Recap
Box Score
Win Probability Graph @ Fangraphs
Highest WPA:
Trot Nixon .262
Jason Michaels .147
Casey Blake .115
Lowest WPA:
Josh Barfield -.132
Travis Hafner -.086
C.C. Sabathia -.043
In another curious move by the WPA system, C.C. Sabathia produced a perfectly good start and was deemed the third least valuable Indian in today's game. Sabathia gave up leadoff hits in five different innings and once again granted the opposition a lone "big inning," in the third. But he got outs when he needed them and racked up nine strikeouts and only one walk for an all-around solid performnace.
But the real story of this game was the Duel of Grit between old teammates Trot Nixon and Kevin Millar. Millar led off the third with a long single that "led" to Baltimore's first three runs. He added an RBI single in the eighth to pull his team within four. But he was no match for Nixon, who gritted out six total bases -- barely -- on five hits. By the end of the game, when Nixon reached first base for the fifth time, first baseman Millar wouldn't even look at him.
Casey Blake improved to 2-for-27 with runners in scoring position (hat-tip to zempf). Our top relievers were fairly meh but managed to hold most of the six-run lead they were given to protect.
Next Up: Carmona vs. Trachsel, 12:35 PM. That matchup everyone's been buzzing about all week.