Tuesday, June 19th (All times eastern)
BOSTON RED SOX (44-25) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (38-33), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Josh Beckett (9-1, 3.39) Atlanta - Tim Hudson (6-4, 3.25)
After Curt Schilling faltered in the opener of this series, the Boston Red Sox now turn to Josh Beckett in hopes of evening their three- game interleague set with the Atlanta Braves tonight at Turner Field.
The Braves took Monday’s matchup between the teams by pounding Schilling for six runs and 10 hits over the first 4 1/3 innings. Brian McCann had the biggest blow, a three-run homer in the fifth frame, and finished 2-for-4 with four RBI in Atlanta’s 9-4 triumph.
Schilling (6-4) also failed to record a strikeout in his short outing for the first time as a starter since July 1, 1993, a span of 348 consecutive starts.
Scott Thorman went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for the Braves, who won for the third time in four games. Edgar Renteria and Chipper Jones each collected three hits and scored twice on the evening.
Atlanta starter Chuck James (6-6) gave up five hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings, fanning four and walking four. Five relievers combined to keep the Red Sox at bay the rest of the way.
Boston, which entered the series off a three-game home sweep of San Francisco, received a 4-for-4, two-homer performance from Coco Crisp. J.D. Drew added a solo shot in the setback.
The Braves may find the going tougher tonight against Beckett, who brings an impressive 9-1 record and 3.39 earned run average into the matchup. However, the hard-throwing right-hander hasn’t been quite as sharp in his three starts since coming off the disabled list and is taking the hill since his worst performance of the season.
Beckett suffered his first loss of 2007 Thursday against Colorado after yielding six runs and a season-high 10 hits over five innings. The 27-year-old is now 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA since being activated from the DL in early June.
The former Florida Marlin is just 5-7 in 14 lifetime starts against Atlanta, but has compiled a 2.62 ERA in those games.
The Braves counter with a quality righty of their own in Tim Hudson. The two- time All-Star had a brilliant start at Minnesota on Thursday that was cut short due to a cramp in his shoulder.
Hudson surrendered only two hits and a walk over 7 1/3 shutout innings against the Twins and left the game with a 2-0 lead. He was denied a victory, however, when Minnesota scored three times off closer Bob Wickman in the ninth.
Prior to that outing, Hudson lasted just two innings in a June 9 no decision against the Cubs in which he gave up five runs and five hits.
Hudson will be attempting to end a string of five consecutive losses to Boston, which included a defeat at Fenway Park on May 20. The 31-year-old is just 3-8 with a 6.22 ERA in 11 overall starts against the Red Sox and hasn’t beaten them since August 11, 2003 as a member of the Oakland rotation.
Boston took two of three from Atlanta at Fenway Park last month and has won six of the last eight encounters between the clubs. The Red Sox swept a three- game series in Turner Field last June.
DETROIT TIGERS (40-29) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (30-40), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Chad Durbin (5-3, 4.60) Washington - Jason Simontacchi (4-4, 4.84)
Right-hander Chad Durbin looks to snap a two-start losing streak and maintain a season’s worth of success on the road tonight, when the Detroit Tigers visit RFK Stadium for the second test of a three-game interleague series with the Washington Nationals.
Durbin, a 29-year-old former third-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals, opened the season at 5-1 before dropping consecutive outings to the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers on June 8 and 14, respectively.
In the two losses, the Spring Valley, IL native has allowed 14 hits and five runs in 11 2/3 innings. Both losses came in Detroit.
On the road, Durbin is 4-1 in eight starts with a 4.40 earned run average over 47 innings. He has never faced Washington.
Journeyman righty Jason Simontacchi has won two straight for the Nationals after a 2-4 start to the 2007 season.
He defeated Minnesota, 8-5, on June 8 before scattering nine hits and one earned run over seven innings while defeating Baltimore, 3-1, on June 14.
The 33-year-old Californian has never faced the Tigers.
On Monday, Carlos Guillen homered and drove in three runs as Detroit held on to edge Washington, 9-8.
Marcus Thames also homered and drove in a pair of runs for the Tigers, who have won three of four games and remained a game behind Cleveland in the AL Central. Gary Sheffield finished 2-for-4 with a two-run single.
Mike Maroth (5-2) didn’t pitch all that well, allowing five runs — four earned — on six hits in five innings but got the win thanks to the Detroit offense.
Cristian Guzman, Felipe Lopez and Brian Schneider each drove in two runs for the Nationals, who have lost three of four games.
Matt Chico (3-5) started on the hill for Washington and was roughed up for eight runs on nine hits in just four innings of work en route to the loss.
