Tuesday, July 3rd (All times eastern)
MINNESOTA TWINS (42-39) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (38-41), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Carlos Silva (6-8, 4.15) New York - Chien-Ming Wang (7-4, 3.86)
The New York Yankees could be without Alex Rodriguez this evening when they play the second of a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium.
Rodriguez was forced to leave Monday’s 5-1 win because of a strained left hamstring. Rodriguez, who finished 0-for-4 in the win, tripped over first baseman Justin Morneau’s ankle while beating out a potential double play. He will be re-evaluated on Tuesday.
The two-time AL MVP, who leads the majors with 28 home runs and 80 RBI, has not been on the disabled list since July of 2000, while with the Seattle Mariners.
Roger Clemens was phenomenal for the Yankees in the opener of this set, as the seven-time Cy Young Award winner pitched eight solid innings to nail down the 350th victory of his illustrious career.
Clemens (2-3) retired the last 15 batters he faced, giving up one run on two hits with four strikeouts and one walk. The Twins didn’t have a base runner with Clemens on the mound after Joe Mauer’s leadoff double in the fourth.
With the victory, Clemens became the eighth member of the elusive wins club, the first since Warren Spahn on September 29, 1963.
Boof Bonser (5-5) matched Clemens for five innings before it all fell apart in the sixth. Starting with Bobby Abreu’s go-ahead solo homer, Bonser allowed two more hits before hitting the showers. The right-hander was charged with four runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and three walks over 5 1/3 innings.
Abreu, who had 10 hits over his last 65 at bats (.154) entering Monday’s contest, totaled three hits with his fifth home run of the season and Derek Jeter drove in two runs for the Yankees, who won for just the third time in their last 12 games.
Mauer had two hits for Minnesota, losers in two straight after reeling off three wins in a row.
Getting the call for the Yankees tonight will be Taiwanese right-hander Chien- Ming Wang, who is unbeaten in his last six decisions. Wang, who is 7-4 with a 3.86 ERA this season, was roughed up a bit in his last start, though. Against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, Wang surrendered six runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team’s 8-6 win.
Wang has only faced the Twins twice in his career and is 1-0 against them with a 2.57 ERA.
Minnesota will counter with right-handed veteran Carlos Silva, who is 6-8 with a 4.15 ERA. Silva won his second straight start on Thursday, as he held the Toronto Blue Jays to five runs and six hits over seven innings.
Silva is 1-1 lifetime against the Yankees with a 7.31 ERA in three starts.
The Yankees took two of three from the Twins earlier this season and hold a slight 9-7 edge in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. Minnesota has also won just twice in its last 16 regular season visits to the Bronx since the start of the 2002 season.
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (33-48) AT BOSTON RED SOX (50-31), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - Scott Kazmir (5-4, 4.26) Boston - Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-5, 3.80)
Scott Kazmir tries to continue his mastery of the Boston Red Sox when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays kick off a three-game set this evening at Fenway Park.
This is the first meeting of the season between the AL East rivals, but Boston has owned the matchup in its ballpark in the past. Last year the Red Sox narrowly won the season series, 10-9, but Boston holds a 37-20 advantage in the matchup since the start of the 2004 campaign, including an impressive 24-5 mark in Beantown over that time.
Kazmir, though, has been one of the few Devil Rays pitchers that has had success against Boston. The young left-hander has gone 5-2 lifetime against them with a 2.60 earned run average - the lowest among all active players with a minimum of 50 innings pitched against the Red Sox - in 11 starts.
The 23-year-old enters tonight’s tilt on a losing note after falling to the Chicago White Sox in his last start on Thursday. Kazmir surrendered four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of that one, as he slipped to 5-4 on the season and had his ERA raised to 4.26.
Boston will counter with Japanese sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has been lights out in his last five starts. Matsuzaka, who is 9-5 with a 3.80 ERA on the season, received a no decision in his last start on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, despite a solid effort. He allowed a run and three hits over eight innings, but did not factor in his team’s 2-1 loss.
Matsuzaka, who has obviously never faced the Devil Rays, has surrendered just six earned runs over his last five starts, while totaling 42 strikeouts over 34 innings. However, he is just 2-2 in that time.
Boston enters this series on a high note, as Eric Hinske blew open a close game on Monday with a bases-loaded triple in the fifth inning to help the Red Sox top the Texas Rangers, 7-3, in the finale of a four-game set at Fenway.
Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run double in the third inning and rookie Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored for the Red Sox, who split this set with the Rangers and won for just the third time in their last nine games.
Another Boston rookie, Kason Gabbard, picked up the win in his second straight start in place of the injured Curt Schilling. The left-hander pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Tampa, on the other hand, has dropped a season-high eight in a row after getting swept in a four-game set by the Cleveland Indians, culminating with a 10-2 drubbing in Monday’s finale at Jacobs Field. Carlos Pena finished 1-for-2 and scored a run for the Devil Rays, who have lost 11 of 13.
Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine (1-3) allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six frames.
CLEVELAND INDIANS (50-32) AT DETROIT TIGERS (47-33), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cleveland - Paul Byrd (7-3, 4.67) Detroit - Nate Robertson (4-6, 4.82)
The Cleveland Indians try to extend their lead in the AL Central this evening when they open a pivotal three-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Cleveland enters Tuesday’s contest with a two-game lead in the division and with wins in five straight and seven of its last eight games. The Tribe continued to put distance between themselves and the idle Tigers on Monday, as Grady Sizemore smacked a grand slam to cap a seven-run eighth inning in Cleveland’s 10-2 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Jacobs Field.
Ben Francisco also homered for the Indians, while Victor Martinez ended 2- for-4 and scored a run in the rout.
Fausto Carmona (9-4) bounced back from the worst start of his career by allowing just two runs - one earned - on four hits with two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts over six-plus innings.
Hoping to keep the Indians in the win column on Tuesday will be veteran right- hander Paul Byrd, who is 7-3 with a 4.67 ERA. Byrd is coming off a win over the Oakland Athletics in his last start on Thursday, as he limited them to three runs and 10 hits in seven innings.
