1. Put 'er there: Jake Peavy said he's been wanting to pitch like a No. 1, an ace, a stopper, the guy White Sox GM Ken Williams traded for. And, on Wednesday night against the AL's best offense, Peavy pitched one of the best games in the majors this season.
In his second start of the season after a long injury rehab, Peavy allowed three hits with no walks, and he struck out eight in a masterful complete-game shutout against the Cleveland Indians. The White Sox, who came in 10 games behind the front-running Indians in the AL Central, edged Justin Masterson and the Tribe 1-0. Cleveland had scored a combined 31 runs in its past three games.
"I got traded to be the guy you saw tonight and I am going to do everything I can do in the next two years to be that guy," Peavy said. "I told you guys this is the healthiest I have been in Chicago."
The best part might have been that he got through 111 pitches 100 percent healthy. In his previous start at U.S. Cellular Field (in July), Peavy tore a lat muscle and didn't pitch again in 2010. It's still reasonable to expect the worst every time Peavy goes out there. But if the White Sox are to climb back into the pennant race, a healthy and dominant Jake Peavy is where it begins.
2. This game was on drugs: Mariano Rivera blew the save, but Robinson Cano came through with a two-run double in the 15th to break a tie in the New York Yankees' 4-1 victory at Baltimore. After Cano's hit, lefty Mike Gonzalez hit Chris Dickerson in the head with a pitch. It probably wasn't intentional, but it was still scary.
Dickerson had to leave the game, which forced Joe Girardi to shuffle his lineup, too. Eduardo Nu�ez, an infielder, finished the game in right field. It's too bad; Girardi's other choice was putting Derek Jeter in right, thus fulfilling Brian Cashman's preseason prophecy.
3. Cody Ross doin' Cody Ross things: The San Francisco Giants probably felt a collective uneasiness returning to Dodger Stadium for the first time since fan Bryan Stow was nearly killed in an assault outside the park. But Ross made the best of the evening, hitting a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth to give the Giants an 8-5 victory.
4. Is that you, Colbert? The Philadelphia Phillies still aren't mashing the ball, but since Cole Hamels was on his game, they'll gladly just take a 2-1 victory against the Rockies.
5. Bud Norris fact: He had a 1.97 ERA, and was undefeated at St. Louis, before the Cardinals got some regression to the mean in a 5-1 victory against the Astros.
6. His favorite tattoo parlor was closing: In the 11th inning with the infield drawn in, Ryan Roberts hustled home on Justin Upton's grounder to score the winning run in Arizona's 5-4 victory against the Braves. It'll make Kirk Gibson happy.
7. Angels with dirty records: He's not struggling a lot, exactly, but Jered Weaver isn't untouchable anymore. The Angels lost in Weaver's fourth straight start after starting the season with six straight wins when he pitched. Jason Vargas was better in Seattle's 3-0 victory.
8. Send Charlie to Chase Field: How about Charlie Morton for the All-Star game? How about it's still way too early to decide that stuff? But, with a 2.62 ERA and a winning record for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he has a chance. He struck out five and allowed five hits in his second career shutout, a 5-0 victory against the Reds.
9. They do what they do: The Royals appeared to have something after Eric Hosmer tied the score with a home run against Neftali Feliz in the bottom of the ninth. They really appeared to have something in the 10th when they loaded the bases with one out. But Melky Cabrera and Hosmer got jumpy at the plate and KC blew the scoring chance. Rangers won 5-4 in 11.
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