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Philadelphia, PA - It is summertime and everyone wants to get on track this weekend. The list is headed by Nextel Cup in New Hampshire and the IndyCars on the short track at Richmond.

NASCAR

Nextel Cup

Lenox Industrial Tools 300 - New Hampshire International Speedway - Loudon, NH

Juan Montoya and Jeff Gordon performed feats of magic on Sunday.

Montoya’s was coming from 32nd on the grid to win his first Nextel Cup victory when no driver had ever won from further back than 13th since they began running at Infineon in 1989. Gordon was almost as good coming from 41st place to finish a solid seventh.

On Tuesday, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson both received a penalty of 100 points to the driver and the owner for failing pre-race inspection at the Infineon Raceway.

Steve Letarte, crew chief of the No.24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, was fined $100,000 and suspended for six weeks by NASCAR.

Chad Knaus, crew chief of the No. 48 Hendrick team was also fined $100,000 and suspended for six weeks.

Still, Gordon will likely enter this week’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 with the points lead. He currently, as of Tuesday morning, has a 271-point lead over Denny Hamlin. Barring an unprecedented penalty from NASCAR he will still have the lead when the race begins on Sunday.

In truth, with the “new” Chase for the Nextel Cup” it is not important to be the points leader after 26 weeks. The goal is only to be in the top-12 and win as many times as possible. With four wins and a 723-point lead over 12th place, no matter what the penalty, Gordon will enter the “Chase” as either the leader or second in points.

Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon failed a pre-race inspection. Almost the same can be said for Johnson, the 2006 Nextel Cup champion, who also owns four wins and is safely ensconced in the top-12.

Now its on the squared-flat corners at the New Hampshire International Speedway for the first of two events in 2007. The 1.058-mile oval will also host the first event of the “Chase” on September 16th.

It would be nice to win not only for your chance to get in the “Chase,” but because winning the first race puts you in good position to repeat in the fall event.

Johnson swept both events in 2003 and Kurt Busch matched that in 2004. Tony Stewart won the summer of 2005 events and just missed, finishing second, in the fall race that year.

Last year Kyle Busch won this race while Kevin Harvick finished fifth. Harvick would used that knowledge to win the fall race and take the early lead in last year’s “Chase.”

Harvick was pretty good last Sunday, finishing second to Montoya. He lead his RCR teammates to a two-three-four finish. All three are currently qualified for the “Chase” in what is turning out to be a very good year for Richard Childress Racing.

“Kevin is our leader on the road-course thing and really has made us as competitive as we are,” said Burton. “That’s as much to do with our performance today as anything is Kevin pushing them (the crew) to get better fuel mileage, to build better cars.”

Busch

Camping World 200 - New Hampshire International Speedway - Loudon, NH

In his first nine 2007 Busch Series starts, Carl Edwards collected a win and eight top-fives. His lead was 424 over Dave Blaney. In the next eight races, Edwards earned only three top-fives (two were wins - Dover and Nashville) yet his lead has ballooned to 776 points over David Reutimann.

Edwards finished 33rd and eighth in his last two events although in truth he was one of the fastest cars on the track in each instance. But “bad” luck has cost him good finishes in both races.

As long as Edwards continues to show up for the race, he will easily collect his first Busch Series title.

Now for more interesting happenings…

Aric Almirola is listed as the winner of last week’s Busch race at the Milwaukee Mile. An unhappy winner, but a winner none-the-less.

Carl Edwards Carl Edwards is well on his way to his first Busch Series title. Almirola was very happy in 2006 when he got the opportunity to qualify Denny Hamlin’s No.20 Chevrolet in Milwaukee. He performed so well that he won the pole for Hamlin who eventually drove the car to a second-place finish.

The team was so pleased that they asked Almirola to drive it again this year. Again, Almirola put the car on the pole. And when Hamlin was late getting to West Allis, WI, Almirola started the race in the No.20 Chevrolet.

But this Almirola is a more experienced driver than as a rookie and he had two top-10 in his last two starts. So he rightly expected that he would drive the whole race and get the team another good finish.

The team, however, had other plans. When Hamlin finally got to the track, the team decided to put the more veteran driver in the car. The change was made on a lap 59 caution and they ended up being down one lap to the leaders when they got going again.

“I didn’t want to do it,” Hamlin said. “I knew he would be really upset. He did all the hard work.”

No matter, the car was very good and so is Hamlin and he made the lap back and went on to win the race. Almirola gets credit for the win since he started the race, but wasn’t their for the traditional celebrations.

Almirola refused all interview requests.

Hopefully, Almirola will get a shot to win the next one on his own accord. He certainly has the talent.

Craftsman

O’Reilly 200 - Memphis Motorsports Park - Memphis, TN

Mike Skinner won another pole and posted another top-five last Friday. Ho hum.

Skinner now has started first in seven of the 11 events. He has won three and holds a 108-point edge over Ron Hornaday Jr.

The No.5 Toyota driver leads the series not only in points, but in driver rating (123.5), winnings ($370,775), laps led (638), top-fives (9) and top-10s (11). He has led at least one lap in every race this year.

Hornaday Jr. finished a very good second last week in Milwaukee. But he gained few points on Skinner. If not for Skinner, we would be singing the praises of “The King of Restarts.”

Hornaday Jr. has two wins (Lowe’s, Dover) and owns 10 top-10s in 11 starts. He could easily have a third win, he led 117 of 169 laps at the Texas Motor Speedway, before finishing fourth.

Johnny Benson won last week’s race making him the eighth different winner in the season’s first 11 races. It was about this time last year that he won a couple of races back-to-back and challenged Todd Bodine for the championship.

Qualifying will again be important at Memphis.

“This is a follow-the-leader race track,” said Rick Ren, Hornaday Jr.’s crew chief. “It can be very difficult to pass. Even pit selection plays an important role at Memphis.”

That bodes well for Skinner who is close to breaking his on single-season pole record (10 poles in 20 races) which he set in 1995.

INDYCARS

SunTrust Indy Challenge - Richmond International Raceway - Richmond, VA

“It’s like flying jet fighters in a gymnasium,” veteran Eddie Cheever Jr. once said of the 0.750-mile Richmond International Raceway.

The quote still holds up today.

“Flying” around the relatively flat track at an average speed of 170 m.p.h. leaves little room for error. It takes only a slight bobble to leave you splattered against a SAFER barrier.

Dario Franchitti Dario Franchitti has yet to finish worse than seventh this year. Another win by Dario Franchitti, at the Iowa Speedway, sends him to RIR with a 51-point lead over second-place Tony Kanaan. Franchitti has yet to finish worse than seventh this year. That was at the season opener in Homestead. Since then he has been no worse than fifth.

“It’s been a good start to the season,” said Franchitti. “Are we halfway yet? It’s too early. We’re just going to keep week-in, week-out trying to do a good job and see how it goes.”

Right behind Kanaan are Scott Dixon (-52), Dan Wheldon (-54), Sam Hornish Jr. (-64) and Helio Castroneves (-80). All are still in the championship fight, but it is time for them to step it up.

Hornish Jr. won last year’s race ahead of Vitor Meira. Hornish Jr. was leading on lap 185, but Franchitti was closing. They worked their way through slower traffic and Hornish Jr. built the margin to two seconds.

As the drivers came across the start/finish line with four laps to go Meira passed Franchitti on the inside for second. After the pass was complete a caution came out for Castroneves when his right-rear tire blew apart putting debris on the track. The race finished under caution.

After a 14th-place DNF at Iowa, Hornish Jr. could certainly use a trip to Richmond’s Victory Lane.

CHAMP CARS Champ Car Mont-Tremblant - Circuit Mont-Tremblant - Mont-Tremblant, QC

There must have been a blue moon on Sunday afternoon at the Burke Lakefront Airport. Not only did Sebastien Bourdais not win the race, but the No.1 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing team didn’t finish the race.

That doesn’t happen very often to the three-time series champion.

Since 2004, Bourdais has finished 39 of 46 races. In those four years, the Frenchman has never had more than two DNFs in a single year.

Bourdais already has two DNFs in 2007, yet he still leads the championship by three points over Robert Doornbos. That bodes well for a fourth title for the Formula One-bound driver. It also means that the other teams shouldn’t expect too many more gifts from the No.1 team. They better learn how to beat Bourdais when he finishes races, something not many have been able to do.

Of the 39 races Bourdais has finished, he has won 26 of the them or 67%. In 2007 it is even better, he has finished three of the five starts and won all three.

A.J. Allmendinger seemed to have it figured out, winning five of the final nine races in 2006, but just as he came into this revelation he jumped to NASCAR and the promise of “big money.”

In 2003 when Bourdais first came to Champ Cars, Paul Tracy was “the sheriff” winning seven times and earning a championship. But since then, Tracy has been inconsistent and not won more than twice in any one season. He did win last week though, and always runs well in front of a boisterous hometown Canadian crowd.

The hope for a great championship battle will likely come from either Doornbos, the former Minardi Formula One driver, or Will Power.

In his first season of Champ Car racing, Doornbos has been solid if not spectacular. He has two second and two third-place finishes. But the Rotterdam, Netherlands native has led just one lap and has not yet asserted himself.

“I think all Minardi Team USA personnel are really looking forward to the Mont-Tremblant race, not only because of the challenging circuit and the beautiful surroundings, but also because of the momentum everyone is carrying following last weekend’s Cleveland race,” said owner Paul Stoddart.

Power, on the other hand, has led at least one lap in four of his five starts this year and won the season opener in Las Vegas. Last year in his first full season he earned nine top-10s en route to a sixth-place overall in the standings.

“We just go onto Mont-Tremblant with the same plan we have for every race - get on pole and win one,” said Power.

That would work.

FORMULA ONE

French Grand Prix - Circuit De Nevers - Magny-Cours, France

It is seven races into his Formula One career, but Lewis Hamilton isn’t acting or driving like a rookie. And he is doing things that no rookie has ever done in F1.

Like seven consecutive podium finishes to start a career. Like leading the drivers standings. Like beating his own teammate, Fernando Alonso, who just happens to be the reigning two-time World Champion.

Hamilton has been virtually flawless in F1 this season yet he seems to grasp where he is in the big picture.