Byrd is 7-2 lifetime against the Tigers with a 3.22 ERA in 14 games, 13 of which have been starts.
Detroit will counter with left-hander Nate Robertson, who is winless in his last five decisions and has not posted a victory since May 19. Robertson, who is 4-6 with a 4.82 ERA, returned from the disabled list on June 26 against Texas and received a no-decision, despite a solid outing. He surrendered a run and four hits in that one, but did not factor in his team’s 9-6 loss.
Robertson lost to the Tribe earlier this season and is 2-4 in his career against them with a 5.24 ERA in 12 starts.
Detroit comes into this contest on the heels of a thrilling win on Sunday when a pitchers’ duel was broken by a home run from Marcus Thames in the eighth inning, as the Tigers avoided a sweep with a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Thames got the only run of the game in the eighth inning as he belted the first pitch he saw just over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead.
Todd Jones retired the Twins in order in the ninth for his 20th save of the season.
Jeremy Bonderman (9-1) won his ninth decision in his last 10 starts as he gave up just six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in eight innings of work for the Tigers, who won for the only the second time in their last six tries.
Detroit, which is in the midst of a 12-game homestand, is just 20-18 in its ballpark this season. Cleveland, meanwhile, owns the worst road record of any division leader except Milwaukee with a 19-20 ledger away from home.
The Indians have won five of their seven meetings with the Tigers this season, including all three in the Motor City. Detroit had won 13 of the 19 matchups a year ago.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (36-46) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (35-44), 8:11 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Daniel Cabrera (6-8, 5.02) Chicago - Javier Vazquez (4-5, 3.95)
The Chicago White Sox attempt to rebound from Monday’s shocking late-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles when the teams resume their four-game set tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago appeared to be on its way to victory in last night’s series opener, taking a four-run lead into the final two innings of play. However, the Orioles scored three times in the top of the eighth and twice more in the ninth to come through with a shocking 7-6 triumph.
The final two runs came against White Sox All-Star closer Bobby Jenks (2-4), who yielded a double to Corey Patterson to start the top of the ninth before Brian Roberts delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. Following a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to Nick Markakis, Kevin Millar singled to left to plate Roberts with the go-ahead run.
Chris Ray then struck out all three Chicago hitters he faced in the bottom of the ninth to earn his 14th save. Rob Bell (1-1) picked up his first major- league win since 2005 by throwing a scoreless eighth.
Jay Payton had a two-RBI triple and Ramon Hernandez a run-scoring double during Baltimore’s three-run eighth.
Patterson finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored and Millar collected three hits and two RBI for the Orioles, who had lost three of four entering Monday’s contest.
Chicago lost for only the second time in eight games despite receiving home runs from Jim Thome, Juan Uribe and Josh Fields on the night.
The White Sox could have a happier ending this evening, provided Javier Vazquez is able to duplicate his recent performances on the mound. The right- hander has turned in back-to-back excellent starts, including Thursday’s victory at Tampa Bay in which he fanned a season-high 10 batters while limiting the Devil Rays to one run over seven innings.
Vazquez was equally as good against the crosstown rival Cubs on June 23. He yielded just one run on five hits while striking out eight over the first eight frames of that game, but did not factor in the decision of a 2-1 White Sox defeat.
The veteran hurler boasts a 5-2 record in nine career starts against Baltimore despite posting a mediocre 5.85 earned run average over that span.
The Orioles counter with Daniel Cabrera, who continued his up-and-down campaign with a so-so outing against the Yankees on Thursday. The hard- throwing righty gave up four runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings to New York and did not record a decision.
Cabrera was much sharper in his previous start, when he held Arizona to a run and only two hits in six innings of a June 22 victory. The fiery Dominican had lost two straight games prior to that effort, however.
The 26-year-old is 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA in five lifetime starts versus Chicago and 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA in his three career appearances at U.S. Cellular Field.
Monday’s matchup was the first of the season between the teams. Chicago won five of seven meetings with Baltimore last year and is 15-7 against the Orioles since the start of the 2004 campaign.
LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (51-31) AT TEXAS RANGERS (34-48), 8:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Ervin Santana (5-8, 5.27) Texas - Kevin Millwood (4-7, 7.06)
Ervin Santana will try to avoid his fourth straight winless start tonight when the LA Angels of Anaheim begin a three-game set with the Texas at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.
Santana is winless in his previous three starts (0-2) and was saddled with a defeat last time out on Tuesday against the Royals after getting tagged for seven runs (five earned) on nine hits over five innings. The loss dropped Santana to 5-8 on the year with a 5.27 earned run average.
The right-hander, who is just 1-6 in eight road starts this year, has faced the Rangers twice already this season, earning a win on April 4 and a no- decision on May 13. In eight career starts versus the Rangers, Santana is 4-2 with a high 6.32 ERA.
The first-place Angels were last in action on Sunday when they posted a 4-3 victory in their rubber match with the Baltimore Orioles. Mike Napoli’s solo homer in the eighth gave Anaheim a two-run lead before the Orioles cut it to one with a run in the bottom of the frame.
Baltimore then threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners on the corners with one out. Brian Roberts lifted a fly ball to right, and Vladimir Guerrero, who was named to the AL All-Star roster on Sunday, gunned down Melvin Mora at the plate for a game-ending double play.
Casey Kotchman also homered for the Angels, who improved to 2-1 on a nine-game road trip and lead Seattle by 4 1/2 games in the AL West. John Lackey (11-5) allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks over 7 1/3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez tossed the final 1 1/3 innings for his 24th save of the season.
Both Lackey and Rodriguez will be joining Guerrero on the All-Star roster.
The Angels have dominated the Rangers so far this year, winning six of the seven meetings. That includes three wins in four games at Texas.
Guerrero, meanwhile, has always performed well against the Rangers, hitting safely in 56 of 61 games against them with a .426 career average.
Texas wrapped up a four-game set with Boston on Monday, splitting the series after a 7-3 setback in the finale. Brad Wilkerson hit a three-run homer for the Rangers, who had won two straight.