These two franchises are meeting for the first time since 2002, when Detroit won two out of three against the Montreal Expos at home.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (36-34) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (41-28), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 4.50) Cleveland - Jason Stanford (1-0, 1.50)
While one streak has come to an end for a Cleveland Indian, the club itself will look to extend its own winning ways when it continues its three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Jacobs Field.
The Indians routed the Phillies to take the series opener on Monday 10-1, as Kelly Shoppach homered and drove in a career-high four runs. However, Casey Blake went 0-for-3, ending his 26-game hitting streak that was the longest such streak in the majors this season.
Josh Barfield had three RBI and Jason Michaels homered and scored three times for AL-Central leading Cleveland, which has won two in a row and maintained its one-game lead over Detroit for first place in the standings.
Cliff Lee (4-4) tossed seven innings of one-run, five-hit ball to record the win.
Cole Hamels (9-3) failed to become the National League’s first 10-game winner in a big way, allowing six runs in just five innings. Ryan Howard hit his 15th homer of the season as the Phillies have dropped three of four. The club now trails the New York Mets by three games for the top spot in the NL East.
Kyle Kendrick is set to make his second career start for the Phillies this evening. The right-hander was effective in his major league debut on Wednesday against the White Sox, as the former seventh-round pick gave up three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings.
However, he got a no-decision in his club’s 8-4 victory after leaving the game down 3-2. Kendrick went 2-7 in 12 Double-A starts this year.
Jason Stanford takes the hill for Cleveland in his second start of the year and 12th of his career. The left-hander made his season debut on Thursday at Florida and earned the win by tossing six innings of six-hit, one-run ball with seven strikeouts.
Stanford, who went 0-1 in just two starts last year despite allowing only one run in 11 innings, has never faced Philadelphia in his career.
Cleveland and Philadelphia last met in 2002 at Jacobs Field, with the Indians winning two out of three in the series. The Indians are 100-88 all-time in interleague play, while the Phillies are 85-97.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (39-30) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (33-35), 7:07 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Brad Penny (8-1, 2.18) Toronto - Dustin McGowan (3-2, 4.78)
Last year’s National League All-Star starter Brad Penny takes another step toward another berth on the mound in the Midsummer Classic tonight, when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit Rogers Centre to open a three-game interleague series with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Penny, who was 10-2 at the time of the All-Star Game last year, earned his eighth win of 2007 on Wednesday, when he allowed seven hits and a run in seven innings while topping the New York Mets, 9-1.
He’s unbeaten in five starts since a May 18 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, having given up 31 hits and just six runs in 34 innings following his only defeat of the season.
Penny got a no decision against Toronto on June 8, allowing five hits and a run in 7 2/3 innings. He is 1-0 with a 4.24 earned run average in three career starts against the Blue Jays.
Toronto’s Dustin McGowan faced the Dodgers in that June 8 matchup and also got a no decision after allowing four hits and two runs in seven innings.
The 25-year-old Georgia native will go opposite Penny again tonight and is unbeaten in three home starts this season, with a 3.98 earned run average over 20 1/3 innings.
McGowan downed San Francisco on Wednesday, winning a 7-4 verdict after scattering seven hits and two runs in six innings.
On Sunday in Toronto, Ryan Zimmerman homered to help the Washington Nationals avoid a three-game series sweep by edging the Blue Jays, 4-2.
Toronto’s Frank Thomas made some history in defeat, hitting his 244th home run as a designated hitter to surpass Edgar Martinez on the all-time list. He now has 496 career home runs after going deep in the third inning.
Josh Towers (2-5) absorbed the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits for Toronto, which had a three-game winning streak halted.
In Los Angeles, Howie Kendrick went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored as the Angels pounded the Dodgers, 10-4, in Sunday’s finale of the Freeway Series.
Nomar Garciaparra went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Dodgers. Starter Randy Wolf (8-5) got the loss after being charged with four runs on seven hits in five innings of action.
Los Angeles has lost two straight following a four-game win streak and enters tonight’s play 1 1/2 games behind first-place San Diego in the NL West standings.
The Dodgers and Blue Jays met in early June, with Toronto winning two of three in LA. The Blue Jays also won two of three at home versus the Dodgers in 2004.
MINNESOTA TWINS (34-34) AT NEW YORK METS (38-30), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Johan Santana (6-6, 3.19) NY Mets - Jorge Sosa (6-2, 3.42)
Right-handed surprise Jorge Sosa can get back on the winning track tonight when the New York Mets host the Minnesota Twins in the middle contest of a three-game interleague series at Shea Stadium.
Sosa, a 30-year-old Dominican who began the season 13 games under .500 for his career, opened 2007 with six wins in seven decisions before dropping a 9-1 verdict to the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 13 at Dodger Stadium.
In the loss, Sosa gave up eight hits and six runs in 5 2/3 innings.
