Wednesday, July 4th (All times eastern)
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (33-49) AT BOSTON RED SOX (51-31), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - Edwin Jackson (1-8, 6.88) Boston - Tim Wakefield (8-8, 4.31)
The Boston Red Sox try to continue their home dominance of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays this afternoon, when the AL East rivals continue their three-game set at Fenway Park.
Since the start of the 2004 campaign Boston holds a 38-20 advantage in the series, including an impressive 25-5 mark in Beantown during that time.
That trend continued in the opener of this series on Tuesday, as Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out nine in eight shutout innings and Julio Lugo ended the longest hitless drought of his career with a two-out, two-run single in the second inning to help the Red Sox to a 4-1 win.
Lugo had gone 0-for-33 before his two-out base-hit off Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir in the second inning gave Boston a 3-0 lead. It was the worst hitless streak by a Red Sox player since Tim Naehring went 0-for-39 from April 13-May 14, 1991.
Matsuzaka (10-5) scattered four hits and walked just one batter. The 23-year- old Japanese sensation has given up just six earned runs over his last six starts, while totaling 51 strikeouts over 42 innings.
Carlos Pena homered off Jonathan Papelbon with two outs in the ninth to break up the shutout, but Papelbon retired Greg Norton to preserve the victory.
Kazmir (5-5) ran into trouble in the second, walking the first three batters of the inning to load the bases as Boston struck for three runs in the inning. The left-hander pitched six innings and yielded four runs — three earned — with six strikeouts and three walks.
Akinori Iwamura had Tampa Bay’s only extra-base hit off Matsuzaka with a double in the sixth inning as the Devil Rays lost their season-worst ninth straight game.
Heading to the hill for the Red Sox today will be veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has won three of his last four starts. Wakefield defeated the Texas Rangers on Friday, as he allowed a run on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to run his record to 8-8, while lowering his earned run average to 4.31.
Wakefield has been incredible in his career against the Devil Rays, going 15-2 against them with three saves and a 2.91 ERA in 32 games, 22 of which have been starts.
Tampa will counter with Edwin Jackson, who has pitched well since losing his first eight decisions of the season. Jackson, who is 1-8 with a 6.88 ERA, did not receive a decision on Friday against Cleveland, giving up a run on six hits in six innings of his team’s 2-1 loss.
Jackson, who will be making his first-ever start against the Red Sox, has allowed just five runs in his last three outings, spanning 16 2/3 innings.
MINNESOTA TWINS (42-40) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (39-41), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Johan Santana (9-6, 2.76) New York - Mike Mussina (4-5, 4.63)
Mike Mussina tries to continue his mastery of the Minnesota Twins this afternoon, when the New York Yankees play the third contest of a four-game series against them at Yankee Stadium.
Mussina has absolutely owned the Twins in the regular season over the course of his 17-year career, going 20-5 against them with a 3.14 earned run average in 29 starts. He has been even better in 13 home starts against the Twins, posting a perfect 10-0 ledger to go along with a 2.82 ERA.
The 38-year-old right-hander enters today’s contest on the heels of beating the Oakland Athletics on Friday. Mussina allowed a run on six hits in seven innings of that one, as he improved to 4-5 and lowered his ERA to 4.63.
Minnesota will counter with staff ace and two-time Cy Young award winner Johan Santana, who has won his last three starts. Santana was his usual dominant self on Friday in Detroit, as he held the Tigers to a run on five hits in six innings.
Over his last three starts — spanning 21 innings — Santana, who is 9-6 with a 2.76 ERA this season, has surrendered just two earned runs.
The left-hander has never lost a regular season meeting to the Yankees, going 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA in seven games, four of which have been starts.
In the second game of this set on Tuesday, Chien-Ming Wang threw seven strong innings to win his fifth consecutive decision and Robinson Cano belted a two- run homer to help the Yankees to an 8-0 win.
Melky Cabrera and Derek Jeter each contributed a pair of RBI, while Bobby Abreu had his second straight three-hit game, driving in one and scoring twice.
Wang (8-4) scattered four hits, walked four and fanned three to remain unbeaten in his last seven starts. The right-hander left after throwing 101 pitches as the Yankees put together back-to-back wins for the first time since beating the Mets, June 16-17.
Scott Proctor struck out two batters in the eighth and Edwar Ramirez made a spectacular debut, striking out the side in the ninth to complete the five- hitter.
Carlos Silva (6-9) was pounded for nine hits and six runs over 5 1/3 innings, as his two-start winning streak came to an end.
