, Twinkle Toes 2
C.J. Wilson walked a fine line Tuesday to earn a quality start for the Cys which was important as Edinson Volquez was having a meltdown. The Cys' starting pitchers are trying to take advantage of Jeremy Hellickson's absence from Twinkle Toes' lineup. He'll miss the next 15 days with shoulder fatigue. Wilson gave up three runs over 6.1 innings while Volquez was strafed for six runs over five innings. Closer Fernando Rodney earned a save for the Cys but Aroldis Chapman continued his rapid descent, allowing two runs in .1 inning while Brad Ziegler also gave up a run in relief. The Toes lost a quality start for veteran hurler Tim Hudson when he was forced to throw too many pitches by a tough Yankee lineup. Hudson allowed just two runs but couldn't make it past five innings. At the plate, Joaquin Arias led the Toes with three hits and a run while Raul Ibañez scored twice. The Toes received some bad news on the injury front when Evan Longoria was forced to shutdown his rehab assignment after aggravating his partially torn hamstring. Ichiro Suzuki and Melky Cabrera led the Cys offensively, combining for seven hits and three RBI. The Toes will try again tonight to seize the Quality Start and Strikeout categories when they pitch Bronson Arroyo, Brian Matusz, and Ryan Vogelsong. The Cys will start Yu Darvish.

Jersey Boys 5, Los Coche Bomba 3
Freddie Freeman returned to the lineup for the Jersey Boys Tuesday and paid immediate dividends by scoring a run and reaching base on a walk. The news on the pitching front wasn't as positive as Justin Verlander was the only starter of three to earn a quality start. Verlander only struck out three over 7 innings but allowed just one run. Hiroki Kuroda and Aaron Harrang, on the other hand, combined to give up seven runs over 10.2 innings. Curtis Granderson and Rickie Weeks didn't help at the plate, striking out a combined six times in nine plate appearances. Andrew McCutchen, Jimmy Rollins, and Pablo Sandoval combined for seven hits, four runs, and three RBI to lead Bomba. McCutchen also had a home run and a steal. Veteran soft-tosser Bruce Chen is on the mound for Bomba tonight with an opportunity to break the Quality Start tie.

Lower Haighters 6, High Cheese 6
Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo brought the big lumber Tuesday night while both bullpens were lights out. Pujols and Ryan Braun combined to go 3 for 6 with five RBI, four runs, and a home run to lead the Haighters. On the other side, Trumbo and Paul Goldschmidt went 5 for 9 with eight RBI and three runs scored while Goldschmidt added a homer and a stolen base. Five relievers pitched for High Cheese, earning two saves and a hold. Tom Wilhelmsen and Ryan Cook each earned saves and Grant Balfour a hold without giving up a run. Of concern to the team is another blown save by closer John Axford, who allowed two runs in an inning. For the Haighters, Jacob McGee, Andrew Miller, and Ernesto Frieri combined to pitch 1.2 innings of scoreless ball and all earned holds. Jered Weaver will start for High Cheese tonight with an opportunity to tie the Quality Start category and seize Strikeouts.

Bacon at Mile 11 7, Marin Menehunes 5
Logan Morrison emerged from a season-long slumber for Bacon Tuesday, crushing a home run and driving in five RBI while Mike Trout went 4 for 4 with four runs scored. Light-hitting Brendan Ryan also got into the act, going 2 for 3 with a long ball, three RBI and two runs scored. Carlos Ruiz, Billy Butler, and Asdrubal Cabrera led the Menehunes, collecting a combined six hits, six RBI, and three runs. All three hit homers. Johan Santana led the Menehune pitching staff, striking out five over six scoreless innings for a quality start. Barry Zito and Clay Buchholz weren't as productive, giving up 13 runs over 9.1 innings. Casey Janssen and Carlos Marmol were perfect in the 'pen, giving up just one hit and one walk in a combined two innings while earning two saves. Bacon's ace, Lance Lynn, was roughed up Tuesday, giving up five runs in five innings. Closer J.J. Putz was also knocked around, allowing two runs in an inning. Bobby Parnell and Eric O'Flaherty rode to the rescue of the team ERA and WHIP, pitching two scoreless innings while collecting a pair of holds. Trevor Cahill will start tonight for Bacon, as the team looks to tie the Quality Start category and build on its Strikeout lead.

A-Rod's Mirrors 5, HUMA 4
Cole Hamels struck out seven over eight innings to earn a quality start and Kyle Seager belted a homer and knocked in four runs as the Mirrors rallied Tuesday. The 'pen was also solid as Craig Kimbrell and Chad Qualls tossed two scoreless innings with Kimbrell picking up a save. The bad news for the Mirrors was Dustin Pedroia leaving Tuesday's gave after apparently aggravating his thumb injury. For HUMA, Adrian Beltre and Gerardo Parra combined to go 5 for 8 with three RBI, four runs scored, and two home runs. There was some negative injury news at the plate as Mitch Moreland left Tuesday's game with a strained hamstring. Young Scott Diamond couldn't continue his stellar performance on the mound, allowing four runs over 5.1 innings while striking out just one batter. The Mirrors can build big advantages in Quality Starts and Strikeouts tonight as Stephen Strasburg, Jake Westbrook, and Justin Masterson all take the mound.

The Machine 5, Home Run 101 3
Aramis Ramirez, Lucas Duda and Ian Desmond each hit home runs Tuesday for Home Run 101 and combined to drive in seven RBI and score four runs. That would be an offensive explosion by Home Run 101's standards. In the 'pen, David Hernandez gave up a run while Vinnie Pestano pitched another scoreless inning. Jose Bautista continued to mash for the Machine Tuesday, blasting two home runs and scoring three times. David Ortiz and John Mayberry also went long and combined to drive in four runs. The Machine welcomed Cody Ross off the DL and he homered in his first day back. On the mound, the reviews were mixed for the Machine. Jake Peavy tossed a complete game to earn a quality start but Daniel Hudson was rocked for seven runs in just four innings. Hudson could lose his spot in the starting rotation for the Machine, as Brandon McCarthy was strong over seven innings Tuesday and looks healthy. The 'pen was solid for the Machine but not without controversy. Joel Peralta was ejected before throwing a pitch Tuesday when a foreign substance was found on his glove. The Machine will hope its ace setup man is not suspended. Jonathan Broxton and Francisco Rodriguez had less drama in their appearances with Broxton earning a save and Rodriguez a hold.

Vicious Fishes 6, Give it a Yankee 6
The Fishes had one pitcher in action Tuesday and David Price did not let the team down. He allowed three runs over seven innings, striking out four, to earn the quality start. At the plate, the team struggled, driving in just two runs and scoring twice. Nelson Cruz accounted for both RBI and one of the runs. Give it a Yankee's pitchers were excellent Tuesday. Luke Hochevar and Wandy Rodriguez allowed a combined two runs over 14.2 innings as both earned quality starts. Relievers Aaron Crow and Chris Perez were also perfect, with Crow earning a hold. At the plate, Michael Morse and Nick Swisher combined for four hits and four RBI with Morse hitting a home run. Tommy Hanson will start today for the Fishes and Francisco Liriano for Give it a Yankee.