Saturday, June 30th (All times eastern)
OAKLAND ATHLETICS (40-39) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (37-39), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Chad Gaudin (6-3, 3.14) New York - Kei Igawa (2-1, 7.13)
As one of four teams in the American League East already more than 10 games out of contention in the standings, the New York Yankees once again try to defend their home turf this afternoon as they host the Oakland Athletics in the second of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.
On Friday New York, which is third in the division and still 11 games behind Boston, snapped a four-game slide and won for just the second time in the last nine outings with a 2-1 victory against the A’s in the Bronx. Alex Rodriguez was responsible for three hits, including an RBI double, while Jorge Posada knocked in the other run with a single.
Mike Mussina, who was making his 200th start for the Yankees, gave up just a single run on six hits to snap a two-game personal losing streak. Mussina, who is 4-5 on the season, became just the 10th pitcher in major league history to have at least 200 starts for two different teams following his 288 with Baltimore to begin his career.
Also reaching a significant milestone was manager Joe Torre, who posted the 2,010 win of his career on the bench, moving him ahead of Leo Durocher for ninth on the all-time list.
As for the A’s, losers of seven of the last eight contests, their lone run was scored by Eric Chavez, while Shannon Stewart recorded three hits in a losing effort. Starter Joe Kennedy permitted the two runs to the home team on seven hits and three walks, while striking out five over six innings of work for his sixth loss in eight decisions.
In an attempt to snap a personal two-game slide, Chad Gaudin heads to the hill for the A’s this afternoon in the Bronx.
Now in his fifth season in the majors and already on his third team, Gaudin burst into 2007 with a record of 6-1, but has been handed back-to-back losses by the likes of Cincinnati and Cleveland.
On Monday it was the Indians who registered three runs on six hits and three walks, while Gaudin struck out four over six innings in what became a 5-2 setback at Jacobs Field.
As for the Yankees, they’re prepared to insert Kei Igawa back into the rotation after skipping his previous scheduled start due to an off day on the calendar.
The Japanese product, who spent seven weeks in the minors in an effort to work on his delivery, has started only two games since the end of April, failing to figure into either decision. On June 22 Igawa made it through only 4 2/3 innings versus the Giants out on the West Coast, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out five in what became a 7-3 victory for the visitors.
Rodriguez continues to lead all of baseball with 28 home runs and 79 RBI for the Yankees and is third on the team in batting with a .334 average, all while having scored 73 times. However, no one else on the team has double-digit home runs to this point in the season and over the last week Bobby Abreu has done little to protect A-Rod in the lineup, hitting just .136 in 22 at-bats.
Oakland, which is a game over .500 on the year but still just 19-21 on the road and 9 1/2 games behind the Angels for first place in the AL West, is third from the bottom in the AL in batting at .257. However, thanks to having the best team ERA in the league at 3.55, the A’s remain competitive and are tied with Boston for the most shutouts with seven through 79 games.
Jack Cust, who broke out with six home runs in his first seven games of the season, is at it again for the A’s with three long balls and seven RBI in the last week. With a team-best 13 home runs at the moment, Cust has a slugging percentage of .605 for the club, the team as a whole just .402.
MINNESOTA TWINS (41-37) AT DETROIT TIGERS (46-32), 3:55 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Kevin Slowey (2-0, 4.94) Detroit - Andrew Miller (3-1, 2.70)
Pushed back into second place in the American League Central by a half game, the Detroit Tigers try to keep their eyes on the prize as they host the Minnesota Twins in the second of a three-game set from Comerica Park this afternoon.
On Friday the Tigers had ace Justin Verlander gunning for his 10th win of the campaign, but he was shelled in what became a 11-1 victory for the Twins and the third loss in the last four outings for Detroit.
Joe Mauer took control of the situation for the visitors when he crushed his first career grand slam to help hurler Johan Santana to the easy road win. Mauer finished with two hits and two walks and scored twice, while Jason Bartlett crossed the plate three times in the triumph.
Santana allowed just the one run on five hits, walked one and struck out six over six innings in picking up his ninth win of the season.
As for Verlander, he made it through only five innings after being touched for six runs on only four hits. He fanned five but also walked as many in the disappointing outing. Placido Polanco, who finished with three hits, accounted for the only run for the Tigers on a solo homer. Magglio Ordonez, the league’s top hitter (.375) had one hit and struck out twice.
This afternoon both teams have inexperienced arms taking the hill as the Twins give the ball to rookie Kevin Slowey and Detroit counters with Andrew Miller.
Slowey, a Texas native who attended Winthrop in South Carolina, was called up to the majors to start the month of June and has responded with a 2-0 record.
After Minnesota won his first four appearances the team failed to come out on the winning side on Monday when Slowey permitted four earned runs on six hits, two of which were home runs by Toronto. However, the 23-year old did fan five without issuing a walk over five innings, which saved him from being charged with the setback.
In the case of Miller, he’s in his second year in the majors after making eight appearances for the Tigers in 2006, one of which was against the Twins when he walked three and allowed a run over just 2/3 innings. The lefthander from the Sunshine State last took the mound a week ago and picked up the win against Atlanta on the road.