Minnesota has dropped three in a row, its longest skid since a four-game slide from June 2-5. The Twins have also scored just once in their current losing streak.
Torii Hunter, who was called out on strikes in the seventh inning, was ejected by home plate umpire Ron Kulpa at the start of the eighth. Kulpa looked into the Twins dugout, and Hunter came out to have a heated argument before being thrown out.
The Yankees took two of three from the Twins earlier this season and hold a slight 10-7 edge in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. Minnesota has also won just twice in its last 17 regular season visits to the Bronx since the start of the 2002 season.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (40-43) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (43-40), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Dustin McGowan (4-4, 5.15) Oakland - Joe Kennedy (2-6, 3.91)
The Toronto Blue Jays conclude a grueling 10-game road trip with this afternoon’s finale of a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics from McAfee Coliseum.
Toronto has gone 3-6 thus far on the trek, which began in Minnesota on June 25 and also included three losses to the Seattle Mariners over the past weekend. The road has not been very kind to John Gibbons’ club this season, as the Jays bring a lackluster 16-25 away mark into the rubber match of this set.
The Blue Jays return home for three games against Cleveland to close out the season’s first half, then hit the road again for a pair of big series against American League East rivals Boston and New York following the All-Star break.
Oakland rebounded from Monday’s 11-7 setback to Toronto with last night’s 3-1 decision. Joe Blanton went the distance on a four-hitter to record his AL-best third complete game of the season.
Blanton (8-4) issued just one walk and struck out four while lowering his league-leading earned run average in home games to 1.69. The right-hander retired 26 of the final 29 batters he faced.
Jack Cust had a solo home run and Shannon Stewart went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Athletics, who won for the third time in four games.
Toronto All-Star Alex Rios went 2-for-3 and knocked in his team’s lone run in the loss, the Blue Jays’ fifth in six outings.
Jesse Litsch (1-3) pitched well for Toronto in defeat. The rookie right-hander surrendered just two unearned runs on seven hits and struck out five over seven innings.
Joe Kennedy will attempt to give the A’s the series win, as well as improve on some outstanding career numbers against the Blue Jays, when the left-hander takes the mound this afternoon.
Kennedy owns a 6-1 overall record versus Toronto, his most victories over any single opponent, along with a 3.75 ERA in 17 appearances (11 starts). However, he has not faced the Jays since the 2003 campaign, when he was a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The 28-year-old will be looking to stop a four-game winless skid, having recorded a pair of defeats and two no decisions since a June 6 victory over Boston. In his most recent outing, Kennedy took a tough loss to the Yankees on Friday despite allowing just two runs over six innings.
Dustin McGowan hopes for a return of his near no-hit form when he toes the rubber for the Jays in today’s finale. The up-and-down youngster took a no-no into the ninth inning in a brilliant shutout of Colorado on June 24, but didn’t possess the same stuff in last Friday’s showdown in Seattle.
In that game McGowan was tagged for five runs on eight hits over five innings of a 5-3 setback at Safeco Field. The 25-year-old fell to 1-3 with a 5.88 ERA in six road starts this season.
McGowan has not pitched against Oakland this year, but has made one start and two relief appearances versus the A’s over his brief career. He is 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA over 6 1/3 innings in those games.
Oakland has gone 7-5 against Toronto since the start of the 2006 campaign. The Athletics have won four of six home games over the Jays during that stretch.
CLEVELAND INDIANS (51-32) AT DETROIT TIGERS (47-34), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cleveland - Jake Westbrook (1-3, 6.10) Detroit - Kenny Rogers (2-0, 0.75)
Kenny Rogers tries to make it three wins in three starts this evening when the Detroit Tigers continue their three-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park.
Rogers has been dominant since returning from surgery to remove a blood clot in his throwing shoulder, going 2-0 with a miniscule 0.75 earned run average. After holding the Atlanta Braves scoreless in six innings to post a victory in his season debut, Rogers allowed just a run on four hits in six innings to the Texas Rangers last Thursday to nail down the win. He has also only walked one batter in 12 frames this season.
The 42-year-old left-hander is no stranger to the Tribe, as he has faced them 55 times (32 starts) and is 16-16 with a save and a 5.28 ERA against them.
Cleveland will counter with right-hander Jake Westbrook, who is 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA. Westbrook picked up a no-decision in his last start on Friday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, despite probably his best outing of the season. He allowed a run and five hits in seven innings of that one, but did not factor in his team’s 2-1 win.
