Wednesday, June 20th (All times eastern)
FLORIDA MARLINS (34-38) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (29-38), 2:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Sergio Mitre (2-3, 2.29) Chicago - Jon Garland (4-4, 3.59)
The Chicago White Sox try to win their first series in nearly a month this afternoon when they play the rubber match of their three- game series with the Florida Marlins at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago has not won a series since taking two of three against Oakland from May 21-23. The club won the opener of this series before yesterday’s setback.
In the second game of this set on Tuesday Dan Uggla hit a go-ahead solo home run in the ninth inning as the Marlins downed the White Sox, 7-5, in the second contest of a three-game interleague set.
Uggla finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored while Hanley Ramirez hit a solo home run, drove in two and scored twice for the Marlins, who had lost five of six coming into the game.
Dontrelle Willis got the start, but left after the first inning with a left forearm strain. He was charged with four runs on three hits with three walks. Armando Benitez (1-3) got the win for pitching a perfect eighth inning.
The Florida bullpen combined to pitch eight innings of one-run, three-hit ball with one walk and six strikeouts.
Josh Fields hit a three-run homer while Matt Thornton (2-3) was handed the loss for giving up two runs on three hits in one-plus innings of work for the White Sox, who have dropped six of eight. John Danks got the start on the mound but was banged up for four runs on eight hits in four innings of work.
Heading to the hill tonight for the White Sox will be right-hander Jon Garland, who is winless in his last two starts. Garland was tagged with the loss in his last outing on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he surrendered four runs and 11 hits in a 4-2 loss.
Garland did not pick up a decision in his only other start versus the Marlins, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of that one.
Florida will hand the ball to 26-year-old righty Sergio Mitre, who is 2-3 with a 2.29 ERA this season. Mitre suffered the loss his last time out on Friday in Kansas City, as the Royals battered him for six runs and 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Mitre is 0-1 in his young career against the White Sox, surrendering seven runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in his only other appearance against them.
The Marlins took two of three from the White Sox in June of 2004 in the only other series between the clubs.
CINCINNATI REDS (28-44) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (38-32), 3:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Matt Belisle (5-5, 4.95) Oakland - Dan Haren (8-2, 1.64)
The major league’s ERA leader takes the mound tonight as Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Dan Haren will square off with the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game interleague series from McAfee Coliseum.
Haren, whose 1.64 earned run average is tops in the majors, owns an 8-2 record in 15 starts this season. He is 8-0 over the past 13 outings and has won back- to-back starts, including a June 15 performance against the St. Louis Cardinals. Haren allowed three runs — two earned — in seven innings of a 14-3 victory over the Cardinals at McAfee Coliseum.
Haren hasn’t lost since April 7 against the LA Angels of Anaheim and is trying to win nine straight decisions for the first time since ripping off nine in a row from May 31 - August 7 of the 2005 campaign.
The right-hander is also a perfect 5-0 in eight home starts in 2007 and will make his third career appearance against Cincinnati. In two games (1 start) against the Reds, Haren is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in 6 2/3 frames. Haren’s only start against Cincy came on August 29, 2003 when he was reached for six runs in 5 2/3 innings of an 8-5 loss.
Oakland has lost three of its last four games, including Tuesday’s 5-2 loss in the second installment of this test. Mark Ellis had two hits and Kurt Suzuki hit is first big-league home run for the Athletics, who are now six games behind the Angels in the American League West division.
Starter Chad Gaudin was saddled with his first loss over the last 10 starts, giving up four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Reds starting pitcher Matt Belisle hasn’t fared too well lately and will toe the rubber this afternoon. Belisle is 5-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 14 starts this season and is just 2-4 over his last nine trips to the mound.
Belisle last pitched on June 15 against Texas and was saddled with the loss, yielding seven runs on nine hits in five innings of a 7-6 setback.
The right-hander, who is 4-1 in six road starts this season, has never faced the Athletics in his career.
In last night’s win over the A’s, future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. hit the 582nd home run of his career and recorded his 1,652 RBI, tying him with Tony Perez for 18th place on the all-time list. He is one home run shy of Mark McGwire for seventh all-time.