“I’m still a rookie,” Hamilton said just before Indy. “I am learning every day, every time I arrive at the track. The whole season I will feel like a rookie.”

But he grows more confident with each win and each success.

Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton has not driven like a rookie this year. “If I’m consistent, then there’s no reason why I can’t win the title;” he added.

At some point in the season Hamilton will hit a rough patch. It happens in every season to every driver, well except maybe for Michael Schumacher in the 2004 season when he won 13 of 18 races and finished in the top-five 15 times.

It will be at that point that we find out what the 22-year-old is made of.

Maybe it already started. On Thursday, Hamilton crashed a go-kart into the barriers at a London charity auction. So far this season that is the only mistake he has made.

For Ferrari, these are troubled times.

The car doesn’t seem as consistent or fast as the McLaren Mercedes and they have not been very competitive of late.

Brazilian Felipe Massa has been their best driver, but he is 19 points behind Hamilton and nine points behind Alonso. His best finish since back-to-back wins at Bahrain and Spain is a third place.

Kimi Raikkonen, expected to come over from McLaren and be the team’s No.1 driver has been anything but. After a season-opening win in Australia, his best finishes are a pair of third-place results.

“We are waiting for the real Raikkonen, the one that everyone fears,” Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said.

Moreover, it appears that Raikkonen is not the “team player” that Michael Schumacher was.

“It would be interesting to see how good he could be if he concerned himself with the technology side, too,” said former boss Peter Sauber.

He is also more of a “party animal” than Schumacher.

“The Finns like to drink from time to time,” said Ferrari chief executive Jean Todt to the French newspaper Le Figaro.

Then again, he is barely halfway through the first season with Ferrari. Once he gets used to the way things are done and gets comfortable with the “stardom” of driving for Ferrari, there is no telling how good he can be.

He and Ferrari will need to get it together soon or they can all start thinking of the 2008 championship.

CRUSH SHOT SPORTS SPECIAL GOLF LINKS

USGA

U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, North Carolina - The top women’s players in the world tee it up this week at the third women’s major of the season, the U.S. Women’s Open Championship.

Last year, Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst needed a Monday playoff to decide the winner. Sorenstam closed with an even-par 71 in Sunday’s final round, then claimed her 10th major championship crown on Monday with a one-under 70.

Hurst, who closed with a two-under 69 in the final round to force the playoff, managed just a four-over 75 to fall short of winning her second major title. It was the third time Sorenstam defeated Hurst in a playoff.

The playoff at Newport Country Club came one year after Birdie Kim holed a miraculous bunker shot for birdie and the 2005 title as she fended off then amateurs Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lang.

Annika Sorenstam Last year, Annika Sorenstam needed a Monday playoff to win. In 1996, Sorenstam posted a 272 total to set the U.S. Women’s Open scoring record for a par-70 course. That happened at this year’s host course - Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, where Karrie Webb claimed the 2001 crown.

There are plenty of storylines as always. Women’s World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa is coming off her third win of the season at last week’s Wegmans LPGA, but she is still searching for her first major title.

Will former No. 1 Sorenstam, a two-time winner and two-time runner-up at this event, regain her form after a recent back and neck injury? Can Sorenstam be the first to repeat since Karrie Webb in 2000 and 2001?

How will 12-year-old Alexis Thompson fair? Thompson is the youngest ever to qualify for the Women’s Open.

With Morgan Pressel (Kraft Nabisco) and Suzann Pettersen (McDonald’s LPGA) winning the first two majors, will Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Ai Miyazato, Cristie Kerr or another first-time major champion be crowned?

ESPN will have four hours of coverage on both Thursday and Friday, before handing off to NBC, which will have three hours of action each of the final two days.

The LPGA Tour will be off next week before returning the following week with the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, where Mi Hyun Kim won last year.

PGA TOUR

BUICK OPEN, Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, Grand Blanc, Michigan - The Buick Open will be without its defending champion and top Buick sponsor, Tiger Woods.

Woods is skipping this event to remain at home with his wife and newborn child.

Tiger Woods is skipping this event to remain at home with his wife and newborn child.

Last year when he won, Woods was coming off an emotional win at the British Open, his first win after the death of his father.

Woods claimed his second title at this event last year as he carded four straight rounds of six-under 66 to beat Jim Furyk by three strokes. His win came after Vijay Singh had won the last two titles at Warwick Hills.

It was the 50th win of Woods’ career. Since then, Woods has raised his win victory total to 57.

Low scores are the norm at Warwick Hills as seven of the last eight winners have posted totals in the 260s (19-under or better).

Billy Mayfair established a PGA Tour record here in 2001 for the best birdie- eagle streak in tour history. Mayfair went nine-under (B-E-B-B-B-B-B-B) en route to posting a nine-under 27 as part of his final-round 61.

The Golf Channel will broadcast three hours of action the first two days, while CBS has three hours of action the final two days.

Next up for the PGA Tour is the inaugural AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, where Woods will serve as the tournament host.

EUROPEAN TOUR

OPEN DE FRANCE, Le Golf National, Paris, France - Frenchman Jean-Francois Remesy was going for his third straight win at this event last year, but struggled to a one-over 285 for the tournament.

Jean-Francois Remesy hopes things swing his way. Englishman John Bickerton opened with an eight-under 63 and then fended off Irishman Padraig Harrington in the final round for his second tour title.

The win was Bickerton’s second in less than 10 months after going 12 seasons and 287 starts before claiming his first title at the

2005 Abama Open de Canarias.

Remesy’s loss meant fellow Frenchman Marcel Dallemagne is still the only player to win three straight, 1936-38.

This is the oldest national championship in continental Europe dating back to 1906. This event has had 18 major champions also win this title, while this week’s field includes 83 players that have won on the European Tour.

The Golf Channel has coverage of all four days of action this week. Next up for the European Tour is the Smurfit Kappa European Open at The K Club, where Stephen Dodd won last year.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

COMMERCE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP, Red Course at Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, New York - The Commerce Bank Championship will be hard pressed to match last year’s action as John Harris and Tom Jenkins went to a playoff.

Those two finished one stroke clear of Andy Bean, Gil Morgan and 2006 Player of the Year Jay Haas. In the playoff, Harris birdied the first extra hole to pick up his first professional title in his 97th career start.

What made Harris’ win all the more special was the fact that he erased a five- stroke deficit to comeback and force the extra session. It was the largest comeback of the 2006 season.

Harris’ win stopped Haas’ streak of three straight wins last year. Haas shared third place in his first appearance at this event.

The Golf Channel will have coverage of all three rounds. This event serves as the final tune-up for the season’s second major. Next week is the U.S. Senior Open at Whistling Straits, where Allen Doyle will go for his third straight win at that event.

NATIONWIDE TOUR

PEEK’N PEAK CLASSIC, Peek’n Peak Resort and Conference Center (Upper Course), Findley Lake, New York - The Nationwide Tour returns to New York this week for the Peek’n Peek Classic.

Last year, John Merrick needed three playoff holes to defeat Gavin Coles and claim his first tour win. Merrick closed with three straight rounds in the 60s to match Coles at 11-under 277. Coles had been going for his third tour crown.

Merrick, who is on the PGA Tour this year, currently stands in 125th place on the money list. That is the final position for someone to maintain their full status on the PGA Tour without a win.

This is the sixth year of the event and tournament officials have signed an extension through 2011 with the total purse climbing each year.

A very busy Golf Channel will have tape-delayed coverage of all four days. Next up for the Nationwide Tour is the Legend Financial Group Classic, where Coles picked up his third tour crown.

CANADIAN TOUR

ATB FINANCIAL CLASSIC, Calgary Elks Lodge & Golf Club, Calgary, Alberta - The Canadian Tour tees it up at a new event this week with the ATB Financial Classic.

The field will include four of the five players that have won on tour this year. Adam Bland, Wes Heffernan, Byron Smith and James Lepp will all tee it up this week.

Bland and Heffernan are both two-time winners this season. Fellow two-time winner Spencer Levin is not scheduled to play this week.

The tour remains in Alberta next week for the TELUS Edmonton Open, where Stephen Gangluff posted his second Canadian Tour win.

DURAMED FUTURES TOUR

TEAM WLF.ORG GOLF CLASSIC, Kankakee Elks Country Club, Saint Anne, Illinois - Mollie Fankhauser needed two extra holes last year to knock off Brandi Jackson and Stephanie George to earn her first professional win.

Jackson and Fankhauser each closed with back-to-back 70s, while George, who opened with a 67, struggled to one-over 73 in the final round to force the playoff.

Fankhauser has made just three starts on the LPGA Tour this year and has missed the cut in all three events.

After a week off, the Futures Tour heads to Connecticut for the CIGNA Golf Classic, where Song-Hee Kim claimed the title last year.

Wednesday, June 27th

American League Texas Rangers at Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 15-20 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels, 3:35 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners, 4:35 p.m.

Cloudy Cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 75.

New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 95.

Oakland Athletics at Cleveland Indians, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 90.

National League

Houston Astros at Milwaukee Brewers, 2:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 60-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 85.

Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants, 3:35 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 15-20 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 60.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Florida Marlins, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 60-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 90.

St. Louis Cardinals at New York Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 90.

Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves, 7:35 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 90.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 110.

Wednesday, June 27th (All times eastern)

TEXAS RANGERS (32-45) AT DETROIT TIGERS (45-31), 1:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Kevin Millwood (4-6, 7.31) Detroit - Kenny Rogers (1-0, 0.00)

October playoff hero Kenny Rogers makes his second start of the season today when the Detroit Tigers host the Texas Rangers in the finale of a three-game series at Comerica Park.

Rogers, who helped the Tigers win the American League championship last fall, missed the first two months of this season with a blood clot problem in his pitching shoulder. He returned on June 22 against Atlanta and earned a 5-0 victory with six innings of two-hit ball to go along with five strikeouts.

The 42-year-old southpaw is 5-3 in 14 career appearances against the Rangers, for whom he pitched in three stints stretching from 1989-1995, 2000-2002 and 2004-2005. His career-best record came in 2004, when he went 18-9 with a 4.76 earned run average.

He was 17-8 last season with the Tigers.