He’s faced the Twins five times — one start — in his career, allowing nine hits and five runs over 10 2/3 innings while going 0-1. He’s 3-0 at Shea this year, posting a 1.77 earned run average in 20 1/3 innings.
Minnesota lefty Johan Santana is 2-0 in a pair of career starts against the Mets, allowing just two earned runs in 13 innings while striking out 17 and walking one.
Santana, however, is winless in three starts since a May 28 defeat of the Chicago White Sox.
He dropped a 4-2 decision to Oakland and a 3-1 game to Washington before a June 14 no-decision against Atlanta in which he was touched for five hits and two runs in seven innings. The Twins won the game, 3-2.
Santana has pitched at least six innings in seven straight starts.
On Monday, Ricky Ledee homered and drove in two runs while John Maine pitched into the eighth inning to lead the Mets over the Twins, 8-1.
Ledee went 2-for-3 and scored twice for the Mets, who won for just the third time in 14 games. Carlos Delgado also homered, ending 2-for-4, and Paul Lo Duca had two hits and drove in a pair for New York, which had six multi-hit players during a 15-hit barrage.
David Wright, one night after having his 17-game hit streak halted, ended 3- for-5 with an RBI for the Mets, who are starting a 10-game homestand after going just 2-7 on a nine-game road trip.
Maine (7-4) picked up his first win since May 26, allowing one run on four hits in 8 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked two, improving to 2-4 in his last seven starts.
Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-4, extending his hit streak to nine games, and drove in the lone run for the Twins, who have dropped three of four.
Minnesota starting pitcher Carlos Silva (4-8) suffered the loss, his third in four starts. The right-hander allowed four runs on 10 hits, striking out one and walking two, in six innings to also lose for the seventh time in nine starts.
The Twins swept the Mets the last time they faced them back in 2004, but the Amazins’ took two of three from them in Flushing the first time they met in 2002.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (29-42) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (30-37), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Scott Elarton (2-2, 8.54) St. Louis - Kip Wells (2-11, 6.93)
Kip Wells tries to avoid his major league-leading 12th loss of the season this evening when the St. Louis Cardinals continue their three- game set with the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium.
Wells is coming off a horrific outing in his last start on Thursday against Kansas City in which he allowed six runs and three hits in just 1 1/3 innings of the Royals’ 17-8 win to drop him to 2-11 on the season, while raising his earned run average to 6.93.
The 30-year-old right-hander is 3-3 lifetime against the Royals with a 10.44 ERA in seven games, six of which have been starts.
Kansas City will counter with veteran Scott Elarton, who was also rocked by his opponent tonight on Thursday. Elarton served up six runs and five hits to the Cards in just two innings of that wild affair, but did not factor in the decision of the rout.
Elarton has faced the Cardinals 15 times (seven starts) and is 4-3 against them with a 5.28 ERA.
In the opener of this set on Monday, Odalis Perez got payback for his setback to Adam Wainwright’s gem last week, tossing six solid innings in Kansas City’s 5-3 victory.
Perez (4-7) surrendered three runs on six hits over six innings. The southpaw improved to 3-4 lifetime against St. Louis, improving drastically off his last outing against the Cardinals. In that game, he was pounded for seven runs — six earned — in just three innings.
On the opposite side of the rubber, Wainwright (5-6) took the loss following a brilliant effort against Kansas City last Wednesday. The right-hander gave up just one hit over eight shutout innings on that night, but was hit for five runs — four earned — on nine hits in seven innings on Monday.
John Buck hit his 13th homer of the season and three players — Mark Teahen, Emil Brown and Ryan Shealy — had two hits apiece for the Royals, who have won two straight and four of their last five.
So Taguchi set the table for St. Louis with three hits and a run scored while Scott Rolen hit his fourth home run of the campaign.
Kansas City, which is 9-4 in interleague play this season, took two of three from the Cardinals last week at Kauffman, but the Cards are 10-6 in the series since the start of the 2004 season.
FLORIDA MARLINS (33-38) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (29-37), 8:11 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Dontrelle Willis (7-6, 4.58) Chicago - John Danks (3-6, 4.34)
The Chicago White Sox try to string back-to-back wins together for the first time in nearly a month this evening when they continue their three-game series with the Florida Marlins at U.S. Cellular Field.
In the opener of this set on Monday, Jim Thome hit a three-run homer and A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and drove in a pair of runs to lead Chicago to a 10-6 win. Jerry Owens scored three times and Tadahito Iguchi crossed the plate twice for the White Sox, who won for just the fifth time in 22 games.
A win tonight would give them their first winning streak since winning two in a row from May 20-22.
Chicago starter Jose Contreras (5-7) got the win, yielding five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked three to earn his first win in five starts.