In that contest Miller threw six shutout innings, giving up just four hits and a pair of walks while fanning two.
Minnesota, which is 19-17 on the road and is now only 5 1/2 games out of first in the division, is one of only four teams in the AL with a slugging percentage under .400 at just .393 through 78 games. However, with the pitching staff checking in with a 4.14 ERA (fourth in the AL) the club has managed to hold it together with the All-Star Break now just over a week away.
Over the last week Mauer has belted three home runs and has accounted for 11 RBI for the Twins, while Torii Hunter has posted 10 hits and scored seven times during the same stretch.
The Tigers, currently 19-17 at home, have had a bit of a power failure over the last six contests, hitting just four home runs and batting a collective .226. Having a particularly rough time of it has been Ivan Rodriguez, who is hitting only .158 over the last five games. However, despite the rough times over the last week, Detroit is still second in the league overall this season with a .290 batting average and is fifth with 90 home runs in 78 games. LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (50-30) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (34-44), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Bartolo Colon (6-3, 5.90) Baltimore - Brian Burres (3-2, 3.36)
The team with the most wins in the American League goes for two in a row as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim take on the Baltimore Orioles in the second of a three-game set at Camden Yards tonight.
After dropping three in a row to the lowly Kansas City Royals the Angels, now 50-30 overall and 21-17 on the road, opened their road trip to the East Coast with a 9-7 triumph on Friday thanks to a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning by Howie Kendrick.
Chone Figgins, who scored twice, recorded four hits for the visitors, giving him 51 in the month to break the club’s all-time record set by Darin Erstad with 48 in April of 2000. Orlando Cabrera tacked on three RBI and scored twice thanks to three hits, as Scot Shields picked up his second win of the season and fellow reliever Francisco Rodriguez his 23rd save.
The heroics of Kendrick with two outs in the ninth overshadowed a brilliant game by Baltimore’s Aubrey Huff who became just the third player in club history to hit for the cycle. In addition, his triple in the second inning also accounted for the 1,000th hit of his career.
Melvin Mora produced three hits and three knocked in for the home team, but starting pitcher Steve Trachsel put the squad in a hole early on by surrendering five runs on nine hits in just 1 2/3 innings of work. Five pitchers later Chris Ray was the one who suffered the loss, his sixth of the campaign.
Despite having a lofty 5.90 ERA entering the weekend, Bartolo Colon tries to improve upon his 6-3 record as he takes the mound for the Angels.
Already 8-5 with a 3.20 ERA in his career versus Baltimore, the 11-year veteran last pitched on Sunday when the Angels picked up a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh, but Colon failed to figure into the decision in the 300th start of his career. Colon issued a season-high four walks to go along with seven hits over six innings. He fanned six and gave up two runs, yet still failed to go beyond the sixth inning for the third straight outing.
As for the Orioles, they are opting to go with youngster Brian Burres who has three wins in his brief career, one of which came against the Angels earlier in the season.
A product of Mount Hood Community College in Oregon, the lefthander has failed to earn a decision in the month of June, with the O’s losing all four of his previous starts.
A week ago Burres lasted just 4 1/3 innings versus Arizona in the desert, giving up four runs on four hits and five walks, while fanning four. Despite having had control problems in the big leagues thus far with 34 walks over 56 1/3 innings, Burres still has a very respectable 3.36 ERA to this point.
Baltimore hitters are currently second from the bottom in the AL in home runs with just 59, which explains why the team is already 15 games out of contention in the AL East and just 18-20 at home. However, over the last six games Huff, More and Brian Roberts have all registered a pair of homers for the club.
As for the Angels, leaders in the AL West by five games over Seattle, they too are far from a power-hitting group with only 62 home runs, but batting a league-high .292 has made up the difference. Figgins, who is carrying an 11- game hit streak into the weekend, has 13 hits in the last six games, with Kendrick posting 10 and a team-high nine runs scored over that span as well.
Although they won just one of their four games played at Camden Yards a year ago, the Angels have beaten up on the O’s in recent years with a mark of 20-10 since the beginning of the 2004 campaign.
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (33-45) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (47-32), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - J.P. Howell (1-1, 4.45) Cleveland - C.C. Sabathia (11-2, 3.24)
With two straight wins under their belts the Cleveland Indians take their slim half-game lead in the American League Central into action this evening as they challenge the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second test of a four-game set at Jacobs Field.
Ben Francisco stepped in to post his first two major league hits, including the winning solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Tribe produced a 2-1 win over the Devil Rays in the series opener on Friday. Francisco, who started the season at Triple-A Buffalo and was brought up briefly in early May, also singled in the fourth inning for Cleveland, winners in four of its last five.
Thanks to the late heroics from Francisco it was reliever Joe Borowski who picked up the victory, his first of the campaign, after starter Jake Westbrook fanned seven and allowed just the lone run on five hits over seven innings for the home team.