Texas right-hander Kevin Millwood was touched for nine hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings of a 10-0 loss to Detroit on June 6. In eight career starts against the Tigers, he’s 3-3 with a 4.20 ERA over 49 1/3 innings.

He’s won two straight starts overall, downing Cincinnati and Houston while allowing 15 hits and seven runs in 12 innings.

The two-start win streak ended a five-decision skid that had stretched from April 18 to June 12.

On Tuesday, Craig Monroe and Magglio Ordonez’s misadventures in the field allowed Texas to pull out a 9-6 victory over Detroit.

Todd Jones (1-4) retired the first two batters in the ninth, keeping the momentum from Detroit’s three-run eighth that tied the game. However, Michael Young walked and Sammy Sosa singled to set the stage for Marlon Byrd.

He came through with some extra help from Ordonez. Byrd went with an outside fastball, hitting a sinking line drive tight to the right-field line. Ordonez took the proper angle and got to the ball in plenty of time to field it on a bounce, but it scooted under his glove and rolled toward the wall, allowing both runners to score.

Ramon Vazquez added an insurance run with an base hit to right.

Sosa finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Wilkerson’s homer was his ninth of the season.

Sean Casey had three hits and drove home three runs in Detroit’s second straight loss after a seven-game winning streak.

Despite giving up the three runs in the eighth, Akinori Otsuka (2-1) was credited with the victory. Eric Gagne allowed a pair of base runners before recording his eighth save of the season.

Detroit topped Texas in two of three meetings on the road in early June. The clubs split 10 meetings in 2006.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (32-46) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (49-29), 3:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Jorge De La Rosa (4-9, 5.75) LA Angels - Jered Weaver (6-3, 3.80)

The Kansas City Royals try to complete a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this afternoon at Angel Stadium.

The AL West-leading Angels, who own the majors best home mark at 29-12, haven’t been swept in a home series of at least three games by the Royals since dropping all four games to them from May 6-9, 1996. They were also swept in a three-game set the previous season from September 15-17.

In the second game of this set on Tuesday Alex Gordon’s three-run homer put an exclamation point on a career-high four RBI night, as Kansas City rolled to a 12-4 victory.

Joey Gathright finished 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. His night on the bases was more eventful, scoring twice, getting thrown out at the plate in the first and again being called out for tagging too early in the sixth.

Gil Meche (5-6) picked up the win, surrendering three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk over six frames. The Royals have won three straight.

Ervin Santana (5-8) was hit hard in the loss, giving up seven runs — five earned — on nine hits with two walks during five-plus innings.

Heading to the hill for the Royals today will be lefty Jorge De La Rosa, who has lost his last six decisions. De La Rosa’s latest loss came on Friday against Milwaukee, as he allowed seven runs and 10 hits in five innings to fall to 4-9 on the year, while raising his earned run average to 5.75.

De La Rosa was impressive in beating the Angels earlier in the season and is 1-1 lifetime against them with a 3.29 ERA.

Anaheim will counter with righty Jered Weaver, who has won his last five decisions. Weaver, though, has not pitched since June 16 and had his last scheduled start skipped due to a shoulder strain. He is 6-3 this season with a 3.80 ERA.

Weaver has faced the Royals three times and is 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA.

Los Angeles split a four-game series with the Royals in Kansas City earlier in the season, but the Angels own a 23-9 mark in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Royals also have just five wins in their last 15 visits to Anaheim.

BOSTON RED SOX (48-28) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (41-33), 4:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-5, 4.01) Seattle - Ryan Feierabend (1-2, 8.20)

Daisuke Matsuzaka will attempt to win his third straight start this afternoon, as the Boston Red Sox try and avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

Matsuzaka has been sensational over his last two starts, surrendering just a run and eight hits in 13 innings, while striking out 17. He gave up one run and five hits over six innings on Friday to San Diego to run his record to 9-5 and lowering his earned run average to 4.01.

The 26-year old right-hander, who is 0-1 in two starts against the Mariners this season, has given up just five runs in his last four starts.

Seattle will counter with Ryan Feierabend, who is 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA. Feierabend, who has never faced the Red Sox, was hammered by the Cincinnati Reds in his last start on Friday, as he surrendered nine runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings.

In the second game of this set on Tuesday, Richie Sexson’s two-run blast in the sixth broke the tie, and Seattle held on for an 8-7 win. Willie Bloomquist also homered for the Mariners, who have won four straight and six of seven following a six-game losing streak.

Felix Hernandez, who one-hit the Red Sox in Matsuzaka’s Fenway debut earlier this season, was ripped for 11 hits and six runs — five earned — in 5 2/3 innings. Eric O’Flaherty (5-0) got the win for recording one out in the sixth.

Kason Gabbard, starting in place of the injured Curt Schilling, allowed four runs on six hits with six walks and one hit batter in only 3 1/3 innings. Javier Lopez (1-1) gave up three hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Kevin Youkilis went 2-for-3 with three RBI, and Eric Hinske homered for the Red Sox, who have dropped two straight and three of four.

Boston won two out of three from the Mariners earlier in the season, but Seattle holds a slim 11-9 edge in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Red Sox have also lost eight of their last 11 in the Emerald City.

Seattle last swept the Red Sox in a three-game set at Safeco back from August 25-27 of last season. NEW YORK YANKEES (36-38) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (33-43), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Roger Clemens (1-2, 5.09) Baltimore - Erik Bedard (5-4, 3.60)

Roger Clemens takes another crack at career win No. 350 as the struggling New York Yankees play the second test of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles tonight at Camden Yards.

After winning his 2007 debut on June 9 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemens lost his next two starts for New York. He was defeated by the crosstown rival Mets on June 15 after giving up a pair of runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-0 loss, then gave up four runs through 4 1/3 frames of a 4-3 setback at Colorado last Thursday.

The seven-time Cy Young award winner made a relief appearance Sunday against the San Francisco Giants and permitted one run in an inning of work. He is just 1-2 with a 5.09 ERA in four games of his latest comeback.

Clemens is 19-11 with a 3.46 ERA and six complete games (two shutouts) in 44 career starts against Baltimore.

The future Hall of Famer is attempting to become the first pitcher to reach the 350-win plateau since the Braves’ Warren Spahn achieved the milestone on September 29, 1963. Clemens will also be trying to halt a string of six losses in seven games for the Yankees, including a 3-2 setback to Baltimore in Tuesday’s series opener.

Ramon Hernandez drew a bases-loaded walk off New York reliever Scott Proctor in the bottom of the ninth inning last night to give the Orioles their fourth win in six games.

Proctor (1-5) walked three Baltimore hitters in the ninth to absorb the loss. Andy Pettitte worked the first seven innings for the Yankees and allowed just two runs on eight hits.

Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie was also effective in a no decision. The right- hander held the Yanks to two runs while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings, with New York’s only scoring coming on a two-run homer by Johnny Damon in the sixth.

Corey Patterson finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead Baltimore offensively.

New York’s sputtering offense figures to be challenged again tonight by Orioles ace Erik Bedard. The lefty has yielded two earned runs or less in six of his last seven starts and leads the majors with 121 strikeouts this season.

Bedard racked up nine more K’s and limited San Diego to two runs over six innings on Thursday to pick up his fifth win of the season. He did not walk a batter and surrendered only five hits for the game.

The native Canadian is 3-3 with a 4.79 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) against the Yankees and defeated New York with seven innings of three-run ball back on April 8.

Baltimore has won three of the four meetings between the AL East foes this season. However, the Yankees are 10-5 in their last 15 games at Camden Yards. Baltimore won two of three games against New York earlier this season from April 6 - 8 at Yankee Stadium. OAKLAND ATHLETICS (39-37) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (45-31), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Lenny DiNardo (2-4, 2.35) Cleveland - Fausto Carmona (8-3, 3.21)

Dominican right-hander Fausto Carmona looks to get back on the winning track tonight when the Cleveland Indians host the Oakland Athletics in game three of four at Jacobs Field.

The 23-year-old began the season at 7-1 before falling in two of his last three starts. In his last start, on June 22 at Washington, he gave up 10 hits and three runs in six innings of a 4-1 loss to the Nationals.

Carmona, who is 4-1 in six home starts this season, is 1-0 in three career appearances against the Athletics.

Oakland lefty Lenny DiNardo has dropped two straight starts and gotten a no- decision since a June 5 defeat of the Boston Red Sox. Against the New York Mets on June 22, he allowed seven hits and two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, dropping a 9-1 verdict.

He allowed two hits and a run in a one-inning relief stint against Cleveland on May 12. Lifetime against the Indians, the veteran of 59 big-league appearances - 12 starts - has allowed six hits and two runs in 6 1/3 innings of relief work.

On Tuesday, Kelly Shoppach’s pinch-hit, game-winning three-run homer capped a five-run ninth inning, as the Indians rallied for an 8-5 victory over the Athletics.

Travis Hafner drove in three runs for the Indians, who trailed 5-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning but pleased the home crowd with their second straight win in this four-game series after a 5-2 victory in Monday’s opener. Grady Sizemore scored three runs in the win.

Mark Ellis homered and finished with three RBI for Oakland, which lost its fifth consecutive game. Jack Cust and Shannon Stewart also homered in the losing effort.

Oakland’s temporary closer Alan Embree (1-1) took the mound for the bottom of the ninth inning with a 5-3 lead. Sizemore and Victor Martinez both walked and with two outs, Hafner lined a double into the gap in right-center field that tied the score. Jhonny Peralta was then intentionally walked before Shoppach sent a towering fly ball over the wall in left field and the Indians celebrated at home plate.

Rafael Betancourt (1-0) picked up the win. He allowed one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

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. CHICAGO WHITE SOX (31-42) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (33-42), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Mark Buehrle (4-4, 3.39) Tampa Bay - Andy Sonnanstine (1-2, 6.58)

With trade rumors swirling around him, Mark Buehrle takes this hill this evening for the Chicago White Sox, as they continue their four- game set with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

Buehrle, who is due to become a free agent after the season, has been mentioned in trade rumors all week long since talks between he and the team regarding a contract extension apparently broke down over the weekend. However, there is talk now that talks have resumed and a long-term deal could be ironed out by the weekend.

