The only National League Central team to lose on Monday was the Astros, who lost to the Pirates. The 12.5 games behind the first-place Reds, who held onto their one-game lead over Pittsburgh. Thanks to the Cubs' four-game winning streak, Chicago is just 1.5 games behind the Astros.
Full Monday scoreboard with box scores and recaps from all games
3 UP
Alexi Amarista, Padres: San Diego's second baseman was 3 for 5 in Monday's victory over the Padres, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle. Amarista now has four home runs in his last five games. He was the player the Padres received from the Angels for Ernesto Frieri and is now hitting .284/.315/.534.
Jarrod Parker, A's: Oakland's rookie right-hander allowed just one run in 6 2/3. It was the 10th time in the first 14 starts of his career that he'd allowed just one run or fewer, the first pitcher to do so since 1918. Dwight Gooden had nine one-run starts in his first 13 starts for the Mets, but gave up two in his 14th start.
Norichika Aoki, Brewers: There's nothing I like more in baseball than a suicide squeeze, and Aoki's bunt was so perfect the Marlins didn't even have a chance at getting him at first. Aoki drove in Rickie Weeks for the eventual winning run for the Brewers.
3 DOWN
Atlanta Braves: With a 4-1 loss to the Cubs, the Braves fell to 0-11 on Mondays this season. The good news -- no game next Monday.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox: In his fifth start since coming back from Tommy John surgery, Matsuzaka failed to record an out in the second inning, giving up four hits and five runs, walking two. He threw just 28 pitches. He's now 0-3 with a 6.65 ERA.
Mark Teixeira, Yankees: Teixeira has four Gold Gloves, but his first error of the season Monday cost the Yankees the game against the Rays. With a runner on second and two outs in the seventh of a 3-3 game, Teixeira just flat missed Elliot Johnson's grounder. The ball went into right, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
• On the right track? After a nightmare start, it seems Tim Lincecum is back on track. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 12 innings, throwing seven shutout innings in his last start. In those 12 innings, he's struck out 11 and walked just four. Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmerman is coming off his first win in more than a month. 6:35 p.m.
• Cubs on fire: The Cubs have won four straight, their longest streak since last August. Since then they've had six streaks of at least four losses. Chris Volstad (0-6, 7.46 ERA) returns from Triple-A for the start. 7:10 p.m.
• Show me: Reds starter Johnny Cueto felt slighted by National League manager Tony La Russa. He's got his chance to show what the senior circuit is missing. In his last outing, he was outdueled by the Giants' Madison Bumgarner. He faces Dodgers' lefty Chris Capuano, who has put together a nice season, as well. Capuano is 9-3 with a 2.69 ERA. 10:10 p.m.
Tuesday's probable pitchers
• Movie star Miguel Sano: Twins prospect Miguel Sano is the subject of a documentary about baseball in the Dominican Republic coming out this week. Jeff Passan of Yahoo writes about the ugly side of baseball's talent pipeline in the country. The movie is produced, in part, by Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, which the New York Post notes has made Bud Selig unhapy.
• Where's Magic? Magic Johnson was supposed to be the face of the new Dodgers ownership group, but he hasn't been seen much around Dodger Stadium. [Los Angeles Times]
• I was a teenage All-Star: If Bryce Harper makes his way to Kansas City for the All-Star Game, he would be the 19th player to make the All-Star Game before the legal drinking age and third as a teenager. Mike Trout, 20, is the 18th player younger than 21 to make the All-Star Game, while the only two teenage All-Stars were Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller. [MLB.com]
• Intentional Balk: Todd Steverson, the interim manager of the Class A Stockton Ports, has been banned from being in the dugout during any California League game for a year after ordering his pitcher to balk in a run in the 18th inning. Steverson, the A's roving hitting instructor, said he did it to protect his pitchers' arms. [Modesto Bee]
• Royals draftee stricken with cancer: Royals 40th round pick Taylor Kaczmarek has been diagnosed with children's leukemia. [East Valley Tribune]
• Puzzlemaster: Will Shortz's weekly puzzle had a baseball theme. [NPR.org]
• Spirit of '73: MLB.com looks back at 1973, the last time Kansas City hosted the All-Star Game.
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