Games from the 2nd:

Mariners - Indians
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-4: infield single, double to right-center, strikeout swinging, strikeout swinging.

Count down to 200: 28 games remaining, 27 more hits needed.

Red Sox 6 - Orioles 4
Daisuke Matsuzaka started the game and gave up 4 runs over 5.2 innings of work for the win.  Matsuzaka is now 9-4 on the year.  Final line: 5.2 IP, 24 BF, 6 H, 6 SO, 1 BB, 4 R, 4 ER.

Matsuzaka also topped out at 96mph (about 154km/h).

Hideki Okajima entered the game in the 8th with 2 outs and the Red Sox up 6-4 and retired the one batter he was brought in to face. Final line: 0.1 IP, 1 BF, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

Mets 4 - Braves 2
Hisanori Takahashi entered the game in the 9th, with the Mets up 4-2, and tossed a shutout inning in relief for his 3rd save of the year.  Final line: 1 IP, 4 BF, 1 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

===

Kei Igawa started a triple-A game against the Buffalo Bisons on the 2nd and tossed 6.1 innings of shutout ball for his 3rd win of the year.  Igawa is now 3-4.  Final line: 94-65 NP-S, 25 BF, 6.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 1-for-4 with 2 runs scored and a strikeout against the triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on the 2nd.  Matsui started at second and batted first.

===

Akinori Iwamura went 2-for-3 with 2 walks, a double, 2 runs scored, and a strikeout against the triple-A Louisville Bats on the 2nd.  Iwamura started at third and batted second.

===

Seems there's a chance Hisanori Takahashi might be moving on to another team in order to secure a better chance at starting. (NY Times)

===

Kento Tsujimoto tossed a shutout inning in relief (9th inning) against the Orange County Flyers on the 1st.  Final line: 3 BF, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO.

Games from the 21st:

Yankees 9 - Mariners 5
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 3-for-5: solo homer to right-center, solo homer to right-center, ground out to third, line out to first, single to left.

This was Ichiro's first two homer game since 5/15/2009 (vs Red Sox).

Angels 9 - Twins 3
Hideki Matsui was the starting DH and batted fifth.  He went 1-for-4: single to center, walk, ground out to second, E8, fly out to right.

Red Sox 5 - Blue Jays 4
Daisuke Matsuzaka started the game and gave up 4 runs over 8 innings of work and was not involved in the final decision.  Final line: 8 IP, 32 BF, 6 H, 8 SO, 3 BB, 4 R, 4 ER.

Orioles 8 - Rangers 6
Koji Uehara entered the game in the 9th and tossed a shutout inning in relief for his first save of the season.  Final line: 1 IP, 4 BF, 1 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

Cubs 5 - Braves 4
Kosuke Fukudome started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-4: double to left-center, ground out to short, walk, single to center, strikeout swinging.

===

Baseball America's Best Tools report came out on the 19th.  Ichiro was rated number one in the following categories: Best Bunter, Best Baserunner, Best Defensive Outfielder, and Best Outfielder Arm.  He was also rated third in: Best Hit-And-Run Artist and Most Exciting Player.

===

Hideki Okajima tossed a shutout inning in relief against the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on the 21st.  Final line: 5-4 NP-S, 3 BF, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR.

===

Kei Igawa started a game against the triple-A Syracuse Chiefs on the 21st and gave up 2 runs over 6.2 innings of work.  He was not involved in the final decision.  Final line: 86-59 NP-S, 25 BF, 6.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored against the triple-A Fresno Grizzlies on the 21st.  Matsui started at second and batted first.

===

Ryohei Tanaka gave up a run in 1.2 innings of relief work (he entered the game in the 4th with a runner on third and 1 out and allowed the runner to score on a sac fly before getting out of the inning) against the double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels on the 21st.  Final line: 8 BF, 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR.

Games from the 17th:

Mariners 4 - Orioles 0
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-5: foul out to left, fly out to center, fly out to left, infield single, single to left.  Ichiro also stole his 30th base of the season after his single in the 9th inning.

Red Sox 6 - Angels 0
Hideki Matsui was the starting DH and batted fifth.  He went 2-for-3: single to center, ground out to first, walk, single to right.

Braves 10 - Nationals 2
Takashi Saito entered the game in the 8th with the Braves up 8-2 and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 4 BF, 1 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

Padres 1 - Cubs 0
Kosuke Fukudome started in right and batted first.  He went 0-for-3: line out to third, DP, ground out to short, walk.

===

Kei Igawa tossed two shutout innings (6th and 7th) in relief against the triple-A Columbus Clippers on the 17th.  Final line: 21-17 NP-S, 7 BF, 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR.

===

Kenshin Kawakami was the starting pitcher against the triple-A Norfolk Tides on the 17th and gave up 2 runs (1 earned) over 4 innings of work.  Final line: 69-40 NP-S, 16 BF, 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR.

===

Ryohei Tanaka tossed a shutout inning (6th inning) in relief against the double-A Trenton Thunder on the 17th and picked up his 6th win of the season.  Tanaka is now 6-11 on the year.  Final line: 3 BF, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR.

===

Ryota Igarashi was called back up the MLB roster on the 17th.  Since he was on the road with Buffalo, he had to rush back to Buffalo and then head to Houston -- he was in the bullpen in the middle of the third inning.

===

Assuming no setbacks, Hideki Okajima is hoping to make it back to the MLB roster on the 22nd.  Okajima threw 45 pitches in the bullpen on the 17th.

===

Senichi Hoshino was at the Mariners - Orioles games the other day with the Japanese team playing at the Cal Ripken World Series.  Before the game, Hoshino was able to meet up with Ichiro Suzuki and Koji Uehara.  He also had a chance to talk to former Chunichi player (and now Mariners' batting coach) Alonzo Powell.

===

Masumi Kuwata dropped by Fenway Park and had a chance to meet with both Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima.  It was Kuwata's first visit to Fenway Park.

===

Kento Tsujimoto tossed a shutout inning in relief against the Yuma Scorpions on the 16th.  Final line: 3 BF, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO.

Games from the 9th:

Mariners 3 - Athletics 1
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 1-for-4: single to center, ground out to first, ground out to short, fly out to left.

Seems Ichiro is feeling a bit sad about seeing "everyone leaving."  I guess he's referring to Don Wakamatsu and Ken Griffey Jr.

Angels 6 - Royal 4
Hideki Matsui was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 1-for-3: RBI ground out to second, ground out to the pitcher, single to center, walk.

Giants 4 - Cubs 3
Kosuke Fukudome entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the top of the 10 inning and walked.  He did not take the field after the inning.

Orioles 3 - White Sox 2
Koji Uehara entered the game in the 7th with the Orioles up 2-1 and tossed 2 shutout innings in relief.  Final line: 2 IP, 6 BF, 0 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

===

Kei Igawa started a game against the triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox on the 9th and did not give up any runs over 5.2 innings of work.  He was not involved in the final decision.  Final line: 75 (60) NP (S), 23 BF, 5.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 2-for-4 with a stolen base against the triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks on the 9th.  Matsui started at second and batted second.

===

Akinori Iwamura went 1-for-4 with a double and 2 strikeouts against the triple-A Norfolk Tides on the 9th.  Iwamura started at third and batted second.

===

Mac Suzuki gave up 2 runs (1 earned) over 0.1 innings of relief against the GBL Chico Outlaws on the 8th.  Final line: 18 (9) NP (S), 6 BF, 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO.

Games from the 28th:

Red Sox 7 - Angels 3
Hideki Matsui started in left and batted fifth.  He went 0-for-2: walk, ground out to first, ground out to first.  Matsui was lifted in the 7th on defense.

White Sox 6 - Mariners 5
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-5: single to right, single to left, E5, ground out to second, foul out to third.

Blue Jays 5 - Orioles 0
Koji Uehara entered the game in the 8th, with the Orioles down 1-0, and gave up a run over 0.2 innings of work.  Final line: 0.2 IP, 3 BF, 1 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 1 R, 1 ER.

Astros 8 - Cubs 1
Kosuke Fukudome started in right and batted sixth.  He went 0-for-2: walk, strikeout looking, fly out to left, walk.