The 28-year-old left-hander enters tonight’s tilt on a losing note, though, after suffering a tough-luck loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Buehrle gave up two runs and four hits over seven innings of that one, but fell to 4-4 on the year nonetheless to go along with a 3.39 earned run average.

Over his last three starts, though, he is 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA.

Buehrle received a no-decision against the Devil Rays earlier this season, but is 5-1 lifetime against them with a 4.35 ERA in 11 games, six of which have been starts.

Tampa will counter with rookie Andy Sonnanstine, who is 1-2 with a 6.58 ERA. Sonnanstine dropped his second straight start on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he allowed four runs and 10 hits in seven innings.

Sonnanstine has never faced the White Sox.

In the second game of this set on Tuesday, Andy Gonzalez hit his first career homer and drove in three runs to lead the Chicago to a 6-1 win. Jim Thome also went deep while Jon Garland tossed seven-plus strong innings for the White Sox, who have won two in a row in response to a five-game slide.

This is the first time Chicago has put together two straight wins since a three-game streak from May 20-22.

Garland (5-5) allowed just the one run on five hits while striking out three and walking a pair.

James Shields (6-3), meanwhile, was roughed up for five runs on nine hits over seven innings for Tampa Bay, which has dropped five of seven. He finished with 11 strikeouts, one shy of his career high.

Greg Norton homered to account for all of Tampa’s offense.

These teams split a rain-shortened two-game series earlier in the year, but the White Sox have won six of the last 10 matchups. Chicago is also 13-8 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (38-38) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (39-36), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Josh Towers (2-5, 5.75) Minnesota - Boof Bonser (5-3, 4.45)

Two hot teams resume a four-game series this evening at the Metrodome, where the Minnesota Twins shoot for a second straight win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Minnesota stopped the Jays’ season-high five-game win streak with Tuesday’s 2-1, 12-inning triumph. The victory was the fifth in seven outings for the Twins, who were dealt an 8-5 defeat by Toronto in Monday’s series opener.

With two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Jeff Cirillo knocked home Michael Cuddyer with a bloop single for the winning run.

Both starting pitchers were outstanding despite not factoring in the final outcome. Minnesota’s Scott Baker allowed just one run and racked up a career- best nine strikeouts over the first seven innings. Toronto’s Shaun Marcum scattered six hits and a run over eight-plus frames of work.

Toronto’s Frank Thomas was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and remained one home run shy of 500 for his career. The veteran slugger is 0-for-7 with four punchouts in the first two games of this set after blasting homer No. 499 on Sunday against the Rockies.

Thomas will be taking his swings tonight against Boof Bonser, who will be attempting to turn things around following a string of rough starts.

Bonser is 1-2 with a 6.75 earned run average over his last four appearances following a four-start win streak from May 13-29. In his most recent trip to the mound, the young right-hander gave up four runs over six innings in a no decision at Florida on Friday.

The 25-year-old Bonser has faced Toronto one time previously and was handed a loss last August at the Metrodome. He yielded three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in that game.

Toronto’s Josh Towers has also struggled as of late. The control specialist, who gets the call for the Jays tonight, has two losses and a no decision since being re-inserted in the rotation earlier this month.

Towers lasted only four innings against Colorado on Friday and was rocked for five runs on 11 hits. He did not factor in the decision of a 9-8 Toronto win.

The right-hander has made three career starts versus Minnesota and owns a 1-2 record with a 6.32 ERA.

On the injury front, reigning American League MVP Justin Morneau is expected to sit out his fifth consecutive game for the Twins tonight. The star first baseman spent some time in a Miami hospital after suffering a bruised lung in a home plate collision against the Marlins on Friday.

Minnesota took two of three from the Blue Jays earlier in the season and is 13-11 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.

HOUSTON ASTROS (32-45) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (45-32), 2:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Woody Williams (3-10, 5.75) Milwaukee - Jeff Suppan (8-7, 4.90)

The Milwaukee Brewers will attempt to sweep a three-game set against the Houston Astros for the first time in club history when the two teams conclude their series this afternoon at Miller Park.

The Brewers, former residents of the American League, have never swept a series longer than two games against Houston. However, they have taken the first two games of this current series by a 17-6 margin that includes a six- run victory on Tuesday.

Johnny Estrada belted his first-career grand slam and Ryan Braun added a two- run homer to lift Milwaukee to an 11-5 win last night.

Tony Graffanino added a two-run homer for the NL Central-leading Brewers, who have won 11 of 13 since they were the victims of a no-hitter by Detroit’s Justin Verlander on June 12. Corey Hart notched two hits and extended his hitting streak to 13 games in the win.

Milwaukee starting pitcher Claudio Vargas allowed four runs on five hits with six strikeouts in five innings of work, while Matt Wise (2-1) picked up the win with one scoreless inning of relief.

The victory improved the Brewers to 7-1 on a nine-game homestand that wraps today. The club will next play 10 in a row on the road, beginning in Chicago on Friday.

Luke Scott hit two home runs for the slumping Astros, who have dropped two straight and five of their last six games. Carlos Lee drilled a two-run homer — his second in a row against his former club — and Brad Ausmus added a solo blast in the losing effort.

Craig Biggio finished 1-for-4 and now has 2,997 career hits. He is not expected to start today’s game, though, meaning he will most likely reach the milestone of 3,000 hits during Houston’s upcoming 11-game homestand.

Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (4-7) surrendered two runs through the first five innings but ran into major trouble in the sixth and suffered the loss. He was charged with six runs on seven hits with five strikeouts through five- plus innings.

Houston will send Woody Williams, who is just 1-3 in his last four starts, to the hill this afternoon. He fell to 3-10 on the year on Friday versus Texas after getting tagged for five runs on seven hits and four walks in four innings of work. Williams’ earned run average rose to 5.75 in the defeat.

The right-hander has faced Milwaukee 28 times in his career, including 19 starts, and is 12-6 with a 3.05 ERA in that span. He faced the Brewers once this year and took the loss at home on April 29.

Jeff Suppan will start today for Milwaukee and is coming off a win last time out. Suppan allowed five runs on nine hits in just five innings, but saw his team put some runs on the board in an 11-6 victory. The win improved the right-hander to 8-7 with a 4.90 ERA on the year.

Suppan is 2-6 with a 4.72 ERA in 11 career appearances (10 starts) against the Astros for his career.

Milwaukee is 6-2 against Houston so far this season, including a 4-1 mark at home. The Astros, though, went 20-10 against the Brewers over the previous two years.

COLORADO ROCKIES (38-39) AT CHICAGO CUBS (37-39), 2:20 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Jason Hirsh (3-6, 5.06) Chicago - Carlos Zambrano (8-6, 4.27)

Carlos Zambrano has the fight back in him and will try to lead the Chicago Cubs to a sweep of the Colorado Rockies in this afternoon’s conclusion of a three-game set from Wrigley Field.

Since his dugout fight on June 1 with the since-jettisoned Michael Barrett, Zambrano has gone 3-1 with a 1.14 earned run average in four starts. He has yielded just five runs (four earned) over that span.

Zambrano has been particularly solid over his last two outings. In a tough- luck loss on June 16 versus San Diego, the 26-year-old allowed just one run and two hits in nine innings, although he walked five batters in the 1-0 setback. Then on Friday against the White Sox, the righty scattered a run and three hits over eight frames of a 5-1 victory. He registered 12 strikeouts as well to improve to 8-6 with a 4.27 ERA on the year.

The Venezuelan has a 3.14 ERA in seven career starts against the Rockies, but is just 1-4 against them.

Colorado will try to avoid being swept by the Cubs in Chicago for the first time since the Cubs took all four games of a set in July of 1993. It will be up to Jason Hirsh, who is coming off back-to-back no-decisions.

Hirsh allowed five runs in 4 1/3 frames in Tampa Bay on June 16 and was then hammered for five runs on five hits and three walks on Friday against Toronto, a contest his club lost 9-8.

The right-hander is 3-6 with a 5.06 ERA on the season and has never faced the Cubs in his young career.

The Cubs are currently on a season high-tying five-game winning streak and are looking for back-to-back sweeps. The club won all three meetings with the crosstown rival White Sox over the weekend before taking the first two contests of this set.

In this series’ second game on Tuesday, Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer and Koyie Hill highlighted a four-run fifth inning with a two-RBI double in Chicago’s 8-5 victory.

Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-5 with two runs scored for the Cubs, who still trail Milwaukee by 7 1/2 games for first place in the NL Central. Chicago will host the Brewers for three games starting on Friday.

Chicago starter Ted Lilly (6-4) got the win despite a shaky start. The left- hander allowed four runs on six hits, while walking five and striking out five, over six innings.

Jamey Carroll went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI for the Rockies, who have dropped five in a row to start their 10-game road trip. They were swept by Toronto over the weekend.

Willy Taveras also had three hits for Colorado, which has not won since ending its most recent homestand by sweeping a three-game set against the New York Yankees.

Colorado starter Rodrigo Lopez (4-1) was hit with his first loss with the club, surrendering eight runs on nine hits with four walks over 4 2/3 innings.

The Rockies won four of their six meetings with the Cubs last year, including a 2-1 mark at Wrigley Field.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (43-33) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (33-43), 3:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Greg Maddux (6-4, 3.84) San Francisco - Matt Cain (2-8, 3.46)

Matt Cain hopes to put an end to a frustrating winless streak when the young righty takes the mound this afternoon for the San Francisco Giants in the finale of a three-game series with the San Diego Padres.

Cain is winless in seven starts since defeating Colorado on May 13, although he certainly hasn’t pitched badly over that stretch. The 22-year-old has surrendered three or less runs in five of those outings, while the Giants have mustered a total of just 13 runs during his lengthy drought.

The former first-round pick has five losses and two no decisions since that last victory.

After yielding only two runs over 15 innings in a pair of tough-luck losses to Oakland and Boston, Cain wasn’t as sharp against the New York Yankees on Friday. He was touched for five runs and walked four in five innings of work in San Francisco’s 7-3 defeat.

Cain faced the Padres twice in April and received a loss and a no decision against the club, despite allowing only four runs over 13 innings of work. He does own a 3-1 record with an impressive 1.96 earned run average versus San Diego, however.