Alfredo Amezaga had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Marlins, who have dropped two straight and five of six. Miguel Cabrera had two hits and an RBI for Florida, which has also dropped seven of nine overall and seven of its last nine interleague contests.
Florida starter Josh Johnson (0-1) suffered the loss in his first start of the season. The right-hander, who was on the disabled list because of problems with his right elbow, allowed eight runs — four earned — on nine hits, striking out two and walking four in 3 2/3 innings.
Getting the call for the White Sox tonight will be young left-hander John Danks, who is winless in his last four starts. Danks, who is 3-6 with a 4.34 earned run average, failed to pick up a decision in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, allowing two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings of his team’s 8-4 loss.
The 22-year-old left-hander has never faced the Marlins.
Florida will counter with a lefty of its own in 25-year-old Dontrelle Willis, who is 7-6 with a 4.58 ERA. Willis dropped his third straight start on Thursday against the Cleveland Indians, as he surrendered three runs (two earned) on eight hits in seven innings.
Willis has also never faced his opponent tonight.
The Marlins took two of three from the White Sox in June of 2004 in the only other series between the clubs.
CHICAGO CUBS (31-37) AT TEXAS RANGERS (26-43), 8:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Sean Marshall (3-2, 2.12) Texas - Robinson Tejada (5-7, 6.49)
Sammy Sosa will see a lot of familiar faces this evening when he continues his quest for home run number 600, as his Texas Rangers open a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs at Rangers Ball Park at Arlington.
Sosa, of course, played with the Cubs for 13 seasons from 1992-2004, a tenure that was highlighted by 545 home runs. The right-hander eclipsed the 60-homer mark in three of his seasons with Chicago, including a career-high 66 in 1998 when he chased Roger Maris’ then-record of 61 along with Mark McGwire, who went on to hit 70 homers that year.
Sosa’s exit from Chicago wasn’t graceful, as he batted a mere .253 with 35 homers in 2004 before being traded to Baltimore in 2005. He hit only .221 in his lone season with the Orioles before leaving baseball for a season.
He then returned this season with Texas, and is hitting .246 with 11 home runs. Tonight’s game will mark his first-ever appearance against the Cubs.
The Dominican Republic native hit the 599th long ball of his career on Friday, a grand slam versus Cincinnati. Sosa is trying to become just the fifth player in league history to reach 600 home runs, joining Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays.
Sosa’s chase of 600 is one of the more exciting things going on for Texas right now. The Rangers sport baseball’s worst record at 26-43, but have won three of four. That includes a series win against Cincinnati over the weekend.
The Rangers captured the rubber match with the Reds, 11-4, on Sunday behind 10 strikeouts by Kevin Millwood, who picked up his first win in more than two months. Millwood (3-6) gave up four runs on six hits with two walks in six innings to earn his first victory since April 13.
Marlon Byrd drove in three runs with a double and a homer, and Adam Melhuse added three hits with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Michael Young also drove in two runs with a pair of singles while extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
Robinson Tejada takes the hill for the Rangers coming off a loss to the Pirates on Wednesday. The right-hander lasted only four innings in Pittsburgh and was touched for four runs — three earned — on seven hits and three walks to fall to 5-7 on the year with a 6.49 earned run average.
Tejada is just 1-4 over his last five starts and has faced the Cubs once in his career. That start came with Philadelphia on August 3, 2005, and he gave up just one run over six innings in a no-decision.
The Cubs, meanwhile, come into tonight’s game having lost two in a row following a three-game winning streak. Chicago lost the final two tests of its three-game set with San Diego, including an 11-3 pounding on Sunday.
Derrek Lee tripled and Jacque Jones doubled twice in the setback. Rich Hill (5-5) lasted just three innings, his shortest outing of the season, surrendering five runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one in defeat.
Lee was playing one day after an altercation with San Diego pitcher Chris Young. In the fourth inning of Saturday’s game, Young hit Lee with a pitch. As Lee made his way to first, the two players met in the baseline with the Cubs’ first baseman throwing the first punch that triggered a bench-clearing brawl. Young also threw a punch.
Both players were ejected from the game as were San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy and Chicago hitting coach Gerald Perry for their actions.
Discipline came down on Monday, and for the Cubs Lee was suspended five games and fined an undisclosed amount. Perry was hit with a three-game suspension and undisclosed fine for his aggressive actions.
Lee would begin his suspension with tonight’s game unless he appeals. His suspension would then be put on hold until the appeals process is complete.
Sean Marshall aims for his fourth straight winning start when takes the hill for the Cubs tonight. Marshall dropped his first two outings after being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on May 22, but has since allowed only four runs over three starts to improve to 3-2 with a 2.12 earned run average.