Alex Gonzalez and Javier Valentin drove in a pair of runs apiece for Cincinnati, which has split the first two games of this set and won for the second time in seven tries. The series is a rematch of the 1990 World Series, won by the Reds in four games.
Oakland, though, has won seven of the last eight matchups against the Reds.
Homer Bailey took the hill for Cincy on Tuesday and pitched seven strong innings, allowing only one run on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts over seven innings. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (31-38) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (41-31), 3:40 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - James Shields (6-1, 3.30) Arizona - Micah Owings (4-1, 3.84)
The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to win a series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the first time in franchise history when the clubs wrap up their three-game set this afternoon at Chase Field.
Both clubs entered the league as expansion teams in 1997, and the Diamondbacks dropped their first seven games against the Devil Rays before Tuesday’s extra- inning win.
Tampa Bay swept a three-game set in Arizona in 2004, took all three contests at St. Petersburg in 2006 by a 15-8 margin before winning Monday’s series opener.
However, Tony Clark delivered a game-tying, pinch-hit two-run homer in the ninth inning yesterday and Chris Young sent the crowd home happy with a two- run blast in the 10th inning, lifting Arizona to the 10-8 victory.
Carlos Quentin homered, scored three runs and drove in three for the Diamondbacks, who have won four of five and trail San Diego by 1 1/2 games for the top spot in the National League West. Mark Reynolds, Orlando Hudson and Eric Byrnes each knocked in a run in the win.
Brandon Lyon (5-2) pitched a perfect 10th inning to earn the win.
Akinori Iwamura finished 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored for the Devil Rays, who saw their two-game win streak halted in a late-game collapse. Carl Crawford had two RBI, Ty Wigginton added a two-run homer and Jonny Gomes collected two hits with an RBI in the losing effort.
Al Reyes (1-1) took the loss and the blown save. He allowed four runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief, including two homers.
James Shields goes for his career-high seventh win of the season for Tampa Bay today. Shields, who won six games in his rookie season last year, had a three- game winning streak halted on Friday against Colorado while suffering his first defeat of the season. The right-hander gave up five runs on six hits in six innings versus the Rockies to fall to 6-1 with a 3.30 earned run average.
Shields faced Arizona last year and got the win after out dueling the Diamondback’s Brandon Webb. The righty scatted two runs and four hits over seven innings of the 3-2 win on June 21 at Tampa.
Micah Owings will again try to stay out of the loss column when he toes the rubber for Arizona today. Owings hasn’t posted a loss since April 11, going 3-0 in nine starts since.
The right-hander, who has never faced the Devil Rays before, is coming off back-to-back no-decisions, including Friday at Baltimore. Owings allowed three runs on six hits in six innings of his team’s 7-3 victory over the Orioles.
On the year, Owings is 4-1 with 3.84 ERA.
DETROIT TIGERS (41-29) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (30-41), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Jeremy Bonderman (7-0, 3.92) Washington - Mike Bacsik (1-4, 4.59)
Jeremy Bonderman will try for his eighth straight winning decision tonight when his Detroit Tigers wrap their three-game series with the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium.
Bonderman opened the season with five straight no-decisions before his recent winning burst. His earned run average for the season is 3.92, and the right- hander hasn’t lost since September 10 of last year at Minnesota. He closed the 2006 season with three straight wins, and picked up an additional victory in the postseason.
Bonderman, who has never faced the Nationals, was last in action on Friday against the Phillies and picked up the win despite allowing five earned runs for a second consecutive start. He allowed nine hits — four of them home runs — but was bailed out by his offense in the 12-8 victory.
Mike Bacsik will try to help Washington avoid being swept by Detroit when he takes the hill tonight. The left-hander is 1-4 on the year with a 4.59 ERA after dropping his last four starts. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings on Friday against Toronto, yielding three runs on nine hits in the 7-2 setback.
Bacsik is 1-0 in his career against the Tigers, besting them while with the Rangers on August 4, 2004 behind seven shutout innings.
Detroit will try to sweep an opponent for the first time since winning all three games against St. Louis on May 18-20 in a rematch of last year’s World Series.
On Tuesday, Sean Casey blasted a three-run homer to pace a 17-hit attack as Detroit trounced Washington, 15-1 .