Brendan Harris and Ty Wigginton both tallied two hits for the visitors while Dioner Navarro scored the only run. Having a game he would much rather forget was Carlos Pena, who struck out four times in as many at-bats.
Starter Edwin Jackson allowed just one run on six hits and struck out six in six innings, while Shawn Camp suffered the loss for the visitors when he gave up Francisco’s homer in the ninth. It was the fifth straight setback for the Devil Rays.
Sporting one of the best records in the majors entering the weekend, C.C. Sabathia goes in search of his 12th win of 2006 when he takes the mound at home for the Indians tonight.
The seven-year man, who has spent his entire career with the Tribe, last threw on Monday when he made it through nine innings for the third time in June in a 5-2 victory against Oakland at home. Sabathia was touched for just two earned runs on nine hits, struck out eight and did not issue a single walk.
So far this season the lefthander has permitted more than one walk just twice in a game. In all he has a mere 17 walks over 122 1/3 innings, while having fanned 108 batters in that stretch.
Although he failed to figure into the decision in his only previous appearance against the Devil Rays this season, Sabathia has cruised against the team in previous outings, posting a 6-1 record and a 2.45 ERA.
As for Tampa Bay, it will be going with a slightly less experienced hurler in J.P. Howell who is 5-9 in his career in the majors.
This season the lefty, who began his career with Kansas City in 2005, has a 1-1 mark with a 4.45 ERA since being called up at the beginning of June.
On Monday Howell made his fifth start of the campaign, but for the fourth straight time the Devil Rays came out on the losing end, this time in a 5-4 setback to Chicago at home. The California native allowed three runs on eight hits and fanned seven, while walking three over five innings.
In two previous games against Cleveland in his brief career, Howell has given up six earned runs over 11 innings and has struck out 10 without a single walk.
The Devil Rays, now 16 games out of contention in the AL East and just 14-21 on the road, have the highest team ERA in the league at 5.56 and are the only club in the AL without a shutout to this point in the campaign. Over the last week of play Wigginton has produced a team-best five RBI and Akinori Iwamura has scored five times, yet both are hitting only .240 during that stretch.
Ranked second in the AL in home runs with 96 entering play this weekend, the Indians are being paced in that department by Victor Martinez, who has 14 and is tops on the team in batting average (.318) and RBI (63) as well.
TEXAS RANGERS (32-47) AT BOSTON RED SOX (49-29), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Robinson Tejeda (5-7, 6.57) Boston - Josh Beckett (11-1, 3.07)
Sporting a massive 10 1/2 game-lead in the American League East with the All-Star Break just over a week away, the Boston Red Sox try to pile on more wins against the Texas Rangers as the two clubs meet at Fenway Park this evening for the second in a four-game set in Beantown.
After losing three in a row against Seattle on the road to begin the week the Red Sox, 20 games over .500 and 24-12 at home, got RBIs from Manny Ramirez and Willy Mo Pena to capture the narrow 2-1 win on Friday.
J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell both contributed a pair of hits as well for the Red Sox, who were paced on the hill by the ageless knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who evened his season mark at 8-8. Wakefield allowed just a single run on seven hits and four walks, while fanning four over 6 2/3 innings. Jonathan Papelbon struck out a pair in the ninth inning to capture his 19th save.
Kenny Lofton registered half of the eight hits for the Rangers and also walked once, while Marlon Byrd contributed a couple of doubles in the setback. Jamey Wright made it through five innings for the visitors, permitting two runs on six hits and three walks to go along with three strikeouts.
Tonight Josh Beckett bids to become the first 12-game winner in the American League as he takes the hill for the Red Sox at home.
The righthander, who is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA in his career versus Texas, suffered his first loss of 2007 versus Colorado in the middle of June, but since then he has allowed just two earned runs over 14 innings and picked up victories against both Atlanta and San Diego on the road.
Versus the Padres on Sunday, the 27-year old gave up six hits and a single walk, while striking out eight to match a season high.
Showing much more control this season, Beckett has a nearly 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio and has permitted just five home runs in 91 innings, after being touched for 36 long balls all of 2006 with his new club.
While Beckett seems to be locked in for the Sox, Texas plans to hand the ball to righthander Robinson Tejeda. The third-year man began the 2007 campaign well enough with three wins in his first four decisions, but since then he has just two victories to his credit and the team has won only twice in his last 10 appearances.
On Sunday Tejeda lasted a mere 3 2/3 innings versus Houston, giving up seven runs, five earned, on five hits, two of which were home runs. He also issued four walks, giving him nine straight games in which he has allowed at least three bases-on-balls.
The righthander, who earned a win against the Red Sox earlier this season in his only previous appearance versus the club, has pitched a total of 76 2/3 innings in 2007 and already has given up 15 home runs and has 40 walks, against 55 strikeouts.
Kevin Youkilis continues to swing a hot bat for the Sox with his .325 average and 41 RBI, with Lowell checking in with 12 home runs and a team-best 54 knocked in, although he also has a team-worst 12 errors at the hot corner.
