Monday, June 25th (All times eastern)
OAKLAND ATHLETICS (39-35) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (43-31), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Chad Gaudin (6-2, 3.05) Cleveland - Cliff Lee (4-4, 5.46)
Right-hander Chad Gaudin looks to start another win streak tonight when the Oakland Athletics visit Jacobs Field to begin a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians.
Gaudin, a 24-year-old from New Orleans, had won five straight decisions between May 8 and June 14 before dropping a 5-2 verdict to the Cincinnati Reds on June 19. In that game, he allowed seven hits and four runs in 6 2/3 innings.
He got a no-decision against the Indians on May 13, allowing eight hits and four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings of a 10-7 Oakland win. In eight career appearances — two starts — against the Tribe, he is 2-0 with a save and a 5.79 earned run average in 18 2/3 innings.
Cleveland lefty Cliff Lee faced Gaudin in the May 13 game, also getting a no- decision after allowing seven hits and four runs in five innings. He’s won his last two starts overall, downing Florida and Philadelphia in a pair of interleague games while giving up 11 hits and four runs in 12 innings.
Lee’s made five career starts against Oakland, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 30 innings.
On Sunday in New York, Jose Valentin hit a three-run homer and scored twice, as the New York Mets completed a rare three-game sweep of the Athletics with a 10-2 win at Shea Stadium.
Joe Kennedy (2-5) lasted a season-low four innings and gave up five runs for the A’s, who have lost six of eight and were swept in a series of three or more games for the first time since last June 30 to July 2 against Arizona. Jack Cust homered in defeat.
In Washington, Jason Simontacchi threw six quality innings and Jesus Flores drove in a pair of runs, leading the Nationals to a 3-1 victory over the Indians in the rubber match of a three-game series at RFK Stadium.
Franklin Gutierrez homered for Cleveland’s only run and Josh Barfield had two of the Tribe’s four hits.
Jake Westbrook (1-3) returned from the disabled list to make the start and took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in seven solid innings. He hadn’t pitched since May 2 because of an abdominal strain.
Oakland and Cleveland met for three games in mid-May, with the Athletics taking two of three at home. Oakland also won six of nine meetings last year with the Indians.
TEXAS RANGERS (30-45) AT DETROIT TIGERS (45-29), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Kameron Loe (3-6, 6.34) Detroit - Jeremy Bonderman (8-0, 4.01)
Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman looks to extend his eight-start win streak tonight when the Tigers host the Texas Rangers in game one of a four-game series at Comerica Park.
Bonderman, a first-round pick of Oakland in 2001, allowed five hits and three runs over five innings in a June 20 victory over Washington. He started the season with five straight no-decisions, then began the win streak on April 30 with a five-inning stint against Baltimore.
In his last three starts, all in interleague play, Bonderman has allowed 22 hits and 13 earned runs over 17 innings, recording defeats of the New York Mets, Philadelphia and Washington.
Texas righty Kameron Loe looks for a third straight win after having beaten Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cubs on June 14 and 20, respectively. In the two wins, the 6-foot-7, 240-pounder allowed 11 hits and three runs in 14 2/3 innings.
Previously, he’d lost six straight decisions between April 26 and June 7.
Loe won a career-best nine games over 48 appearances in 2005, then went 3-6 in 15 starts in 2006.
On Sunday in Atlanta, Andrew Miller tossed six shutout innings as the Tigers topped the Braves, 5-0, to sweep their three-game interleague set.
The 22-year-old Miller (3-1), in only his fourth career start, tossed six- plus shutout innings, allowing four hits while striking out two and walking two. Ivan Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez each had two hits for the Tigers, who won their seventh straight and lead Cleveland by two games for the top spot in the AL Central.
In Texas, Craig Biggio’s run-scoring double sparked a three-run 10th inning as Houston avoided a three-game sweep with a 12-9 victory over Texas at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.
Kenny Lofton went 2-for-5 and hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who were aiming for their fifth straight victory. Frank Catalanotto also hit a two-run shot for Texas, which scored four runs in the eighth to come back from a four- run deficit.
Detroit topped Texas in two of three meetings on the road in early June. The clubs split 10 meetings in 2006.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (29-42) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (33-40), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - John Danks (3-6, 4.61) Tampa Bay - J.P. Howell (1-1, 4.26)
The Chicago White Sox try and avoid their sixth straight loss this evening when they open a four-game set with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.
Chicago has dropped 22 of its last 27 games and was swept in a three-game set over the weekend by the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field, culminating with a 3-0 shutout on Sunday.
White Sox starter Jose Contreras (5-8) allowed two runs on 10 hits, while walking none and fanning three over seven innings.
Tadahito Iguchi had three hits for Chicago, which is in the midst of its fourth five-game losing streak of the season. The Pale Hose have not lost six in a row, though, since a seven-game slide from August 12-20, 2005.
Hoping to get the Sox back on track tonight will be 22-year-old left-hander John Danks, who is 3-6 with a 4.61 earned run average and is winless in his last five starts. Danks received a no-decision in his last start on Tuesday against the Florida Marlins, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in four innings of his team’s 7-5 loss.
Tampa will counter with lefty J.P. Howell, who is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA. Howell also received a no-decision in his last appearance on Tuesday against Arizona, surrendering four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-8 loss.
