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Nick Blackburn

(Monday, September 21st)

Final Score: Minnesota 7, Chicago 0

Chicago, IL – Nick Blackburn pitched seven shutout innings in the Twins’ 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox, as Minnesota gained ground in the AL Central race. Blackburn (11-11) tied a career-high for wins after allowing eight hits and striking out six without allowing a walk. The Twins have won seven of eight and are now just 2 1/2 games behind the Tigers in the division with 12 games to go — including four against Detroit. Orlando Cabrera had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored, while Nick Punto went 2- for-2 with a pair of walks, an RBI and two runs scored in the win. Mark Kotsay had two of Chicago’s eight hits, as the White Sox’s playoff hopes continued to fade. With their fifth loss in six games, the Sox have fallen seven games behind Detroit. Daniel Hudson (0-1) pitched well in his first career start, allowing three runs — one earned — on four hits and four walks in five innings.

Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 5, New York 2

Anaheim, CA – Joe Saunders and the Angels kept the Yankees’ champagne on ice, as Los Angeles posted a 5-2 victory to prevent New York from clinching the first playoff spot in baseball. Saunders (14-7) went 8 1/3 innings as he continued his late-season surge, allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and zero walks. Kendry Morales hit his 31st home run of the season for the Angels, whose magic number to clinch the AL West is now six with 12 games to play. The Yankees needed either a win or a Texas loss to secure a playoff berth, but the Rangers defeated Oakland, 10-3. Andy Pettitte (13-7) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings for the Yankees, who have lost three of four but still lead Boston in the AL East by five games after the Red Sox lost Monday at Kansas City. Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui both homered for New York in defeat.

Final Score: Texas 10, Oakland 3

Oakland, CA – Julio Borbon, David Murphy and Hank Blalock each had three hits and two runs batted in, leading the Rangers past the Athletics, 10-3, to snap Oakland’s seven-game winning streak. Chris Davis hit a two-run triple for Texas, which has won two of three following a debilitating five-game skid that saw the club score just one run. The Rangers still sit seven games behind Boston in the wild card race and trail the Angels by 7 1/2 games for the top spot in the AL West. Kevin Millwood (11-10), who had his previous start skipped, allowed just one unearned run on three hits and a walk in seven quality innings. Edgar Gonzalez (0-3) lasted a mere 3 1/3 frames, surrendering six runs — five earned — on nine hits for the A’s, who received a two-run homer from Matt Carson in defeat.

Final Score: Kansas City 12, Boston 9

Kansas City, MO – Yuniesky Betancourt’s go-ahead two-run single capped a six-run, two-out rally in the sixth inning as the Royals rallied to beat the Red Sox, 12-9, in the opener of a four-game series. Mike Jacobs smacked a three-run homer for the Royals, who won for the 11th time in 14 contests. Billy Butler, Alberto Callaspo and Alex Gordon each had two RBI as the Royals came back from an 8-2 deficit to beat a potential playoff team on a rainy night at Kauffman Stadium. Jason Bay hit a three-run homer for Boston, which has seven game lead on Texas in the American League wild card standings. The Rangers won in Oakland, 10-3, Monday. The Red Sox also remained five games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. New York lost in Anaheim, 5-2, Monday. Victor Martinez extended his career-best hitting streak to 20 games and drove in two runs. Jacoby Ellsbury also had two RBI in defeat. Both starting pitchers struggled in the wet conditions. Boston’s Tim Wakefield walked seven batters, giving up five hits and five runs — four earned — over five frames. Lenny DiNardo, who walked six, was lit up for 10 hits and eight runs over five frames for the Royals. Yasuhiko Yabuta (2-1) earned the win for KC, while Josh Bard (2-2) took the loss for Boston.

Final Score: Toronto 9, Baltimore 2

Toronto, ON – David Purcey pitched into the eighth inning and Travis Snider drove in three runs as Toronto earned a 9-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game series. The Blue Jays received sixth-inning solo homers from Lyle Overbay and John McDonald as they snapped a four-game skid. Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion added two-run singles. Making his seventh start of the season, Purcey (1-2) was charged with four hits and a run with four walks. He also had four strikeouts. Chris Tillman (2-4) yielded six hits and four runs over five-plus frames as the Orioles dropped their fifth straight contest. Felix Pie drove in both runs for Baltimore.

Final Score: San Francisco 5, Arizona 4

Phoenix, AZ – Travis Ishikawa scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, as the Giants picked up a much-needed 5-4 decision over the Diamondbacks. Bengie Molina scored and drove in a run for San Francisco, which had lost three of four coming into the game. The win brings the Giants to within four games of the NL wild card-leading Rockies. Sergio Romo (5-2) was credited with the win after recording the final two outs of the seventh, and Brian Wilson notched his 35th save of the season. Justin Upton drove in two for the D-Backs, while Mark Reynolds homered for the 43rd time this year. Arizona has lost four of five overall and committed three errors in the game. Giants starter Barry Zito and his counterpart, Billy Buckner, finished with similar lines, as each lasted 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs — three earned — on six hits and three walks. Esmerling Vasquez (3-3) took the loss for the Diamondbacks.

