The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday (and now on Saturdays) for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.
Weaving brilliance: Jered Weaver punctuated a phenomenal season — that includes a no-hitter — with his 20th victory as the Angels topped the Rangers, 7-4. That makes Weaver the first 20-game winner in the American League this season — Gio Gonzalez and R.A. Dickey already reached the plateau in the National League — and the eighth in Angels history. Bartolo Colon was the most recent back in 2005.
Offensively for the Angels, Mike Trout hit the 29th home run of his rookie campaign. He's now behind Tim Salmon's franchise rookie record 31 homers. Mark Trumbo added three hits and three RBIs.
One-hit wonder: Chris Tillman wasn't Homer Bailey good on Friday night, but he was pretty darn close, holding the Boston Red Sox to one Scott Podsednik bunt single over eight innings in the Orioles 9-1 victory. Of course you're probably wondering when that bunt single occurred. It was actually leading off the game, so Podsednik didn't break any unwritten rules. In fact, most of the action came in the first as Baltimore exploded for six in their half. Ryan Flaherty's first career grand slam capped that outburst. The blowout win keeps Baltimore one-game behind the Yankees in the AL East.
[Related: Homer Bailey's no-hitter ties record]
Blame it on Rios: After losing three games in the standings over the previous three days, the Chicago White Sox finally reversed course with a 3-1 win over the Rays. Alex Rios led the way offensively for Chicago, delivering his career best 25th home run. Their bullpen was also very effective, tossing four shutout innings while allowing only one hit.
Kershaw cruises: Making only his fourth start this month, reigning NL Cy Young Clayton Kershaw found his groove and shut out the hapless Rockies for eight innings in the Dodgers 8-0 white-washing. That earned Kershaw his first win since Aug. 19 and his 13th overall. He also reached double-digit strikeouts for the 18th time in his career, fanning 10, and has 221 strikeouts on the season. That's one behind R.A. Dickey's league-leading 222.
Thanks for coming: Two postseason squads from 2011 were officially eliminated from contention on Friday. The Philadelphia Phillies, coming off a 102 wins and a first round exit, were the first to go down, dropping a 2-1 decision the Marlins. Not long after, the defending NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks joined them on the outside despite overpowering the Cubs, 8-3.
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Quote of the Day: "Unfortunately for us watching the scoreboard won't help us. But we can go out there and be a part of one with the other team. You're looking out there and seeing the Mighty Whities are winning. And we're in one of those twister games. So it is fun."
— Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talks about playing the role of spoiler after their 4-2 defeat of the division-leading Tigers, which cut Detroit's advantage to one game over the "Mighty Whities" from Chicago.
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Photo of the Day: Everybody loves Chipper
Atlanta Braves fans show their support for Chipper Jones prior to their 3-1 loss to the Mets. The Braves honored Jones with a pregame ceremony as he enters the final homestand of his illustrious 19-year career.
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[Related: Hank Aaron on site for Chipper Jones tribute]
Three Facts for the Water Cooler:
• The Yankees kept their cushion in the AL East by dismantling the Blue Jays, 11-4. In the win, Eric Chavez connected for his 15th home run, which gives the Yankees nine players with 15 on the season. That ties them with the 2005 Indians and Rangers for the most players with 15 homers in a single season.
• Edwin Jackson had a brutal outing in the Nationals 12-2 drubbing at the hands of the Cardinals. So brutal, in fact, he became the first Nats pitcher to ever allow nine runs while recording four or fewer outs. His ERA jumped from 3.77 to 4.13 as a result.
• The Cleveland Indians were winners in Sandy Alomar Jr's managerial debut, knocking off the Royals, 8-5.
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