Even in Marshall’s two losses this year, he pitched well, allowing just four runs over those two games. In fact, in the left-hander’s 11 career defeats, the Cubs have scored just 10 runs while he was on the mound.
So, Marshall took care of business himself on Wednesday against Seattle, yielding two runs on seven hits over eight innings of a 3-2 victory. The 24- year-old has never faced Texas in his career.
Texas and Chicago last met in 2002 with the Rangers winning two of three at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are 74-77 all-time in interleague play, while the Rangers are 89-99.
NEW YORK YANKEES (35-32) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (35-34), 9:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Mike Mussina (3-3, 5.17) Colorado - Josh Fogg (2-5, 4.95)
Alex Rodriguez will take his swings in the rarefied air of Coors Field when baseball’s current home run leader brings the New York Yankees into Denver for a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies.
Both of these clubs enter this interleague set on hot streaks. The Yankees have ripped off 11 victories in 12 games to climb back into contention in the American League, while the Rockies are an impressive 17-7 since May 22 and recently took two of three games from New York’s biggest rival, the Boston Red Sox, in Fenway Park.
Rodriguez belted his 27th homer of the season and finished with three RBI to help the Yankees take Sunday’s final installment of the 2007 Subway Series with the Mets.
Chien-Ming Wang was the mound star for the Yankees, as the right-hander finished one out away from a complete game in the 8-2 victory.
Wang (7-4) improved to 6-1 over his last seven starts by limiting the Mets to two runs and six hits while racking up a career-high 10 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings.
Johnny Damon went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and Jorge Posada chipped in a two- run shot for the Bronx Bombers, who enter Tuesday’s play eight games behind Boston for first place in the AL East.
Colorado started off a six-game homestand by taking back-to-back matchups with Tampa Bay, but the Rockies couldn’t complete the series sweep on Sunday. Jonny Gomes homered twice and Carl Crawford ended 4-for-5 to lead the Devil Rays to a 7-4 win.
The Rockies, who had a four-game win streak snapped, received solo home runs from Kaz Matsui, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe in defeat. However, starting pitcher Aaron Cook (4-4) was tagged for six runs on 10 hits — including three homers — over six innings of work.
Colorado’s potent offense will be tested tonight by veteran Mike Mussina, who looks to continue a string of two straight very good starts for the Yankees.
Mussina picked up his first victory since May 9 by holding Arizona to two runs and six hits while striking out a season-best seven over 7 2/3 innings on Wednesday. The veteran right-hander pitched well enough to win in his previous outing, when he limited the White Sox to a run and four hits in a six-inning no decision on June 7.
The 38-year-old’s only career start against Colorado came in Coors Field on June 18, 2002. Mussina allowed five runs on eight hits, including two homers, in six innings of that game and did not receive a decision.
Josh Fogg, who will take the mound tonight for the Rockies, snapped an even longer winless drought when he defeated the Red Sox on Wednesday. The soft- tossing righty gave up just two runs on seven hits in five innings of work to record his first win since April 25.
It was Fogg’s second start since a two-week stint on the disabled list because of a groin strain, and a significant improvement over his first outing following his activation. The 30-year-old was touched for six runs and 11 hits over five frames in a June 7 no decision against Houston at Coors Field.
Fogg has faced New York three times previously — all in relief — and has no record and a 4.76 ERA over 5 2/3 innings.
The Yankees are 5-1 all-time against Colorado and took two of three from the Rockies in 2002, New York’s only previous visit to Denver. The Bronx Bombers scored 41 runs in that series, the highest three-game total by an opposing club in Coors Field.
New York also swept a three-game set from the Rockies in 2004.
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (31-37) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (40-31), 9:40 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - J.P. Howell (1-1, 3.60) Arizona - Doug Davis (4-8, 3.70)
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays shoot for their eighth straight win against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight when the two clubs play the middle portion of their three-game series at Chase Field.
Both clubs entered the league as expansion teams in 1997, and the Diamondbacks have yet to capture a victory over the Devil Rays in their short history. Tampa Bay swept a three-game set in Arizona in 2004 before taking all three contests at St. Petersburg in 2006 by a 15-8 margin.
Tampa Bay then made it seven in a row with a win in this series opener on Monday. Jonny Gomes and Brendan Harris both homered in the Devil Rays’ 10-2 victory.
Harris finished the game 3-for-4 and also had a triple, while Carl Crawford finished 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs for Tampa Bay, which had 16 hits in the contest and won its second straight game overall.
Embattled starter Edwin Jackson seemed to be in line for his first win in over 1 1/2 years, but his night was cut short due to cramping and fatigue in his right index finger tendon.
