As the Ten-acious Baseball League opened play for the 2016 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers gifted starter Clayton Kershaw (1-0) a 6 run advantage in the 1st inning on 4 straight singles to lead off the game. The dominant left-hander proceeded to strike out 11 Brewers while giving up 3 runs in a complete game 6-3 victory at Miller Park. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in the victory, while Brewer starter Jimmy Nelson (0-1) overcame his rocky 1st inning to settle down and relinquish no further runs in his own complete game 8 strike out performance.
Deep in the heart of Texas, the Chicago White Sox started off their season in style with a 4-2 victory over the Rangers. A Melky Cabrera double plated 2 runs in the 5th inning to put the Sox ahead for good. Jose Quintana went 8 innings to earn the victory, while Yovani Gallardo was chased in the 5th inning. Prince Fielder hit his 1st home run of the year in the loss.
The Colorado Rockies took it to John Lackey (0-1) and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, earning a 5-2 victory. Jorge de la Rosa (1-0) yielded only 3 hits in 8 scoreless innings for the victory. Lackey conceded all 5 runs in only 5 2/3 innings of work.
The other Windy City team, the Cubs, took care of Minnesota 7-3 with little trouble. Staff ace Jake Arrieta pitched a complete game, giving up 3 runs on 9 hits while striking out 6. Miguel Montero drove in 3 runs courtesy of a 2-run home run and a sacrifice fly, while Starlin Castro hit a solo shot in the 1st. Kyle Gibson got the loss for the Twins.
In the final game of the day, the Royals topped the Tigers 7-3. After going down early, Detroit fired back to tie the game at 3 on a Victor Martinez 3-run home run in the 6th inning. But Kansas City hung tough, and benefited from a a ball that squirted through Anthony Gose’s legs, bringing home Jarrod Dyson for the decisive run. The Royals struck for 14 hits against the Tigers, with Edinson Volquez getting the victory.
Results – June 12, 2016
Los Angeles 6, Milwaukee 2
W: Kershaw (1-0, 2.00 ERA)
L: Nelson (0-1, 6.00 ERA)
Chicago White Sox 4, Texas 2
W: Quintana (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
L: Gallardo (0-1, 7.72 ERA)
SV: Robertson (1)
HR: TEX Fielder (1)
Colorado 5, St. Louis 2
W: de la Rosa (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
L: Lackey (0-1, 1.59 ERA)
SV: Axford (1)
Chicago Cubs 7, Minnesota 3
W: Arrieta (1-0, 2.00 ERA)
L: Gibson (0-1, 2.70 ERA)
HR: CHC Castro (1), Rizzo (1), Montero (1); MIN Hunter (1)
Kansas City 7, Detroit 3
W: Volquez (1-0, 3.86 ERA)
L: Verlander (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
HR: DET V. Martinez (1); KAN Zobrist (1)
Upcoming Games – June 13, 2016
Los Angeles (Greinke, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Milwaukee (Jungmann, 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Chicago White Sox (Sale, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Texas (Hamels, 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Colorado (Bettis, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at St. Louis (Lynn, 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Chicago Cubs (Haren, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Minnesota (Milone, 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Detroit (Norris, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Kansas City (Cueto, 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Tenacious Sports 