Brandon McCarthy (4-5), who was activated off the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, was tagged with the loss after yielding four runs on six hits through 3 2/3 innings.
Michael Young will serve as Texas’ lone All-Star representative.
Kevin Millwood starts for the Rangers after having a two-game winning streak halted last time out. On Thursday, the right-hander allowed three runs on five hits and six walks in six innings of a 5-2 setback to Detroit. Millwood also struck out six while falling to 4-7 on the season with a 7.06 ERA.
Millwood is 0-2 in a pair of starts against the Angels this year with a 9.45 ERA. That includes a start on May 14 that saw the righty allow four runs in just 1 2/3 innings of work. He left that game after aggravating a left hamstring injury and landed on the disabled list for a second time this campaign.
In five career starts versus Anaheim, Millwood is 1-2 with a 4.55 ERA.
SEATTLE MARINERS (45-34) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (35-48), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Ryan Feierabend (1-2, 6.46) Kansas City - Jorge De La Rosa (5-9, 5.38)
After getting the John McLaren era off to a disappointing start, the Seattle Mariners try to return to their winning ways in tonight’s middle contest of a three-game series with the host Kansas City Royals.
Seattle had ripped off a season-best eight consecutive victories heading into Monday’s matchup, but the Royals spoiled McLaren’s debut as interim manager by posting a 3-2, 11-inning win.
David DeJesus doubled off Seattle’s Brandon Morrow (3-2) to begin the bottom of the 11th and later took third on Mark Teahen’s sacrifice bunt before scoring the winning run on a fly ball off the bat of Emil Brown.
DeJesus finished 3-for-5 with a solo homer and scored all three runs for the Royals, who won for the sixth time in eight games.
The Mariners had won 10 of its last 11 games before last night’s defeat but had to deal with the abrupt and stunning resignation of manager Mike Hargrove. The former Seattle skipper announced his plans to step down prior to Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Toronto, citing that he no longer had the passion needed for the job.
Royals closer Octavio Dotel (1-1) threw a scoreless top of the 11th to pick up the win. Ex-Mariner Gil Meche started for Kansas City and the recent All-Star selection was charged with two runs on five hits over the first 6 1/3 innings.
Jose Guillen drove in both Seattle runs, while starting pitcher Felix Hernandez limited the Royals to two runs and five hits in eight innings of work.
The Mariners will send out rookie Ryan Feierabend, who is coming off a promising last start, to the mound this evening. The lanky left-hander fired five shutout innings against Boston on Wednesday, although he did not factor in the decision of Seattle’s 2-1 triumph.
It was a much different result than Feierabend’s previous start, when the youngster was rocked for nine runs and issued five walks before being lifted after 2 2/3 innings of a June 22 loss to Cincinnati. He walked just two batters against the Red Sox.
Feierabend, who is 1-2 with a 6.46 earned run average in five appearances (four starts) this season, faced Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium last September. The 21-year-old tossed four scoreless innings of relief that day and surrendered only one hit.
Royals southpaw Jorge De La Rosa will attempt to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season when he takes the ball tonight. The native Mexican halted a string of six consecutive losing decisions Thursday in Anaheim, where he scattered 10 Angel hits over six shutout innings.
It was De La Rosa’s first win since he defeated Chicago with seven innings of one-run ball on May 13.
The 26-year-old’s only career start against Seattle came back on April 27. It wasn’t a memorable occurrence, as De La Rosa was tagged for five runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings to suffer the loss.
The Mariners have won five of seven games against Kansas City this season and swept a three-game series from the Royals in Kauffman Stadium back in May. Since the start of the 2004 season, Seattle owns a 22-9 record in this series.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (40-42) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (42-40), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Jesse Litsch (1-2, 6.62) Oakland - Joe Blanton (7-4, 3.24)
Joe Blanton aims to continue a month-long stretch of quality starts when the Oakland right-hander leads the Athletics into the second test of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays tonight at McAfee Coliseum.
Blanton went 3-1 with an impressive 1.58 earned run average in six starts during the month of June and yielded three or less runs in each of those outings. The right-hander also limited opposing hitters to a .200 batting average over that span and surrendered only one home run in 45 2/3 innings of work.
The former first-round pick has failed to record a decision in both of his last two starts, however, despite pitching well enough to win each time out.
Blanton fired eight shutout innings at New York’s Shea Stadium on June 23, but received no run support in a game Oakland eventually lost by a 1-0 count. In his most recent appearance, he allowed three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 frames Thursday in Cleveland.
The 26-year-old has had very good success pitching at McAfee Coliseum this season, bringing a 3-2 record and a 1.80 ERA over seven home starts into tonight’s tilt.
Blanton has faced Toronto five times previously and owns a 2-2 record with a 4.09 ERA against the Blue Jays.
He’ll try to get the A’s to rebound from Monday’s 11-7 setback to the Jays last night. Vernon Wells led Toronto’s 16-hit attack with a 4-for-5, two-homer performance at the plate.
Frank Thomas finished 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Blue Jays in his first game at McAfee Coliseum since the veteran slugger left Oakland for Toronto as a free agent over the winter. Alex Rios, Adam Lind and Troy Glaus each contributed two hits and one RBI to the rout.
Toronto starter Josh Towers (4-5) picked up the victory after working the first five innings and allowing four runs on five hits.
Oakland’s Lenny DiNardo (2-5) was rocked for six runs (four earned) and eight hits before being lifted after just 2 1/3 frames.
The Athletics, who had a two-game win streak snapped, received three hits and three RBI from Dan Johnson. The first baseman also homered for a third straight game and is 9-for-18 with eight RBI over his last five outings.
Rookie Jesse Litsch will begin his second go-around with the Blue Jays this evening. The young right-hander was called up from the minors to make four starts for an ailing Roy Halladay back in May and went 1-2 with a 6.62 ERA over 17 2/3 innings.
Litsch was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse over the weekend to take the rotation spot of A.J. Burnett, who was placed back on the disabled list because of a sore shoulder.
