Kind of a busy Monday

The only baseball I saw today was a bit of the Rangers' 6-4 win at Baltimore on television.

It was a busy night here with lots of things for me to work on. As it turned out, it was also a busy night in the majors for a Monday.

Here's a look at some of what happened and didn't happen, and why.

Rangers-Orioles. Texas CF Josh Hamilton didn't play because of a rib cage injury. In Hamilton's place was OF David Murphy, who hadn't had a hit this season before hitting a home run Sunday. His second hit tonight was a tw-run single breaking a 4-4 tie. 3B/SS Michael Young continued to think he's a big-time clutch power hitter with a two-run homer to pull the Rangers within 4-3. LHP Matt Harrison appeared on his way back to Oklahoma City after giving up four runs in the first two innings, but all of a sudden he retired 18 consecutive batters.

Red Sox-Indians. This was the night's best game. Boston RHP Tim Wakefield gave up only one hit in seven innings. Tribe LHP Cliff Lee looked like his 2008 self, with a pitching line of 850005. Neither starter gave up a run or received a decision. The Sox won 3-1 with OF Jason Bay hitting a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning against Cleveland RHP Kerry Wood in a non-save situation.

Nationals-Phillies. Usually, I'd follow a Red Sox wrapup with something similar about the Yankees. This time I'm following the thread of "non-save situation" along to Philadelphia's closer, RHP Brad Lidge. It was a non-save situation for him because he couldn't pitch because of an inflamed right knee. Instead, RHP Ryan Madson picked up his first save of 2009 with a scoreless inning in the Phils' 13-11 victory. It was 7-7 going into the eighth, when Washington scored four runs. The Phillies came back with a six-run bottom of the inning, capped by LF Raul Ibanez's grand slam against Nats RHP Joel Hanrahan.

Marlins-Mets. Now we're on the topic of grand slams. Don't expect any others, or probably another home run, from New York rookie C Omir Santos. He has no real track record as a hitter, and almost certainly will be back in the minors when C Brian Schneider returns from the disabled list. The Mets' 7-1 win was just another reminder that Florida is not still playing half of its games against the Nationals.

OK. Yankees-Tigers. Detroit RHP Justin Verlander pitched seven scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory. RF Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer for the Tiges.

Mariners-White Sox. No one won because no one played. The game was rained out and rescheduled as part of a 4:05 CDT doubleheader Tuesday. That's 5:05 for you Easterners. Tonight's scheduled pitching matchup will go in the twin bill's first game, with Seattle RHP Chris Jakubauskas against Chicago RHP Bartolo Colon. The feature attraction will match Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez against White Sox LHP John Danks. I wrote from spring training about how much Danks impressed me, and he hasn't disappointed.

A number of players have gone out on injury-rehab assignments: Astros RHP Brandon Backe to Triple-A Round Rock, Dodgers RHPs Cory Wade and Jason Schmidt to high Class A Inland Empire, Blue Jays RHP Casey Janssen to high Class A Dunedin and Orioles OF Ryan Freel to low Class A Delmarva.