Westbrook is 4-7 lifetime against the Tigers with a 6.53 ERA in 17 games, 14 of which have been starts.
Cleveland extended its lead in AL Central in the opener of this set on Tuesday, as Casey Blake homered in the 11th inning to propel the Tribe to a 5-4 victory. Ben Francisco also homered for Cleveland, which has wins in six straight and eight of its last nine games and extended its division lead to three games.
The Indians won on Blake’s solo shot to left field on an 0-1 pitch from Jose Capellan (0-1), who made his Tigers debut. They had escaped a one-out, bases- loaded jam in the 10th when Carlos Guillen popped out and Ivan Rodriguez grounded out.
Veteran right-hander Paul Byrd, coming off a win over the Oakland Athletics in his last start on Thursday, allowed four runs — three earned — on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts over seven innings. Tom Mastny (6-2) earned the win after pitching out of the 10th, and Joe Borowski struck out two in the 11th for his 25th save of the season.
Gary Sheffield homered for the Tigers, who have lost three of four. Guillen finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and scored a run. Left-hander Nate Robertson, who is still winless in his last five starts and has not posted a victory since May 19, gave up three runs on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts over five frames.
The Indians have won six of their eight meetings with the Tigers this season, including all four in the Motor City. Detroit had won 13 of the 19 matchups a year ago. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (36-47) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (36-44), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Garrett Olson (0-0, 0.00) Chicago - Jose Contreras (5-9, 4.89)
The Baltimore Orioles turn to a rookie in hopes of cooling down the resurgent Chicago White Sox when the two team continue a four-game series with an Independence Day showdown tonight from U.S. Cellular Field.
Garrett Olson will make his major league debut for the Orioles this evening as a fill-in for the injured Steve Trachsel, who was placed on the disabled list last week with a strained gluteus muscle. A supplemental round selection by Baltimore in the 2005 draft, Olson has emerged as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects and was putting together a strong year at Triple-A Norfolk at the time of his call-up.
In 17 starts with the Tides, Olson compiled a 7-6 record with a 3.46 earned run average and ranks second in the International League with 94 strikeouts.
The 23-year-old lefty joins fellow rookies Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Burres in Baltimore’s makeshift rotation that has been hampered by injuries to Trachsel, Kris Benson, Jaret Wright and Adam Loewen.
Olson will be facing a Chicago club that has won seven of nine since enduring a five-game losing streak from June 19-24. The White Sox regrouped from a late-inning loss to the Orioles in Monday’s series opener behind a strong mound performance from Javier Vazquez on Tuesday. The right-hander went the distance on a four-hitter to lead Chicago to a 5-1 triumph.
Vazquez (5-5) struck out seven and did not walk a batter in his first complete game since July 6, 2005. He got all the offensive support he would need from a three-run homer from Jim Thome in the fourth inning.
Baltimore’s only run came on a second-inning solo homer from Kevin Millar. Vazquez retired the final 16 batters he faced.
Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera (6-9) worked the first six innings and surrendered five runs on six hits while walking five.
Chicago will send out the struggling Jose Contreras in this evening’s contest. The Cuban defector has gone 1-5 with a subpar 6.38 ERA over his last seven starts and allowed five runs or more in four of those appearances.
Contreras failed to get the job done again last Friday in Kansas City, where he was tagged for six runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings of the White Sox’ 8-1 setback. The veteran righty did pitch well in his previous start, however, as he held the Cubs to two runs over seven innings in a hard-luck defeat on June 24.
The 35-year-old is 3-2 with a 4.57 ERA in eight lifetime games, including seven starts, against Baltimore.
These teams faced one another on the 4th of July last season as well. Contreras also pitched in that game and worked the first 6 2/3 innings of a 13-0 Chicago rout at U.S. Cellular Field.
The White Sox are 16-7 against the Orioles since the start of the 2004 campaign and have won 10 of the last 13 matchups between the squads.
SEATTLE MARINERS (45-35) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (36-48), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Jarrod Washburn (7-6, 4.03) Kansas City - Brian Bannister (5-4, 3.58)
The Kansas City Royals will attempt to put up some more fireworks as the improving young club shoots for a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners in tonight’s 4th of July encounter from Kauffman Stadium.
Kansas City erupted for 10 runs over the first two innings en route to a 17-3 shellacking of the Mariners on Tuesday. The victory was the Royals’ seventh in their last nine games.