Jackson is 0-8 on the year and allowed only two runs on four hits, but lasted just 4 2/3 innings. He needed one more out to be the pitcher of record. Instead, Jason Hammel (1-0) earned the win after tossing 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
The Devil Rays will send J.P. Howell to the mound tonight for his fourth start of the season. Howell took a tough-luck loss on Thursday against San Diego, allowing just two runs — one earned — on four hits over seven frames of an eventual 7-1 setback. The loss moved Howell to 1-1 on the season with a 3.60 earned run average.
The left-hander has faced Arizona once in his career and picked up a victory behind five innings of one-run, four-hit ball.
Orlando Hudson was 2-for-3 with an RBI on Monday for the Diamondbacks, who lost for the first time in four games and kicked off a 10-game homestand yesterday. Livan Hernandez (5-5) was tattooed for six runs on 12 hits in just six innings of work to pick up the loss.
Arizona is 1 1/2 games behind San Diego for first place in the National League West.
Doug Davis will attempt to halt a personal two-game losing streak tonight for Arizona that has seen him put together a pair of less than stellar outings.
Against Boston on June 8, Davis was hit for five runs in just four innings after yielding six hits and five walks. He then faced the Yankees on Thursday and allowed four runs on six hits and five walks over five frames, falling to 4-8 on the year while lifting his earned run average to 3.70.
Davis has faced Tampa Bay four times in his career, three of those starts, and is 1-1 with an 8.36 ERA, allowing 13 runs over 14 innings.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (29-40) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (40-28), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Steve Trachsel (5-4, 3.94) San Diego - Jake Peavy (8-1, 1.82)
The Dave Trembley era in Baltimore kicks off tonight, when the slumping Orioles open a three-game interleague series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Baltimore became the first club in the 2007 season to fire its manager, as Sam Perlozzo lost his job on Monday. Baltimore executive vice president of baseball operations Mike Flanagan made the announcement during a press conference and named bullpen coach Trembley manager on an interim basis.
Perlozzo, who took over as the team’s interim manager in August of 2005 after Lee Mazzilli was fired, compiled a record of 122-164 with the Orioles and the team is currently mired in a season-high eight-game losing streak. Baltimore is last in the American League East standings — 15 1/2 games behind Boston.
Trembley has managerial experience, having spent four seasons as a skipper in Baltimore’s minor league system. It has been rumored that former Florida Marlins manager and current New York Yankees broadcaster Joe Girardi may fill in on a full-time basis. Girardi was voted NL Manager of the Year in 2006 before being fired because of differences with the Florida management.
Since the Orioles ended the month of May on a season-best six-game winning streak, the club has been on a downward spiral. Baltimore has a 2-13 record so far in June and has been swept in two straight series, including a three- game stretch against the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend.
In Sunday’s series finale at Camden Yards, the Orioles suffered a 6-4 loss. Starter Brian Burres was reached for three runs in seven innings of work, but relief pitcher Chad Bradford allowed two runs in the eighth to take the loss.
Aubrey Huff singled, scored a run and had an RBI for the Orioles, who will open a six-game road trip tonight under Trembley. Freddie Bynum was 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the loss, while Corey Patterson added a sacrifice fly and Miguel Tejada also knocked in a run.
Veteran pitcher Steve Trachsel will try to end Baltimore’s woes when he toes the rubber on Tuesday. Trachsel, who is 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 14 starts this season, owns a 4-1 mark over his last eight trips to the mound.
In his last start on Wednesday against Washington, Trachsel did not factor in the decision of a 9-6 loss to the Nationals. He allowed four runs in seven innings at Camden Yards.
Trachsel, who is 2-4 in eight road starts this season, is 7-8 with a pair of complete games and a 5.31 ERA in 18 career appearances against the Padres.
San Diego will counter with ace Jake Peavy, who is 8-1 with a 1.82 ERA through 14 starts this season. Peavy is unbeaten in his last eight trips to the hill (5-0) and has amassed a 1.64 earned run average over that span.
The right-hander is second in the majors with a 1.82 ERA and fourth with 103 strikeouts. Peavy won his last start on Wednesday against Tampa Bay, yielding just two hits in seven shutout innings of a 9-0 blowout at Tropicana Field.
Peavy, who will put his 4-1 home mark on the line tonight, has never faced the Orioles in his young career.
The National League West-leading Padres will shoot for their third straight win and fifth in six tries on Tuesday. In Sunday’s finale of a three-game series at Wrigley Field, the Padres posted an 11-3 victory over the Cubs behind two home runs by Mike Cameron and solo shots from Adrian Gonzalez, Khalil Greene and Rob Bowen.
Starter Greg Maddux picked up his 339th career win, allowing three runs on seven hits in his second start against the Cubs since they traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline last July.
San Diego and Baltimore are meeting for the first time since the Orioles won two of three games during the 2002 season at Camden Yards. The Padres are 78-92 all-time in interleague play, while the Orioles own a 76-111 record against the National League.