Brandon Inge was 2-for-4 with a three-run double for the Tigers, who have won four of five games and are now tied atop the AL Central with Cleveland. Magglio Ordonez finished 3-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs while Marcus Thames chipped in a two-run homer.
Chad Durbin (6-3) allowed just one run on five hits in six innings and snapped a personal two-start losing streak.
Cristian Guzman was 2-for-3 with the lone RBI for the Nationals, who have lost four of their past five. Dmitri Young was 2-for-4 with two doubles and starter Jason Simontacchi (4-5) was torched for 10 runs on 10 hits in just three innings of work en route to the loss.
This is the first meeting between the clubs since 2002, when the Tigers won two out of three at home over the Montreal Expos.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (37-34) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (41-29), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Jon Lieber (3-5, 4.21) Cleveland - C.C. Sabathia (9-2, 3.19)
Ryan Howard is hitting his stride and will try to continue the power surge tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies play the rubber match of their three-game set with the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.
Howard had three hits, one of them a long solo homer, and tied a season-high with four RBI in the Phillies’ 9-6 victory on Tuesday.
The homer was Howard’s 16th of the season, and the reigning NL MVP has gone deep in consecutive games and in three of his last five contests. He also homered in back-to-back games on June 10-11.
Chase Utley added a two-run single and Pat Burrell a two-run double, as the offensive outburst helped young right-hander Kyle Kendrick to his first major league win.
Kendrick (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits, walked a batter and struck out one over six effective innings for Philadelphia, which snapped a two-game skid and moved within two games of the New York Mets for first place in the NL East.
Philadelphia’s Jon Lieber will try to bounce back from a poor outing on Friday that dropped him to 1-3 over his last four starts. Against the Tigers last time out, the right-hander was hammered for seven runs — six earned — on 10 hits in just five innings of a 12-8 setback. Lieber also fanned five while falling to 3-5 on the season with a 4.21 earned run average.
The former Yankee, who threw his first shutout of the year on June 9 versus Kansas City, is 2-0 in three lifetime starts against Cleveland with a 2.75 ERA. He last faced them on September 2, 2004 and guided New York to a victory behind seven shutout innings.
Ryan Garko, who came into the game mired in a 2-for-41 slump, hit a solo homer in the second inning for Cleveland yesterday and added an RBI single in the fourth. Jason Michaels had a pair of RBI off the bench as he replaced David Dellucci in the game after Dellucci injured his left hamstring running out a ground ball.
The injury could land him on the disabled list.
Jason Stanford (1-1) was touched for six runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Indians, who had their two-game winning streak snapped and fell into a tie with Detroit for first-place in the AL Central.
Cleveland’s C.C. Sabathia will try to become the American League’s third 10- game winner this evening. Sabathia has been stuck on nine wins for his last two starts, as he got a no-decision on June 10 at Cincinnati before being handed his second loss of the season on Friday against Atlanta.
The left-hander went 8 1/3 frames against the Braves, but allowed five runs — four earned — on 12 hits with seven strikeouts in a 5-4 setback. The outing lifted his ERA to 3.19.
Sabathia took the loss in his only career start against the Phillies. That defeat came on June 10, 2002 after he yielded three runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 3-1 setback.
Cleveland and Philadelphia last met in 2002 at Jacobs Field, with the Indians winning two out of three in the series. The Indians are 100-89 all-time in interleague play, while the Phillies are 86-97.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (40-30) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (33-36), 7:07 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Hong-Chih Kuo (1-1, 3.60) Toronto - Roy Halladay (7-2, 4.37)
Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay gets the nod this evening against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second test of a three-game interleague series at Rogers Centre.
Halladay is 7-2 with a 4.37 ERA in 12 starts this season and is unbeaten over his last four trips to the mound (3-0). Halladay is riding a personal two- start winning streak and defeated Washington the last time out on June 15, yielding just a pair of runs in 7 1/3 innings of a 7-2 triumph in Canada.
The right-hander is a perfect 2-0 in two starts with a 1.69 ERA lifetime against the Dodgers.
Toronto has dropped two in a row after a three-game winning streak, including Tuesday’s 10-1 setback in the series opener at home. Aaron Hill knocked in the lone run for the Blue Jays and starter Dustin McGowan surrendered six runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in just 1 2/3 frames.
