June 13: Rogers, McDowell, and Castillo Throw Zeroes, Burks and Hatteberg Walk It Off
Kenny Rogers continued to anchor a surging Rangers rotation, spinning 8.1 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts in a 3–0 win over the White Sox. The loss was Chicago’s 8th in 9 games, as their season continues to spiral.
Jack McDowell matched Rogers pitch for pitch in Colorado’s 2–0 win over the Giants, tossing 8 innings of 3-hit ball. The Rockies are clawing to stay alive in the West—and outings like this help.
Frank Castillo rounded out the trio of aces with 8 scoreless innings against Detroit, leading the Mets to a 2–0 win and their third straight victory.
Also:
- Derek Bell’s walk-off single lifted the Cubs over the Twins, 3–2.
- Ellis Burks smashed a two-run double in the 9th as Toronto rallied to beat the Orioles, 4–3.
- Scott Hatteberg’s bases-clearing double in the 9th powered the Dodgers past the A’s, 5–3.
June 14: Sebra Dominates, Spiders Rally, and Mets Win a 12–11 Circus
Bob Sebra keeps dealing. After a rocky stretch in May, he’s now tossed back-to-back gems. His latest? A 4-hit complete game with 8 Ks in a 5–1 win over Colorado.
Roger Clemens struck out 11 in 7.1 innings as the Dodgers beat Oakland 5–2, giving LA a two-game sweep on the road.
Tony Tarasco had himself a night for the Mets, going 3-for-4 with a homer and 4 runs scored in a wild 12–11 comeback win over Detroit. Lance Johnson walked it off with a single, and the Mets have now won four straight.
Howard Johnson gave the Spiders one of the more dramatic swings of the month, launching a grand slam in the 9th to steal a 6–5 win over Orlando.
Also:
- Mike Lieberthal homered in the 10th to give the Yankees a 6–2 win in extras over the Reds.
- Cleveland is now 34–38, and creeping up in the Federal League East standings.
June 15: Edgar Martinez Slugs, Cormier Dazzles in Loss, and Cards-Royals Ends in Extras
Edgar Martinez put the Pilots on his back, homering twice and driving in three in a 6–3 win over the Padres. His power surge has Seattle back at .500 and lurking in the Wild Card chase.
Matt Stairs stayed red-hot for the Reds, going 4-for-5 with a homer and 4 RBIs in a 5–1 win over the Yankees. Since getting more regular starts, Stairs has added much-needed muscle to the Cincy lineup.
But the game of the day? That belonged to the Royals and Cardinals, in a potential playoff preview.
Rheal Cormier was outstanding—9 innings, 4 hits, 1 run—but didn’t factor into the decision as the game went 12 innings. That’s when Mike Benjamin, of all people, slapped a go-ahead single to start a four-run rally. The Cards took it 5–1, and Kansas City drops to 48–24, still tied for best record in baseball—but now looking over their shoulder.