Both starters will be facing their opponents for the first time in their young careers.
Tampa enters this series on a winning note after taking the final two games of its three-game set over the weekend from the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Sunday, Ty Wigginton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs batted in and a pair of runs scored to lead the D-Rays to a 9-4 win.
Carl Crawford chipped in with a two-run double and Delmon Young knocked in a pair for the Rays, whose winning streak comes on the heels of a three-game skid.
Edwin Jackson (1-8) pitched a solid six innings, allowing two runs on nine hits. The right-hander struck out a pair and walked a batter. It was the veteran’s first major league win since September 26, 2005 when he was a member of the Dodgers and won a 9-4 decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
These teams split a rain-shortened two-game series earlier in the year and have split the last eight matchups. Chicago, though, is 12-8 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (37-37) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (38-35), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Roy Halladay (8-2, 4.08) Minnesota - Kevin Slowey (2-0, 4.43)
Roy Halladay tries to win his fifth straight decision this evening when the Toronto Blue Jays open a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.
Halladay has been sensational since returning from appendectomy surgery, winning four of his five starts while pitching to a 3.58 earned run average in that time. Halladay’s latest win came on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he allowed a run and six hits in eight innings to improve to 8-2, while lowering his ERA to 4.08.
The right-hander is a perfect 5-0 against the Twins with a 2.20 ERA in nine games, seven of which have been starts.
Toronto enters this series after sweeping a three-game weekend set from the Colorado Rockies, culminating with a 5-0 win on Sunday at Rogers Centre. Dustin McGowan had a no-hitter broken up with a leadoff single in the ninth inning and Frank Thomas belted his 499th career home run to lead the way.
McGowan (4-3) issued just one walk through eight innings before Jeff Baker led off the ninth with a sharp single through the middle. The Toronto right-hander then retired the next three batters to complete the one-hit shutout.
The no-hitter would have been just the second in Blue Jays history and first for the team at home. Dave Stieb threw the first gem for Toronto at Cleveland on September 2, 1990.
Thomas, meanwhile, clubbed a solo homer in the fourth inning. He is one shy of becoming the 21st member of the exclusive 500-homer club.
Vernon Wells belted a three-run homer in the victory, Toronto’s fourth in its last five games. Wells, in the leadoff spot for the third straight game, finished 1-for-4. He was 2-for-4 with a homer and three runs scored in Friday’s opener and was hitless in four at-bats Saturday.
Minnesota also won on Sunday, as Joe Mauer belted a pair of homers and drove in three runs in a 7-4 victory over the Florida Marlins in the rubber match of a three- game set at Dolphin Stadium. Jason Bartlett finished 1-for-3 with two runs batted in for the Twins, who have won four of five games.
Johan Santana (8-6) allowed just two runs — one earned — on five hits to pick up the win. The reigning AL Cy Young winner punched out eight and walked just one. Santana also helped himself at the plate with an RBI triple.
The Twins again played without reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau, who remained in the hospital after suffering a bruised lung following a collision at home plate with Florida catcher Miguel Olivo in Friday’s game. Morneau will likely fly back to Minnesota at some point today, but will probably miss the rest of the week.
Heading to the hill tonight for the Twins will be right-hander Kevin Slowey, who is 2-0 with a 4.43 ERA. Slowey, who has never faced the Jays, received a no-decision in his last start last Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames of his team’s 10-9 loss.
Minnesota took two of three from the Blue Jays earlier in he season and is 12-10 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
BOSTON RED SOX (48-26) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (39-33), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Julian Tavarez (5-4, 4.50) Seattle - Jeff Weaver (1-6, 8.56)
Jeff Weaver tries to follow up his first win of the season this evening when the Seattle Mariners begin a three-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field.
Weaver had been absolutely atrocious for the Mariners before tossing a four- hit shutout against Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Weaver was 0-6 in his first eight starts with the club, while pitching to an outrageous 10.97 earned run average.
The 30-year-old right-hander is 3-5 lifetime against the Red Sox with a 6.75 ERA in 14 game, 12 of which have been starts.
Boston will counter with surprising righty Julian Tavarez, who has won his last four decisions. Tavarez was sensational against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings to run his record to 5-4, while lowering his ERA to 4.50.
A win tonight would give Tavarez a victory in three straight starts for the first time since June 15-25, 2001 while with the Chicago Cubs.
Tavarez will be making his first-ever start against the Mariners, but is 2-0 with a sparkling 1.98 ERA in 18 relief appearances.
The Red Sox picked up a win on Sunday, as Josh Beckett pitched eight strong innings and became the first 11-game winner in the majors in Boston’s 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Alex Cora, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek each had two hits for Boston, which has won seven of nine and finished interleague play with a record of 12-6.
Beckett (11-1) surrendered two runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking just one for the Red Sox, who have four wins in their last five games overall.
Seattle also earned a win on Sunday, as Ben Broussard went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Willie Bloomquist and Ichiro Suzuki had two hits apiece to lead the Mariners to a 3-2 win over Ken Griffey Jr. and the Cincinnati Reds.
Eric O’Flaherty (4-0) picked up the win, pitching a scoreless seventh, and J.J. Putz got four outs for his 21st save in as many opportunities
The Mariners have won four of five after a season-high six-game losing streak.
