Rundown 8/10/09

Possible Playoff Match-Up:
Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5
Yes! The 6-game losing streak is over! Combined with New York's loss to Toronto, that means the Sox are only 5.5 games back now! And the Rangers did not play last night, so Boston has a half- game lead in the Wild Card too. Even so, yesterday's game was not exactly the best game ever played. The Red Sox jumped out to an early 4-0 lead over Detroit starter Edwin Jackson, who they chased after 4 innings. But the Tigers ate away at their lead until it was 5-5 in the 7th inning. In the bottom of the inning, though, Nick Green came through with a sacrifice fly to give the Sox a 1-run lead, which is the way it stayed for the rest of the game thanks to Jon Papelbon's 4-out save. Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay, and Green all homered in the win.
And Aidan, here is the Tampa Bay/Los Angeles series, even though there is no way the Rays are getting in the playoffs:
Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-7

Pitching Performance of the Night:
Gio Gonzalez, OAK: 6 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K vs. Baltimore
Gonzalez had a good game, pitching 6 shutout innings...against Baltimore. The Orioles have a terrible offense, but shutting out a team is worth commending. Gonzalez gave up 5 singles and 2 doubles in his reign, but he was helped out because Baltimore went 0-12 with runners in scoring postition. Mark Ellis had 5 hits and Ryan Sweeney hit 2 doubles in the 9-1 victory.
Honorable Mention: Jorge De La Rosa, COL: 7.2 IP, 7 H, ER, 4 BB, 11 K (he should have gotten PPotN, but I already wrote the whole thing about Gonzalez, so...)

Offensive Performance of the Night:
Troy Tulowitzki, COL: 5 for 5, 2 1B, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 R, 7 RBI (hit for cycle) vs. Chicago
Tulowitzki hit for the cycle last night, marking the first of his career and the sixth this year in the MLB. He hit a 2-run shot in the first inning off of Tom Gorzelanny, singled in 2 runs in the second, hit an RBI double in the fourth, and tripled to lead off the seventh. As if that wasn't enough, he then hit a 2-run single in the next inning. Congratulations to him. The Rockies won 11-5.
Honorable Mention: Kendry Morales, LAA: 3 for 4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Mark Ellis, OAK: 5 for 5, 2B, 4 RBI (he probably would have had more runs scored if he wasnt batting 8th in the order)