How about this stat from our man Danny Knobler -- the Angels have been shutout eight times in the first 36 games of the season, more than any team in at least 94 years. That's an amazing number. Even if Albert Pujols and the Angels are having trouble scoring, other teams aren't -- Bryce Harper hit his first homer of his young career, Placido Polanco's 102nd career homer was the 2,000th hit of his career and Derek Jeter passed Robin Yount for 17th on the all-time hit list with 3,143. Up next for Jeter is Paul Waner with 3,152 and then George Brett, who celebrates his 59th birthday today, at 3,154.
Full Monday scoreboard with boxscores and recaps
3 UP
Jon Lester, Red Sox. Lester became the third Red Sox starter in a row to allow just a single run and Boston suddenly has a modest four-game winning streak. In a complete-game victory, Lester allowed eight hits and a ninth-inning run, while striking out six and walking none. He retired the first 11 he faced and didn't allow a ball out of the infield until the fifth inning. After a rough start, the lefty has thrown 27 innings in his last four starts with an ERA of 1.67. He also saw his home ERA drop from 11.25 to 5.82 and his overall ERA is now at a respectable 3.71.
Miguel Bautista, Mets. The Mets' fill-in pitcher did everything his team could ask of him and more, throwing seven shutout innings against the Brewers in his third start of the season. Bautista needed 25 pitches to get through the first inning, but then cruised. He'd given up 10 runs in nine innings in his first two starts this season, but his seven innings helped give the Mets' bullpen a break. And then closer Frank Francisco rewarded manager Terry Collins' faith in him by bouncing back from his blown save on Sunday to record his ninth save of the season.
Justin Sellers, Dodgers. Behold:
3 DOWN
Adam Lind and J.P. Arencibia, Blue Jays. Toronto starter Brandon Morrow didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Will Rhymes led off the fifth inning with a double. Rhymes would go on to score on Elliot Johnson's single, but it appeared that would be all the damage the Rays would do when Marrow got a grounder from Matt Joyce with two outs in the inning. Instead, the ball bounced off Lind's glove, allowing another run to score. Morrow struck out the next batter, Carlos Pena, but Arencibia couldn't corral it, extending the inning. The Rays exited the inning with six runs and went on to beat Toronto 7-1.
Atlanta Braves. The Braves have had a terminal case of the Mondays so far this season. After a 3-1 loss to the Reds, the Braves are 0-6 this season on Mondays. The Braves have also lost five of their last seven at Turner Field.
Henry Rodriguez, Nationals. Washington manager Davey Johnson gave Rodriguez a vote of confidence before Monday's game and the right-hander rewarded him by walking three of the four batters he faced in a save situation against the Padres. Johnson yanked Rodriguez for Sean Burnett, who was able to get out of the inning and record his first save of the season.
Strasburg faces hometown team. Stephen Strasburg didn't get pitch in San Diego during the Nationals' recent West Coast swing, but he will face his hometown team for the first time in his career on Tuesday. Not only is Strasburg from San Diego, he also played for Padres legend Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. Strasburg is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in seven starts this season. Anthony Bass, who is 1-4 with a 3.23 ERA, is on the hill for the Padres. 1:05 p.m. ET
Cards look to stop streak. Kyle Lohse has been the Cardinals' best starter this season and St. Louis could use a strong start to help end a five-game home losing streak. It's the first time the Cardinals have lost five straight at Busch Stadium since August of 2010. However, Lohse went just five innings on Wednesday because he was bothered by a left hamstring strain. Cubs lefty Paul Maholm has won four straight and allowed just three earned runs over 25 1/3 innings in four starts. 1:45 p.m. ET
Tee time anyone? There's no word on whether Josh Beckett played any golf in the past five days. Beckett will take the mound for the first time since being blasted on the field by the Indians on Thursday and off the field by the media for his off-day golfing adventures. The good news for Beckett is he's facing the struggling Mariners lineup. 4:05 p.m. ET
Tuesday's full schedule with probable pitchers
• Blackout lawsuit. A group of fans are suing Major League Baseball, Comcast and DirecTV over MLB's blackout rules claiming MLB's teams are an "illegal cartel." Good luck with that. While some of baseball's blackout rules seem to be arbitrary and silly -- they're also a big reason why you're seeing some teams get so much money for cable rights. [Hollywood Reporter]
• #Firstdivisionproblems. Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang pitched into the ninth inning in his Triple-A appearance at Syracuse on Tuesday, throwing 84 pitches in the victory. Even though it appears Wang is ready to rejoin the rotation, the Nationals will have him make at least one more minor-league start because they have nowhere to put him. The Nationals starters have an ERA of 2.43 on the season, with Edwin Jackson's 3.71 the only mark north of 3.00. So, the Nationals will stall. Wang's 30-day rehab period ends May 27 and neither Wang nor Jackson can be traded without their consent until June 16. [Washington Post]
• Seats of power. I've always thought the rooftops across from Wrigley Field were one of the coolest traditions in the game. You know who else loves them? Chicago alderman Tom Tunney, who has received at least $171,356.50 from owners of rooftop clubs, a full 10 percent of the campaign money he's raised since he was ran successfully for Chicago City Council in 2003, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Tunney's 44th Ward includes Wrigley Field and he has fought to limit the advertising signs the team has proposed that would block the view of the game from the rooftop clubs and endanger his fundraising.
• Men in black. Last year the Class A Stockton Ports had a tribute to Elvis night complete with Elvis-themed jerseys. This year they honored another alumnus of Memphis' Sun Studios, Johnny Cash. How do you honor Cash? Black jerseys, of course. [Ben's Biz Blog]
• The long trek to a bobblehead. MLB.com's Meggie Zahneis takes a look at the long road a bobblehead makes before being handed out at the game. Saturday's Joey Votto bobblehead was planned last year along with other promotions. I didn't know each bobblehead is hand painted, which is why you'll see some differences from bobblehead to bobblehead. Meggie also asked the question so many of us wondered -- would Jay Bruce eat Joey Votto's VottO's cereal out of his giveaway Jay Bruce cereal bowl and spoon set?
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