Boston took two out of three from the Mariners earlier in the season, but Seattle holds a slim 10-9 edge in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Red Sox have also lost seven of their last 10 in the Emerald City.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (30-46) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (49-27), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - John Thomson (0-0, 0.00) LA Angels - John Lackey (10-4, 2.96)
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hope to continue their mastery of the Kansas City Royals this evening when the two teams begin a three-game set at Angel Stadium.
Los Angeles split a four-game series with the Royals in Kansas City earlier in the season, but the Angels own a 23-7 mark in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Royals also have just three wins in their last 13 visits to Anaheim.
Getting off the schneid may not be that easy for KC tonight, as the Angels will send 10-game winner John Lackey to the hill. Lackey, who is 10-4 with a 2.96 earned run average this season, received a no-decision in his last start last Monday against Houston, as he surrendered a season-high six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of his team’s 10-9 win.
He was scheduled to pitch Sunday, but shoulder tendinitis caused him to be pushed back a day.
Lackey is 2-2 lifetime against the Royals with a 3.69 ERA in six starts.
The Angels’ continued to roll on Sunday, as Erick Aybar singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to help Los Angeles to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to sweep the three-game interleague series. Aybar finished 2-for-5, while Jose Molina drove in a pair of runs for the Angels, who have won four straight and nine of their last 11.
Chris Bootcheck (2-1) got the win in relief by pitching a perfect 10th inning.
Kansas City, meanwhile, also picked up a win on Sunday when Joey Gathright drew a bases loaded walk to force in the winning run in the 11th inning as the Royals avoided a sweep by edging Milwaukee, 4-3, at Miller Park. Gathright drove in two runs for the Royals, who snapped a four-game skid.
David Riske (1-2) earned the win with a scoreless 10th inning.
John Thomson will be making his season debut tonight for the Royals. Thomson was claimed off of waivers by KC two days after being released from Toronto. He was 2-7 with a 4.82 ERA in 18 games (15 starts) last season with Atlanta.
Thomson has faced the Angels five times and is 2-2 against them with a 4.45 ERA.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (32-43) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (38-38), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Jason Bergmann (1-3, 2.76) Atlanta - Tim Hudson (6-5, 3.43)
Slumping right-hander Tim Hudson looks for a second straight winning effort against the Washington Nationals tonight when the Atlanta Braves host them to begin a three-game National League series at Turner Field.
Hudson, who’s lost four of his last five decisions, defeated Washington, 6-2, on May 15 when he allowed three hits and a run in seven innings. The win improved Hudson to 5-1 on the season, but he’s since gone 1-4 with two no- decisions while seeing his earned run average rise from 1.77 to 3.43.
A 31-year-old Georgian, Hudson has won 14 and 13 games in the last two seasons, respectively.
He is 3-4 in nine starts at Turner Field in 2007, posting a 4.34 ERA in 56 innings.
Washington’s Jason Bergmann went eight innings and allowed a run on two hits in defeating the Braves on May 14, a day before heading to the disabled list with right elbow inflammation.
In two starts this season against the Braves, Bergmann has allowed a stingy three hits and the single run in 14 innings, striking out 18 and walking five.
In 10 career appearances against Atlanta, he is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 30 2/3 innings.
Before downing Atlanta in his last start, Bergmann was 0-3 with four no- decisions in seven starts.
On Sunday in Washington, Jason Simontacchi threw six quality innings and Jesus Flores drove in a pair of runs, leading the Nationals to a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the rubber match of a three-game series at RFK Stadium.
Simontacchi (5-5) yielded just one run on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts to improve to 3-1 in his last four starts. The right-hander bounced back from a horrid outing on Tuesday against Detroit when he was ripped for 10 runs on 10 hits in just three innings.
Flores singled home a run and knocked in another with a grounder for the Nationals, who won for just the second time in their last six games. They could very easily have swept the series, but Chad Cordero blew a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game when Victor Martinez belted a three-run homer.
Cordero worked around a one-out walk to Martinez in this one to notch his 13th save. Dmitri Young was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in the victory and Ronnie Belliard chipped in three hits with a run scored.
In Atlanta, the Braves were blanked 5-0 by the Detroit Tigers, as they were swept in the three-game interleague set.
Chuck James (6-7) looked good through five innings, but couldn’t get an out in the sixth, allowing five hits and four runs, while fanning four and walking a pair. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had two hits for the Braves, who struggled through a tough interleague slate with a 4-11 record.
Washington has won five of its nine matchups with the Braves this season, but is just 26-39 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (33-39) AT NEW YORK METS (41-32), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Mike Maroth (0-0, 0.00) New York - Jorge Sosa (6-3, 4.05)
Career American Leaguer Mike Maroth makes his first start for the St. Louis Cardinals tonight when they visit Shea Stadium for the first game of a four-game National League series with the New York Mets.
Maroth, a 29-year-old native of Orlando, FL, was traded from the Detroit Tigers last week for a player to be named later. He’d made 13 starts for the Tigers in 2007, going 5-2 with a 5.06 earned run average in 78 1/3 innings.
Since reaching the big leagues with the Tigers in 2002, Maroth has reached double digits in victories twice, peaking at 14 in 2005. However, he lost a MLB-high 21 games in 2003 with Detroit.