Billy Butler led Kansas City’s 16-hit onslaught by establishing career-bests of six RBI and four runs scored. The rookie designated hitter also hit his second major-league home run and finished 3-for-5 on the night.
The 21-year-old Butler became the youngest player to drive in six runs in a game since Alex Rodriguez did so at age 20 for the Mariners on May 17, 1996.
Jason LaRue also homered for the Royals and ended 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI. David DeJesus and Ross Gload also knocked in a pair of runs in the rout.
Kansas City also received a solid mound performance out of Jorge De La Rosa (6-9), who yielded three runs on eight hits over the first seven innings.
Seattle starter Ryan Feierabend (1-3) was hammered for 10 runs on eight hits before being mercifully lifted with one out in the second inning.
The Mariners have now lost their first two games under interim manager John McLaren, who was promoted from bench coach following Mike Hargrove’s stunning resignation on Sunday. The club had won eight consecutive games under Hargrove’s direction heading into this series.
Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima left Tuesday’s contest in the second inning after being struck in the right wrist by a pitch while behind the plate. The Mariners were already without first baseman Richie Sexson, who injured his right thumb in Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Royals.
Neither Johjima or Sexson is expected to be in the lineup tonight.
Jarrod Washburn will attempt to get the Mariners back on track in this evening’s finale. The seasoned southpaw carries a two-game win streak into the game, having yielded just three runs over a 14-inning span in back-to-back decisions over Cincinnati and Toronto.
After firing eight frames of one-run ball to defeat the Reds on June 23, Washburn held the Blue Jays to two runs on nine hits in six innings of Friday’s 5-3 Seattle win.
The 32-year-old already owns a victory at Kauffman Stadium this season. That came on May 27, when Washburn limited the Royals to three runs on four hits over seven innings. He is 7-4 with a 3.70 earned run average in 13 career starts against Kansas City.
The Royals counter with Brian Bannister, who hopes to duplicate an impressive June in his first July start. The former Mets farmhand went 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA in six June outings and was named the AL’s Rookie of the Month.
Bannister is coming off Friday’s victory over the White Sox in which he gave up just one run on four hits and worked around four walks in his 6 1/3-inning stint.
The 26-year-old hasn’t had the same success when facing Seattle, however. Bannister has pitched against the Mariners twice this season and lost both games, while surrendering eight runs (seven earned) in 13 2/3 innings.
Kansas City will be aiming for its first series sweep of the Mariners since taking three straight games at the old Kingdome from June 12-14, 1995. Seattle owns a 22-10 record in this series since the start of the 2004 season and has taken five of the eight matchups between the teams this year.
LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (51-32) AT TEXAS RANGERS (35-48), 8:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Jered Weaver (6-4, 3.55) Texas - Jamey Wright (1-2, 6.38)
Jered Weaver tries to put a hard-luck loss behind him this evening, when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continue their three-game series with Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Weaver gave up just one run on four hits in seven innings to the Kansas City Royals last Wednesday, but the Angels did not score any runs off of Royals starter Jorge De La Rosa in the 1-0 loss. That start followed up an outing against the LA Dodgers which saw Weaver scatter four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
The 24-year-old right-hander is 1-0 lifetime against the Rangers with a 3.04 ERA in four starts.
Texas will counter with righty Jamey Wright, who is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA in four starts this season. Wright was tagged with the loss against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, as he allowed two runs and six hits in five innings.
Wright has faced the Angels twice and is 0-1 against them with a 2.25 ERA. However, he has not pitched against them since September. 6, 2003.
In the opener of this set on Tuesday Brad Wilkerson hit three homers and drove in a career-best six runs to lead the Rangers to an 8-3 win.
Wilkerson ended 3-for-4, hitting a solo homer, two-run homer and a three-run shot, as the Rangers opened a six-game homestand with their third win in four tries. It’s the first time Wilkerson has ever hit three homers in a game and he became the first Ranger to do it since Mark Teixeira on July 13, 2006.
Kevin Millwood (5-7) got the win, his third in four decisions, allowing just two runs on five hits over eight innings. He struck out four without a walk for Texas, which has won nine of its last 13 games.
Howie Kendrick went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI for the Angels, who have lost five of seven.
Ervin Santana (5-9) lost his third straight decision, surrendering five runs — four earned — on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander, who has not won since June 9, also struck out a career-high 11 and walked two.