As a team the Rangers are first in the league in home runs with 99 over 79 games, but near the bottom in terms of batting average at .259. Sammy Sosa, who fanned three times yesterday, is tops with 13 home runs and now sixth in the league with 62 RBI.
Against Texas, which is last in the AL West and already a distant 17 1/2 games out of contention, the Red Sox are 11-5 at home since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Rangers are a miserable 14-27 on the road this far in 2007.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (33-43) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (34-46), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - John Danks (4-6, 4.78) Kansas City - Odalis Perez (4-7, 5.92)
Already assured of having their first winning month since July 2003, the Kansas City Royals try to finish off June on a high note tonight as they play the Chicago White Sox in the second of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.
On Friday, following the team’s first three-game sweep of the Angels in California in 11 years, the Royals won their fifth straight outing with a convincing 8-1 thumping of the slumping Sox in the series opener.
Esteban German and Shane Costa both registered a pair of RBI for the home team, but the real story was starter Brian Bannister, who allowed just one run on four hits and four walks, while striking out five in 6 1/3 innings of work. Getting in just enough work following Bannister’s performance, Zack Greinke came out of the pen to post his first save of the season.
Chicago, which was coming off a four-game sweep of Tampa Bay in Florida, was without Jermaine Dye, who sat with a strained right quadriceps, leaving Scott Podsednik to take his place in left field and come up empty in four plate appearances. But considering the White Sox finished with a total of only five hits, there was plenty of blame to go around. Rob Mackowiak finished with two hits and Tadahito Iguchi scored the lone run for the visitors.
Starter Jose Contreras was saddled with his ninth setback of the season, giving up six runs on nine hits, while walking three and striking out a trio of batters in 6 1/3 innings.
Chicago plans to send John Danks to the hill tonight for his first-ever look at the Royals lineup in his young career.
The rookie lefthander last pitched on Monday and picked up his first victory in more than a month with a 5-4 triumph against Tampa Bay on the road. Danks gave up four runs on four hits and walked four, while striking out three over five innings.
Prone to giving up big hits, Danks has permitted at least one home run in all but three of his 14 appearances so far this season.
As for Kansas City, it appears as though Odalis Perez will get the call to the mound this time around. Still waiting for his first win over Chicago as he carries a record of 0-4 with a 5.70 ERA versus the Sox into the evening, the lefty has been knocked around in his last three games, resulting in an ERA of more than seven during that stretch.
Overall this season the 30-year old has a 5.92 ERA and has had issues with his control, namely issuing 29 walks against only 41 strikeouts.
On Sunday Perez permitted just two runs on seven hits over five innings versus Milwaukee on the road, but failed to figure into the 4-3 victory. In his only previous appearance against the White Sox this season, Perez permitted just two runs on five hits over seven innings of work, but with little offensive support of his own he was handed his fourth defeat of the campaign.
Chicago is the worst hitting team in the American League with a collective average of just .236 and has a dismal .367 slugging percentage. Over the last week of play Paul Konerko has shown some signs of life however with nine hits, two of which were home runs, to produce five RBI.
The Royals are having their own issues putting the ball in play in 2007, batting only .258 and coming in last in the AL in home runs with just 55 over 80 games. Of the team’s three home runs over the last week, one was hit by Alex Gordon, contributing to his four RBI and five runs scored, but the rookie phenom is still batting just .240 with six home runs while getting used to major league pitching. TORONTO BLUE JAYS (39-40) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (43-33), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Roy Halladay (9-2, 4.25) Seattle - Miguel Batista (7-6, 4.85)
A couple of second-place teams in their respective divisions hit the diamond at Safeco Field tonight as the Seattle Mariners host the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game set.
Currently sporting the longest winning streak in the American League at six games, the Mariners moved 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2003 campaign and are now five games out of first in the AL West thanks to a 5-3 triumph on Friday night.
Jose Guillen totaled three hits, two RBI and scored once, while Ben Broussard contributed a two-run single. Starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn picked up his second straight win as he limited the Jays to two runs on nine hits over six innings.
Closer J.J. Putz again locked in the win for the Mariners as he earned his 23rd save in as many chances this season and has now converted 25 straight opportunities dating back to 2006.
Aaron Hill finished with two hits and a pair of runs scored, as well as one knocked in for the visitors. John McDonald, Alex Rios and Gregg Zaun all produced a pair of hits in the setback.
Dustin McGowan was tagged for five runs on eight hits and three walks over just five innings of work for Toronto.
Having yet to experience a loss in the month of June, Roy Halladay tries to close out the frame by logging his 10th win of 2007 when he takes the hill for the Blue Jays tonight in the Pacific Northwest.
Halladay, who last suffered defeat on May 10 against Boston, has played a significant part in earning the Jays six wins in his last six appearances. On Monday it was Minnesota who failed to break the 2003 Cy Young Award winner as he permitted five runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out four, over seven innings of work in what became an 8-5 triumph and Halladay’s fourth consecutive win in as many starts.