In his last start, on June 18 at Washington, Maroth allowed six hits and four earned runs over five innings in a 9-8 victory over the Nationals.
Dominican right-hander Jorge Sosa has lost two straight since a 6-1 start to the season, allowing 16 hits and 11 earned runs over nine innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota.
His last victory came June 8 at Detroit, in which he allowed four hits over eight scoreless innings of a 3-0 Mets win.
In three career appearances against the Cardinals, he has recorded a save while allowing eight hits and two runs in 11 innings.
On Sunday in New York, Jose Valentin hit a three-run homer and scored twice, as the Mets completed a rare three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 10-2 win at Shea Stadium.
Carlos Beltran and Damion Easley each knocked in a pair of runs for the Mets, who had dropped two in a row coming into this set. This was their first series win since late May against San Francisco.
John Maine (8-4) yielded just two runs on five hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His ERA now sits at a healthy 2.87.
In St. Louis, Shane Victorino came through with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded triple in the eighth to lead the Philadelphia Phillies past the Cardinals, 5-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.
The game was held up twice due to rain, causing about two hours of delays and shortening the starting pitchers’ outings. Cole Hamels went just three innings, allowing one run on three hits, while Kip Wells let up one run over five frames.
Brian Sanches (1-0) got the win thanks to two hitless innings in relief, and the loss went to Brad Thompson (5-3).
Albert Pujols had an RBI for St. Louis, which had won four of five coming into this set.
New York swept the Cards in a three-game set earlier this season and has won six straight and seven of the last nine matchups.
COLORADO ROCKIES (38-37) AT CHICAGO CUBS (34-39), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Jeff Francis (7-5, 3.44) Chicago - Jason Marquis (5-4, 3.38)
Streaking Rockies starter Jeff Francis will try to help his once red-hot club get back on track tonight when Colorado begins a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Rockies entered their weekend series with the Toronto Blue Jays as winners in 13 of their last 17 games, a stretch that helped them surge back into the picture in the NL West.
However, the club was promptly swept by Toronto in three games, including a 5-0 shutout on Sunday. The Blue Jays’ Dustin McGowan carried a no-hitter into the ninth before Jeff Baker ended the bid with a single to center. That was the only hit McGowan would allow.
Josh Fogg (3-6) was the loser for Colorado, allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four.
The sweep dropped the Rockies to 0-3 on their current 10-game road trip as well as 5 1/2 games behind Arizona for first-place in the division.
So in steps Francis, who is 6-1 with a 1.86 earned run average since May 7, a span of nine starts that has lowered his season ERA from 6.19 to 3.44. The left-hander has allowed two runs or less in eight of those nine outings.
On Wednesday against the Yankees, Francis picked up the win after allowing just one run on five hits over seven frames with a career-high nine strikeouts. The victory moved the 26-year-old to 7-5 on the season.
Francis will make his fourth career start against the Cubs this evening and will try to improve on his 9.19 ERA against them. He hasn’t recorded a decision against the club despite allowing at least five runs in all three of his career outings against Chicago.
Chicago’s Jason Marquis will try to halt an eight-start winless streak tonight. While Francis has been red-hot since early May, Marquis hasn’t recorded a win since May 9, going 0-3 since to fall to 5-4 on the year with a 3.38 ERA.
He was handed a defeat last time out on Wednesday against Texas as he allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks in five innings of a 7-3 setback to Texas. He also allowed a pair of homers, including Sammy Sosa’s 600th career long ball.
The right-hander hasn’t pitched more than 5 1/3 frames since a seven frame performance on May 24 and is 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA in nine games (seven starts) lifetime against Colorado.
The Cubs come into tonight’s game having just swept the cross-town rival White Sox in three games. Alfonso Soriano homered in all three games of the series, including Sunday’s 3-0 victory.
Sean Marshall (4-2) yielded five hits in 6 1/3 innings to win his fourth straight decision. Bob Howry, subbing for Ryan Dempster in the closer role, pitched the ninth for his second save in as many games.
The three straight victories for the Cubs has them 7 1/2 games behind first- place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
The Rockies won four of their six meetings with the Cubs last year, including a 2-1 mark at Wrigley Field.
HOUSTON ASTROS (32-43) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (43-32), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Jason Jennings (1-1, 3.63) Milwaukee - Ben Sheets (8-3, 3.19)
The Milwaukee Brewers continue their nine-game homestand this evening with the opener of a three-game set against the Houston Astros at Miller Park.
The Brewers won the first five games of their residency before falling to Kansas City 4-3 in extra innings on Sunday. Joey Gathright drew a bases-loaded walk off Chris Spurling to give the Royals the 11-inning victory.
Jose Capellan (0-2) allowed a single and two walks to load the bases before giving way to Spurling. Milwaukee wasted a great performance by Yovani Gallardo, who yielded just one run on five hits while fanning eight and walking just two.
Corey Hart and Tony Graffanino both homered for the Brewers, who have gone 9-2 since being no-hit by Justin Verlander and Detroit on June 12 and own a 7 1/2- game lead over the Cubs for first place in the NL Central.
Milwaukee shortstop J.J. Hardy was out for the third straight day with a sore lower back.