The 22-year-old is hoping for a better result than his last major league start. Against the Yankees on May 30, Litsch recorded only two outs and surrendered five runs on four hits in a 10-5 Toronto loss.
This will be Litsch’s first career appearance against Oakland.
Monday’s encounter marked the first meeting between the clubs this season. Oakland won six of 10 matchups with Toronto a year ago and went 3-1 in four games against the Blue Jays at McAfee Coliseum in 2006.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (48-34) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (35-47), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Chris Capuano (5-5, 4.35) Pittsburgh - Shane Youman (0-0, 0.00)
Left-hander Shane Youman makes his 2007 debut this afternoon for the Pittsburgh Pirates in game two of a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.
Youman, a 41st-round draft pick of the Pirates in 2001, reached the big leagues last season and made five appearances - three starts - while posting an 0-2 record with a 2.91 earned run average over 21 2/3 innings.
He allowed 15 hits and seven runs, walking 10 and striking out five.
Youman is replacing full-time starter Zach Duke, who is sidelined with a sore left elbow and will visit Dr. James Andrews for an examination on Friday.
Youman has never faced the Brewers.
Milwaukee lefty Chris Capuano has struggled mightily since the early going of 2007, going 0-5 with a no-decision since opening the season with five straight wins.
The former eighth-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999 won for the last time on May 7, allowing seven hits over eight scoreless innings in a 3-0 defeat of the Washington Nationals.
Since, he’s seen his ERA rise from 2.31 to 4.35.
In his last start, on June 8 at Texas, he allowed eight hits and six runs in four innings of a 9-6 loss to the Rangers. He subsequently went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin.
On Monday, Damian Miller had a monster game, going 4-for-5 with a two-run home run, a grand slam and a career-high seven RBI, as the Brewers crushed the Pirates, 10-3.
Bill Hall went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Prince Fielder scored twice for the Brewers, who have won five of seven.
Jeff Suppan started on the mound but didn’t factor into the decision as he gave up three runs on five hits in five innings of work. Carlos Villanueva (6-0) got the win as he pitched four innings of scoreless relief.
Freddy Sanchez drove in a pair of runs and Nate McLouth went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Pirates, who have dropped their last two.
John VanBenschoten pitched six innings of three-run, three-hit ball. Masumi Kuwata (0-1) took the loss as he was pounded for seven runs on six hits with two walks while recording just two outs in the seventh inning.
Milwaukee has won six of seven from the Pirates this season after the Bucs took nine of 16 in 2006. The Brewers also dropped seven of 10 in the Steel City a year ago.
CHICAGO CUBS (41-40) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (33-49), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Carlos Zambrano (9-6, 4.20) Washington - Tim Redding (0-0, 0.00)
Streaking right-hander Carlos Zambrano goes for his fifth win in six starts tonight when the Chicago Cubs visit RFK Stadium for game two of a four-game series with the host Washington Nationals.
Zambrano, who fell to 5-5 on the season with an 8-5 loss to Atlanta on June 1, has gone 4-1 since while dropping his earned run average from 5.62 to 4.20. In those five starts, the 26-year-old Venezuelan has allowed just 18 hits and six earned runs in 37 2/3 innings.
His last outing came June 27 against Colorado, when he allowed five hits and two runs in six innings of a 6-4 Rockies win. Zambrano has pitched at least six innings in each of the five games and struck out a season-high 12 on June 22 against the Chicago White Sox.
He is 4-2 in nine career appearances - seven starts - against the Nationals.
Washington right-hander Tim Redding makes his return to the major leagues in the place of Micah Bowie, who was placed on the disabled list.
Redding’s last big-league appearance came in 2005 with the San Diego Padres, with whom he was 0-5 with a 9.10 ERA in nine appearances. He also started once for the New York Yankees that year, allowing four hits and six runs in one inning.
His last win was in 2004 as a member of the Houston Astros.
The 29-year-old reached the majors in 2001 with the Astros, going 3-1 in 13 games. He was 3-6 in 2002 and 10-14 in 2003, then went 5-7 in his final season with Houston in 2004.
On Monday, Ted Lilly tossed seven strong innings and Mark DeRosa drove in three runs to lead the Cubs over the Nationals, 7-2.
Lilly (7-4) allowed just one run on three hits for the Cubs, who have won nine of their last 10 games to move over the .500 mark for the first time since being 3-2 five games into the season. The left-hander struck out five and walked three, winning his third straight decision.
Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for Chicago, which began a seven-game road trip same way it ended a six-game homestand on Sunday — with a win. DeRosa went 2-for-5 and Derrek Lee scored a pair of runs for the Cubs, winners of four straight games on the road.
Alfonso Soriano appeared in Washington for the first time since leaving the team this off-season to sign a lucrative contract with the Cubs. A 40-40 player with the Nationals last season, Soriano ended 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-4 for the Nationals, who ended with just five hits on their way to their sixth loss in seven outings.
Jason Simontacchi (5-6) lasted just three innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits with one walk. The setback is his second in three starts.
Chicago swept a three-game set from the Nats earlier in the season, but is just 10-12 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Cubs have also lost five of six in DC.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (35-45) AT CINCINNATI REDS (31-51), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Barry Zito (6-8, 4.61) Cincinnati - Aaron Harang (8-2, 3.80)
The Cincinnati Reds begin the Pete Mackanin-era this evening, as they open a three-game set against Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds dismissed manager Jerry Narron following their sixth loss in eight games on Sunday, as they dropped an 11-7 decision to the St. Louis Cardinals. All-Star starter Ken Griffey Jr. was 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in the loss for the Reds, who own the league’s worst record at 31-51.
Homer Bailey (2-2) was touched for seven runs on seven hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work.
Mackanin, who also served as interim manager with Pittsburgh for the final 26 games of the 2005 season after Lloyd McClendon was fired, has managed for 13 years in the minors and will be given a chance to keep the job on a permanent basis.