CINCINNATI REDS (27-44) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (38-31), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Homer Bailey (1-0, 5.73) Oakland - Chad Gaudin (6-1, 2.85)
Oakland pitcher Chad Gaudin tries to keep his unbeaten streak alive when the Athletics continue a three-game interleague series versus the Cincinnati Reds this evening at McAfee Coliseum.
Gaudin, who is 6-1 with a 2.85 earned run average in 14 starts this season, is unbeaten over his last nine starts, with the A’s winning eight of those outings. Gaudin is 5-0 with a 3.02 ERA during that stretch and has been a pleasant surprise for the A’s.
He did not factor in the outcome his last time out Thursday against Houston, surrendering five runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 6-5 victory at Minute Maid Park. The right-hander owns a 4-1 mark in seven home starts this season and has never faced the Reds in his career.
Oakland ended a brief two-game slide with Monday’s 6-1 win in the series opener. Starting pitcher Joe Blanton held the Reds to one run through eight innings and gave up seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Mark Ellis highlighted a five-run fifth inning with a three-run homer and Nick Swisher was 3-for-4 with an RBI for Oakland, which has won four of six and is six games behind the LA Angels of Anaheim for the top spot on the American League West division.
Cincinnati opened a nine-game road trip on a losing note yesterday in California, as starter Kyle Lohse was rocked for eight hits and six runs — five earned — while issuing four walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Edwin Encarnacion and Alex Gonzalez each had two hits for the Reds, who have dropped five of six and sit last in the NL Central standings — 12 1/2 games off Milwaukee’s pace.
Taking the ball for the Reds in the second test of this series will be rookie Homer Bailey, who is 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts this season. Bailey made his major league debut on June 8 against Cleveland and earned the win after permitting two runs in five innings of a 4-3 triumph.
Bailey then took the hill six days later against the Angels and did not record a decision. He was reached for five runs over six innings of his team’s 9-7 setback.
The right-hander will face Oakland for the first time in his career.
The Reds swept the A’s in the 1990 World Series, but Oakland has won all seven regular-season matchups in the series.
HOUSTON ASTROS (30-40) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (45-26), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Jason Jennings (0-1, 3.18) LA Angels - Bartolo Colon (6-2, 5.73)
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim target their fourth straight win this evening when they play the second of a three-game interleague set with the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium.
In the opener of this set on Monday, Chone Figgins’ sixth hit of the night proved to be the game-winner, as his triple drove in Reggie Willits and capped a five-run rally in the Angels’ 10-9 win.
Figgins’ six hits matched an American League record in a nine-inning game, as he became the first player to record the feat since Seattle’s Raul Ibanez did it against the Angels on September 22, 2004. Figgins, who also drove in three runs, also tied the franchise record for most hits in a game set by Garret Anderson at Texas in a 15-inning game on September 27, 1996.
The last of the six hits proved the most important. Willits singled off of Dave Borkowski (1-1) with two outs and Houston manager Phil Garner brought in Trever Miller to turn Figgins around. From the right side, the third baseman slapped a pitch tight to the line in right against a deep outfield defense.
Willits ran hard around the bases and slid across home without a throw to give the Angels their third straight win. Houston’s win streak ended at three games in a contest that featured a pair of five-run innings and 31 total hits.
Francisco Rodriguez (1-2) worked out of bases loaded trouble in the ninth to pick up the win.
Getting the call for the Angels tonight will be right-hander Bartolo Colon, who is 6-2 on the season with a 5.73 earned run average. Colon picked up the win in his last start on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds, as he allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits in six innings.
Colon has faced the Astros five times and is 3-1 against them with a 2.34 ERA. However, he last pitched against them back in 2002.
Houston will counter with Jason Jennings, who is still searching for his first win in an Astros uniform. Acquired form the Colorado Rockies to help offset the losses of Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, Jennings has already endured a stint on the disabled list and is just 0-1 on the year with a 3.18 ERA in six starts.
Jennings hasn’t received a decision in his four starts since returning from the DL. Against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, Jennings surrendered three runs and five hits in four innings of his team’s 6-5 loss.
The Astros have won just one of his starts this season.
Jennings did not pick up a decision in his only other start against the Angels last season while with the Rockies.
The Astros took two of three from the Angels the only other time that these teams faced off back in 2004.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (30-39) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (35-31), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Tom Gorzelanny (6-4, 3.04) Seattle - Miguel Batista (7-5, 5.10)
The Seattle Mariners will try to avoid their second six- game losing streak of the season when they open a three-game interleague series against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at Safeco Field.