Ben Sheets takes the hill for Milwaukee tonight coming off his second complete game of the season. Against the Giants on Tuesday, the right-hander scattered two runs and six hits to improve to 8-3 with a 3.19 earned run average on the season.
Sheets is 7-1 over his last 12 starts with a 2.49 ERA, and has allowed just five runs over his last four starts.
The 28-year-old is 9-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 21 career starts against Houston with three complete games. That includes a no-decision in one start this year against them, an outing that saw Sheets yield two runs and seven hits in seven innings of a 6-5 loss for Milwaukee.
Jason Jennings will start tonight for Houston after picking up his first victory of the season and first as an Astro on Tuesday. Jennings faced the LA Angels of Anaheim in his fifth start since coming off the disabled list on May 29 due to a right elbow injury and gave up five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in 5 2/3 frames of a 9-5 victory.
The win improved the right-hander to 1-1 on the season with a 3.63 ERA, and he will face Milwaukee tonight for the first time since June 22, 2004. In four career starts against the Brewers, Jennings is 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA.
Houston avoided being swept in three games by Texas with a 12-9 victory in 10 innings on Sunday, improving to 2-4 on a nine-game road trip. Craig Biggio’s run-scoring double sparked a three-run 10th inning for the Astros.
Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI while Hunter Pence went 4-for-6 with a homer and four runs scored for the Astros, who ended a three-game losing streak.
Houston starter Chris Sampson faced Texas for the first time in his career and pitched seven solid innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Dan Wheeler (1-4) got the win in relief despite allowing four runs on four hits, including three homers in two innings.
Milwaukee is 4-2 against Houston so far this season, including a 2-1 mark at home. The Astros, though, went 20-10 against them over the previous two years.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (42-33) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (44-32), 9:40 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Brad Penny (9-1, 2.12) Arizona - Micah Owings (5-1, 4.06)
Brad Penny will try to become the National League’s first 10-game winner tonight when the Los Angles Dodgers head to Arizona for the first of four straight games against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Both Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels and Jake Peavy of San Diego failed in their bids over the weekend to become the NL’s first starter to 10 wins. The AL already has a trio of double-digit winners, including Josh Beckett, who leads the majors with 11 victories.
Penny has won two straight starts and is 4-0 over his last six outings. He has allowed just a run in each of his last three starts, including Tuesday against Toronto that also saw him scatter six hits with five strikeouts over seven innings of a 10-1 victory. The right-hander improved to 9-1 on the year with the NL’s second best earned run average at 2.12.
The 29-year-old is 6-2 with an outstanding 1.88 ERA in 13 career starts against Arizona. He recorded a no-decision in his lone start against them this year, hurling six shutout innings on May 1.
The Dodgers will hope Penny can stop the bleeding on a two-game losing streak that saw them lose the final two games of their three-game set with Tampa Bay. LA dropped the finale 9-4 on Sunday.
Hong-Chih Kuo (1-3) took the loss, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking one in 5 1/3 innings. Nomar Garciaparra missed the game because of flu-like symptoms.
Luis Gonzalez and James Loney each hit two-run homers for the Dodgers, who fell to 3-3 on a 10-game road trip and 1 1/2 games behind Arizona for first place in the NL West.
The Diamondbacks took over first place in the division courtesy of an 8-3 win over Baltimore on Sunday. The win moved Arizona a game ahead of San Diego, which lost to Boston yesterday.
Chris Young went 2-for-4 and scored three runs in the win, the Diamondbacks’ seventh in nine games. Stephen Drew and Chad Tracy each homered, and Eric Byrnes went 2-for-5 with two RBI
Doug Davis (5-8) allowed 10 hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings, but held the Orioles to two runs, and knocked in a run of his own with an RBI single.
The Diamondbacks will send Micah Owings to the hill tonight, and the right- hander is currently riding a 10-start unbeaten streak, posting four wins in that span. Owings improved to 5-1 on the season with a 4.06 ERA on Wednesday against Tampa Bay after yielding four runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of a 7-4 victory.
The 24-year-old rookie, who hasn’t lost this season since April 11 versus Cincinnati, faced the Dodgers for the first time in his career on April 17 and got a no decision. He allowed three runs and four hits over four innings.
The Dodgers are 4-1 against Arizona this year, and won both games of a quick two-game set at Chase Field on April 16-17. LA has won eight of its last 10 games against the Diamondbacks.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (42-32) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (32-42), 10:15 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Justin Germano (5-1, 2.62) San Francisco - Tim Lincecum (2-2, 5.88)
San Diego’s recent losing stretch has cost the club first place in the National League West. The Padres will try to get back on track tonight in the opener of a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
San Diego has lost four of its last five contests to fall one game behind Arizona for the top spot in the division. The club lost a battle of aces on Sunday, as Boston’s Josh Beckett outdueled the Padres’ Jake Peavy in a 4-2 win.
Beckett surrendered two runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking just one for the Red Sox. Peavy, meanwhile, went five innings and gave up three runs on nine hits in just his second loss of the year. Peavy (9-2) also struck out three and walked one.
Terrmel Sledge knocked in both runs for San Diego.
Justin Germano will start for the Padres tonight hoping to rebound from his first loss of the season last time out. The right-hander didn’t pitch poorly, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over six frames with seven strikeouts, but got little run support in the 7-1 setback.
The loss dropped Germano to 5-1 on the year with a 2.63 earned run average. He has never faced the Giants in his career.
While the Padres are in a current slump, the Giants hope they have gotten out of their own skid. San Francisco dropped eight straight games before taking the final two contests of its three-game series with the Yankees.
Barry Bonds, who is still stuck on 749 career home runs, drove in a pair of runs in a 7-2 victory on Sunday. Bonds homered in the series opener on Friday to get within six of Hank Aaron’s all-time mark of 755.
Should Bonds take Germano deep tonight, the Padres starter would become the 443rd pitcher the left-hander slugger has homered against.
Ray Durham drove in a pair of runs while Noah Lowry (7-6) allowed just one run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings on Sunday for the Giants, who had to deal with some tragedy on the day as well.
Earlier in the day, it was learned that former Giants hurler Rod Beck had died at the age of 38.
Rookie Tim Lincecum will try to get back on track for the Giants with tonight’s start. Lincecum pitched very effective in his first four big league starts, going 2-0 in that span.
However, he is 0-2 in five starts since — all Giant losses — while posting a 10.61 earned run average over his last four outings. The 23-year-old righty, who has never faced the Padres in his career, was hammered for six runs on five hits and four walks against the Brewers on Tuesday, lasting just four innings while striking out six.
The Padres are 4-2 against the Giants this season, including a 2-1 mark at AT&T Park. San Francisco, though, went 12-7 versus the club in 2006, and has won 13 of the last 19 matchups overall in the series.
(Sunday, June 24th)
Final Score: Minnesota 7, Florida 4
Miami, FL - Joe Mauer belted a pair of homers and drove in three runs as Minnesota downed Florida, 7-4, in the rubber match of a three- game set at Dolphin Stadium. Jason Bartlett finished 1-for-3 with two runs batted in for the Twins, who have won four of five games. Johan Santana (8-6) allowed just two runs — one earned — on five hits to pick up the win. The reigning AL Cy Young winner punched out eight and walked just one. Santana also helped himself at the plate with an RBI triple. Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera both homered for the Marlins, who lost two of three in the series. Byung-Hyun Kim (3-4) was touched for seven runs — six earned — on seven hits in six innings en route to the loss. The right-hander walked five and fanned six on the day.
Final Score: Toronto 5, Colorado 0
Toronto, ON - Dustin McGowan had a no-hitter broken up with a leadoff single in the ninth inning and Frank Thomas belted his 499th career home run, as Toronto blanked Colorado, 5-0, to sweep a three-game series at Rogers Centre. McGowan (4-3) issued just one walk through eight innings before Jeff Baker led off the ninth with a sharp single through the middle. The Toronto right-hander then retired the next three batters to complete the one- hit shutout. The no-hitter would have been just the second in Blue Jays history and first for the team at home. Dave Stieb threw the first gem for Toronto at Cleveland on September 2, 1990. McGowan struck out seven and improved to 4-1 in his last six starts. Thomas, meanwhile, clubbed a solo homer in the fourth inning. He is one shy of becoming the 21st member of the exclusive 500-homer club. Vernon Wells belted a three-run homer in the victory, Toronto’s fourth in its last five games. Wells, in the leadoff spot for the third straight game, finished 1-for-4. He was 2-for-4 with a homer and three runs scored in Friday’s opener and was hitless in four at-bats Saturday. Josh Fogg (3-6) was the loser for Colorado, allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four.
Final Score: NY Mets 10, Oakland 2
Flushing, NY - Jose Valentin hit a three-run homer and scored twice, as the New York Mets completed a rare three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 10-2 win at Shea Stadium. Carlos Beltran and Damion Easley each knocked in a pair of runs for the Mets, who had dropped two in a row coming into this set. This was their first series win since late May against San Francisco. John Maine (8-4) yielded just two runs on five hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His ERA now sits at a healthy 2.87. Joe Kennedy (2-5), meanwhile, lasted a season-low four innings and gave up five runs for the A’s, who have lost six of eight and were swept in a series of three or more games for the first time since last June 30 to July 2 against Arizona. Jack Cust homered in defeat.
Final Score: Washington 3, Cleveland 1
Washington, DC - Jason Simontacchi threw six quality innings and Jesus Flores drove in a pair of runs, leading the Washington Nationals to a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the rubber match of a three-game series at RFK Stadium. Simontacchi (5-5) yielded just one run on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts to improve to 3-1 in his last four starts. The right-hander bounced back from a horrid outing on Tuesday against Detroit when he was ripped for 10 runs on 10 hits in just three innings. Flores singled home a run and knocked in another with a grounder for the Nationals, who won for just the second time in their last six games. They could very easily have swept the series, but Chad Cordero blew a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game when Victor Martinez belted a three-run homer. Cordero worked around a one-out walk to Martinez in this one to notch his 13th save. Dmitri Young was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in the victory and Ronnie Belliard chipped in three hits with a run scored.
