18 runs? Crap!

Baseball Update:
The Red Sox closed out their sweep of the Twins with 23 hits and 18 runs in their win, becoming the 8th time this season a team has scored at least that many runs.

The Cubs, basking in the Rich Harden trade, brought their ace Carlos Zambrano to the mound and he did not disappoint lasting 8 innings in Chicago's 5-1 defeat of the Reds. Adam Dunn's second inning homer turned out to be the only run the Reds could muster in the game.

Speaking of the Cubs, while seven members of the team were selected to the all-star game, only six will take the field after the team announced injured outfielder Alfonso Soriano will be unable to play at Yankee Stadium.

The Royals scored early and often, but the White Sox never gave up, scoring the winning run off an eighth inning Ramon Ramirez balk to edge the Royals, 7-6. Carlos Quentin had two homeruns in the win.

Josh Hamilton's amazing season continues after hitting the game winning homerun in the ninth off of Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez to give the Rangers a 5-4 win. "I always see guys on TV tossing their helmet and jumping into the crowd," Hamilton said, "Seeing all those guys at the plate, that's an awesome feeling."

Things have not be going well for the Indians. Coming into Wednesday night's game, they had lost 9 in a row, but looked to end the skid going up 6-0 on the Tigers. But in true slumping fashion, Detroit was able to rally, beating the Tribe, 8-6.

Unlike the Indians, the Nationals were able to stop their losing streaking at six after blanking the Diamondbacks, 5-0.

The Mets got themselves a 5-0 win off the strength of pitcher Johan Santana who was only able to pitch five innings because of a 42 minute rain delay. The offense did the rest including a three run homer by Ramon Castro, which gave Santana his first win in his last seven tries.

The Yankees closed out a brief two game set with the division leading Rays, with a 2-1 win. Bobby Abreu knocked in Derek Jeter for the winning run in the 10th.

Speaking of 2-1 games, the Braves and Dodgers had one of their own with Atlanta coming out on the losing side of things. (A one-run loss, Atlanta? Gee that never happens.) Derek Lowe took a perfect game into the seventh until Gregor Blanco broke things up with a single into center, but was still able to hold onto the win.

In other Dodgers new, they'll be getting a new batting coach after the all-star break, Don Mattingly. And former owner Walter O'Malley will get a plaque at the LA Coliseum. Apparently they are into honoring money hunger, dream destroying traitors. And yes, my family is from Brooklyn.

Mark Mulder's return to the starting rotation lasted just an third of an inning with the ace leaving with shoulder discomfort. It didn't get much better for the Cardinals as they fell to the Phillies, 4-2. Oh, that's not a good sign.

The players have spoken, and here are the best of each league.

Nascar Update:
Stewart's announcement that he's heading to Haas wasn't really a surprise, there's been rumblings about that for months. The real surprise is that Greg Zipadelli isn't following Stewart to the new team, instead he'll stay with Joe Gibbs Racing.

After losing his Cup ride, Dario Franchitti will make a start in the #40 Nationwide Series car for Ganassi.

News&Notes: Check out Phil Mickelson's house, which is currently on the block for over $10 million...IRL rookie E.J. Viso will miss this weekend's race in Nashville because he has been diagnosed with the mumps. Who are you Jan Brady?

Check this out: The first reviews are out for the new iPhones. Click here to see if they are a must buy in 2008.

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate