Around The Majors- Friday

I'll recap yesterday's games, go through the standings, get to the news and notes, and preview a pivotal weekend of race altering ganes. Let's do this.

Thursday Recap
Jake Westbrook went 8 scoreless innings and Nate Robertson went 8 and two thirds scoreless in a huge battle between the two teams fighting for the AL Central crown. The game needed extra innings, but the Tribe then scored 3 runs off of flamethrower Joel Zumaya including a bases loaded two run single by Chris Gomez and beat the Tigers 3-1 in 10. Minnesota scored 4 in the 8th to beat Baltimore 5-2. Jason Kubel drove in 2 to help out winning starter Boof Bonser. Mike Piazza went 4-5 with a homer and 5 RBI's as Oakland trounced Tampa Bay 12-2. Jack Cust homered and drove in 3 to help out Chad Gaudin. Boston and the White Sox were postponed by rain. Ichiro drove in 3 and Jeff Weaver continued his solid pitching as the Mariners ripped the Rangers 9-4. Brad Wilkerson homered and drove in 2 in the loss. Matt Stairs drove in 2 including the go ahead run in the 5th as Jesse Litch pitched Toronto past the Angels 5-4. Vlad Guerrero homered twice with 3 ribs, but it wasn't enough for the Halos.
The Dodgers scored 3 in the 8th to reward Chad Billingsley's solid effort as Los Angeles bested Philadelphia 5-2. Ramon Martinez drove in 2 for the Dodgers. Josh Phelps went 4-5 with 3 RBI's and Pittsburgh cooled Colorado 5-1. Paul Maholm pitched 7 strong for the win. Matt Cain outdueled Carlos Zambrano as the Giants edged the Cubs 4-1. Dave Roberts drove in 2 for San Fran. Atlanta's free fall continues. Adam Dunn hit a walkoff 2 run homer in the 12th off of Bob Wickman to defeat the Braves 9-7. Chipper Jones drove in 5 in the loss. Once again, both Trevor Hoffman and Billy Wagner blew saves. I've never seen two of the best closers of all time perform this badly at the same time, in the same series. Anyway, Adrian Gonzalez homered in the 10th off of Aaron Heilman and former Met Heath Bell picked up the save as the Padres beat the Mets 9-8. Bradley, Bard, and Marcus Giles each drove in two for the Friars. Washington scored 5 times in the 1st inning and held on to nip Houston 7-6. Carlos Lee drove in 5 in the loss. Josh Willingham had 2 homers and 6 RBI's as Florida crushed the Cards 11-3. St Louis committed 4 errors in the game.

Standings
Boston holds a 5 game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. Tampa has lost 7 of 10. Cleveland is 2.5 clear of Detroit in the AL Central. The Tigers have lost 7 of 10 and Chicago has lost 8 of 10. Seattle has won 7 of 10 and have closed to within a game of first place Los Angeles in the AL West. Oakland has won 5 in a row and 8 of 10 to get over .500. The Mets have won 7 of 10 and own a 5 game lead on Philly and a 6 game advantage over Atlanta in the NL East. Florida has lost 8 of 10 and is now in last place. The Cubs lead the Brewers by a half game in the NL Central. Milwaukee has lost 7 of 10 and St Louis has won 7 of 10 and are 3 games back. The Reds have won 7 of 10. Arizona leads San Diego by 3 in the NL West, and the Dodgers by 5.5. Colorado has lost 7 of 10. Seattle now has a 2 game lead over the Yankees for the AL Wild Card. Detroit is 5 back. The Padres lead the Phillies by 2 games in the NL Wild Card, and the Dodgers by 2.5. Atlanta is 3 back, Milwaukee is 3.5 back, and Colorado is 4.5 behind the Pads.

News and Notes
- Akinori Otsuka will be out for the season with elbow problems. He'll be shut down for the remainder of the campaign.
- Edgar Renteria is back on the DL with ankle problems, Martin Prado was recalled. Baltimore sent Garrett Olson to rookie ball. Jon Lester was sent down to AA and Royce Clayton was signed to a minor league deal by Boston. Detroit activated Andrew Miller and sent down Zach Miner. Craig Monroe was dealt to the Cubs for a PTBNL. Rick White was called up by Seattle, replacing John Parrish. Adam Melhuse was designated for assignment.

Weekend Preview
Friday
Beckett and Garland go in the first game of a day night twinbill as the Sox Red and White face off at 2. Schilling and Danks go in the 8pm nightcapper. Santana faces Guthrie in B'More as the Twins look to keep their slim hopes alive. Clemens and Miller go in Detroit, and CC Sabathia faces starter turned reliever now turned starter again Zach Greinke. King Felix faces Millwood in Texas and Halladay faces Weaver in LA.
Maddux-Moyer, Willis-Harang, and Penny-Perez make for some good matchups. Snell pitches in Houston, Smoltz in St Louis, and Hill-Francis in Denver. Lowry pitches against the Brewers.
Saturday
The Sox battle and Mets-Dodgers are the 4pm FOX games, everything else is at night. Garza in Baltimore, Wang-Bonderman in the Motor City, and Blanton-Kazmir in Tampa. Marcum faces Saunders in LA.
Hudson and Piniero face off in the STL, and Ted Lilly faces the Snakes.
Sunday
Phil Hughes tries to tame Jurrjens and the Tigers, Bedard faces Minnesota, and Haren battles the Rays. Vazquez battles Boston, Carmona-Meche in KC, and McGowan faces Escobar.
Chris Young might face the Phils, Busg definitely faces Lincecum in SF, Marquis and Davis in Phoenix, and David Wells makes his Dodgers debut against Maine and the Mets (8pm ESPN).