The Blue Jays, who are 11 1/2 games behind AL East-leading Boston, also noted that starter A.J. Burnett will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain.
Dodgers ace Brad Penny earned the win last night after pitching seven innings of one-run, six-hit ball with five strikeouts and one walk. Penny lowered his ERA to 2.12 and is unbeaten in six starts since a May 18 loss to the Angels.
Russell Martin ended 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs batted in and Luis Gonzalez ended 3-for-4 with four runs batted in and a run scored. Marlon Anderson drove in two runs, while Juan Pierre and Jeff Kent each scored three times for the Dodgers, who have won five of their last seven games and sit 1 1/2 games behind San Diego for the top spot in the NL West.
Taking the ball for the Dodgers tonight will be Hong-Chih Kuo, who is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in five games (3 starts) this season. Kuo won his last start on June 15 against the Mets, pitching seven innings of one-run ball.
The Taiwanese left-hander will make his first appearance against Toronto.
LA and the Blue Jays met in early June with Toronto winning two of three on the road. Toronto also won two of three at home versus the Dodgers in 2004.
MINNESOTA TWINS (35-34) AT NEW YORK METS (38-31), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Scott Baker (1-2, 7.33) NY Mets - Oliver Perez (7-5, 2.93)
The struggling New York Mets will try to get back in the win column tonight, when they close out a three-game interleague series versus the Minnesota Twins at Shea Stadium.
The Mets have lost three of four and 12 of their last 15 games, including Tuesday’s 9-0 loss in the second test of this series. Jose Reyes, David Wright, Damion Easley and Carlos Gomez provided the hits for New York, which saw its lead in the National League East shrink to 1 1/2 games over Atlanta.
Jorge Sosa started on the hill for the Mets and was drilled for seven runs — five earned — on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings — his shortest outing of the season. Aaron Sele gave up two tuns, one earned, in relief.
Oliver Perez will take the hill this evening for the Mets and is 7-5 with a 2.93 ERA in 13 starts in 2007. Perez ended a three-start winless streak (0-2) his last time out on June 15 against the New York Yankees, hurling 7 1/3 scoreless innings of five-hit ball in a 2-0 triumph in the Bronx.
The left-hander has faced Minnesota just once in his career and was saddled with the loss. On June 18 last season while with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Perez permitted four runs — one earned — in 7 2/3 innings of an 8-2 setback.
Minnesota, meanwhile, is 5 1/2 games off the pace in the AL Central standings and has won two of three and six of its last nine games. In last night’s shutout of the Mets, starting pitcher Johan Santana went the distance on a four-hitter and struck out a batter in his sixth complete game and fourth shutout of his career.
Jeff Cirillo went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Michael Cuddyer drove in a pair of runs for the Twins.
Scott Baker gets the nod for the Twins tonight and is 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA in five starts this season. Baker is winless over his last four starts and is riding a personal two-game skid.
Baker last took the mound on June 15 against Milwaukee and was dealt the loss after giving up six runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 frames of an 11-3 blowout. He has never faced the Mets in his career.
The Twins swept New York the last time they squared off in 2004, but the Mets took two of three from them in Flushing the first time they met in 2002.
BOSTON RED SOX (45-25) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (38-34), 7:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Julian Tavarez (4-4, 4.97) Atlanta - Buddy Carlyle (1-1, 4.44)
The Boston Red Sox are back in the swing of things and will shoot for another win this evening in the finale of a three-game interleague series with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
Boston has won four of its last five games and extended its lead to nine games over New York in the American League East standings after the Yankees lost to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
After losing the opener of this series with Atlanta on Monday, the Red Sox bounced back with a 4-0 blanking of the Braves. Starting pitcher Josh Beckett scattered four hits over six shutout innings and added an RBI double at the plate to become the second 10-game winner in the majors. He joined LA Angels of Anaheim starter John Lackey in the double-digit win club.
David Ortiz hit his 12th homer of the season for the Red Sox, while Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek collected two hits apiece in the victory.
Julian Tavarez will take the hill for Boston this evening and is 4-4 with a 4.97 ERA in 12 starts. Tavarez is riding an unbeaten streak, having gone 3-0 in his last six trips to the mound.