Final Score: Tampa Bay 9, LA Dodgers 4
St. Petersburg, FL - Ty Wigginton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs batted in and a pair of runs scored as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-4, in the finale of a three-game interleague set at Tropicana Field. Carl Crawford chipped in with a two-run double and Delmon Young knocked in a pair for the Rays, who have won two straight on the heels of a three-game skid. Edwin Jackson (1-8) pitched a solid six innings, allowing two runs on nine hits. The right-hander struck out a pair and walked a batter. It was the veteran’s first major league win since September 26, 2005 when he was a member of the Dodgers and won a 9-4 decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Luis Gonzalez and James Loney each hit two-run homers for the Dodgers, who have lost two straight and three of their last five. Hong-Chih Kuo (1-3) took the loss, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking one in 5 1/3 innings. Dodgers reliever Joe Beimel, who came in for the seventh inning, allowed five runs on four hits and committed an error without recording an out.
Final Score: Chicago Cubs 3, Chicago White Sox 0
Chicago, IL - Alfonso Soriano homered and Sean Marshall yielded just five hits in 6 1/3 innings as the Cubs shut out the White Sox, 3-0, in the finale of a three-game crosstown interleague series at U.S. Cellular Field. Sean Marshall (4-2) won his fourth straight decision, while walking one and striking out three. Bob Howry, subbing for Ryan Dempster in the closer role, pitched the ninth for his second save in as many games. Soriano’s homer was his third of the series and 15th of the season for the Cubs, who completed their first road sweep of the White Sox since interleague play began in 1997. It’s also the first time they have won both the home and road series against their crosstown rivals since they started playing each other twice a year in 1999. White Sox starter Jose Contreras (5-8) allowed two runs on 10 hits, while walking none and fanning three over seven innings. Tadahito Iguchi had three hits for the White Sox, who have lost five in a row.
Final Score: Kansas City 4, Milwaukee 3 (11 innings)
Milwaukee, WI - Joey Gathright drew a bases loaded walk to force in the winning run in the 11th inning as Kansas City avoided a sweep by edging Milwaukee, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game interleague set at Miller Park this afternoon. The Brewers bullpen lost control of the strike zone throughout the frame. Jose Capellan (0-2) sandwiched walks to John Buck and Emil Brown around a Tony Pena single to load the bases. Milwaukee went to Chris Spurling who induced David DeJesus to line out at first but then walked Gathright to force in the game winner. Jimmy Gobble then threw a perfect ninth to secure things and earn his first save of the year. Gathright drove in two runs for the Royals, who snapped a four-game skid. DeJesus finished 3-for-5 with a run scored and Esteban German also drove in a run for Kansas City. Odalis Perez started and allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings. David Riske (1-2) earned the win with a scoreless 10th inning. Corey Hart and Tony Graffanino both homered for the Brewers, who lost for the first time in six games. Milwaukee wasted a great performance by Yovani Gallardo. The Mexican native yielded just one run on five hits while fanning eight and walking just two, but was let down by his bullpen.
Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 4, Pittsburgh 3 (10 innings)
Anaheim, CA - Erick Aybar singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, to sweep the three-game interleague series. Howie Kendrick hit a one-out double to get things going in the 10th and Pirates reliever Matt Capps (3-4) intentionally walked Kendry Morales. After the Bucs right-hander got pinch-hitter Gary Matthews Jr. to fly out to left, Aybar followed with the game-winning hit. Francisco Rodriguez, who came into the game in the ninth trying to preserve a 3-2 Angels lead, retired the first two batters he faced before walking Adam LaRoche. Rajai Davis came in to pinch run and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored when Xavier Nady lined a single to left to tie the contest at 3-3. Nady then stole second and Ryan Doumit followed with a walk, but Rodriguez got Josh Phelps to strike out to end the inning and force the game into extra innings. Aybar finished 2-for-5, while Jose Molina drove in a pair of runs for the Angels, who have won four straight and nine of their last 11. Los Angeles finished 13-4 in interleague play this season. Bartolo Colon started for the Angels and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking four over six innings. Chris Bootcheck (2-1) got the win in relief by pitching a perfect 10th inning. Nady went 2-for-5 with the game tying RBI single and Jack Wilson had two hits and an RBI for the Pirates, who have dropped five in a row. Tom Gorzelanny got the starting nod for the Pirates and went six solid innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. The left-hander struck out four and walked three.
Final Score: San Francisco 7, NY Yankees 2
San Francisco, CA - Barry Bonds failed to record home run No. 750 but did score a pair of runs, helping the San Francisco Giants down the New York Yankees, 7-2, in the rubber match of their three-game series at AT&T Park. Ray Durham drove in a pair of runs while Noah Lowry (7-6) allowed just one run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings for the Giants, who had dropped eight in a row before winning two straight against the Yankees. The win came on a day that the organization was handed tragic news. Earlier in the day, it was learned that former Giants hurler Rod Beck had died at the age of 38. Mike Mussina (3-5) allowed three runs on five hits over five innings for New York, which has dropped five of six.