Final Score: St. Louis 7, Houston 3

Houston, TX – Mark DeRosa had three hits, including two homers, and drove in four as the St. Louis Cardinals topped Houston, 7-3, to spoil the managerial debut of the Astros’ Dave Clark. Clark, previously the team’s third-base coach, was named Houston’s interim manager earlier Monday after Cecil Cooper was fired. Cooper accumulated a 171-170 record with the team since taking over in August 2007, but the Astros were just 70-79 before Monday, leading to Cooper’s dismissal. But Houston got loss number 80, and its season-high eighth in a row, on Monday thanks to DeRosa and a Cardinals offense that pounded out 15 hits. Albert Pujols doubled twice, Skip Schumaker had three hits and Matt Holliday went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kyle Lohse (6-8) took the win after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk in six innings. He also struck out four for St. Louis, which reduced its magic number for clinching the NL Central to three. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (13-11) allowed six runs on nine hits in five innings to take the loss. Lance Berkman and Miguel Tejada hit solo homers in the setback.

Final Score: Atlanta 11, New York 3

Flushing, NY – Chipper Jones hit one of three Atlanta home runs off Pat Misch, a three-run shot, as the Braves crushed the New York Mets, 11-3, in the opener of a three-game series. Garret Anderson had a two-run homer and Matt Diaz added a solo shot for the Braves, who scored all their runs in the first three innings. Martin Prado went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in the victory, which pulled Atlanta within five games of idle Colorado in the NL wild card standings. Derek Lowe (15-9), who collected two hits, took the win after giving up three runs on six hits in five innings. He also struck out five for the Braves, who opened a six-game road trip. Atlanta pummeled Misch (1-4), the Mets’ starter, for eight runs in 1 1/3 frames, during which he allowed seven hits, walked one and fanned one. Daniel Murphy went 2-for-4 with a homer for New York, which had a two-game win streak broken.

Final Score: Chicago 10, Milwaukee 2

Milwaukee, WI – Derrek Lee went 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and four RBI, and Tom Gorzelanny fanned nine Brewers in a 10-2 Cubs win. Gorzelanny (6-2) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk through five innings for the Cubs, who have won two straight following a four- game slide. Chicago’s Aramis Ramirez homered and drove in two during a three-hit effort, while Milwaukee’s Mike Cameron went deep in both the second and fourth frames. Braden Looper (13-7), unbeaten in his previous seven starts, lasted just four innings. The right-hander surrendered 10 hits and seven runs, as the Brewers had their five-game win streak snapped and were eliminated from the NL Central race.

Final Score: San Diego 11, Pittsburgh 6 (11 innings)

Pittsburgh, PA – Chase Headley finished 5-for-6 and drove in the go-ahead run during a five-run 11th inning as San Diego outlasted Pittsburgh, 11-6, in the finale of a four-game series from PNC Park. Headley fell a triple short of the cycle and drove in two for the Padres, who won three of four in the series. Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, Nick Hundley added a two-run homer and drove in three, and Oscar Salazar picked up a pair of hits and also drove in three runs. Sean Gallagher (2-0) hurled a scoreless 10th inning to pick up the win. Andrew McCutchen and Ronny Cedeno each drove in two runs for the Pirates, who fell to 3-15 in September. Jeff Karstens (3-5) was saddled with the loss, charged with three hits and five runs while recording one out.

Peyton Manning

Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Miami 23

Miami, FL – Peyton Manning needed the 37th game-winning drive of his illustrious career to surpass Johnny Unitas as the franchise leader in wins among quarterbacks, and the Indianapolis Colts secured a 27-23 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium.

Manning’s offense had the ball for only 14:53 in the entire game, the lowest total for a winning team of any game since 1977 — Indianapolis ran only 35 plays, while the Dolphins totaled 84. But the reigning NFL MVP completed 14-of-23 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns on the way to getting his 119th career win — all with the Colts.

“I’m very proud to wear the same uniform as (Unitas),” Manning said. “He was very nice to me the times I was around him. I never saw him play, but my dad told me how good he was and what he meant to the city of Baltimore. It’s very humbling to be mentioned with (Unitas), but it’s a team record.”

Indianapolis (2-0) has won its two games this season by a combined six points, and extended its regular-season winning streak to 11 games — the longest active one in the league.

Dallas Clark was the main beneficiary of the passing attack Monday, catching seven balls for a career-high 183 yards — including an 80-yard touchdown on the first offensive play of the game. Pierre Garcon caught only one pass in Anthony Gonzalez’s absence, but it was a big one – a 48-yard touchdown reception with 3:18 left in the contest.