In his previous start on June 15 against San Francisco, Tavarez hurled seven strong innings of two-run ball as the Red Sox handed the Giants a 10-2 setback at Fenway Park.
The veteran right-hander has a lot of experience against the Braves, going 4-3 with a 5.28 earned run average in 31 career appearances (3 starts).
Atlanta has lost two of its last three games and starter Tim Hudson was the culprit this time, yielding nine hits and four runs over 5 1/3 innings. He has not won a game since May 30, going 0-2 with two no-decisions over that span.
Kelly Johnson and Edgar Renteria had two hits apiece for the Braves, who are 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the top spot in the NL East division. The Mets were pounded by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
The Braves will send Buddy Carlyle to the mound on Wednesday and he is 1-1 with a 4.44 ERA in five games (4 starts) this season.
Carlyle has recorded consecutive no-decisions and last toed the rubber on June 15 against Cleveland, allowing three runs — two earned — and six hits over six innings of work.
The right-hander will make his first-ever appearance against Boston.
Boston took two of three from Atlanta at Fenway Park last month and has won seven of the last nine encounters between the clubs. The Red Sox swept a three-game series in Turner Field last June.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (29-43) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (31-37), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Gil Meche (4-6, 3.00) St. Louis - Todd Wellemeyer (2-0, 4.88)
Gil Meche tries to string back-to-back wins together this evening when the Kansas City Royals complete their three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Meche won for the first time in eight starts on Friday against Florida, as he held the Marlins to one run and six hits over eight innings to improve to 4-6 on the season, while lowering his earned run average to 3.00.
The 28-year-old right-hander will be facing the Cardinals for the first time in his career.
St. Louis will counter with right-hander Todd Wellemeyer, who is 2-0 with a 4.88 ERA. Wellemeyer, who was acquired from the Royals earlier this season, last pitched on Saturday in Oakland when he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. However, he did not factor in the decision of his team’s 15-6 win.
Wellemeyer, who has never faced the Royals, had been 0-1 with a 10.34 ERA in 12 relief outings for KC.
In the second game of this set on Tuesday, Chris Duncan homered and Brad Thompson pitched seven solid innings as St. Louis posted a 5-1 win. Duncan drove in three runs and Scott Rolen had two hits for the Cardinals, who have won three of four.
So Taguchi also extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games.
Thompson (5-2) started in place of Kip Wells, who was originally scheduled to start, but was moved from his spot in the rotation. Thompson allowed just one run on seven hits, while walking none and striking out three. Randy Flores and Ryan Franklin each threw one scoreless inning in relief.
Thompson started three days after pitching two innings of relief in a 15-6 win at Oakland.
Kansas City starter Scott Elarton (2-3) went just 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out none.
Emil Brown and Alex Gordon had two hits apiece for the Royals, who had won four of their previous five games.
Kansas City, which is 9-5 in interleague play this season, took two of three from the Cardinals last week at Kauffman, but the Cards are 11-6 in the series since the start of the 2004 season.
CHICAGO CUBS (32-37) AT TEXAS RANGERS (26-44), 8:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Jason Marquis (5-3, 3.14) Texas - Kameron Loe (2-6, 6.56)
Sammy Sosa’s debut against his former club didn’t produce a hit let alone career homer No. 600. Sosa will try for the milestone again when the Texas Rangers play the middle portion of their three-game set with the Chicago Cubs at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.
Sosa went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Cubs in the series opener. The slugger, who hit 545 of his 599 career home runs while playing for the Cubs, is trying to join Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays as the only players with 600 career long balls.
Derrek Lee decided to appeal his five-game suspension for his fight with San Diego’s Chris Young on Saturday, and the move paid off for the Cubs as the first baseman drove in the game-winning run yesterday.
Felix Pie knocked in a pair of runs and Alfonso Soriano registered an RBI and a run scored for the Cubs, who snapped a two-game skid and won for the fourth time in their last six games overall.
Sean Marshall started on the hill for the Cubs and allowed four runs on five hits through four-plus innings. However, it was Carlos Marmol (2-0), Bob Howry and Ryan Dempster who held the Rangers scoreless thereafter.
