Blowout City

Baseball Update:
The Dodgers scored eight runs in the first inning. So you can kind of guess how that game ended, but can you guess how many runs the Dodgers ended up scoring over the next eight innings?.....If you said eight more runs, you'd be correct, as Los Angeles outslugged the Rockies 16-10. Troy Tulowitzki made his first appearance for the Rockies since being cut by a shattered bat.

But they weren't the only ones bringing their bats to town, the Tigers at one point were leading the Royals 19-0. Now being the meriful team that they are, Detroit gave up four runs in the bottom half of the 8th before closing out the victory 19-4. Miguel Cabrera had six RBIs while Matt Joyce talled 5 in the win.

The Yankees also brought the big stick, chasing Twins starter Nick Blackburn out in the middle of the second inning before finishing off Minnesota 12-4. Johnny Damon returned to the lineup since injurying his shoulder over two weeks ago. However, it was all kicks and giggles for the Bombers who put Jorge Posada on the DL with an injured shoulder. The catcher is now debating on having season ending surgery.

On the other side of the fence were the Rays who kept Oakland on their losing streak by blanking the A's, 4-0. Scott Kazmir held Oakland to just two hits, reminding fans of his early season form when he went 6-0 with a 0.88 ERA. Another Rays pitcher wasn't having such a great day. Matthew Walker was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for an amphetamine. Remember, greenies are bad kids, Red Bull is good.

The A's meanwhile got a welcomed sign when DH Frank Thomas took batting practice on Monday.

Jon Lester kept the Mariners in their place, tossing a seven plus inning shutout for the Red Sox in his hometown ballpark. Jason Varitek added a two run homer to put a special stamp on Boston's 4-0 win.

The Marlins ended up on the wrong side of a 4-0 game, with the Braves redeeming themselves from Sunday's blowout loss to the Marlins. Jorge Campillo shined in seven scoreless innings on the mound for the Braves.

We may have found the Cubs kryptonite and it's name is Randy Johnson. Monday's 2-0 win for the Diamondbacks marked Randy's 13th win over Chicago making him undefeated in such games.

The Cubs were reportedly fined for a violation relating to the First-Year Player Draft. According to the report, the violation had to do with "a rule requiring that an agreement be in place before any signed Draft pick takes the field." Uh-oh.

The Indians continue to move full steam ahead, handling the Angels, 5-2. The Indians are still missing Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez in the line-up but Andy Marte and Casey Blake both broke through with homers for the Tribe.

Who says homerun derbies hurt your swing. A-Rod you said? Well Mr. Rodriguez, take note, those 28 dingers in the first round did nothing to Josh Hamilton who added a longball when it counted, in the Rangers 6-1 victory over the White Sox.

The Brewers made it interesting, blowing a one run lead in the ninth only to regain it and then some in the 10th, in their 6-3 win over the Cardinals. Skip Schumacher hit a sac fly to Ryan Braun that scored Brendan Ryan knotting the score at 3 a piece before the Brewers finally decided to take care of business.

Mets closer Billy Wagner needs some more tests on his shoulder. So that's probably not a good sign right?

Sad news, Hall of Fame writer Jerome Holtzman has died. Holtzman is credited with creating the saves rule.

Nascar Update:
Click here to see who will try to qualify for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard this weekend.

The National Stock Car Racing Commission has decided to uphold fines and penalties levied against the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy driven by Martin Truex, Jr. for violations found during opening day inspection at Daytona International Speedway.

Kyle Petty's stint out of the #45 Dodge has been extended by one race. Petty had been out since June as he served as an analyst for TNT. Petty Enterprises is hoping to take advantage of Terry Labonte's past champions provisional to make Sunday's Cup race at the Brickyard.

Tony Stewart is expected to announce that he will be driving the #14 Chevy next season for Stewart Haas in 2009 this weekend at Indy. Office Depot and Old Spice will split sponsorship duties.

After being delayed on Sunday, Kevin Harvick won the TD Banknorth 250 on Monday night.

Popo in my crib News:
Convicted felon Marion Jones has asked President Bush to commute her sixth month sentence. Apparenly jail has not been the fun party house she was expecting and has currently served four months of her sixth month sentence for lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and for a check-fraug scam. Goodness, you've got two months to go, suck it up. And next time, when you get approached by federal agents, don't lie. Watch out Marion, because the popo are on your tail!

News&Notes: Besides Jeremy Shockey's trade, there was some other news in the NFL, like Brian Urlacher restructured his contract with the Bears...And Jason Taylor was officially introduced as a Redskin...Plaxico Burress says he will report to Giants training camp on Thursday...And I'm still in the bargaining stage for those wondering...Marcus Camby is not happy that he was traded to the Clippers...The Red Wings have hired Brad McCrimmon as an assistant coach, filing a vacacny created with Todd McLellan's departure...American teen soccer wonder Freddy Adu will move from Portugal's Benfica to Monaco where he'll play in the French league next season. From one great local to the next, not too bad.

Check this out: ***CSI: NY SPOILER ALERT*** For all of you fans of CSI:NY, the team will get a new cast member in Kathleen Munroe formerly of Beautiful People. She'll play Samantha Flack, kid sister to Det. Flack (Eddie Cahill) and as an added bonus, she'll be stirring things up as a bad girl. I have always been more of a CSI:Miami kind of girl, but let's be honest who doesn't love Eddie Cahill (Tag from Friends) and Melinda Kanakaredes (Dr. Sydney Hansen of Providence)?

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate