Dominican Dandy

Johnny Cueto looked like a prodigy against San Diego striking out 10 in six innings. Cueto threw 78 of his 120 pitches for strikes, but failed to pick up his eighth win thanks to a shaky third inning. Cueto walked the leadoff man, then got the next two batters before allowing three straight hits that scored three runs. He earned a no-decision when the Reds forced extra innings.

Cincinnati wins the game 4-3 in the 11th on a Jeff Keppinger double that scored Jay Bruce. Bruce extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Fantasy Impact: Cuteo continues to mix good and bad outings in his rookie season. He's a little big better at home, so take your chances when he's at the Great American Ballpark more often than when he's on the road.

Not even 17-thousand

Despite starting the night in first place, the Rays drew just 16,800 for a Tuesday night tilt with Oakland. Those not in attendance didn't miss much. Dallas Braden made his debut for the A's, giving up one earned run in five innings, and Jack Hannahan drove in four in an 8-1 Oakland win.

Andy Sonnanstine falls to 10-5 as he picks up the loss. Tampa's got both Boston and New York breathing down its neck.

Closing in on Tampa

The Yankees explode for seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings against Minnesota's Kevin Slowy and company en route to a comfortable 8-2 win. With first-place Tampa losing to Oakland, the Yankees are very much in the race in the AL East, standing just 3 1/2 games back.

Most encouraging for the Yankees tonight might have been the pitching of Darrell Rasner, who worked into the sixth before yielding two runs. He picks up his sixth win, though he couldn't pick up a quality start.

Fantasy Impact: Rasner tossed three quality starts in his first four outings of the season, but then lost his ability to get past the fifth. He almost broke the spell tonight. Keep an eye on him as a potent Yankees lineup can work wonders for any pitcher.

Six apiece, four each

Some similar numbers from the players that mattered most in Baltimore. Both starting pitchers, Shaun Marcum and Garrett Olson, worked 4 2/3 innings and yielded six earned runs. Neither figured in the decision.

Both players of the game, Adam Lind and Nick Markakis, went 4-5 with a home run. Despite Markakis knocking in five runs to Lind's three, the Blue Jays win the game, 10-8.

Fantasy Impact: Marcum, just off the DL after sitting out sine June 19th with an elbow strain, looked terrible in his return. He allowed eight hits and walked three. You may want to sit him until he's comfortable again. Olson is looking more and more like he needs a return to the minors. His ERA is an ugly 6.11.

Lind is intriguing at this time. Cito Gaston has handed him the reigns in left field, and Lind is hitting .289 with six home runs. Start both him and Markakis in all formats.

Blanton blasted

Joe Blanton's first start for the Phillies is not pretty: five earned runs, six innings, two home runs allowed against the Mets. This one wasn't even played in Philadelphia, where the experts believe Blanton's deep Oakland flyouts will turn into home runs. Mets beat the Phils, 8-6.

Fantasy Impact: If you own Blanton, bench him. He doesn't offer much unless his National League anonimity helps him get by. It didn't tonight. Carlos Delgado and Ramon Castro connected for the Mets' longballs. Neither of them inspire fear, although Delgado's been swinging a hot stick.