Since coming off the DL on May 22 following an appendectomy Halladay, who is 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA in his career versus Seattle, has gotten significant offensive support from his teammates, with the club putting up a total of 52 runs in those six contests.
Countering for the Mariners tonight will be Miguel Batista as he shoots for his first win in nearly three weeks.
The righthander, now in his 13th season in the majors and has a career mark of 1-2 with a 1.10 ERA against the Jays all-time, has been stuck on seven wins since defeating San Diego on June 10 on the road, a game in which he appeared in relief.
More recently Batista surrendered a pair of solo home runs to Ken Griffey Jr. on Sunday and failed to figure into the 3-2 win over the Reds at home. He lasted six innings and permitted just the two runs, while striking out four, but was also guilty of hitting a pair of batters for the first time since the second week of April.
With his two hits on Friday Ichiro Suzuki saw his batting average rise to .364 on the season, currently second in the AL, while his 22 steals have him third in the league as well.
Of his 15 home runs this season, Richie Sexson has tallied five in the last 10 games, yet he is still batting a meager .211 with 58 strikeouts in 261 at- bats.
Now batting .291 for the Jays, Rios is first on the club with 17 home runs and is also tops with seven steals, not to mention tied for the team-lead with 50 strikeouts. Frank Thomas, who recently belted the 500th home run of his career, checks in with 13 long balls to place second on the unit.
The Blue Jays, only 15-22 on the road this season and 10 1/2 games out of first in the AL East, have won the season series with Seattle in each of the last three campaigns, but now the Mariners are 7-6 at home against Toronto dating back to the 2004 season. Seattle has one of the best home records in the league at 25-15 to this point in the campaign.
COLORADO ROCKIES (38-42) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (34-46), 3:55 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Jeff Francis (7-5, 3.80) Houston - Jason Jennings (1-2, 3.66)
The Houston Astros have owned the Colorado Rockies so far in this series and will shoot for a third straight win when the clubs resume a four-game set tonight at Minute Maid Park.
After winning the opener by an 8-5 score in 11 innings on Thursday, the Astros recorded a 9-8 triumph in dramatic fashion in Friday’s second test of this series. Mark Loretta belted a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, just one day after Carlos Lee’s grand slam in the 11th lifted Houston to victory.
Lance Berkman finished 2-for-5, homered, drove in three and scored twice last night for the Astros, who are 12 1/2 games off the lead in the NL Central. Loretta was 2-for-3 and scored three runs and Eric Munson drove in a pair.
Dave Borkowski got the win with a scoreless inning of relief and starter Chris Sampson was roughed up for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings of work.
Former Rockie Jason Jennings will toe the rubber for Houston today and is 1-2 with a 3.66 ERA in eight starts this season.
Jennings was traded to the Astros in December in a multi-player deal. The Astros sent outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh to Colorado for Jennings and pitcher Miguel Asencio. Jennings was 58-56 with a 4.74 ERA since entering the league in 2001 with Colorado.
The righty is 1-1 over his last two starts and was beaten by Milwaukee his last time out on June 25. Jennings allowed three runs over seven innings during a 6-1 loss to the Brewers.
He will obviously face Colorado for the first time in his career.
Jeff Francis gets the nod this afternoon for the Rockies and he is 7-5 with a 3.80 ERA in 16 starts this season.
Francis is 2-0 over his last three starts and 6-1 in the previous 10 trips to the mound. He did not post a decision his last time out on June 25 against the Chicago Cubs, allowing six runs in five innings of a 10-9 setback.
The left-hander will face Houston for just the second time in his career today. Francis lost the first encounter on May 14, 2006 after yielding three runs in seven innings during a 3-0 loss.
Last night Colorado starter Josh Fogg allowed seven hits and seven runs over 4 2/3 innings, and three relievers combined to allow just one hit until Brian Fuentes blew it in the ninth. Fuentes gave up Loretta’s homer to suffer the loss.
Garrett Atkins homered twice and drove in three runs for the Rockies, who have lost a season-high eight in a row. Willy Taveras had a two-run single, Todd Helton had two hits, including a home run, and Matt Holliday chipped in a run- scoring single in defeat.
The Rockies took two of three games from Houston at Coors Field earlier this month and have claimed six of 11 matchups between the clubs since the beginning of the 2006 season.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (46-33) AT CHICAGO CUBS (39-39), 3:55 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Ben Sheets (9-3, 3.09) Chicago - Sean Marshall (4-2, 2.44)
The Chicago Cubs will shoot for their eighth straight win today, when they resume a three-game series versus the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers at historic Wrigley Field.
Chicago notched its seventh straight win with Friday’s 6-5 victory, as Aramis Ramirez provided the heroics with a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ramirez ended 3-for-5 and scored twice for Chicago, which rallied from a 5-0 deficit to even its season mark at 39-39.
Derrek Lee also drove in a run during a three-run ninth inning, as the Cubs improved to 4-0 during their current six-game homestand and moved within 6 1/2 games of the Brewers in the division.
Rich Hill started for Chicago and did not factor in the outcome after giving up five runs in three innings of work. Reliever Bob Howry was credited with the victory by hurling a scoreless ninth.