Jason Marquis goes tonight for the Cubs and won five straight decisions from April 16-May 9, but has since gone 0-2 over seven starts with a 5.09 earned run average in that span. He received a no-decision on Thursday versus Seattle after giving up four runs — three earned — on just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. However, one of those two hits was a three-run double by Raul Ibanez.
Marquis is 5-3 on the season with a 3.14 ERA and has made just one career start against Texas. The right-hander was with Atlanta at the time and he posted a victory behind seven innings of two-run ball on June 9, 2002.
Sosa has never homered against Marquis, but is 4-for-12 lifetime against him.
Ian Kinsler belted two home runs on Tuesday for the Rangers, who suffered their fifth loss in their last eight contests. Brad Wilkerson also homered in the loss.
Joaquin Benoit (2-2) allowed one run in an inning of relief and absorbed the loss. Starter Robinson Tejeda allowed four runs — two earned — on eight hits with one strikeout and three walks over five innings.
Right-hander Kameron Loe will make his first career start against Chicago and is coming off one of the better outings by a Texas pitcher this season. Loe was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma on June 9, but was quickly recalled five days later when starter Brandon McCarthy was placed on the disabled list.
Loe went on to toss a Rangers season-high eight innings without allowing a run on five hits. He also struck out a career-high seven batters to halt a personal six-decision losing streak and improve to 2-6 with a 6.56 ERA.
Texas and Chicago last met in 2002 with the Rangers winning two of three at Wrigley Field. NEW YORK YANKEES (35-33) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (36-34), 9:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Andy Pettitte (4-4, 2.93) Colorado - Jeff Francis (6-5, 3.61)
Andy Pettitte tries to win back-to-back starts for the first time all season and stretch his unbeaten streak to four games in the process when the New York Yankees continue their three-game series with the Colorado Rockies this evening at Coors Field.
Pettitte earned the win in his last start thanks to a brilliant effort against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, as he surrendered a run on four hits in eight innings to improve to 4-4 on the season, while lowering his earned run average to 2.93.
The 35-year-old left-hander is 2-0 lifetime against the Colorado Rockies with a 2.29 ERA in three starts. However, in his only other appearance in Denver, Pettitte surrendered eight runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. The Yanks’ bats, though, came through for him in that one, scoring 20 runs to take him off the hook.
Colorado will counter with lefty Jeff Francis, who has won four of his last five starts and five of his last six decisions. Francis, who has never faced the Yankees, picked up the win in his last start on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox, as he scattered seven hits over five scoreless innings to run his record to 6-5 with a 3.61 ERA.
In the opener of this set on Tuesday, Josh Fogg threw seven sterling innings, and Yorvit Torrealba homered in Colorado’s 3-1 win. Fogg (3-5) allowed just one run on four hits for the Rockies, who have won five of their past six games and are an impressive 18-7 since May 22.
Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday each had an RBI for Colorado.
Hideki Matsui was 1-for-4 with the only RBI of the game for the Yankees, who lost for just the second time in 13 games and fell nine games behind Boston in the AL East. Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 in the loss while New York shortstop Derek Jeter finished 1-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
Mike Mussina (3-4) surrendered three runs on seven hits in six innings en route to the loss. The right-hander walked two and struck out six on the night.
The Yankees are 5-2 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.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (29-41) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (41-28), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Jeremy Guthrie (3-1, 2.57) San Diego - Justin Germano (5-0, 2.36)
A new manager, same old story for the Baltimore Orioles. They will try again to stop a season-high losing streak tonight in the second test of a three-game interleague series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Bullpen coach Dave Trembley was named interim manager on Monday, when it was announced that skipper Sam Perlozzo will be relieved of his duties. It has also been reported that former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi is in the mix of taking over on a full-time basis.
Trembley’s debut on Tuesday wasn’t one to remember, as the Orioles dropped their ninth straight game after a 12-6 loss to San Diego in the opener of a three-game set. Miguel Tejada had three RBI for Baltimore and starter Steve Trachsel suffered the loss after yielding six hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings.
The Orioles are in the midst of their worst losing streak since losing nine straight from September 18-26, 2005. Baltimore, which has lost 14 of its last 16 games and sits last in the AL East division, dropped 12 in a row from August 16-28, 2004.