The promising youngster will be opposed today by the legendary Greg Maddux, who will be taking aim at career win No. 340. The future Hall of Famer pitched well in a loss to Boston on Friday, holding the Red Sox to two runs over six innings of his team’s 2-1 setback.

Maddux will be making his 48th career start against San Francisco and is 27-14 with a 2.90 ERA lifetime versus the Giants. He defeated San Francisco with six shutout innings at Petco Park on April 11.

The first two contests of this series have been decided in extra innings, with the Giants winning Monday’s opener in extra frames and the Padres coming through with a 3-2, 10-inning triumph on Tuesday. Kevin Kouzmanoff’s solo home run in the top of the 10th accounted for the winning margin.

Trevor Hoffman preserved the lead and picked up his 500th save as a Padre with a scoreless bottom of the 10th. Starter David Wells tossed six innings of one- run ball in the no decision.

Mike Cameron and Khalil Greene also homered for the Padres, who won for just the second time in their last seven games and remain one-half game behind Los Angeles for first place in the NL West.

San Francisco’s Barry Zito pitched eight solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Randy Messenger (1-2) took the loss after allowing Kouzmanoff’s blast.

Dave Roberts had three hits and knocked in a run for the Giants, who had a three-game win streak end. Barry Bonds went 1-for-2 with three walks and remains at 749 career homers, six shy of Hank Aaron’s all-time mark.

Bonds is not expected to be in the starting lineup this afternoon, as the slugger normally receives a scheduled day off in day games that follow ones at night.

The Giants are 3-5 against the Padres this season, but have won 15 of the last 21 matchups in the series.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (32-44) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (36-41), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - John Van Benschoten (0-2, 4.22) Florida - Sergio Mitre (2-3, 2.34)

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a five-game slide and will aim for back-to-back wins this evening when they continue their three-game series against the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium.

The Pirates posted a 3-2 victory in last night’s series opener, as starting pitcher Paul Maholm was solid through 7 2/3 innings, allowing a pair of runs and three hits with five K?s and one walk to collect the win. Matt Capps came on in the ninth to record his sixth save of 2007.

Jack Wilson homered and finished with two RBI in the winning effort, while Rajai Davis knocked in a run for the Bucos, who have three wins over their last eight contests.

Pittsburgh will send John Van Benschoten to the hill today and he is 0-2 with a 4.22 ERA in two starts this season. Van Benschoten last toed the rubber on June 21 at Seattle and gave up three runs in six innings of a 3-0 setback.

The right-hander will try to reverse his fortunes tonight against a Florida team he has never faced in his career.

The Marlins, meanwhile, didn’t get the kind of performance they expected from starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis last night. Willis was roughed up for three runs and seven hits over seven innings of work.

Dan Uggla homered for Florida, which has lost three straight and sits seven games off the lead in the National League East division.

Sergio Mitre will try to get the Marlins back on track tonight and owns a 2-3 mark with a 2.34 ERA in 12 starts this season. Mitre is 2-1 over his last seven starts and did not record a decision the last time out on June 20 at the Chicago White Sox.

Mitre gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 frames in a 5-4 win over Chicago. In seven career games (five starts) against the Pirates, the righty is 2-1 with a 3.13 earned run average.

Pittsburgh is 3-2 against Florida this season. The clubs split a four-game series earlier in the year from May 14 - 17 at PNC Park. The Marlins went 5-2 against the Pirates last season with a 3-1 record at Dolphin Stadium. CINCINNATI REDS (29-48) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (40-36), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Aaron Harang (8-2, 3.59) Philadelphia - Jamie Moyer (7-5, 4.12)

The Philadelphia Phillies managed to steal home on Tuesday against the Reds. The club will try to steal a third straight victory tonight in the second contest of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBI and crossed home plate as part of a double steal in the second inning to help guide the Phillies past the Reds, 11-4, in Tuesday’s series opener.

Chase Utley was 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI, while Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard also went deep for Philadelphia. Starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick (2-0) rebounded from a spotty first inning to hold the Reds to six hits and four runs over six-plus innings, fanning three and walking three.

Philadelphia moved to within 2 1/2 games of the first-place New York Mets in the NL East with last night’s win.

Jamie Moyer will start tonight for the Phillies and will be facing the Reds for the first time in over 16 years. He last pitched against Cincinnati on May 14, 1991 while with St. Louis and took the loss. Lifetime, Moyer is 1-3 with a 5.73 earned run average in six games (five starts) against the Reds.

The veteran left-hander has won his last two starts to improve to 7-5 with a 4.13 ERA on the year. He bested Detroit behind seven innings of two-run ball on June 16, then threw six shutout innings in a victory over the Cardinals on Friday.

The Reds will push back tonight’s original starter, Matt Belisle, in favor of sending Aaron Harang to the hill instead.

Harang has won two straight starts and is 3-0 over his last six outings. Cincinnati’s ace was solid against Seattle on Friday, giving up just one unearned run on two hits and two walks while recording seven strikeouts in eight innings of a 16-1 blowout.

The right-hander, who is 8-2 with a 3.59 ERA on the year, has faced the Phillies five times in his career — four of those starts — and is 1-1 with a high 7.36 ERA.

Reds rookie Homer Bailey (2-1) took his first career loss on Tuesday, lasting only 1 2/3 innings in which he was rocked for six hits and six runs with three walks.

Josh Hamilton and Adam Dunn both homered for the Reds, who have lost three in a row and nine of 12.

The loss dropped the Reds to 2-5 on a nine-game road trip. The club also holds the worst record in baseball at 29-48.

Philly won two of three games against Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park earlier this season and is 11-6 over its past 17 meetings with the Reds. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (34-40) AT NEW YORK METS (42-33), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Anthony Reyes (0-9, 6.64) New York - Tom Glavine (6-5, 4.38)

Tom Glavine looks for win No. 297 tonight, when the New York Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of a four-game set at Shea Stadium.

The 41-year-old lefty ended a five-start winless skid in his last outing, allowing six hits and a run in eight innings in a 9-1 defeat of Oakland on Friday.

The former Atlanta Braves ace has made a career of beating the Cardinals, having gone 19-6 with a 3.55 earned run average in 36 lifetime starts.

Glavine was 15-7 last season with a 3.82 ERA in 198 innings.

On the flip side, St. Louis righty Anthony Reyes looks for his first regular- season win since last September when he takes the mound tonight.

The 25-year-old Californian is 0-10 with four no decisions since, although he did defeat Detroit during the Cardinals’ run to the World Series championship last fall.

In his most recent outing, Reyes allowed nine hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 6-0 loss to Philadelphia on Friday.

Reyes has never faced the Mets in the regular season. He got a no decision against them during the NLCS last October, allowing three hits and two runs in four innings of a 12-5 Cardinals’ loss.

On Tuesday, Brendan Ryan’s homer sparked a two-run 11th inning as the Cardinals beat the Mets for the first time in five games this season with a 5-3 decision.

Ryan ended 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored for St. Louis, which blew a two-run lead only to recover and end a two-game slide and even this four- game set.

Scott Spiezio and Juan Encarnacion each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Cardinals, who had dropped their first four games of the year to New York. St. Louis was swept at Busch Stadium to start the season and dropped the opener of this series, 2-1, in 11 innings on Monday.

Brad Thompson (6-3) got the win with 1 1/3 innings of relief, while Randy Flores recorded the final two outs for his first save of the year.

New York had won seven straight and eight of the last 10 regular-season matchups between the clubs prior to Tuesday’s loss. WASHINGTON NATIONALS (32-45) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (40-38), 7:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Micah Bowie (4-2, 3.63) Atlanta - John Smoltz (8-4, 3.14)

The Atlanta Braves take aim at a much-needed sweep of the Washington Nationals when the National League East rivals conclude a three- game series tonight at Turner Field.

Atlanta entered this set mired in a season-high five-game losing streak in which the club was shut out four times, but has appeared to turn things around at the expense of the cellar-dwelling Nationals. After posting a 4-1 win in Monday’s opener, the Braves downed Washington by a 6-2 count last night.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was the offensive star for Atlanta, as the rookie collected his first career two-homer game. Andruw Jones added a key three-run shot in the fifth inning, while starting pitcher Buddy Carlyle tossed seven quality frames.

Carlyle (2-2) yielded just five hits and one run while walking one and striking out six.

Dmitri Young went 2-for-3 and Ryan Langerhans and Ryan Church each drove in a run for the Nationals, who have lost six of eight.

Washington starter Mike Bacsik (1-5) went six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits.

Atlanta, which began today’s play 3 1/2 games back of the first-place New York Mets in the NL East, sends out ace John Smoltz in tonight’s finale. The veteran righty will be attempting to shake off a subpar performance on Friday, when Smoltz was tagged for five runs over six innings in a loss to Detroit.

Smoltz had been on an outstanding run prior to that outing, having yielded two runs or less in eight of his nine previous starts.

The 40-year-old has already faced Washington three times this year and has a 1-2 record in those games despite having allowed only six runs in 20 2/3 innings of work (a 2.61 ERA). In 64 career appearances, including 37 starts, against the Nationals, Smoltz is 18-11 with a 2.68 earned run average and 17 saves.

Washington counters with the surprising Micah Bowie, who has posted a 5-0 record and a 3.60 ERA since moving from the bullpen and into the rotation in mid-May. The Nationals have won every won of his seven starts so far this season.

Bowie pitched well again on Friday but didn’t last long enough to get credit for the victory in Washington’s 4-1 decision over Cleveland. He limited the Indians to one run and fanned seven over 4 1/3 innings, but was removed after building up a count of 104 pitches.

The 32-year-old was drafted by Atlanta in the eighth round of the 1993 draft and made his major league debut with the Braves in 1999. He has made four previous relief appearances against his former team and has no record and a 2.08 ERA over 4 1/3 innings.

Atlanta owns a 6-5 edge in this year’s season series and has taken four of its five matchups with Washington at home. The Braves are 41-26 against the Nationals since the start of the 2004 campaign.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (44-33) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (44-34), 9:40 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Derek Lowe (8-6, 3.14) Arizona - Brandon Webb (7-5, 3.24)

The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in first place in the National League West and will try to stay there when they play the third test of a key four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks entered this series with a 1 1/2-game lead over the third- place Dodgers and were a game up on San Diego for the top spot in the standings. However, the club has lost the first two games of this series to fall a half-game back of the Dodgers.