Taking the ball for the Cubs this afternoon will be Sean Marshall, who is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA in seven starts this season. Marshall is unbeaten over his last five outings (4-0) and defeated the White Sox on June 24 with 6 1/3 shutout innings of five-hit ball.
The lanky left-hander made one career start against Milwaukee on September 26 last season and recorded the win. Marshall gave up three runs in six innings of a 14-6 rout of the Brewers.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, had its three-game winning streak come to an end with Friday’s series-opening loss. Kevin Mench belted a three-run homer to highlight a five-run first inning and rookie Yovani Gallardo tossed six solid innings in a losing cause.
Francisco Cordero absorbed the loss after surrendering three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Ryan Braun finished 2-for-4 for the Brewers, who lost for only the third time in 15 games since being no-hit by Detroit’s Justin Verlander on June 12.
The Brewers will hand the ball to Ben Sheets today and he is 9-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 16 trips to the mound this season. Sheets is riding a personal three- game winning streak and is unbeaten over his past six outings (5-0).
In his last start on June 25 against Houston, Sheets hurled six innings of one-run ball during a 6-1 victory over the Astros. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in two starts against the Cubs this season. In 20 career starts against Chicago, Sheets is 7-7 with a 3.94 earned run average.
Chicago is 6-4 against the Brewers this season, including a 2-2 record in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
NEW YORK METS (45-33) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (41-39), 3:55 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Jorge Sosa (6-3, 3.79) Philadelphia - J.A. Happ (0-0, 0.00)
The New York Mets are fresh off a sweep of a doubleheader against the NL East-rival Philadelphia Phillies and will try for more success this afternoon in the third test of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Mets have won three straight and seven of their last eight games to push their lead to four games over Atlanta and five games ahead of Philly in the division standings. In Friday’s first game of the twinbill, Carlos Delgado went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and scored twice, while Jose Reyes also homered in the 6-5 win.
Starter Orlando Hernandez picked up his first victory in five starts after he gave up just two runs on three hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts in six innings of work.
In the nightcap, Carlos Beltran homered twice and Damion Easley went deep to help the Mets to a 5-2 victory. Starter John Maine pitched into the ninth inning and allowed just two runs — one earned — and four hits. Maine also struck out six and did not walk a batter, while improving to 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA in six career starts against Philadelphia.
The Mets will hand the ball to Jorge Sosa today and he is 6-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 10 games this season.
Sosa is 0-2 in his last three starts after ripping off three consecutive wins. In his last trip to the hill on June 25 against St. Louis, Sosa did not post a decision after giving up one run in six innings of a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals.
The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA in nine career games (four starts) against the Phillies.
J.A. Happ will make his major league debut for the Phillies today. Happ got the call from the club’s minor-league affiliate in Ottawa, where he went 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 13 starts for the Lynx.
The 24-year-old lefty was selected in the third-round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
Happ, a product of Northwestern University, has a strong fastball and an improving changeup with a curve and slider at his disposal.
Wes Helms hit a two-run homer, while Aaron Rowand and Chris Coste added solo shots in the opener of the doubleheader for the Phillies. J.D. Durbin, who made his Philadelphia debut after being claimed off waivers in early April, was saddled with the loss after he gave up six runs on eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings.
In the second contest, Philly ace Cole Hamels lasted only five innings on the hill, yielding three runs on just five hits and tying a career-high with five walks in the loss. Chase Utley had two hits and two RBI for the Phillies, who have dropped three of their last four games.
New York improved to 5-4 against the Phillies this season. ATLANTA BRAVES (42-38) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (37-43), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Tim Hudson (7-5, 3.29) Florida - Byung-Hyun Kim (3-4, 5.72)
Atlanta right-hander Tim Hudson tries for a sixth win in seven career decisions against Florida tonight, when the Braves visit the Marlins in the middle contest of a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium.
Hudson, a veteran of 264 big-league starts, is 5-1 in 10 starts against the Marlins with a 2.59 earned run average in 66 innings.
He did drop his last meeting with Florida, however, allowing seven hits and five earned runs over six innings in a 6-4 loss on June 4.
In his last start on June 25 against Washington, Hudson won a 4-1 verdict by scattering seven hits and allowing a run in seven innings.
Korean sidearmer Byung-Hyun Kim will try to snap a five-start winless skid.
His last victory came May 28 against the Chicago Cubs, when he allowed just three hits over six scoreless innings in a 5-3 Florida win.
Since then he’s 0-2 with three no-decisions, including a 7-4 loss to Minnesota on June 24 in which he allowed seven hits and six earned runs in six innings.
He’s faced the Braves 13 times, starting twice, while posting an 0-1 record with three saves and a 6.14 ERA in 22 overall innings.
Kim has been a full-time starter since 2006, when he was with Colorado. Previously, he’d started just 38 times in 339 career appearances. He moved from the Rockies to the Marlins earlier this season.