Hoping to reverse the Reds’ fortunes tonight will be staff ace Aaron Harang, who is unbeaten in seven starts since dropping a 5-3 verdict to Cleveland on May 20. Harang, who is 8-2 with a 3.80 ERA this season, did not earn a decision in his last start on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, as he allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings of his team’s 9-6 win.
Harang is 4-1 in eight home starts this season, but is 2-4 lifetime against the Giants.
San Francisco will start lefty Barry Zito, who’ll try to snap a four-start winless streak.
Zito, who went to 6-5 after beating Philadelphia on June 4, has since gone 0-3 with a no-decision to see his record plunge to 6-8 in his initial season with the Giants.
In his last start, on June 26 against San Diego, Zito gave up six hits and two runs in eight innings of a 3-2 Giants loss. Previously, in three losses, he allowed 19 hits and 15 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings.
The 29-year-old native of Las Vegas is 2-0 in a pair of lifetime starts against the Reds, allowing 11 hits and eight runs in 12 innings.
In San Francisco on Sunday, Ryan Klesko finished a triple shy of the cycle, and Tim Lincecum scattered just three hits and fanned a career-high 12 batters over seven scoreless innings as the Giants decimated Arizona, 13-0, in the finale of a three-game set at AT&T Park.
Klesko had a single, double and two-run homer. He also scored twice and finished with a season-high four RBI for the Giants, who have won two straight. Bengie Molina added a three-run home run and Kevin Frandsen knocked in a pair as the Giants pounded out 14 hits in the contest.
Barry Bonds, who was also named an All-Star starter on Sunday, hit a two-run double, walked twice and scored a pair of runs before he got replaced by Nate Schierholtz in the top of the seventh.
The double was Bonds’ 2,900th career hit and 377th double with the Giants, moving him past Hall of Famer Willie Mays, and into sole possession of first place in San Francisco history. Bonds, who is riding an eight-game hitting streak, is still five home runs shy of tying Hank Aaron’s all-time home run mark of 755.
Lincecum (3-2) did not allow a baserunner beyond first until the sixth inning when Stephen Drew hit a one-out double. It was the first win for the right- hander since May 22, and his 12 strikeouts were the fourth-highest total by a San Francisco rookie in franchise history.
Bonds and Griffey will bring a combined total of 1,335 home runs into the series, the third most between a pair of opponents ever and the most since Aaron and Frank Robinson squared off against one another back in 1976. Aaron and Mays had a combined 1,355 when they faced each other back in 1973.
This is the first meeting between these teams this season, but San Francisco won five of the seven matchups a year ago and is 10-5 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (42-41) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (36-47), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Adam Eaton (7-5, 5.75) Houston - Roy Oswalt (7-5, 3.42)
The Houston Astros will shoot for their third straight win when they resume a three-game series versus the Philadelphia Phillies this evening at Minute Maid Park.
Houston posted its second straight win and fourth in five tries with Monday’s series-opening 7-5 victory over the Phillies. Rookie Hunter Pence hit a two- run homer and Carlos Lee added a solo shot along with two RBI to lead the Astros, who are still 12 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the NL Central.
Craig Biggio finished with three hits and two runs scored, while Houston starter Woody Williams collected the win after giving up three runs in seven innings of work. Trever Miller got two outs in the ninth inning for his first save of the season.
The Astros will send struggling ace Roy Oswalt to the mound tonight and he is 7-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 18 starts this season.
Oswalt, however, owns just a 1-3 record over his last eight trips to the mound and did not record a decision his last time out on Thursday against Colorado. Oswalt pitched seven solid innings of one-run ball and gave up nine hits in an 8-5 win over the Rockies.
The right-hander, who is 5-1 in 11 home starts this season, faced the Phillies earlier this season on April 13 and earned the win despite allowing six runs in five innings of a 9-6 triumph. Oswalt is 5-1 with a 2.63 earned run average in seven career games (five starts) against Philadelphia.
Adam Eaton gets the call for the Phillies this evening and he sports a 7-5 record with a 5.75 ERA in 16 starts this season.
Eaton is 0-1 with a 7.13 earned run average over his last three outings. He did not factor in the outcome his last time out on Thursday against Cincinnati, permitting five runs in six innings of an 8-7 win over the Reds.
The right-hander, who is 4-2 in seven road starts this season, defeated Houston on April 23 after he gave up four runs over six innings of an 11-4 Philly victory.
Eaton is 3-1 with a 4.41 earned run average in five career starts against the Astros.
In last night’s loss at Minute Maid Park, Pat Burrell homered and Carlos Ruiz knocked in two runs to lead Philadelphia, which has lost four of its last five games. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard each finished with two hits in the losing effort.
Ruiz’s two-run double in the ninth inning pulled the Phillies within two runs, but Rollins later flied out to deep left-center field to end the game. The Phillies remained five games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets, who dropped their opener to Colorado on Monday night. Atlanta is second in the division at four games off the pace.
Philadelphia is 6-4 in its last 10 matchups with the Astros.
NEW YORK METS (46-35) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (40-43), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Jason Vargas (0-0, 6.43) Colorado - Aaron Cook (4-5, 4.70)
The Colorado Rockies have found their groove and will try to stay on the winning track tonight, when they resume a three-game series against the New York Mets at Coors Field.
The Rockies had dropped eight in a row but have since won two of their last three games, including Monday’s 6-2 victory in the series opener with the Mets. All-Star Matt Holliday belted a three-run homer to highlight the decisive six-run third inning that helped Colorado to its fourth straight win at home.
Willy Taveras and Jamey Carroll each had two hits and scored a run for the Rockies, who are eight games off the lead in the National League West standings. Starting pitcher Jason Hirsh earned the win before leaving the game after six shutout innings with an injured ankle.
Hirsh, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI at the plate, left the game after running the bases. He walked one batter, struck out two and won for the first time since June 10.
The Rockies will give the ball to Aaron Cook in the second test of this set this evening and he is 4-5 with a 4.70 ERA in 17 starts in 2007.