Los Angeles needed an extra inning to claim victory on Tuesday, as Tony Abreu came through with a pinch-hit solo homer in the 10th inning to give the Dodgers a 6-5 victory.

James Loney homered and finished with three RBI for the Dodgers. He is now batting .471 on the season, and his hot bat has prompted LA to move former starting first baseman Nomar Garciaparra to third. Garciaparra played there last night and went 0-for-5.

Chad Billingsley started on the hill for the Dodgers and allowed five runs on four hits in four innings of work. He also added two RBI at the plate. Jonathan Broxton (3-2) earned the win, while Takashi Saito posted his 21st save of the season.

Eric Byrnes, Chris Young and Mark Reynolds all homered for the Diamondbacks, who fell to 1-6 against the Dodgers this season and 2-10 in the last 12 overall meetings between the clubs.

Arizona starter Edgar Gonzalez tossed four frames and yielded five runs on six hits. Doug Slaten (3-1) allowed the go-ahead homer to take the loss.

The Diamondbacks rotation should be getting a boost soon, as the club announced veteran Randy Johnson will come of the disabled list to start Thursday’s series finale. He had been out with an ailing back.

However, the Dodgers have to get past Brandon Webb first. The right-hander will be trying to shake off a recent tough stretch for Arizona that has seen the right-hander loss two of his last three starts (1-2).

Webb and the Diamondbacks were bested by Baltimore on Friday, with the 28- year-old allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks. Just three of those runs were earned.

Last year’s National League Cy Young Award winner is now 7-5 with a 3.24 earned run average on the year. In 11 career starts versus the Dodgers, Webb is 6-3 with a 3.39 ERA.

Dodgers starter Derek Lowe will aim to improve on his 8-6 mark with tonight’s outing. Lowe is 4-1 over his last five starts and picked up a win on Friday at Tampa Bay. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 6-3 win.

Lowe is 2-4 with a 5.11 ERA in nine career starts against the Diamondbacks.

MLB 06/27/2007 2:05 PM EDT 951 houston astros (r) williams, w 9.5u15 9.5o15 952 milwaukee brewers (r) suppan, j -165 / -160 -158

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Time of Play Game Date Game # Team 9:52:29am 2007-06-27 968 DET -210 8:36:24am 2007-06-27 956 SFO -110 7:57:18am 2007-06-27 970 LAA -240 7:43:44am 2007-06-27 971 BOS -185

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2:20 PM EDT 953 colorado rockies (r) hirsh, j 954 chicago cubs (r) zambrano, c -210/-205/-182/-176 WGN

3:35 PM EDT 955 san diego padres (r) maddux, g 8o20 8o20 8 956 san francisco giants(r) cain, m -125/-120/-115

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7:05 PM EDT 957 pittsburgh pirates (r) van benschoten, j 9.5u15 9.5u20 958 florida marlins (r) mitre, s -180 -170

7:05 PM EDT 959 cincinnati reds (r) harang, a 9.5u20/9.5u15/9.5u20 960 philadelphia phillies(l) moyer, j -135/-140/-135/-140/-138

7:10 PM EDT 961 st. louis cardinals undecided 9o15 9o15 962 new york mets (l) glavine, t -170 -170 ESPN

7:35 PM EDT 963 washington nationals (l) bowie, m 8.5 8 964 atlanta braves (r) smoltz, j -250/-230/-220

9:40 PM EDT 965 los angeles dodgers (r) lowe, d 7.5o20/7.5u15/7.5u20 966 arizona diamondbacks (r) webb, b -125 -126

1:05 PM EDT 967 texas rangers (r) millwood, k 9.5 9.5o15 968 detroit tigers (l) rogers, k -200/-195/-210/-200

3:35 PM EDT 969 kansas city royals (l) de la rosa, j 9/9o15/9 970 los angeles angels (r) weaver, jer -260/-270/-240

4:35 PM EDT 971 boston red sox (r) matsuzaka, d -185/-178/-179 972 seattle mariners (l) feierabend, r 9 9o20

7:05 PM EDT 973 new york yankees (r) clemens, r -145/-133/-127/-128/-130 974 baltimore orioles (l) bedard, e 8.5o20 8.5o15

7:05 PM EDT 975 oakland athletics (l) dinardo, l 9.5u20 9.5u25 976 cleveland indians (r) carmona, f -170/-166/-168

7:10 PM EDT 977 chicago white sox (l) buehrle, m -115/-103/-115/-116/-115 978 tampa bay devil rays(r) sonnanstine, a 9.5u20 9.5u30 CHI WHITE SOX - OF Jermaine Dye (quad) missed last few games, doubtful. Dye tested his sore right quadriceps with some pregame running on Tuesday, and manager Guillen expects Dye to be back in the starting lineup this weekend in Kansas City. “Maybe after today’s session, if we need it, hopefully we can use him,” Guillen said. “I don’t want to use him unless it’s a tough situation or something happens where I really have to use him. All of a sudden, it can get worse.” After talking with White Sox athletic trainer Herm Schneider, Guillen was told that Dye will put the injury to a little more in-depth on-field test on Wednesday.

8:10 PM EDT 979 toronto blue jays (r) towers, j 9.5u20/9.5u15 980 minnesota twins (r) bonser, b -145/-135/-136/-138

MINNESOTA - 1B Justin Morneau (lung) missed last few games, expected to miss. Morneau was back on the Twins bench Tuesday night, but it still will be a few more days before he returns to the playing field. Morneau met with the team’s doctors just before Tuesday night’s game and they went over the tests Morneau had done earlier that morning. After the game, it was determined that Morneau would see more doctors on Wednesday in order to set up a further course of action for Morneau. The contusion on his right lung was still visible on a CT scan, Morneau said, but the doctors told him that it showed improvement from the initial injury.

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WNBA

GAME #601-602

CONNECTICUT - F Nykesha Sales (ankle) is expected to miss the next 2 games.

DETROIT - F Cheryl Ford (ankle0 missed last game, Wednesday vs Connecticut.

WNBA Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Date # Team Spread Total M Line WNBA - Jun 27 WNBA - WEDNESDAY Jun 27 601 CONNECTICUT SUN +10½-110 o150½-110 7:30 PM 602 DETROIT SHOCK -10½-110 u150½-110 Jun 27 603 SAC MONARCHS -4-110 o141-110 10:30 PM 604 LA SPARKS +4-110 u141-110

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Date # Team Pitcher M Line Total Run Line MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - Jun 27 NATIONAL LEAGUE - WEDNESDAY Jun 27 951 HOU W WILLIAMS-R +145 o9½-110 +1½-145 2:05 PM 952 MIL J SUPPAN -R -165 u9½-110 -1½+125 Jun 27 953 COL J HIRSH -R +160 +1½-130 2:20 PM 954 CUB C ZAMBRANO-R -180 -1½+110 Jun 27 955 SDG G MADDUX -R EV o8-110 +1½-220 3:35 PM 956 SFO M CAIN -R -120 u8-110 -1½+180 Jun 27 957 PIT VAN BENSCN-R +160 o9-130 +1½-130 7:05 PM 958 FLA S MITRE -R -180 u9+110 -1½+110 Jun 27 959 CIN A HARANG -R +120 o9½EV +1½-170 7:05 PM 960 PHI J MOYER -L -140 u9½-120 -1½+150 Jun 27 961 STL AN REYES -R 7:10 PM 962 NYM T GLAVINE -L Jun 27 963 WAS M BOWIE -L +210 o8-110 +1½EV 7:35 PM 964 ATL J SMOLTZ -R -250 u8-110 -1½-120 Jun 27 965 LOS D LOWE -R +105 o7½-105 +1½-220 9:40 PM 966 ARI B WEBB -R -125 u7½-115 -1½+180 AMERICAN LEAGUE - WEDNESDAY Jun 27 967 TEX K MILLWOOD-R +170 o9½-110 +1½-115 1:05 PM 968 DET K ROGERS -L -200 u9½-110 -1½-105 Jun 27 969 KAN DE LA ROSA-L +220 o9-110 +1½+105 3:35 PM 970 LAA JER WEAVER-R -260 u9-110 -1½-125 Jun 27 971 BOS D MATSUZAK-R -185 o9-120 -1½-120 4:35 PM 972 SEA FEIERABEND-L +165 u9EV +1½EV Jun 27 973 NYY R CLEMENS -R -140 o8½-110 -1½+115 7:05 PM 974 BAL E BEDARD -L +120 u8½-110 +1½-135 Jun 27 975 OAK L DINARDO -L +150 o9½EV +1½-140 7:05 PM 976 CLE F CARMONA -R -170 u9½-120 -1½+120 Jun 27 977 CWS M BUEHRLE -L -115 o9½EV -1½+145 7:10 PM 978 TAM SONNANSTIN-R -105 u9½-120 +1½-165 Jun 27 979 TOR J TOWERS -R +125 o9½EV +1½-165 8:10 PM 980 MIN B BONSER -R -145 u9½-120 -1½+145 GRAND SALAMI NO LISTED PITCHERS - ALL GAMES MUST GO 8.5 INNINGS Jun 27 991 AWAY RUNS 1:05 PM 992 HOME RUNS Jun 27 993 OVER RUNS 1:05 PM 994 UNDER RUNS