On Friday, Chuck James threw well into the seventh inning and had two hits, including an RBI double, as Atlanta cruised to a 12-3 victory over Florida.
Chipper Jones knocked in four runs and Jeff Francoeur went 4-for-5 with an RBI and scored three times for the Braves, who have won four consecutive games on the heels of a season-high five-game skid.
James (7-7) allowed four hits and a run before being replaced after 6 2/3 innings.
The Braves, who were limited to one run in a five-game span from June 19-24, have scored 35 times during their current winning streak.
Josh Johnson (0-3) was lifted after giving up five hits and two runs with five walks and six strikeouts in four innings for the Marlins. Wes Obermueller then struggled on the mound as he was pounded for seven hits and six runs in 1 1/3 frames.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (32-47) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (34-45), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Jason Bergmann (1-4, 2.72) Pittsburgh - Tom Gorzelanny (7-4, 3.10)
Lefty Tom Gorzelanny tries to continue a successful first full season in the major leagues tonight, when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Washington Nationals in the second of three games at PNC Park.
The southpaw, a second-round draft choice in 2003, had made just 14 appearances in the big leagues before this season, going 2-6 over 67 2/3 innings.
He has emerged in 2007, however, and has won two of three decisions over five outings in June.
On June 19 in Seattle, Gorzelanny allowed eight hits and two runs in seven innings while downing the Mariners, 5-3. In his last start he allowed seven hits and three runs in six innings, getting a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Gorzelanny has never faced the Nationals in his career.
Washington’s Jason Bergmann gets the nod tonight. He is 1-4 with a 2.72 ERA in nine starts this season. Bergmann last pitched on June 25 against Atlanta and suffered the loss, allowing one run in four innings of a 4-1 setback.
In his career against Pittsburgh, the right-hander is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two relief appearances.
On Friday, Jose Bautista’s second sacrifice fly of the contest knocked in the winning run in the ninth inning as the Pirates rallied to edge the Nationals, 3-2.
Ronny Paulino led off the ninth with a single to left off Jon Rauch (3-2). Paulino then moved to second on Jack Wilson’s sac bunt before taking third on a wild pitch.
Rauch’s first pitch to Nate McLouth got through catcher Brian Schneider for a wild pitch, sending Paulino to third and bringing in pinch-runner Jose Castillo. After McLouth was intentionally walked, pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit walked to load the bases with one out.
Bautista then hit a 3-2 pitch to left, allowing Castillo to score easily. Bautista finished with two RBI and McClouth tripled for the Pirates, who have won three of four.
Ian Snell gave up two runs on five hits, while walking none and striking out five in seven frames.
Matt Capps (4-4) worked a scoreless ninth for the victory.
Ryan Langerhans homered and Dmitri Young had two hits for the Nationals, who have dropped four in a row.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (35-41) AT CINCINNATI REDS (30-50), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Adam Wainwright (6-6, 4.58) Cincinnati - Kyle Lohse (3-10, 5.02)
Cincinnati right-hander Kyle Lohse can snap a three-start losing streak against the last team he beat tonight, when the Reds host the St. Louis Cardinals in the second test of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Lohse, a former Chicago Cubs draft choice, defeated the Cardinals 5-1 with 8 1/3 innings of seven-hit, one-run ball on June 7 in St. Louis. It was his first career win against the Cardinals, lifting his lifetime slate to 1-2 in four starts with a 3.91 earned run average.
Since the win, however, Lohse has allowed 21 hits and 17 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings while losing interleague games to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland and Seattle.
He is 1-3 in six home starts this season with a 3.27 ERA.
Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright was on the losing side of the matchup with Lohse on June 7, allowing eight hits and four runs in six innings in his first start against the Reds.
In five lifetime relief outings and the single start, he is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 12 2/3 innings of work.
Wainwright was the team’s closer last season, including the playoffs and World Series, before shifting to the rotation this spring.
In 15 starts, he has allowed 107 hits and 46 earned runs in 90 1/3 innings. Entering the season, he had pitched 77 innings over 63 relief appearances.
On Friday, Juan Encarnacion knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the eighth inning as St. Louis rallied to edge Cincinnati, 4-2.
Troy Percival (1-0), who signed a minor-league contract back on June 8 with the Cards, returned to the mound for the first time since July 9, 2005 and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to pick up the win.
Percival, a four-time All-Star, spent the majority of his career with the Angels before signing with Detroit in 2005. He suffered an injury to his right forearm with the Tigers in July of that year and then retired after an aborted comeback with the squad at the start of the 2006 season. He had been out of the game ever since.
The 37-year-old was working as a special pitching instructor for the Angels until asking for a release from his coaching contract on May 23.
Encarnacion finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and Albert Pujols had three hits and scored a run for the Cardinals, who took the opener of this three-game set after losing three of their last four.
Jason Isringhausen worked around trouble in the ninth for his 15th save of the season for St. Louis, while starter Brad Thompson pitched six innings, yielding two runs on six hits.
Josh Hamilton clubbed a two-run home run for the Reds, who have lost four of five.