Baltimore will hand the ball to rookie Jeremy Guthrie this evening and he is 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 15 games (9 starts) this season.
Guthrie is 2-0 over his last eight starts and has recorded three straight no- decisions. In his previous outing on June 15 against Washington, Guthrie allowed one run and four hits in seven innings of a 3-1 setback to the Nationals.
The righty, who has lasted at least six innings in each of his last eight starts, will make his first appearance against San Diego.
The National League West-leading Padres have won three straight and five of their last six games, including last night’s six-run victory.
Khalil Greene drove in three runs, including a homer, and Marcus Giles belted a three-run shot for San Diego, which is 1 1/2 games ahead of both Los Angeles and Arizona in the NL West. Mike Cameron had three hits with two RBI and scored twice in the win.
Starting pitcher Jake Peavy continued his impressive stretch, allowing six hits and three runs — two earned — while walking a pair and striking out seven to win his sixth consecutive decision.
Toeing the rubber for the Padres tonight will be rookie Justin Germano, who is a perfect 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA in seven starts this season.
Germano has lasted at least five innings since entering the rotation in early May and previously pitched on June 14 against Tampa Bay. He recorded the victory with six shutout innings of three-hit ball during a 7-1 win over the Devil Rays.
The right-hander will make his first-career appearances against Baltimore.
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 79-92 all-time in interleague play, while the Orioles own a 76-112 record against the National League.
HOUSTON ASTROS (31-40) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (45-27), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Wandy Rodriguez (4-6, 4.19) LA Angels - Ervin Santana (5-7, 5.04)
The Houston Astros try to win back-to-back series this evening when they play the rubber match of their three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.
In the second game of this set on Tuesday, Carlos Lee homered and knocked in four runs while Hunter Pence had three hits including a tie-breaking two-run homer, as Houston posted a 9-5 win.
Craig Biggio logged two hits, bringing his career total to 2,992. He needs eight more to become the 27th player in history to record 3,000 hits. Orlando Palmeiro had four hits for the Astros, who finished with a season-high 17 hits.
The Astros, who came into the series having swept Seattle and winners of four of five, have scored 37 runs over the last four games. They are also averaging 5 1/2 runs in June, and have at least 11 hits in seven straight games
Starter Jason Jennings (1-1) earned his first win in seven starts with the Astros despite allowing five runs — four earned — on 11 hits, while walking one and striking out four in 5 2/3 innings.
Angels starter Bartolo Colon (6-3) struggled, going six frames and surrendering seven runs on 11 hits, while walking three and striking out three. Dustin Moseley allowed two runs on three hits in one inning of relief.
Reggie Willits had three hits and Howie Kendrick doubled twice for the Angels, who lost for just the second time in seven games.
Getting the call for the Angels tonight will be right-hander Ervin Santana, who is coming off a tough-luck loss in his last start. Against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Santana surrendered just a pair of runs on five hits in seven innings, but was tagged with the loss nonetheless and slipped to 5-7 this season to go along with a 5.04 ERA.
Houston will pin its hopes on left-hander Wandy Rodriguez, who is 4-6 with a 4.19 ERA. Rodriguez won for the second time in his last three starts on Friday against the Seattle Mariners after he allowed a run on six hits in 7 2/3 innings.
Neither starter has faced his opponent.
The Astros took two of three from the Angels the only other time these teams faced off back in 2004. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (31-39) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (35-32), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Paul Maholm (3-9, 5.00) Seattle - Jeff Weaver (0-6, 10.97)
The Pittsburgh Pirates aim for their third straight win when they resume a three-game interleague series this evening against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
Pittsburgh won Tuesday’s opener by a 5-3 score after starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny hurled seven strong innings of two-run ball. Gorzelanny scattered eight hits with six strikeouts for the Pirates, who have won five of their last seven games.
Freddy Sanchez notched two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Ryan Doumit finished with a pair of RBI in the victory. Pittsburgh is 8 1/2 games off the lead in the National League Central division.
Pittsburgh will send Paul Maholm to the mound tonight and hopes he can duplicate the success from his previous outing.