BUICK OPEN - *ODDS TO WIN* Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Cut Off # Description Odds BUICK OPEN - *ODDS TO WIN* - Jun 28 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM ODDS TO WIN THE BUICK OPEN 401 JIM FURYK +500 402 SCOTT VERPLANK +1500 403 SEAN OHAIR +1000 404 ROBERT ALLENBY +2500 405 TREVOR IMMELMAN +2000 406 KENNY PERRY +1500 407 FRED FUNK +3000 408 JJ HENRY +2000 409 FREDRIK JACOBSON +3000 410 RYAN MOORE +3000 411 ROD PAMPLING +2500 412 BO VAN PELT +2500 413 WOODY AUSTIN +4000 414 CHRIS DIMARCO +3500 415 TOM LEHMAN +3500 416 TOM PERNICE JR +4000 417 HEATH SLOCUM +3500 418 BRANDT SNEDEKER +4500 419 BRIAN GAY +4000 420 LUCAS GLOVER +1500 421 CHARLES HOWELL III +3000 422 RYUJI IMADA +5000 423 OLIN BROWNE +5500 424 PETER LONARD +5000 425 JOE OGILVIE +4500 426 JOHN ROLLINS +4000 427 JAY WILLIAMSON +5000 428 KEN DUKE +5500 429 RICHARD S JOHNSON +6000 430 JOHN SENDEN +5500 431 DANIEL CHOPRA +7000 432 STEPHEN MARINO +6500 433 PABLO MARTIN +6500 434 ROCCO MEDIATE +6500 435 KEVIN NA +7000 436 BOB TWAY +7000 437 CHARLES WARREN +7000 438 BILLY MAYFAIR +7000 439 BOB ESTES +7500 440 HARRISON FRAZAR +9000 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL RYAN MOORE MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -250 2 NO +180 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL BRIAN DAVIS MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -200 2 NO +150 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL LUCAS GLOVER MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -250 2 NO +180 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL PETER LONARD MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -200 2 NO +150 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL TOM PERNICE JR MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -225 2 NO +170 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL JOHN SENDEN MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -225 2 NO +170 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL FREDRIK JACOBSON MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -200 2 NO +150 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL DEAN WILSON MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -200 2 NO +150 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL CHRIS DIMARCO MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -250 2 NO +180 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL TREVOR IMMELMAN MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -300 2 NO +220 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL TOM LEHMAN MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -250 2 NO +180 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WILL ROBERT ALLENBY MAKE THE CUT 1 YES -300 2 NO +220 Jun 28 - 7:05 AM WHO WILL BE THE TOP EUROPEAN 731 FREDRIK JACOBSON +275 732 RICHARD S JOHNSON +500 733 DANIEL CHOPRA +550 734 PABLO MARTIN +550 735 BRIAN DAVIS +650 736 JESPER PARNEVIK +1000 737 ALEX CEJKA +1200 738 DARREN CLARKE +1200 739 MATHIAS GRONBERG +1600 740 GREG OWEN +1800

BUICK OPEN - *TOURNAMENT MATCHUPS* Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Date # Team M Line Total Spread BUICK OPEN - *TOURNAMENT MATCHUPS* - Jun 28 UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, ALL MATCHUPS ARE FOR THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT. Jun 28 501 J FURYK -215 7:05 PM 502 S VERPLANK +175 Jun 28 503 T IMMELMAN -115 7:05 PM 504 R ALLENBY -115 Jun 28 505 C DIMARCO -115 7:05 PM 506 H SLOCUM -115 Jun 28 507 C HOWELL III -115 7:05 PM 508 J ROLLINS -115 Jun 28 509 F FUNK -120 7:05 PM 510 T LEHMAN -110 Jun 28 511 R PAMPLING -120 7:05 PM 512 JJ Henry -110 Jun 28 513 S O’HAIR -155 7:05 PM 514 L GLOVER +125 Jun 28 515 K PERRY -185 7:05 PM 516 R MEDIATE +155 Jun 28 517 K DUKE -155 7:05 PM 518 J QUINNEY +125 Jun 28 519 W AUSTIN -140 7:05 PM 520 P LONARD +110 Jun 28 521 B MAYFAIR -140 7:05 PM 522 T PURDY +110 Jun 28 523 R MOORE -170 7:05 PM 524 M KUCHAR +140 Jun 28 525 S MARINO -115 7:05 PM 526 C WARREN -115 Jun 28 527 V TAYLOR 7:05 PM 528 J SENDEN Jun 28 529 T PERNICE JR -165 7:05 PM 530 B QUIGLEY +135 Jun 28 531 J LEONARD -130 7:05 PM 532 S MARUYAMA EV Jun 28 533 J SLUMAN -165 7:05 PM 534 D CLARKE +135 Jun 28 535 JB Holmes +145 7:05 PM 536 W AUSTIN -175 Jun 28 537 L JANZEN +110 7:05 PM 538 B TWAY -140 Jun 28 539 B WETTERICH 7:05 PM 540 C HOFFMAN Jun 28 541 R IMADA -135 7:05 PM 542 B DAVIS +105 Jun 28 543 D CLARKE -105 7:05 PM 544 J SINDELAR -125 Jun 28 545 B GAY -115 7:05 PM 546 S MARINO -115 Jun 28 547 W AUSTIN -120 7:05 PM 548 T PERNICE JR -110 Jun 28 549 C HOWELL III +135 7:05 PM 550 K PERRY -165

BUSCH SERIES CAMPING WORLD 2000 Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Cut Off # Description Odds BUSCH SERIES CAMPING WORLD 2000 - Jun 29 Jun 29 - 10:00 AM DRIVER TO WIN THE CAMPING WORLD 200 901 CARL EDWARDS +450 902 MATT KENSETH +450 903 KEVIN HARVICK +500 904 DENNY HAMLIN +600 905 TONY STEWART +700 906 CLINT BOWYER +900 907 CASEY MEARS +1000 908 SCOTT WIMMER +1200 909 JUAN MONTOYA +2000 910 GREG BIFFLE +2500 911 BOBBY LABONTE +3000 912 REED SORRENSON +3000 913 SCOTT RIGGS +3000 914 DAVID REUTIMANN +3500 915 JASON LEFFLER +3500 916 DAVE BLANEY +4000 917 STEPHEN LEICHT +4000 918 FIELD +500

TRUCK SERIES OREILLY Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Cut Off # Description Odds TRUCK SERIES OREILLY - Jun 29 Jun 29 - 6:00 PM DRIVER TO WIN THE OREILLY 200 1101 RON HORNADAY +450 1102 MIKE SKINNER +500 1103 TODD BODINE +500 1104 JOHNNY BENSON +600 1105 TRAVIS KVAPIL +600 1106 JACK SPRAGUE +600 1107 ERIK DARNELL +1000 1108 RICK CRAWFORD +1200 1109 ARIC AMAROLA +1200 1110 TED MUSGRAVE +1500 1111 MATT CRAFTON +2000 1112 DENNIS SETZER +2500 1113 BRENDAN GAUGHAN +3500 1114 DAVID STARR +4000 1115 TERRY COOK +4000 1116 FIELD +1000

LENNOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 300 - *ODDS TO WIN* Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Cut Off # Description Odds LENNOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 300 - *ODDS TO WIN* - Jun 29 Jun 29 - 11:00 AM DRIVER TO WIN THE LENNOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 300 1 COMING UP SOON

2007 NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Cut Off # Description Odds 2007 NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP - Jul 01 Jul 01 - 2:00 PM ODDS TO WIN THE 2007 NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP 101 TONY STEWART +550 102 JIMMIE JOHNSON +500 103 MATT KENSETH +800 104 JEFF GORDON +300 105 DALE EARNHARDT JR +1800 106 DENNY HAMLIN +700 107 GREG BIFFLE +4000 108 CARL EDWARDS +1000 109 KEVIN HARVICK +1200 110 KASEY KAHNE +10000 111 JEFF BURTON +1500 112 CASEY MEARS +6000 113 KURT BUSCH +2000 114 CLINT BOWYER +3000 115 JUAN MONTOYA +10000 116 RYAN NEWMAN +2000 117 MARTIN TRUEX JR +3000 118 SCOTT RIGGS +50000 119 REED SORRENSON +50000 120 JAMIE MCMURRAY +5000 121 KYLE BUSCH +1200 122 FIELD +2500

LENNOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 300 - *QUALIFYING MATCHUPS Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Date # Team M Line Total Spread LENNOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 300 - *QUALIFYING MATCHUPS - Jun 29 Jun 29 1 COMING UP SOON 11:00 AM 2 COMING UP SOON

LENNOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 300 - *MATCHUPS* Line From: Jun 27 - 09:15 AM Date # Team M Line Total Spread LENNOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 300 - *MATCHUPS* - Jul 01 Jul 01 3 COMING UP SOON 2:30 PM 4 COMING UP SOON

(Tuesday, June 26th)

Final Score: Cleveland 8, Oakland 5

Cleveland, OH - Kelly Shoppach’s pinch-hit, game-winning two- run homer capped a five-run ninth inning, as the Cleveland Indians rallied for an 8-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Jacobs Field. Travis Hafner drove in three runs for the Indians, who trailed 5-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning but pleased the home crowd with their second straight win in this four-game series after a 5-2 victory in Monday’s opener. Grady Sizemore scored three runs in the win. Mark Ellis homered and finished with three RBI for Oakland, which lost its fifth consecutive game. Jack Cust and Shannon Stewart also homered in the losing effort. Oakland’s temporary closer Alan Embree (1-1) took the mound for the bottom of the ninth inning with a 5-3 lead. Sizemore and Victor Martinez both walked and with two outs, Hafner lined a double into the gap in right-center field that tied the score. Jhonny Peralta was then intentionally walked before Shoppach sent a towering fly ball over the wall in left field and the Indians celebrated at home plate. Rafael Betancourt (1-0) picked up the win. He allowed one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief. Cliff Lee started on the mound for Cleveland and allowed three runs on six hits through six innings. Final Score: Texas 9, Detroit 6

Detroit, MI - Craig Monroe and Magglio Ordonez’s misadventures in the field allowed Texas to pull out a 9-6 victory over Detroit in the middle contest of a three-game set at Comerica Park. Todd Jones (1-4) retired the first two batters in the ninth, keeping the momentum from Detroit’s three-run eighth that tied the game. However, Michael Young walked and Sammy Sosa singled to set the stage for Marlon Byrd. Sosa finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Sean Casey had three hits and drove home three in Detroit’s second straight loss after a seven- game winning streak. Despite giving up the three runs in the eighth, Akinori Otsuka (2-1) was credited with the victory. Eric Gagne allowed a pair of baserunners before recording his eighth save of the season.