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo held St. Louis to just one run on six hits through seven innings before the Cardinals overcame a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the eighth off Cincinnati’s beleaguered bullpen to take the lead.
Aaron Miles doubled off Marcus McBeth (2-2) and Pujols’ single put runners on the corners. Jon Coutlangus relieved McBeth, but Chris Duncan’s single to center tied the game.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (46-35) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (33-45), 9:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Doug Davis (5-8, 4.16) San Francisco - Noah Lowry (7-6, 3.61)
National League West rivals go at it again this evening, as the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the San Francisco Giants in the second test of a three-game series from AT&T Park.
Miguel Montero broke a 3-3 tie in the 10th inning last night with a solo home run to lift the Diamondbacks to their second win in three tries. Stephen Drew had two hits with an RBI, while Tony Pena collected the win with a scoreless ninth and Jose Valverde posted his 26th save with a perfect 10th inning.
Livan Hernandez started for the Diamondbacks and was charged with three runs and nine hits over eight innings of work. Arizona is now a half game behind the San Diego Padres for the top spot in the NL West standings.
Doug Davis gets the nod this evening for the D’backs and he is 5-8 with a 4.16 ERA in 16 starts this season.
Davis was 0-2 in three starts before recording a win on June 24 against Baltimore, as he yielded a pair of runs in 6 1/3 innings of an 8-3 victory over the Orioles.
The left-hander, who is 2-6 in eight road starts this season, owns a 3-3 record with a 4.18 earned run average in nine career appearances (eight starts) against San Francisco.
Davis is 1-1 with a 2.07 ERA in two starts against the Giants in 2007.
Barry Bonds homered last night for the 750th time in his career, but it wasn’t enough as San Francisco dropped its third straight game and 11th in its last 14 tries. Bonds is now five homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the all-time lead.
Ryan Klesko also homered and starting pitcher Matt Morris scattered 10 hits and allowed three runs — one earned — over seven innings. Relief pitcher Brad Hennessey was saddled with the loss after giving up Montero’s home run in the top of the 10th inning.
The Giants will go with Noah Lowry tonight and he is 7-6 with a 3.61 earned run average in 15 starts this season.
Lowry is 2-1 over his last three trips to the hill and recorded the win on June 24 against the New York Yankees. Lowry gave up just one run and two hits through 5 2/3 innings, as San Francisco downed the Bronx Bombers by a 7-2 score.
The southpaw is 5-1 with a shutout and a 2.79 earned run average over nine career games, eight of which are starts, against Arizona. He faced the Diamondbacks on June 7 this season and did not record a decision after allowing four runs through six innings in a 5-4 victory.
Arizona is 6-4 against the Giants in 2007, but was swept in three games at AT&T Park earlier this season from April 20 - 22.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (45-33) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (45-35), 10:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Jake Peavy (9-2, 2.14) Los Angeles - Brad Penny (10-1, 2.04)
Two of the best pitchers in the National League square off this evening, when Jake Peavy leads the San Diego Padres against Brad Penny and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second installment of a three-game series at Chavez Ravine.
Peavy is 9-2 with a 2.14 ERA in 16 starts this season and was unbeaten over his last nine outings before suffering a loss on June 24 against the Boston Red Sox. Peavy was reached for three runs in five innings of a 4-2 setback at Petco Park.
The right-hander, who is 4-0 in six road starts in 2007, is 1-0 with a 3.29 earned run average in two starts against Los Angeles this season. For his career, Peavy owns a 7-1 record with a 2.52 ERA against the Dodgers.
Penny, meanwhile, leads the National League in wins with a 10-1 mark and owns a 2.04 ERA in 16 starts this season. He has won three straight outings and is unbeaten in his previous seven trips to the hill (5-0).
The right-hander beat the Arizona Diamondbacks his last time out with eight strong innings of one-run ball. Los Angeles won the game by an 8-1 score.
Penny, who is 4-0 in eight home starts in 2007, hasn’t faced San Diego yet this season and is just 3-6 with a 6.03 earned run average in 13 career starts against the Padres.
In Friday’s series opener in LA, Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a three-run homer and scored twice to keep the Padres atop the NL West standings with a half game lead over Arizona and a one-game advantage ahead of the Dodgers.
Chris Young collected the win after tossing six innings of two-run, seven-hit ball with nine strikeouts for the Padres, who have won three in a row. Trevor Hoffman later posted his 22nd save of the season.
San Diego activated Brian Giles from the 15-day disabled list Thursday and he returned to the lineup for the first time since May 20 due to a right knee contusion. He went 1-for-3 with a run scored last night.
Juan Pierre and Nomar Garciaparra both had three hits and an RBI in the losing cause for Los Angeles, which has lost two of its last three games. Jeff Kent and James Loney had two hits and an RBI apiece, while starter Hong-Chih Kuo was roughed up for seven runs — six earned — over just 3 1/3 innings.
The Padres have won four straight over the Dodgers and own a 6-4 overall record against the club this season. They won 13 of the 18 meetings against Los Angeles in 2006.