Padres 6 - Dodgers 1
Hiroki Kuroda started a the game and gave up 3 runs over 6 innings of work for his 9th loss of the year.  Kuroda is now 8-9 on the year.  Final line: 6 IP, 25 BF, 4 H, 5 SO, 3 BB, 3 R, 3 ER.

Cardinals 8 - Mets 7
Hisanori Takahashi entered the game in the 7th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Final line: 1 IP, 3 BF, 0 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

Takahashi is also scheduled for a start on the 31st.

===

Kei Igawa gave up 2 runs (both earned) in a 3 inning relief outing (that began in the 4th inning) against the triple-A Norfolk Tides on the 28th.  He did not factor into the final decision.  Final line: 51 (34) NP (S), 13 BF, 4 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 1-for-5 with a strikeout and an RBI against the triple-A Sacramento River Cats on the 28th.  He started at short and batted second.

===

Akinori Iwamura went 1-for-1 against the triple-A Syracuse Chiefs on the 28th.  Iwamura started at third and batted second.  He was replaced by a pinch-runner after he ran into one of the fielders while legging out an infield single in his first at bat.

===

The Red Sox announced on the 28th that Junichi Tazawa had his right elbow examined on 26th to check on his progress.  Seems everything was good and Tazawa will likely begin a throwing program early next month (August).

Games from the 23rd:

Red Sox 2 - Mariners 1
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-4: infield single, double, fly out to left, ground out to short, IBB.  This was Ichiro's 39th multi-hit game of the season, tops in the AL.

Marlins 7 - Braves 6
Takashi Saito entered the game in the 8th, with the Braves down 5-4, and struck out the side in his one inning work.  Final line: 1 IP, 3 BF, 0 H, 3 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and RBI, and walk against the triple-A Salt Lake Bees on the 23rd.  Matsui started at second and batted second.

===

Kei Igawa gave up 2 runs (both earned) over 2.2 innings of relief work against the triple-A Rochester Red Wings on the 23rd and took the loss.  Igawa is now 2-3 on the year.  Final line: 37 (22) NP (S), 10 BF, 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR.

===

Akinori Iwamura went 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and a walk against the triple-A Charlotte Knights on the 23rd.  Iwamura started at second and batted third.

===

Ryohei Tanaka was tattooed during a double-A start against the Richmond Flying Squirrels on the 23rd.  Tanaka gave up 10 runs (all earned), including a 3-run homer in the 1st, over 2.2 innings of work.  Tanaka is now 4-11 on the year.  Final line: 19 BF, 2.2 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO, 1 HR.

Games from the 17th:

Angels - Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 1-for-4: ground out to short, single to center, ground out to second, ground out to second.

Phillies 4 - Cubs 1
Kosuke Fukudome entered the game in the 9th inning as a defensive replacement in right and walked in his only at bat in the bottom half of the inning.

Cardinals 2 - Dodgers 0
Hiroki Kuroda started the game and allowed 1 run over 6 innings of work.  Kuroda took the loss and is now 7-8 on the year.  Final line: 6 IP, 24 BF, 4 H, 8 SO, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 ER.  Kuroda also threw 2 wild pitches.

Giants 8 - Mets 4
Hisanori Takahashi started the game and surrendered 6 runs on 7 hits over 2.2 innings of work for his 4th loss of the season.  He also gave up 2 homers in the game (3-run and solo).  Takahashi is now 7-4 on the year.  Final line: 2.2 IP, 16 BF, 7 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 6 R, 6 ER.

===

Kei Igawa gave up 3 runs (all earned) on 5 hits over 3.2 relief innings against the triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on the 17th.  Final line: 67 (40) NP (strikes), 16 BF, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3 HR.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 0-for-4 with one strikeout against the triple-A Portland Beavers on the 17th.  Matsui started at second and batted first.

===

Akinori Iwamura went 0-for-3 with 2 walks against the triple-A Rochester Red Wings on the 17th. Iwamura started at third and batted second.  Iwamura was also caught stealing in the 1st.

