|  In a start for the St. Louis Cardinals on May 21, 1991, 28-year-old Jamie Moyer lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowed four runs on five hits and took the loss to drop to 0-5 for the year. It was the final Major League appearance for Moyer for almost exactly two years, meaning that he concluded his 20s with a grand total of 34 career victories.
Since 1893, 1,214 pitchers have recorded more wins through their age-29 season than Moyer's 34. Smokey Joe Wood had 34 victories in his age-22 season alone, and Christy Mathewson had reached 30 victories in four different seasons before he turned 30.
Yet with all of that, as of Thursday, only 34 pitchers in baseball history have accumulated more wins than Jamie Moyer.
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|  It's that time again.
While MLB.com's Top 100 Draft prospects list has been live for some time, that's a ranking based on talent. Now, it's time to try to figure out who is going to go where in the first round. Starting with the first 10 picks, then increasing by 10 each week to get to a full first-round projection in the week prior to the Draft, here is a projection of how those selections might go on the big first night.
The annual Draft takes place this year on June 4-6, beginning with the first round and Compensation Round A on Monday, June 4, at 7 p.m. ET. The first night of the event will be broadcast live on MLB Network and streamed live on MLB.com. Rounds 2-40 will also be streamed live on MLB.com on June 5-6.
MLB.com's coverage, sponsored by CenturyLink, will include: Draft Central; the Top 100 Draft Prospects list; Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player; and the Draft itself. You also can keep up to date at Draft Central and by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. Get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
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|  NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia Phillies 9, Chicago Cubs 2
Until Wednesday night, Hector Luna had not stepped up to the plate in a major league game since 2010. Luna’s first at-bat in two seasons was a pinch-hit grand slam, which simply has to be the coolest way to return to the game’s highest level. Kyle Kendrick and Matt Garza both pitched well enough, but it was Luna’s slam that kept the game out of reach for the baby bears. Alfonso Soriano homered for the second straight night in the loss.
San Diego Padres 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2
Chris Capuano‘s renaissance season continued with a quality start and six strikeouts, but Clayton Richard was better and the Dodgers offense was of little help. Richard allowed just four hits while striking out six in seven innings, and Chase Headley offered up a pair of extra-base hits and three RBI. Dale Thayer, now the San Diego closer, notched his fourth save in as many chances and still hasn’t allowed a run.
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 Midsummer Classic to be played in Queens for first time since '64
NEW YORK -- From the Polo Grounds to old Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field and Shea Stadium, New York has hosted more MLB All-Star Games than any other city.
The Big Apple will do it again, next year at Citi Field.
With Commissioner Bud Selig and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in attendance, it was announced Wednesday that the Mets will host the 2013 All-Star Game on July 16, 2013, marking the city's ninth All-Star Game, but the first in Queens since 1964.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Houston Astros 3
Hunter Pence may have cost his team by making an error earlier in the game, but the second of his two homers on Tuesday made the Phillies a winner in walk-off fashion. Houston starter Jordan Lyles was able to keep his team in the game despite Cliff Lee‘s stellar performance against him. Lee went eight innings, allowed one run, and struck out 10.
St. Louis Cardinals 7, Chicago Cubs 6
Both starters were slapped around as this game came down to the wire. Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter homered to give his team the lead in the bottom of the eighth only to later watch Alfonso Soriano tie things up with a shot of his own against Jason Motte in the top of the ninth. Yadier Molina ultimately singled in the next half-inning to score Matt Holliday from second and win the game. Bryan LaHair, whose Quad-A to star story line remains compelling, hit his 10th blast of the year in the loss.
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|  Nationals 8, Padres 5
WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper hit his first big league home run and Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each connected in the eighth inning, leading the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.
Harper became the youngest major leaguer to homer since 1998, going deep on a solo shot to straightaway centre field in the third inning off right-hander Tim Stauffer. The home run came in the outfielder's 15th game and 54th at-bat with the Nationals.
