BELTRE A-FIRE

BROOKLYN 11, CENTRAL CA 3

WP: Francisco Liriano (1-2, 5.60)

LP: Anibal Sanchez (2-4, 5.49)

Young lefty Francisco Liriano struck out 11, didn’t walk a batter and gave up just one run over eight innings, but and even bigger story was Adrian Beltre’s performance in the three-game sweep in Central California. This game, the big third baseman was 3-for-4 with three runs, two doubles and two RBI. In the series, Beltre had nine hits in 12 at-bats (.750), scored seven times, hit three doubles, a triple and three home runs, and drove in 13. Through the first two weeks of May, Beltre is 23-for-43 (.545) with seven doubles, two triples and eight jacks. He has scored 17 times and driven in 23, and he has struck out once. It’s pretty safe to say he’s already the player of the month.

CASSELTON 5, POTTSYLVANIA 1

WP: John Danks (2-2, 5.36)

LP: Chris Carpenter (3-5, 3.81)

SV: Adams (3)

Carlos Gonzalez was the offensive standout as the Horned Toads avoided a three-game sweep in the Creeper Dome. “CarGo” doubled in the first to score a run before putting the game out of reach with a two-run shot in the top of the ninth. He finished 3-for-5 to raise his average to .348. Curtis Granderson set the table with a four-hit night (two doubles and a triple) and three runs scored. New closer Mike Adams pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

WORCESTER 7, YUMA 4

WP: Wandy Rodriguez (2-3, 3.96)

LP: Tommy Hanson (6-2, 3.41)

SV: Rivera (7)

The Eliminators spread the wealth on offense, with seven different players each driving in a run on the road in Yuma. They became the first team this season to beat up Firebirds starter Tommy Hanson (5 IP, 9 H, 5 R). The two most injury-riddled clubs in the league (ironically, also the teams that benefitted from great health in splitting the previous two world championships) played a tough three-game series, with Worcester taking two.

LOS ANGELES 13, ST. FRANCIS 5

WP: Jordan Zimmerman (2-3, 4.79)

LP: Zach Britton (0-1, 11.00)

Jordan Zimmerman coasted to seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and walking three, in The Monastery. Brian Chae’s young stars provided most of the offense. Dexter Fowler scored three runs, Starlin Castro had a run and an RBI, Carlos Santana walked four times and scored twice, and Mike Stanton had three hits and two RBI. Mark Reynolds, however, might have had the best line: 2-for-5, one run, a home run and five RBI. Jeff Francis allowed five runs in the eighth (when LA had a 13-0 lead), including a three-run long ball off the bat of Felix Pie, but the Wolverines still took two of three from the Central Division leaders.

AC/BC 7, SIN CITY 3

WP: Chad Billingsley (4-3, 3.79)

LP: James Shields (1-5, 7.11)

Chad Billingsley threw a complete game, allowing just one earned runs and striking out four, as AC/BC’s offense lit up James Shields like a parade at Disneyland. Shields, who was in high demand during free agency, gave up six runs, all earned, in five innings to see his ERA rise. Howie Kendrick hit a two-run bomb in the third and Ryan Doumit doubled and scored twice.

NEW ENGLAND 5, FROSTBITE FALLS 2

WP: Alexi Ogando (2-0, 2.13)

LP: Tim Lincecum (4-1, 2.55)

SV: Papelbon (9)

Justin Morneau hit two home runs and drove in four as the Yankee Stompers handed Tim Lincecum his first 2011 loss. Reliever-turned-starter Alexi Ogando allowed two hits and two unearned runs over 5.2 innings to earn his second victory, and the New England bullpen survived scares in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings to close it out.