Games on the 28th:

Marlins 10 - Mets 3
Ryota Igarashi entered the game in the 8th, with the Mets down 7-3, and gave up three runs (on a three run homer) during an inning work.  Final line: 1 IP, 6 BF, 2 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 3 R, 3 ER.

===

Kenshin Kawakami appears to have lost his spot in the rotation and will be heading to the bullpen.

===

Kei Igawa started a game against the triple-A Rochester Red Wings on the 28th and gave up 3 runs over 5.2 innings of work.  He did not factor in the decision.  Final line: 83 (43) NP (S), 23 BF, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout against the triple-A Portland Beavers on the 28th.  He started at second and batted eighth.

===

The Mets rookies, including Ryota Igarashi and Hisanori Takahashi were forced to dress up in women's US soccer uniforms for last night's trip to Puerto Rico.

===

Ichiro Suzuki still leads all AL outfielders in the All-Star balloting, but it seems his lead is beginning to dwindle: Ichiro has only a 18,554 vote lead over Josh Hamilton, who until last week was in third place (a gap of 136,775 votes).  Hideki Matsui continues to trail behind Vladimir Guerrero for Designated Hitters and Joe Mauer paces all AL players with 3,968,039 votes.

Games from the 23rd:

Mariners 8 - Cubs 1
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-4: ground out to the pitcher, reaches on error (E5), 2-run single to center, bunt single, walk.

Angels 2 - Dodgers 1
Hideki Matsui was the starting DH and batted fifth.  He went 0-for-2: walk, fly out to right, strikeout swinging.

White Sox 4 - Braves 2
Takashi Saito entered the game in the 8th and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  This was Saito's first appearance since coming off the DL.  Final line: 1 IP, 4 BF, 0 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

===

Kazuo Matsui went 0-for-1 with 2 walks against the triple-A Reno Aces on the 23rd.  Matsui started at second and batted eighth.

===

Kei Igawa tossed 1.2 innings in relief against the triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox on the 23rd and took the loss.  Final line: 31 (19) NP (S), 1.2 IP, 7 BF, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

===

For the first time since he started playing in the Majors, Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session one day before a start.  Said Matsuzaka, "[The bullpen session] was just an extension of playing catch.  And there's obviously a good reason for it."

===

Bobby Valentine officially withdrew his name from a pool of possible managerial candidates for the Baltimore Orioles.  Seems he's more interested in the vacancy with the Florida Marlins.

Games from the 3rd:

Angels 5 - Royals 4
Hideki Matsui was the starting DH and batted fifth.  He went 3-for-3: walk, single to center, single to right, walk, single to left.

Mariners 4 - Twins 1
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 1-for-3: walks, RBI single to right, fly out to  center, ground out to short.  Ichiro also stole three bases and scored his 999th career run.

Athletics 9 - Red Sox 8
Hideki Okajima entered the game in the 7th (1 out and a runner on second) with the Red Sox down 7-5.  Okajima managed to get out of the inning with a strikeout, throw out (caught runner on second stealing third) double play.  Final line: 0.2 IP, 2 BF, 1 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

Braves 4 - Dodgers 3
Hiroki Kuroda started the game and took the loss for the Dodgers.  He is now 5-4 on the year.  Final line: 6 IP, 28 BF, 7 H (including a homer), 2 SO, 4 BB, 3 R, 3 ER.

Takeshi Saito entered the game in the 9th with the Braves up, 4-3.  Saito retired the first two batters he faced before coming out of the game with a left leg injury (hamstring).  Final line: 0.2 IP, 2 BF, 0 H, SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER.

"Ever since taking the mound, I've played with everything I got as if it were my last game," said Saito.  "If this happens to be my last game, I won't have any regrets."

===

Sponichi makes mention that Daisuke Matsuzaka has only had five games in the MLB in which he's thrown strikes 70% or more of the time.  The 77% he managed to get during his last start against the Athletics on Wednesday is actually an MLB career high.

===

Kazuo Matsui started at second and batted lead-off against the triple-A Reno Aces on the 3rd.  He went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base (1st inning).

===

Kei Igawa tossed 0.2 innings in relief against the triple-A Durham Bulls on the 3rd.  Final line: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 8 (5) NP (strikes).