Cook, though, is winless over his last six outings (0-4) with a 5.81 earned run average. He last took the hill on Thursday against Houston and did not factor in the outcome because of an imploding bullpen. Cook allowed just one run in seven innings of an 8-5 loss.
The righty pitched well in his only outing this season against the Mets, back on April 24. Cook tossed seven shutout innings and scattered six hits in a 2-1 loss at Shea Stadium.
Cook is 1-0 with a 2.52 earned run average over five career games (three starts) against the Mets.
Meanwhile, the NL East-leading Mets have lost two straight after winning four in a row and eight of nine. In last night’s four-run setback, David Wright and Shawn Green each had two hits and starter Tom Glavine remained three wins shy of the 300 mark for his career.
Glavine allowed six runs on nine hits with five walks and three strikeouts in six frames, putting an end to his personal two-game winning streak. The Mets are still four games ahead of Atlanta and five games in front of Philadelphia in the National League East division.
Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez was scheduled to pitch tonight, but a bad back has forced him to the 15-day disabled list. Taking his place on the mound will be Jason Vargas, who was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans. He went 6-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 13 starts for the Zephyrs.
Vargas is 0-0 with a 6.43 ERA after one start this season at the big-league level. He took the hill on May 17 against the Chicago Cubs and allowed five runs over seven innings, but received a no decision during a 6-5 Mets win.
The left-hander squared off with Colorado just once in his career, while with the Florida Marlins last season, and did not factor in the outcome. Vargas gave up three earned runs over 2 1/3 innings of an 8-7 loss.
New York took two of three games against the Rockies from April 23-25 of this season at Shea Stadium. The Mets are 16-7 over the last 23 matchups with Colorado.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (46-38) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (37-42), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Randy Johnson (4-3, 3.81) St. Louis - Todd Wellemeyer (2-1, 6.04)
Randy Johnson will try to end Arizona’s recent woes when he leads the Diamondbacks tonight in the second test of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Johnson, who owns a 4-3 record with a 3.81 ERA in 10 starts this season, had been 4-0 in a six-start span before losing his last outing on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Big Unit was reached for four runs — three earned — in three innings of work. It was his first start since coming off the disabled list because of back problems.
Johnson missed the start of the 2007 season after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back. The 43-year-old lefty is 3-0 in three road starts this season and has a 6-6 career mark with a 3.58 ERA in 13 starts against St. Louis. He hasn’t pitched against the Cardinals since 2005, while with the New York Yankees.
Arizona suffered its third straight loss with Monday’s 11-3 setback in the series opener with the defending champion Cardinals. Starting pitcher Brandon Webb surrendered five runs on seven hits in six innings to suffer the loss, while Chris Snyder homered and Chad Tracy knocked in a pair of runs for the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks have lost six of their last eight games and fell 2 1/2 games off the lead in the National League West standings.
St. Louis recorded its third win in four tries last night, as Scott Rolen led the way with four RBI. Albert Pujols, Aaron Miles, Skip Schumaker and Rolen all had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who are 9 1/2 games off the lead in the NL Central division.
Cardinals starter Braden Looper took the hill for the first time since being activated off the disabled list and lasted six innings, permitting three runs and four hits. Relief pitcher Russ Springer then pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn the win.
Todd Wellemeyer gets the nod for the Cardinals tonight and he is 2-1 with a 6.04 ERA in 22 games (six starts) with Kansas City and St. Louis this season.
Wellemeyer is 2-0 in 10 games, six of which have been starts, with a 4.11 earned run average since joining the Cardinals. He has recorded three straight no decisions, including a June 26 performance against the Mets in which he gave up one run in six innings of a 5-3 victory.
The right-hander is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in three career relief appearances against Arizona.
Arizona and St. Louis are meeting for the first time this season after the D’backs went 4-3 in the 2006 series.
FLORIDA MARLINS (38-45) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (47-34), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Scott Olsen (6-6, 4.93) San Diego - Greg Maddux (7-4, 3.66)
The San Diego Padres shoot for their sixth win in seven games tonight when they play the second of four straight games against the Florida Marlins at Petco Park.
The Padres captured the opener of this set on Monday, 3-1, behind 6 2/3 scoreless innings by David Wells (4-5). Wells limited the Marlins to five hits while striking out a season-high six batters. All-Star Trevor Hoffman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances.
Brian Giles scored twice for the Padres, who lead the NL West by one game over the Los Angeles Dodgers and managed just three hits yesterday.
Florida starter Sergio Mitre (2-4) went six innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Josh Willingham homered and Miguel Olivo went 3-for-4 for the Marlins, who have lost seven of nine.
Florida’s Hanley Ramirez left in the third inning because of tightness in his left hamstring.
San Diego sends Greg Maddux to the hill tonight, and Maddux is coming off win number 340 of his career last time out. On Wednesday, the right-hander scattered one run and five hits over seven innings in a win over the Giants, improving to 7-4 on the year with a 3.66 earned run average.
Maddux faced the Marlins on May 4 and got a no-decision. In 39 career starts against the Marlins, Maddux has excelled, going 19-12 with six complete games and a 2.73 ERA.
Scott Olsen comes into tonight’s start for Florida off a win against Pittsburgh on Thursday. Olsen allowed five runs on seven hits, but struck out 10 through six frames of a 9-7 victory that improved the left-hander to 6-6 on the year with a 4.93 ERA.
Olsen faced the Padres on May 6 and took his second loss of the year despite giving up only two runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings. Lifetime, he is 1-1 in two starts against San Diego with a 1.32 ERA.
The Padres and Marlins met for a three-game set at Florida in early May, with San Diego winning two of three. The clubs split six games last year.
ATLANTA BRAVES (43-40) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (47-36), 10:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Kyle Davies (3-7, 5.42) Los Angeles - Randy Wolf (9-6, 4.33)
Kyle Davies will attempt to halt a four-start losing streak when the Atlanta Braves play the second contest of their four-game series with Los Angeles tonight at Dodger Stadium.
Davies hasn’t posted a win since June 1, but pitched well last time out. Against Detroit on June 23, the right-hander yielded just two runs on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-1 loss.