The Mariners have dropped five in a row and haven’t lost six straight since April 17-22. After ripping off five consecutive wins, the Mariners are caught in a funk and were just swept in three games by the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
In Sunday’s series finale, Seattle suffered a 10-3 loss as starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn was rocked for seven runs — six earned — on six hits with three walks over just three innings.
Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 13 games after finishing 4-for-5 with an RBI for Seattle, which is 7 1/2 games off the lead in the American League West division.
Seattle will send Miguel Batista to the mound today and he is 7-5 with a 5.10 ERA in 14 games — 13 starts — this season. Batista is 4-1 over his last six outings and had his unbeaten streak halted on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs.
Batista allowed three runs, one of which was earned, and nine hits over seven innings during a 3-2 setback to Chicago.
The right-hander has faced Pittsburgh 12 times in his career (eight starts) and owns a 3-5 record with a 4.76 earned run average.
Tom Gorzelanny gets the nod for the Buccos this evening and is 6-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 14 starts. Gorzelanny owns a 1-2 mark over his previous six trips to the hill and was beaten Thursday by Texas. He allowed five runs and seven hits over seven innings of work.
The left-hander has never pitched against Seattle in his career.
Pittsburgh has won four of its last six games, including Sunday’s 8-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game series at PNC Park.
Xavier Nady snapped a seventh-inning tie with a two-run single and Jason Bay made a game-saving catch in the ninth as the Pirates held on for the one-run triumph at home.
Nate McLouth was 2-for-4 with four runs batted in for the Pirates, who are 8 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the National League Central standings. Jose Bautista added a homer and an RBI for the Pirates.
Pittsburgh and Seattle are squaring off for the first time since the Mariners swept a three-game series in the Steel City from June 18-20, 2004. The Pirates are 56-89 all-time versus the American League, while Seattle owns a 103-85 record in interleague play.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (30-39) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (39-31), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Tim Lincecum (2-1, 5.25) Milwaukee - Ben Sheets (7-3, 3.31)
Two teams heading in opposite directions resume a three- game series tonight at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, where the Brewers will attempt to extend the San Francisco Giants’ recent run of futility.
Milwaukee posted its fifth victory in six games in Monday’s series opener, as Prince Fielder belted his National League-leading 26th home run of the season to back a solid major-league debut from pitcher Yovani Gallardo in a 5-4 Brewers’ triumph.
Fielder gave Gallardo an early lead with a two-run blast in the first inning, while Rickie Weeks went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his first game back off the disabled list. Corey Hart added a solo home run in the winning effort.
Gallardo (1-0) held the Giants to three runs and four hits while recording four strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. The highly-regarded 21-year-old also helped his own cause with an RBI double at the plate.
Francisco Cordero worked his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth to record his major league-best 26th save. The Milwaukee closer fanned Randy Winn for the second out before retiring Ryan Klesko on a game-ending grounder.
San Francisco pulled within 5-4 on Ray Durham’s pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh. Pedro Feliz had a solo blast for the Giants earlier in the frame.
Barry Bonds did not homer for the Giants and remains seven shy of Hank Aaron’s all-time record. The star slugger finished 1-for-2 with a double and two walks.
San Francisco has now lost a season-high five straight games and is a woeful 6-17 since May 25. The club is buried at the bottom of the NL West standings, 10 1/2 games behind first-place San Diego.
On the other hand, Milwaukee lengthened its advantage atop the NL Central to seven games over second-place Chicago with Monday’s win.
Rookie Tim Lincecum draws the assignment of trying to end the Giants’ slide this evening. The 2006 first-round draft choice is in a personal slump of his own, having not recorded a victory over his last four starts.
Lincecum piled up three straight no decisions before getting rocked for seven runs on seven hits and walking four in just 3 2/3 innings of Wednesday’s loss to Toronto. It was his shortest outing since being recalled from the minors in early May.
The 23-year-old, who has never previously faced Milwaukee, has allowed 16 runs in 14 2/3 innings (9.82 ERA) over his last three starts.
Lincecum will be going up against Brewers ace Ben Sheets, who has won three straight decisions and is 6-1 over his last eight starts.
Sheets wasn’t overly sharp last Thursday in Detroit, as the standout righty surrendered three runs and eight hits while walking three over 5 2/3 innings. However, it was enough for him to record his seventh victory of the season as Milwaukee came through with a 6-5 triumph.
In his two previous appearances prior to Thursday’s start, Sheets tossed a combined 13 shutout innings in outings with Florida (a win) and Texas (a no decision).
Sheets owns a 2-2 record with a 2.84 ERA in five career games versus San Francisco, but Bonds is 3-for-6 with a home run and four walks against the two-time All-Star hurler.
Last night’s matchup was the first 2007 meeting between these clubs. The Brewers won six of nine encounters with San Francisco last season and are 9-3 in their last 12 encounters with the Giants.