Final Score: Chicago 6, Tampa Bay 1

St. Petersburg, FL - Andy Gonzalez hit his first career homer and drove in three runs to lead the Chicago White Sox past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 6-1, in the second of a four-game set at Tropicana Field. Jim Thome also went deep while Jon Garland tossed seven-plus strong innings for the White Sox, who have won two in a row in response to a five-game slide. This is the first time Chicago has put together two straight wins since a three-game streak from May 20-22. Garland (5-5) allowed just the one run on five hits while striking out three and walking a pair. James Shields (6-3), meanwhile, was roughed up for five runs on nine hits over seven innings for Tampa Bay, which has dropped five of seven. He finished with 11 strikeouts, one shy of his career high. Greg Norton homered to account for all of Tampa’s offense. Final Score: Baltimore 3, New York 2

Baltimore, MD - Ramon Hernandez drew a bases loaded walk in the ninth inning to lead Baltimore to a 3-2 victory over New York in the opener of a three-game series at Camden Yards. Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking one. The win went to Chris Ray (4-5), who pitched a scoreless ninth. Corey Patterson finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Orioles, who have four wins in their last six games. Scott Proctor (1-5) absorbed the loss for New York after walking three and allowing one hit in the ninth. Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte started for New York and gave up two runs on eight hits in seven innings. Johnny Damon belted a two-run homer for the Yankees, who have lost three straight. Final Score: Minnesota 2, Toronto 1 (12 innings)

Minneapolis, MN - Jeff Cirillo’s pinch-hit RBI bloop single in the 12th inning gave the Minnesota Twins a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a four-game set. Michael Cuddyer scored both runs for Minnesota, which has won five of seven. Twins starter Scott Baker pitched seven-plus dazzling innings, striking out nine with only four hits, one run, and one walk. He was matched, however, by Toronto’s Shaun Marcum, who scattered six hits and one run over eight-plus innings, with two strikeouts and a walk. Juan Rincon (3-1) tossed a scoreless 12th for the win. Brian Tallet (2-2) gave up three hits, a walk, and a run in two-thirds of an inning for the Blue Jays, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. Toronto’s Frank Thomas was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, and remained stuck at 499 career home runs. Thomas is 0-for-7 with four punchouts in the first two games of this series, after blasting homer number 499 on Sunday against the Rockies.

Final Score: Kansas City 12, LA Angels of Anaheim 4

Anaheim, CA - Alex Gordon’s three-run homer put an exclamation point on a career-high four RBI night, as Kansas City trounced the Angels for the second straight night with a 12-4 victory at Angel Stadium. Joey Gathright finished 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. His night on the bases was more eventful, scoring twice, getting thrown out at the plate in the first and again being called out for tagging too early in the sixth. Gil Meche (5-6) continued his stellar 2007 campaign, surrendering three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk over six frames. The Royals have won three straight. Ervin Santana (5-8) was hit hard in the loss, giving up seven runs — five earned — on nine hits with two walks during five-plus innings. Vladimir Guerrero had a pair of hits in defeat.

Final Score: Seattle 8, Boston 7

Seattle, WA - Richie Sexson’s two-run blast in the sixth broke the tie, and the Seattle Mariners held on for an 8-7 win over the Boston Red Sox in the second of a three-game set. Willie Bloomquist also homered for the Mariners, who have won four straight and six of seven following a six-game losing streak. Felix Hernandez, who ruined Daisuke Matsuzaka’s Boston debut on April 11 with a one-hitter, did not have similar success against the Red Sox this time around. Hernandez was ripped for 11 hits and six runs — five earned — in 5 2/3 innings. Eric O’Flaherty (5-0) got the win for recording one out in the sixth. Kason Gabbard, who was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to the game to make the start, is likely heading back there soon after allowing four runs on six hits with six walks and one hit batter in only 3 1/3 innings. Javier Lopez (1-1) gave up three hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Kevin Youkilis went 2-for-3 with three RBI, and Eric Hinske homered for the Red Sox, who have dropped two straight and three of four.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 3, Florida 2

Miami, FL - Jack Wilson homered and Paul Maholm threw 7 2/3 strong innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 win over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game set at Dolphin Stadium. Maholm (4-10) scattered three hits and two runs while walking one and striking out five. Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save. Wilson had two RBI and Rajai Davis one for the Pirates, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Dan Uggla homered for the Marlins, who finished with three hits. Willis (7-7) allowed three runs on seven hits for Florida, which has dropped three in a row.

Final Score: Philadelphia 11, Cincinnati 4

Philadelphia, PA - Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a career- high four RBI, and the Philadelphia Phillies pounded the Cincinnati Reds, 11- 4, in the opener of a three-game set. Chase Utley was 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI, and Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard also went yard for Philadelphia, which has won three of four. Kyle Kendrick (2-0) rebounded from a spotty first inning to hold the Reds to six hits and four runs over six-plus innings, fanning three and walking three. Homer Bailey (2-1) took his first career loss, lasting only 1 2/3 innings, in which he was rocked for six hits and six runs with three walks. Josh Hamilton and Adam Dunn both homered for the Reds, who have lost three in a row and nine of 12. Final Score: St. Louis 5, New York 3 (11 innings)

Flushing, NY - Brendan Ryan’s homer sparked a two-run 11th inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets for the first time in five games this season, 5-3. Ryan ended 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored for St. Louis, which blew a two-run lead only to recover and end a two-game slide, evening this four- game set at Shea Stadium at a game apiece. Scott Spiezio and Juan Encarnacion each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Cardinals, who had dropped their first four games of the year to New York. St. Louis was swept at Busch Stadium to start the season and dropped the opener of this series 2-1 in 11 innings on Monday. Jose Valentin drove in the tying run with two outs in the ninth and Paul Lo Duca homered for the Mets, who had a four-game win streak halted. Carlos Beltran went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases for New York, which fell to 5-3 on their current 10-game homestand. Scott Schoeneweis (0-2) suffered the loss, while Brad Thompson (6-3) got the win in 1 1/3 innings of work. Randy Flores recorded the final two outs for his first save.

Final Score: Atlanta 6, Washington 2

Atlanta, GA - Jarrod Saltalamacchia belted two homers and Andruw Jones one, while Buddy Carlyle threw seven solid innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 6-2 defeat of the Washington Nationals in the second of a three-game set at Turner Field. Carlyle (2-2) yielded just five hits and one run, while walking one and striking out six. Brian McCann went 3- for-4 for the Braves, who have won two in a row after a five-game losing streak that included four shutouts. Dmitri Young went 2-for-3 and Ryan Langerhans and Ryan Church each drove in a run for the Nationals, who have lost five of seven. Washington starter Mike Bacsik (1-5) went six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits.

Final Score: Chicago 8, Colorado 5

Chicago, IL - Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer and Koyie Hill highlighted a four-run fifth inning with a two-run double, as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Colorado Rockies, 8-5, at Wrigley Field. Alfonso Soriano went 2- for-5 with two runs scored for the Cubs, who have won five in a row. Aramis Ramirez and Felix Pie also drove in a run apiece for Chicago, which won this game with a little more ease than the opener. Jamey Carroll went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI for the Rockies, who have dropped five in a row to start their 10-game road trip. Willy Taveras also had three hits for Colorado, which has not won since ending its most recent homestand by sweeping a three-game set against the New York Yankees. Chicago starter Ted Lilly (6-4) got the win, despite a shaky start. The left-hander allowed four runs on six hits, walking five and striking out five, over six innings. Colorado starter Rodrigo Lopez (4-1) was hit with his first loss with the club, surrendering eight runs on nine hits with four walks over 4 2/3 innings. Final Score: Milwaukee 11, Houston 5

Milwaukee, WI - Johnny Estrada belted his first-career grand slam and Ryan Braun added a two-run homer, as the Milwaukee Brewers used a nine-run sixth inning to defeat the Houston Astros, 11-5, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Miller Park. Tony Graffanino added a two-run homer for NL Central-leading Brewers, who have now won 11 of 13 since they were the victims of a no-hitter by Detroit’s Justin Verlander on June 12. Corey Hart notched two hits and extended his hitting streak to 13 games in the win. Luke Scott hit two home runs for the slumping Astros, who have dropped two straight and five of their last six games overall. Carlos Lee drilled a two-run homer and Brad Ausmus added a solo blast in the losing effort. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez surrendered two runs through the first five innings, but ran into major trouble in the sixth and suffered the loss. Rodriguez (4-7) was charged with six runs on seven hits with five strikeouts through five-plus innings. Final Score: San Diego 3, San Francisco 2 (10 innings)

San Francisco, CA - Kevin Kouzmanoff’s home run in the 10th inning guided the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. With one out in the 10th, Kouzmanoff hammered a fastball off Randy Messenger to center and just over the wall and out of the reach of a leaping Dave Roberts. Trevor Hoffman then preserved the victory for the Padres, keeping San Francisco off the board in the bottom of the 10th for his 20th save of the season. David Wells started for San Diego and tossed six innings of one-run ball. The veteran lefty gave up six hits while striking out three and walking three. Cla Meredith (3-5) was credited with the victory after retiring the only batter he faced in the ninth. Mike Cameron and Khalil Greene each hit home runs for the Padres, who won for just the second time in their last seven games. San Francisco starter Barry Zito pitched eight solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Messenger (1-2) took the loss after allowing the homer to Kouzmanoff. Final Score: Los Angeles 6, Arizona 5 (10 innings)

Phoenix, AZ - Tony Abreu’s pinch-hit solo home run in the top of the 10th inning lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the continuation of a key four-game NL West series. James Loney homered and finished with three RBI for the Dodgers, who have captured the first two games of the set and moved into first place in the division, one-half game ahead of Arizona. Luis Gonzalez scored twice in the win. Eric Byrnes, Chris Young and Mark Reynolds all homered for the Diamondbacks, who fell to 1-6 against the Dodgers this season. With the score tied 5-5, Doug Slaten (3-1) took the mound to begin the 10th inning. Slaten got two quick outs, but served up a fastball to the pinch- hitter Abreu, who sent it over the wall in left field for a 6-5 lead. LA closer Takashi Saito needed only 11 pitches to complete his 1-2-3 outing in the bottom of the 10th, which secured the win for the visitors and earned Saito his 21st save of the campaign.