Davies, who is 3-7 this year with a 5.42 earned run average, made his first career start versus the Dodgers on May 6, and took a no-decision after giving up four runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Taking the hill for the Dodgers tonight will be Randy Wolf, who improved to 9-6 with a 4.33 ERA last time out at Arizona. On that day, the left-hander worked around three runs, four hits and six walks over six innings in a 9-5 victory.
Wolf started against the Braves on May 6 against Davies and also took a no- decision. Lifetime, the lefty is 4-9 in 22 games (20 starts) against them with a 4.68 ERA.
The Dodgers won the opener of this set on Monday, as Matt Kemp’s two-out, two- run homer in the bottom of the sixth put Los Angeles in front for good and paced the club’s 8-2 victory.
Derek Lowe was solid in the start for the Dodgers, allowing one run while scattering eight hits with five strikeouts over five-plus frames.
NL All-Star starter Russell Martin finished 4-for-5 with two RBI to extend his hitting streak to a career best 12 games for the Dodgers, who have won two of three and trail the Padres by one game for first place in the NL West.
Fresh off another All-Star selection, John Smoltz (8-5) was the hard-luck loser. The right-hander tossed six frames, allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
The loss was Atlanta’s second in a row following a five-game winning streak.
Edgar Renteria finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in for Atlanta, which is in second place in the NL East, four games behind the New York Mets.
The Braves won two of three against the Dodgers at Atlanta in early May. Prior to this year, the two clubs had split their last 12 meetings.
(Monday, July 2nd)
Final Score: Boston 7, Texas 3
Boston, MA - Eric Hinske blew open a close game with a bases-loaded triple in the fifth inning, as the Boston Red Sox topped the Texas Rangers, 7-3, in the finale of a four-game set at Fenway Park. Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run double in the third inning and rookie Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored for the Red Sox, who split this set with the Rangers and won for just the third time in their last nine games. Another Boston rookie, Kason Gabbard (2-0), picked up the win in his second straight start in place of the injured Curt Schilling. The left-hander pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Brad Wilkerson hit a three- run home run for the Rangers, who saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end. Brandon McCarthy (4-5), who was activated off the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, was tagged with the loss after yielding four runs on six hits through 3 2/3 innings.
Final Score: Cleveland 10, Tampa Bay 2
Cleveland, OH - Grady Sizemore smacked a grand slam to cap a seven-run eighth inning, as the Cleveland Indians downed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 10-2, to complete a four-game sweep at Jacobs Field. Ben Francisco also homered for the Indians, who won their fifth straight. Victor Martinez ended 2-for-4 and scored a run in the rout. Fausto Carmona (9-4) bounced back from the worst start of his career by allowing just two runs - one earned - on four hits with two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts over six-plus innings. The 23-year-old right-hander, who has lost three of his last five starts, made his first-ever start against the Rays. Carlos Pena finished 1-for-2 and scored a run for the Devil Rays, who lost their season-worst eighth straight. Andy Sonnanstine (1-3) allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six frames.
Final Score: New York 5, Minnesota 1
Bronx, NY - Roger Clemens captured the 350th victory of his illustrious career, pitching eight strong innings in New York’s 5-1 victory against Minnesota at Yankee Stadium. The milestone didn’t come easy. The 44- year-old Clemens had battled lofty expectations behind a hefty contract and struggling command in four starts and one relief appearance entering Monday’s game. Coming in with a 1-3 mark and a 5.32 earned run average, Clemens’ splitter had the late break that put a stamp on his Hall of Fame worthy career. Clemens (2-3) retired the last 15 batters he faced, giving up one run on two hits with four strikeouts and one walk. The Twins didn’t have a base runner with Clemens on the mound after Joe Mauer’s leadoff double in the fourth. With the victory, Clemens became the eighth member of the elusive wins club, the first since Warren Spahn on September 29, 1963.
Final Score: Kansas City 3, Seattle 2 (11 innings)
Kansas City, MO - A sacrifice fly from Emil Brown led the Kansas City Royals past Seattle in John McLaren’s first game behind the bench for the Mariners in the opener of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. In the 11th, David DeJesus hit a leadoff double off the wall in center field and Esteban German followed with a walk. Mark Teahen’s sacrifice fly moved DeJesus to third base and Brown’s sac fly out to center scored DeJesus for the win. DeJesus went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and scored all three runs while Esteban German drove in the other run for the Royals, who have won six of their last eight. Octavio Dotel (1-1) got the win for pitching a scoreless 11th inning. Gil Meche started on the mound and was charged with two runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout in 6 1/3 innings of work. Jose Guillen drove in both runs while Ichiro Suzuki had two hits for the Mariners, who had an eight-game winning streak snapped. Brandon Morrow (3-2) got the loss for giving up the run in the 11th.
Final Score: Baltimore 7, Chicago 6
Chicago, IL - Kevin Millar’s RBI single in the ninth inning capped a five-run rally started in the eighth, and lifted the Baltimore Orioles over the Chicago White Sox, 7-6, in the opener of a four-game series at Cellular Field. Trailing 6-2 after seven innings, Baltimore rallied for five runs in the final two for the comeback. In the eighth, Chris Gomez led off with a double, Millar reached on a fielding error by Josh Fields, and Ramon Hernandez doubled home Gomez before Jay Payton’s three-run triple, cutting the O’s deficit to 6-5 heading into the ninth. Bobby Jenks (2-4) started from the mound, but gave up a double to Corey Patterson, who scored the tying run on a Brian Roberts single. Gomez bunted Roberts over to second, and Jenks intentionally walked Nick Markakis. Both baserunners then executed a double steal, and it paid off when Roberts came home on Millar’s single for the eventual game-winner, as Chris Ray struck out three straight swinging in the bottom half for his 14th save of the season.