Washington also lost another player to injury in a season that has been filled with them. Catcher Sandy Leon — making his major league debut — left the game in the fourth inning after spraining his right ankle in a collision at home plate.
MIAMI — Brad Lincoln pitched six innings to earn a victory in his first start of the season Monday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a streak of eight consecutive losses against the Marlins by winning 3-2.
Lincoln (3-0), who had come out of the bullpen in his seven previous appearances this season, departed for a pinch-hitter with a 3-2 lead and an ERA of 1.33. He allowed four hits and walked one.
The Pirates, who rank last in the majors in runs, won with only six hits. Rod Barajas, who came into the game batting .162, hit his second homer, and Pedro Alvarez put Pittsburgh ahead to stay with an RBI double in the sixth.
The Pirates started a seven-game, three-city trip with their third victory in a row, and they're within one game of .500. They hadn't beaten the Marlins since 2010 and went 0-6 against them last year.
PHILADELPHIA — Joe Blanton pitched seven-plus strong innings and Placido Polanco homered for his 2,000th career hit to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
Blanton (4-3) allowed six hits and one run, struck out seven and walked one while pitching in a steady light rain throughout. The right-hander continued his solid recent stretch, improving to 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his last four starts.
Freddy Galvis had three hits and drove in a pair of runs and Carlos Ruiz went 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Phillies, who have won three of four since manager Charlie Manuel's much-publicized team meeting last Wednesday. Ruiz entered the game leading all major league catchers in average (.330), RBIs (22) and slugging percentage (.588).
Marwin Gonzalez, pinch hitting to lead off the eighth, hit his first major league homer for the Astros' lone run.
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|  The last-place Philadelphia Phillies figure to get a boost in the rotation with Cliff Lee scheduled to come off the disabled list in time to start tonight's finale of a three-game series versus the New York Mets.
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|  The Washington Nationals are without both of their projected corner outfielders now that Jayson Werth has joined Mike Morse on the disabled list. But general manager Mike Rizzo will try to replace the sluggers internally rather than explore his trade options.
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| NL Capsules
Barajas' homer sends Pirates past Nationals
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer off Washington closer Henry Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night.
The veteran catcher, mired in a season-long slump, drilled a shot down the left field line that sailed a few rows into the seats for his first home run and RBIs of the year.
The Nationals went ahead 4-3 after Adam LaRoche's two-run blast in the top of the ninth off Pittsburgh closer Joel Hanrahan.
Alex Presley singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth off Rodriguez (1-2) and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches before Barajas broke through.
Tony Watson (2-0) earned the victory after replacing Hanrahan.
METS 7, PHILLIES 4
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lucas Duda had a tiebreaking, two-out RBI single in the seventh and the New York Mets took advantage of Philadelphia's defensive blunder.
Duda and David Wright had two hits and two RBIs each to help the Mets win their fourth straight.
Hunter Pence homered for the Phillies, who have lost four of five.
The Mets took the lead in the seventh with four two-out runs on four hits, including Duda's single to right off left-hander Antonio Bastardo (1-2) that drove in Wright with the go-ahead run.
Manny Acosta (1-2) didn't allow a run or hit in two-thirds of an inning in the sixth in relief of starter Miguel Batista.
BRAVES 3, CUBS 1
CHICAGO (AP) — Dan Uggla hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning.
Michael Bourn reached on a leadoff single and Kerry Wood issued two walks before Uggla drove a 1-1 pitch back up the middle for his third hit of the game. Freddie Freeman helped set up the big inning by hustling down the line to prevent a potential double play.
Wood (0-2) has struggled since he was sidelined for three weeks with right shoulder fatigue, yielding two runs in each of his two outings since he was activated from the disabled list on Thursday.
Kris Medlen (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh, Jonny Venters worked out of a jam in the eighth and Craig Kimbrel finished for his 10th save in 11 chances.
Read the full capsules here. |
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