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  • The Juice: Bryce Harper’s triple against Halladay keys Nats win, Dodgers roar back

    The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.

    Three years in the making: Bryce Harper hit his third triple of the season already, and he drove in two runs against Roy Halladay to lead the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old said in Mark Zuckerman's Nats Insider — in a post titled "Broad Street Beatdown" — that he's actually been scouting Halladay for three years and he couldn't wait to exploit a perceived weakness. Harper's two-run triple put the Nats ahead in the third inning and keyed their sixth straight victory at Citizens Bank Park.

    "I've been watching him for about three years," Harper said. "He throws a first-pitch curveball to so many people, and they just let it get over the plate. So I was just really trying to get something up in that situation and get something going. We had two guys on, and you had to get them in."

    Halladay, who came in with a dominating record against Washington, reflected on what's going wrong in Philly, which has lost four straight and is 21-23 overall.

    Dodger time: The injury riddled Los Angeles Dodgers improved to 30-13 by picking up an unlikely 8-7 victory at Arizona. Ivan DeJesus muscled-up for a two-out, two-run, go-ahead double in the ninth against closer J.J. Putz, and shortstop Dee Gordon hung in there on defense to help turn an acrobatic game-ending double play with runners at the corners in the bottom of the ninth. Arizona squandered a five-run lead in the seventh, and is 11 1/2 games out of first place. The Dodgers are 7-2 without Matt Kemp in the lineup.

    Waino bueno once again: Adam Wainwright tossed his first shutout since August 2010, a 4-0 victory against San Diego, which gave the St. Louis Cardinals' top starter a big sense of relief. Wainwright said he told teammate Jake Westbrook this might be the best feeling he's ever had pitching — which is saying something given Wainwright's accomplishments. Waino missed the 2011 season because of Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery:

    ''All of the emotion came from just knowing it's been over a year since I've done that,'' Wainwright said. ''Mentally, I was so much better.''

    * * *

    You really like me!: Closer Chris Perez apparently made up with Cleveland Indians fans, who cheered him like crazy before and after he picked up the save in a 5-3 victory against the Tigers. Perez has made a couple of rants recently about the lack of fan support at the Indians ballpark, and has wondered why the overall mood in Cleveland isn't better, given that his team's in first place. He's even willing to give away tickets to games to boost attendance. Fans have responded (mostly) kindly and Perez seemed appreciate it on Twitter:

    Wow, I'm truly humbled, honored, and grateful for the reception Cleveland! Huge team win for us tonight. Let's keep it going tomorrow

    * * *

    Quote of the Day: ''I had chills going through my body. It's such a great feeling to see the fans on their feet like that. You know, it really means a lot to have the support of the fans behind us. It's a pretty special feeling.'' — Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, who allowed two hits and had nine strikeouts in a 4-1 victory against the Red Sox. The O's have won six of eight and at 28-16 sit atop the AL East after finishing last in 2011. Matusz, a top pitcher before injuries came, had a 10.69 ERA and made two trips to the disabled list in '11.

    * * *

    Play of the Day: Get off your butt and do something!

    Oh, he did. Josh Donaldson of the Oakland Athletics does what every Little League third baseman is told not to do — he cut off the shortstop in the hole — but he recovered nicely to throw out Maicer Izturis at first base. The A's made a few terrific defensive plays on the night, but they were dominated on the scoreboard by the Angels 5-0. C.J. Wilson and Ernesto Frieri combined on a one-hitter and Albert Pujols hit his fourth homer, his third deep in seven games.

    * * *

    Three Facts for the Water Cooler:

    • Knuckleball maven R.A. Dickey struck out a career-high 11 in a 3-2 Mets victory against Pittsburgh. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle noted that he also threw only two balls in the dirt over seven innings.

    • Reds closer Aroldis Chapman hit 100 mph (not in his car) three times in 18 pitches, striking out two for the save that preserved a 4-3 victory against the Braves. Brandon Phillips added two homers for Cincy.

    • Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco set the Miami Marlins franchise record for career victories, improving to 69-52 to surpass Dontrelle Willis, and the Fish beat the Rockies 7-6. The Marlins are 16-5 in May, though only 22,242 fans showed in their new ballpark, the smallest attendance so far.

    * * *

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  • The Juice: Andy Pettitte dominates in first win since 2010, Papelbon closes door on Red Sox

    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.

    Andy is dandy: Andy Pettitte felt he was a little too "uptight" while taking the loss in his return start last Sunday afternoon. On Friday night, the 39-year-old left-hander looked nothing of the sort, allowing the Cincinnati Reds only four hits and striking out nine over eight scoreless innings in the Yankees 4-0 victory.

    It was the first time Pettitte had tossed eight scoreless innings since July 8, 2008, and the victory attached to this marvelous outing was his first since July 8, 2010. Love that symmetry.

    ''I felt like I could do this, and now it's just like I feel like the mind's getting back there,'' a beaming Pettitte said after his 241st win. ''I'm just hoping and praying the body holds up.''

    I'm sure Yankees fans are doing the same, all the while wondering what might have been had Pettitte returned in 2011.

    Just another save: Or at least that's how Jonathan Papelbon played it off after his scoreless ninth preserved a 6-4 victory for Cole Hamels and Phillies over his former employer, the Boston Red Sox.

    His real motivation? Simple.

    'I want to go out there and try to preserve all the wins I can for my starters,'' Papelbon said. ''I think for me I take a little extra pride in that. That's basically kind of what it boiled down to for me.''

    Papelbon earned saves 219 over his six seasons in Boston. His twelve this season lead the National League.

    Niese cries uncle: Well, actually, Mets skipper Terry Collins waved the white flag for Jonathan Niese after the left-hander surrendered four of the Blue Jays five home runs en route to New York's ugly 14-5 loss.

    J.P. Arencibia did the bulk of the damage against Niese, connecting on a three-run blast in the first and a solo shot in the third. He later added a two-run single to give him a career-high six RBIs. Rajai Davis also hit a pair of homers, while Brazilian outfielder Yan Gomes rounded out Toronto's barrage with the first round-tripper of his career.

    Kid K's grand finale: We knew Kerry Wood knew how to make an entrance after striking out 20 Houston Astros in only his fifth major league start back on May 6, 1998. Fourteen years later, Wood answered the call one last time and showed us he could make an equally thrilling exit, striking out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches to record the 1,582nd and final strikeout of his career.

    Viciedo was the only batter Wood faced in the Cubs 3-2 loss to the crosstown rival White Sox. After getting his man, Wood walked slowly off the mound to a rousing standing ovation and was soon greeted by his son Justin, whom he promptly hoisted in the air for an emotional embrace at the top step of the Cubs dugout.

    * * *

    Quote of the Day: ''Carlos has been there for me. I heard all the stories, but what is past is past. I met him in spring training and all I know is a good teammate and a good guy.'' — Marlins closer Heath Bell after picking up the save for Carlos Zambrano in Miami's 3-2 win over the Indians. Prior to Friday's save, Bell had blown his first two opportunities in relief of Big Z.

    * * *

    Photo of the Day: Headlocks are the new helmet slaps.

    Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon grabs a headlock on teammate A.J. Ellis after Ellis' ninth inning bases loaded walk clinched a 6-5 win over the Cardinals. It almost makes you wonder how Gordon handles losses. Perhaps he breaks out the slightly more uncomfortable abdominal stretch or even the crossface chicken wing under those circumstances.

    * * *

    Three Facts for the Water Cooler:

    • The Orioles improved to 6-2 in extra inning games with a 2-1 victory over the Nationals. All six of those wins have come on the road.

    • With their 7-2 win over the Padres, the Los Angeles Angels improved their interleague record to 63-28 since 2007. That's tops in baseball. Meanwhile, the Padres still hold the second worst overall interleague record at 103-137.

    • The Texas Rangers became the first team in major league history to open their schedule with 14 different opponents in their first 14 series. Or maybe we should call them victims, as the Rangers cruised past Houston, 4-1.

    * * *

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