Maholm had been 0-5 with a 5.25 ERA in his past six starts, including a personal three-game losing streak, before recording a win over the Chicago White Sox on June 15. He pitched seven strong innings of one-run ball and gave up three hits in a 4-2 victory at PNC Park.
The young left-hander will make his first career appearance against Seattle.
Struggling right-hander Jeff Weaver gets the nod tonight for the Mariners and is 0-6 with a 10.97 ERA in eight starts this season.
Weaver has recorded two straight no-decisions, including a June 14 performance against the Chicago Cubs. Weaver was charged with three runs and 10 hits over a season-high tying six innings of a 5-4 loss at Wrigley Field.
The Fresno State product, who is 0-2 in two home starts this season, has been successful in his career against Pittsburgh. In seven starts versus the Pirates, Weaver owns a 4-2 mark with a 2.30 earned run average.
In Tuesday’s setback at home, Ichiro Suzuki finished 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 14 games for the Mariners, who suffered their sixth straight loss. This marked the second time this season that Seattle has lost six consecutive games. Richie Sexson homered in the losing effort.
Miguel Batista started last night’s game against Pittsburgh and suffered the loss, permitting four runs — two earned — on six hits over 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and four walks.
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 (30-40) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (40-31), 2:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Barry Zito (6-7, 4.41) Milwaukee - Claudio Vargas (5-1, 3.86)
The Milwaukee Brewers will again try to keep the San Francisco Giants out of the win column, and Barry Bonds in the park, when the two clubs wrap their three-game series today at Miller Park.
The Brewers have won the first two games of this series and will try to sweep the Giants at home for the second straight season. Milwaukee swept San Francisco in four games from September 21-24 of last year.
The last time the Brewers swept a three-game series at home versus the Giants was in April of 1998.
On Tuesday, Ben Sheets threw a complete game and the Brewers struck for six runs early off rookie Tim Lincecum for a 6-2 victory.
Sheets (8-3) won his fourth straight decision, giving up six hits, including a two-run homer to Ryan Klesko, to earn his second complete game of the season and 13th of his career. The big right-hander also walked one and struck out four.
Prince Fielder drove in three runs and Milwaukee scored all of its runs over the first two innings, leading to the Brewers’ sixth victory in seven games and a seven-game lead over second-place Chicago in the National League Central.
J.J. Hardy missed the game, as the Milwaukee shortstop is battling tightness in his left hip, but should return today.
San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds went 0-for-3 with a walk and didn’t homer for a second straight game, remaining at 748 for his career — seven behind Hank Aaron’s all-time record.
Bonds, though, isn’t expected to be in the starting lineup for the Giants’ matinee today.
Lincecum (2-2) allowed five hits, six runs and four walks over four innings. He also struck out six.
Ray Durham and Pedro Feliz each had two hits for the Giants, who continued to struggle with their season-high sixth consecutive defeat. San Francisco has dropped 18 of its last 24 games.
Barry Zito will attempt to halt a personal two-game losing streak with tonight’s start for the Giants. Zito was on the losing end of a 6-0 shutout to Oakland on June 9 before getting rocked for seven runs (six earned) on five hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings of a loss to Boston on Friday.
The left-hander signed a seven-year, $128 million contract this past offseason with the Giants, but has produced just a 6-7 mark through 14 starts with a 4.41 earned run average.
Zito had success against Milwaukee in his only other career start against them, tossing eight innings of one-run, two-hit ball on June, 11 2002 with Oakland.
One day after celebrating his 29th birthday, Claudio Vargas will start for the Brewers. Vargas has won his last two starts and sandwiched those victories around his first career save.
The right-hander posted the win against the Cubs on June 5, and was then forced into extra-inning duty on June 10 against Texas. Vargas locked down the 9-6 12-inning win for the save, and then started against the Twins on Friday, allowing three runs — two earned — on five hits over six innings of the 11-3 victory. The win improved him to 5-1 on the year with a 3.86 ERA.
Vargas is 3-2 in 11 games (eight starts) against the Giants with a 5.51 ERA. He was 1-1 in three starts versus them last year.
This series is the first 2007 meeting between these clubs. The Brewers won six of nine encounters with San Francisco last season and are 10-3 in their last 13 encounters with the Giants.