“I hope we don’t have to do it that way,” Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said. “We don’t go into it thinking we’re only going to have one possession in the third quarter. This league is based on possessions. We’re not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we’re certainly efficient.”

Donald Brown added a 15-yard touchdown — the first of his career — for the Colts, who garnered just 61 yards on the ground due to their premier aerial attack.

Ronnie Brown led a dominant Dolphins (0-2) rushing attack with 136 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Miami’s offense held the ball for more than 75 percent of the game, and Chad Pennington was an efficient 22-of-33 for 183 yards and an interception. Ted Ginn, Jr. had 11 catches for 108 yards in defeat.

“It’s not about statistics. It’s about winning games,” Pennington said. “When you have an opportunity to score touchdowns, you can’t kick field goals. I’m at a loss for words, I really am.”

The Dolphins totaled 239 yards rushing and went 15-for-21 on third down opportunities, but in the end Manning’s quick-strike offense proved to be too much.

“It’s really disheartening,” said Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano. “I don’t have to ask you guys how many times you’ve seen games where you have the ball for 45 minutes…It’s exactly the formula to beat that team. Exactly the formula.”

With 10 minutes remaining and the game tied, the Dolphins took over on their own 22 and went to the passing attack, a stark difference from the dominating rushing game they used for the first 50 minutes of the contest.

Facing a 3rd-and-5 right away from the 27, Pennington found Ginn in the middle of the field for a 15-yard gain. After two unsuccessful run plays, Pennington hit Ginn again for 21 yards down to the Colts’ 34.

The drive stalled from there, and Dan Carpenter’s 45-yard field goal attempt split the uprights for a 23-20 lead with 3:50 to play.

But as Manning has done all his career, he led the team to the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

The first play of the four-play, 80-yard set went to Reggie Wayne for 15 yards, and the second to Clark for 17 yards to the Miami 48. After an incompletion to Garcon, Manning went back to the second-year receiver in the flat, and Garcon avoided several would-be tacklers and raced to the end zone.

“You’re looking for the first down, and when you’re down three it’s a tough scenario,” Manning said. “You want to score the touchdown to win the game, but you have to make sure you at least score to send it to overtime.”

Miami then started from its own 18 took 1:13 on the first two plays of its final drive — both running plays — to get to the two-minute warning.

The Dolphins finally started to go the air and got down to the Colts’ 42 with 35 seconds to play. Pennington nearly hit Ginn in the end zone on a long pass play, but the receiver had the ball tip off his hands. A desperation heave in the final seconds resulted in an end zone interception by Antoine Bethea, the game’s only turnover.

The Colts got off to a quick start, as Manning found Clark down the middle of the field on the first play from scrimmage. Clark kept his balance to avoid a shoestring tackle and rumbled 80 yards for the touchdown.

Miami then took the more conventional way to score, going 75 yards in nine plays on its opening drive to tie the game. Ronnie Brown ran five times — several times from the Wildcat formation — for 42 yards, including a 14-yard score to cap it off just over six minutes into the game.

The Dolphins moved methodically down the field again on their next drive, using 13 plays to go 53 yards, and Carpenter drilled a 45-yard field goal in the early moments of the second quarter for a 10-7 lead.

Adam Vinatieri answered for the Colts with a 43-yard field goal with 9:14 remaining in the half to even the contest.

Each team added another field goal before halftime for a 13-13 score.

Carpenter missed a 49-yard field goal early in the third with a chance to put Miami in front, but the Dolphins’ dominant rushing attack led them to the go- ahead score with a drive that spanned the final two quarters.

The march took 13 plays, went 80 yards and took nearly nine minutes to execute. The set involved 11 rushing plays for 68 total yards, and the only two passes saw Pennington convert crucial third down situations. Ronnie Brown ran in from three yards out 1 1/2 minutes into the fourth to put Miami in front.

Indianapolis, though, had an answer, choosing to work quickly in contrast to its opponent. On the second play of the six-play, 79-yard drive, Manning once again found Clark near the sideline, and he avoided a tackle and raced down to the Miami 27 for a 49-yard gain. On the ensuing 3rd-and-2, Manning used and audible and found Austin Collie out wide for four yards and a new set of downs.

The next play saw Donald Brown barrel through several defenders for a 15-yard touchdown and a tie score, 20-20, with 10 minutes to play.

Game Notes

The Dolphins started 0-2 last year before winning 11 of their final 14 games…The Colts hadn’t played in this stadium since winning Super Bowl XLI against the Bears in February, 2007…It was the first home Monday Night Football game for Miami since December 25, 2006…The Colts have won the last three meetings between the teams…Indianapolis ran only three offensive plays in the third quarter.