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1. Tiger beat: The Tigers had dropped 13 straight games at the former Jacobs Field until Justin Verlander limited the Indians to three hits and struck out 10, pitching just well enough to hold off the Cleveland 4-3 on Thursday night. Verlander, who is not yet 29 years old, has 100 career victories (even though we all know that decisions for pitchers are dumb). He also knows how to make Shelley Duncan nuts, as Jeff Sullivan of SB Nation deconstructs in a brief but brilliant post. And a happy game finished goes to Jose Valverde, who notched his 33rd straight save.
2. Team of destiny vs. team of density: The Astros just couldn't bring themselves to do a favor for the San Francisco Giants, so they folded like a cheap tent in the late innings at Arizona. The Diamondbacks were down to their last strike before pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt tied the score with a two-run homer in the ninth. In the 10th, Chris Young tattooed a three-run homer against situational lefty Sergio Escalona for a stunning 8-5 D-backs victory that allowed them to move a full game ahead of the Giants.
3. Machine power: Albert Pujols woke up from his Milwaukee coma, going 4 for 4 with a solo homer to back Chris Carpenter and help prevent a sweep in a 5-2 Cardinals victory. Phat Albert had gone 5 for 42 against Brewers pitching, but he came through to help the Cards draw within four games of the Crew.
4. Opportunity, then a knock: Robinson Cano connected for a go-ahead grand slam two pitches after Maicer Izturis extended the seventh inning with an error, and the Yankees held on after a rally to beat the Angels 6-5. Closer Mariano Rivera allowed a three-run homer to Russell Branyan in the ninth, but got the last out for his 30th save.
5. Cameron Maybin love: Maybin homered and stole two bases in San Diego's 3-2 win at the Mets. All I've been hearing the past two days is how Cameron Maybin is helping 'Duk win his first fantasy baseball title ever. Do you have a similar crush on Cameron Maybin? Please e-mail Kevin and engage him in conversation about Cameron Maybin and fantasy baseball.
6. Road worriers: Mark Buehrle allowed three hits over eight innings in Chicago's 6-3 victory at Baltimore, capping a 6-1 road trip. The White Sox like to flirt with .500, but like that girl in school you liked, they have no intention of actually going there.
7. Yankees, here we come: Behind tallish right-hander Jeff Niemann and a shut-down bullpen, the Rays beat the Royals 4-1 to complete a four-game sweep. Tampa Bay is 7 1/2 behind the Yankees for the AL wild card, but they'll head to the Bronx to see about cutting into the deficit.
8. More men in white needed: Getting four hits from Hideki Matsui, the A's beat the Blue Jays 10-3, obviously because Toronto couldn't steal enough of Oakland's signs.
9. El Tiante II: Johnny Cueto's Luis Tiant whirling windup is a lot of fun to watch, especially when he dominates as he did in a 2-1 victory for the Reds against the Rockies.
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