The Juice: Tigers overcome Aroldis Chapman, Pirates move into first place (!)

Posted: June 11, 2012 at 9:17 pm

(AP)

The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.

Rolaids Chapman: The ESPN broadcasters wondered aloud if this would be a season-defining comeback for the the Detroit Tigers, who scored four runs in the eighth and beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6. Two of the runs came against Aroldis Chapman, who struggled with his command in a failed attempt to secure a two-inning save. Though he came in with two runners on and nobody out, the match-ups favored Chapman, who has been particularly dominant against left-handed batters. But Brennan Boesch managed a single and Matt Young got hit by a pitch to force in a run before right-handed batter Austin Jackson lined a tying two-run double. A walk to Quintin Berry and a run-scoring wild pitch followed. Chapman retired Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Delmon Young to get out of the inning, but not with a lead. Detroit, heavily favored in the AL Central, took two of three in the series and is 28-32 overall.

Bucco loot: We went down this road in 2011 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who were in first place this past July 25 before utterly disintegrating the rest of the way. Fool us once, Buccos, shame on you. But they find themselves tied for first place in the NL Central again after completing a three-game sweep of the Royals in interleague play. Andrew McCutchen homered and drove in all of the runs in a 3-2 victory against K.C. A.J. Burnett took a no-hitter into the sixth and has won five straight starts. The Pirates are pulling this off despite averaging about 3.2 runs per game, with a club on-base percentage of .285.

Nine times: The Baltimore Orioles won their ninth straight extra-inning game, 5-4 in 10 to the Phillies. The Orioles rallied from a 4-1 deficit against Cliff Lee, who still has yet to pick up a win this season in what's becoming an Illuminati Conspiracy. Steve Tolleson hit a three-run homer and Matt Wieters drove in the winning run with a double to finish off a big day at the plate. The Phillies left 10 on base and went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position to drop their eighth game in nine tries.

Revenge for the 2010 World Series! (not really): The Texas Rangers managed to combine for a three-hitter, beating the Giants 5-0 despite losing starting pitcher Alexi Ogando to a strained groin after he went three perfect innings. Three relievers finished off the Giants, who also were shut out Friday in the series opener. Tim Lincecum's ERA is 6.00.

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Quote of the Day: "Good umpires had a real bad series this series a real bad series and it went one way. There should be a review." Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine after what appeared to be a rough time at Fenway Park. The Washington Nationals won 4-3 to complete a three-game sweep. Valentine was ejected in the ninth for arguing balls and strikes against umpire Al Porter (whom I've never heard of).

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Photo of the Day: "The Seattle Six? Yeah, that was me."

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The Juice: Tigers overcome Aroldis Chapman, Pirates move into first place (!)

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