Final Score: Toronto 11, Oakland 7
Oakland, CA - Vernon Wells homered twice, as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the Oakland Athletics, 11-7, in the first of three consecutive games between the teams at McAfee Coliseum. Frank Thomas finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in his first game back at Oakland since signing as a free agent in the offseason with Toronto, which came in having lost four straight contests and was just swept by the red-hot Seattle Mariners in three games over the weekend. Alex Rios went 2-for-5 with an RBI and scored twice in the win. Josh Towers (4-5) allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts over five frames for Toronto. Lenny DiNardo (3-5) gave up six runs - four earned - on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts over just 2 1/3 innings for Oakland. Dan Johnson homered for Oakland, which culminated a 10-game road trip in fine fashion Sunday in the Bronx, pounding the reeling New York Yankees by an 11-5 count in the rubber match of a three-game weekend series. Shannon Stewart went 3-for-5 with an RBI in the loss.
Final Score: Chicago 7, Washington 2
Washington, DC - Ted Lilly tossed seven strong innings and Mark DeRosa drove in three runs to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Washington Nationals, 7-2, in the opener of a four-game set at RFK Stadium. Lilly (7-4) allowed just one run on three hits for the Cubs, who have won nine of their last 10 games to move over the .500 mark for the first time since being 3-2 five games into the season. The left-hander struck out five and walked three, winning his third straight decision. Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for Chicago, which began a seven-game road trip same way it ended a six-game homestand on Sunday — with a win. DeRosa went 2- for-5 and Derrek Lee scored a pair of runs for the Cubs, winners of four straight games on the road. Alfonso Soriano appeared in Washington for the first time since leaving the team this off-season to sign a lucrative contract with the Cubs. A 40-40 player with the Nationals last season, Soriano ended 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Ryan Zimmerman went 2- for-4 for the Nationals, who ended with just five hits on their way to their sixth loss in seven outings.
Final Score: Milwaukee 10, Pittsburgh 3
Pittsburgh, PA - Damian Miller had a monster game, going 4- for-5 with a two-run home run, a grand slam and a career-high seven RBI, as the Milwaukee Brewers crushed the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-3, in the opener of a four-game set at PNC Park. Bill Hall went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Prince Fielder scored twice for the Brewers, who have won five of seven. Freddy Sanchez drove in a pair of runs and Nate McLouth went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Pirates, who have dropped their last two.
Final Score: Houston 7, Philadelphia 5
Houston, TX - Hunter Pence’s torrid rookie campaign continued, slamming a two-run shot off the left field pole and scoring twice, as Houston took the first contest of a three-game set from Philadelphia, 7-5, at Minute Maid Park. Craig Biggio had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Carlos Lee finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. One of Lee’s hits was a solo homer in the eighth that reached the railroad tracks well above the left field fence. The Astros have won three of four overall and seven of their last eight at home. Jamie Moyer (7-6) was saddled with the loss, giving up four runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts over six innings. The Phillies bullpen walked five batters in just two innings. Philadelphia has dropped four of five. Pat Burrell hit a solo homer and three others, including Ryan Howard, had two hits.
Final Score: St. Louis 11, Arizona 3
St. Louis, MO - Scott Rolen drove in four runs as the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Arizona Diamondbacks, 11-3, in the first of a four- game set at Busch Stadium. Making his first start since being activated from the 15-day disabled list, Cardinals starter Braden Looper went six frames, allowing three runs on four hits. Russ Springer (4-1) threw a perfect seventh to earn the win. Albert Pujols, Aaron Miles, Scott Shumaker and Rolen all had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who have won three of four. Chris Snyder homered and Chad Tracy knocked in two runs for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three straight and five of seven.
Final Score: Colorado 6, New York 2
Denver, CO - Matt Holliday’s three-run home run highlighted a six-run third inning and the Colorado Rockies overcame an injury to starting pitcher Jason Hirsh to defeat the New York Mets, 6-2, in the opener of a three-game set at Coors Field. Hirsh (4-7) picked up his first win in nearly a month thanks to six shutout innings of three-hit ball and went 2- for-3 with two RBI, but his good luck lasted only a short time as he left prematurely after suffering a sprained right ankle when running the bases. The right-hander, who walked one and struck out two, won for the first time since June 10 — a span of four starts. Willy Taveras and Jamey Carroll each had two hits and scored a run for the Rockies, who won for the second time in three outings after losing eight in a row. Colorado, which ended a 10-game road trip on Sunday with a 1-9 mark, has now won four straight at home — all against New York teams. Before embarking on the road, Colorado swept a three- game set from the New York Yankees. David Wright and Shawn Green each had two hits for the Mets, who have dropped two straight after winning four in a row and eight of nine.
Final Score: San Diego 3, Florida 1
San Diego, CA - David Wells threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Brian Giles scored twice as the San Diego Padres edged the Florida Marlins, 3-1, in the first of a four-game set at Petco Park. Wells (4-5) didn’t allow a run for the first time this year while limiting the Marlins to five hits and striking out a season-high six for the Padres, who won for the fifth time in six games. Trevor Hoffman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances. Giles, Marcus Giles and Khalil Greene accounted for the three hits by the Padres, who improved to 4-2 when they have three hits or fewer. Florida starter Sergio Mitre (2-4) went six innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Josh Willingham homered and Miguel Olivo went 3- for-4 for the Marlins, who have lost seven of nine and had a runner in scoring position in four of the first five innings.
Final Score: Los Angeles 8, Atlanta 2
Los Angeles, CA - Matt Kemp’s two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth put the Dodgers in front to stay, as Los Angeles downed Atlanta, 8-2, in the first of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. Derek Lowe was solid in the start for the Dodgers, allowing one run while scattering eight hits with five strikeouts over five-plus frames. With the outing, Lowe lowered his earned run average to 2.98. Russell Martin finished 4-for-5 with two RBI for the Dodgers, who have won two of three. Martin’s RBI single in the seventh gave Los Angeles some insurance and a 4-1 lead. Jeff Kent’s ensuing base hit scored Martin, who stole second earlier in the at-bat. Fresh off another All-Star selection, John Smoltz (8-5) was the hard-luck loser. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed six frames, allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Renteria finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in.