Final Score: Seattle 3, Cincinnati 2
Seattle, WA - Ken Griffey Jr. belted two home runs, passing Mark McGwire for seventh place on the career list in Cincinnati’s 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Griffey’s two homers against his former team were his 583rd and 584th home runs, tying and then passing McGwire. Willie Bloomquist’s perfect suicide squeeze bunt in the seventh gave Seattle the lead for good. Yuniesky Betancourt led off with a double, advanced to third when he slid in ahead of the tag on Jamie Burke’s sacrifice bunt, and scored when Bloomquist laid down a perfect bunt, giving the Mariners a 3-2 lead. Seattle starter Miguel Batista yielded only five hits, while walking two and struck out four in six innings. He had allowed just one home run in 56 innings before Griffey’s shots. Eric O’Flaherty (4-0) picked up the win, pitching a scoreless seventh, and J.J. Putz got four outs for his 21st save in as many opportunities. Ben Broussard went 2- for-3 with two RBI and Bloomquist and Ichiro Suzuki had two hits apiece for the Mariners, who have won four of five. Bronson Arroyo (2-9) went seven innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits and Jose Valentin had two hits for the Reds, who have lost three of four.
Final Score: Boston 4, San Diego 2
San Diego, CA - Josh Beckett pitched eight strong innings and became the first 11-game winner in the majors, as the Boston Red Sox defeated the San Diego Padres, 4-2, at Petco Park. Beckett (11-1) surrendered two runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking just one for the Red Sox, who have four wins in their last five games overall. Alex Cora, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek each had two hits for Boston, which finished interleague play with a record of 12-6. San Diego starter Jake Peavy, who came into the game with six straight wins, went five innings and gave up three runs on nine hits in just his second loss of the year. Peavy (9-2) also struck out three and walked one. Terrmel Sledge knocked in both runs for the Padres, who have dropped four of their last five games.
Final Score: Arizona 8, Baltimore 3
Phoenix, AZ - Chris Young went 2-for-4 and scored three runs, and the Arizona Diamondbacks topped the Baltimore Orioles, 8-3, to take two of three in the interleague series. The win, coupled with San Diego’s 4-2 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday, edged the D-Backs one game up on the Padres for first place in the National League West. Doug Davis (5-8) was spotty at times, allowing 10 hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings, but held the Orioles to two runs, and knocked in a run of his own with an RBI single. Stephen Drew and Chad Tracy homered, and Eric Byrnes went 2-for-5 with two RBI for the D- Backs, who have won seven of their last nine. Steve Trachsel (5-6) was ripped for five runs on seven hits in four innings, walking four while fanning three. Brian Roberts went 4-for-5 with a home run for the Orioles, who lost their second straight after a three-game win streak. Melvin Mora also homered for the O’s, who have dropped 16 of 21 overall.
Final Score: Detroit 5, Atlanta 0
Atlanta, GA - Andrew Miller tossed six shutout innings, and Atlanta’s offensive woes continued as the Detroit Tigers topped the Braves, 5- 0, to sweep their three-game interleague set. The Braves, who have dropped a season-high five straight to fall to .500 (38-38) for the first time this season, were outscored 12-1 in the sweep, and have been outscored 27-1 during their losing skid, in which they have been shut out four times. Twenty-two year-old Miller (3-1), in only his fourth career start, tossed six-plus shutout innings, allowing four hits while striking out two and walking two. Ivan Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez each had two hits for the Tigers, who won their seventh straight and tore up the National League East, going 8-1 on their nine-game swing through Philadelphia, Washington, and Atlanta.Detroit also took two of three from the Mets earlier in June, and finished 14-4 against the NL this season. Chuck James (6-7) looked good through five innings, but couldn’t get an out in the sixth, allowing five hits and four runs, while fanning four and walking a pair. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had two hits for the Braves, who struggled through a tough interleague slate with a 4-11 record.
Final Score: Houston 12, Texas 9 (10 innings)
Arlington, TX - Craig Biggio’s run-scoring double sparked a three-run 10th inning as Houston avoided a three-game sweep with a 12-9 victory over Texas at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI while Hunter Pence went 4-for-6 with a homer and four runs scored for the Astros, who ended a three-game losing streak. Houston starter Chris Sampson faced Texas for the first time in his career and pitched seven solid innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Kenny Lofton went 2-for-5 and hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who were aiming for their fifth straight victory. Frank Catalanotto also hit a two-run shot for Texas, which scored four runs in the eighth to come back from a four-run deficit. Solo home runs by Marlon Byrd and Ian Kinsler off Dan Wheeler in the ninth sent the game into extra innings. After Texas sent the game into the 10th, Houston took the lead as Biggio doubled home Eric Munson, who singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on Eric Bruntlett’s sacrifice bunt. Pence followed with a single off C.J. Wilson (0-1) and Berkman’s base hit plated Biggio for some much-needed breathing room. Carlos Lee then followed with a walk as Willie Eyre came into the game and Mark Loretta hit a fielder’s choice to plate Pence and make it a 12-9 contest. Chad Qualls kept Texas off the board in the bottom of the 10th to end things and notch his second save while Wheeler (1-4) got the win despite allowing four runs on four hits, including three homers in two innings.
Final Score: Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 1
St. Louis, MO - Shane Victorino came through with a pinch- hit, bases-loaded triple in the eighth to lead the Philadelphia Phillies past the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Busch Stadium. Michael Bourn went 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Phillies, who have won three of five. The game was held up twice due to rain, causing about two hours of delays and shortening the starting pitchers’ outings. Cole Hamels went just three innings, allowing one run on three hits, while Kip Wells let up one run over five frames. Brian Sanches (1-0) got the win thanks to two hitless innings in relief, and the loss went to Brad Thompson (5-3). Albert Pujols had an RBI for St. Louis, which had won four of five coming into this set.