The Angels have dominated the Rangers so far this year, winning six of the eight meetings. That includes three wins in five games at Texas.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CHICAGO CUBS (42-40) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (33-50), 12:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Rich Hill (5-5, 3.49) Washington - Matt Chico (3-5, 4.74)
Southpaw Rich Hill will try to shake off a poor outing this afternoon, when the Chicago Cubs get ready for a holiday showdown with the Washington Nationals in the third game of a four-game series at RFK Stadium.
Hill, born in Boston in 1980, allowed five hits and five runs in just three innings in his last start on June 29, getting a no-decision in the Cubs’ 6-5 defeat of Milwaukee. His last win came June 7 at Atlanta, but he’s 0-1 with three no-decisions since.
The defeat of the Braves was among his finest efforts of the season, as he gave up only three hits and a run over eight innings while striking out 11.
He won his lone career start against the Nationals, allowing six hits and a run in six innings.
Matt Chico faces the Cubs for the first time in his career.
The Californian, who turned 24 last month, tossed six scoreless innings in a start at Pittsburgh on June 29, but got a no-decision in the Nationals’ 3-2 loss.
His last win came against Atlanta on May 17, when he gave up five hits and three runs in six innings.
Chico is 3-1 in nine starts this season at home with a 5.17 earned run average.
On Tuesday, Carlos Zambrano struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings and Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, lifting the Cubs over the Nationals, 3-1.
Zambrano (10-6) won his third straight start, allowing one run on three hits with four walks. The fiery right-hander improved to 5-1 over his last six starts, surrendering just eight runs over 44 1/3 innings during that stretch.
Carlos Marmol, Will Ohman and Bob Howry, who recorded the final two outs for his third save of the season, completed the four-hitter for Chicago, which has won three straight, including the first two of this four-game set.
Cliff Floyd drove in two runs and Ryan Theriot had two hits and an RBI for the Cubs, who have won 10 of 11 and moved a season-high two-games over .500 (42-40).
Ronnie Belliard drove in the lone run for the Nationals, who have dropped seven of eight overall and all five games to the Cubs this season.
Tim Redding (0-1) was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to make his first start in the majors since 2005 and the right-hander was charged with the loss. He allowed three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking two, in five innings of work.
Chicago swept a three-game set from the Nats earlier in the season, and is 11-12 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Cubs have lost five of seven in DC.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (35-46) AT CINCINNATI REDS (32-51), 1:15 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Matt Cain (2-9, 3.38) Cincinnati - Matt Belisle (5-5, 5.03)
Young right-hander Matt Cain will try to snap an eight- start winless streak, while Barry Bonds attempts to move another step closer to baseball’s all-time home run record when the San Francisco Giants visit Great American Ball Park today to meet the Cincinnati Reds in the second of a three-game series.
On Tuesday, Bonds belted home run No. 751 to move within four of Hank Aaron’s record, but Brandon Phillips’ grand slam helped Pete Mackanin win his first game as Cincinnati’s manager as the Reds downed the Giants, 7-3.
Alex Gonzalez, Edwin Encarnacion and Jeff Conine each drove in a run while Phillips finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored for the Reds, who have won two of their last three.
Aaron Harang (9-2) got the win after he gave up just three runs on four hits with six walks and four strikeouts in six innings of work. He is now 4-0 over his last eight outings.
Barry Zito started for the Giants and was charged with three runs on just two hits, but had six walks in five innings. Kevin Correia (1-4) got the loss for giving up Phillips’ grand slam.
Bonds and Reds outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. entered the series with a combined total of 1,335 home runs, 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.
Cain hasn’t won since a 15-2 romp over Colorado on May 13. Since then, the 22- year-old has gone 0-6 with a pair of no decisions, though he’s allowed three earned runs or less in six of the eight outings.
He dropped a 4-2 verdict to San Diego last time out, allowing seven hits and two earned runs over 7 2/3 innings of work on June 27. He’s 1-4 in eight starts on the road in 2007, despite posting a 2.44 earned run average in 51 2/3 innings.
Cain won his lone career start against the Reds last August, allowing four hits in seven scoreless innings.
The Reds counter with right-hander Matt Belisle, who is winless in five outings since downing Houston on May 29. He surrendered eight hits and six runs in five innings in getting a no decision against Philadelphia last Thursday.
Belisle is 1-4 in eight starts at home this season, with a 5.51 ERA in 47 1/3 innings. He’s appeared in relief six times against the Giants over his career, posting a save and a 3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings.
Tuesday’s encounter was the first meeting between these teams this season. San Francisco won five of the seven matchups a year ago and is 10-6 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (42-42) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (37-47), 2:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Cole Hamels (9-4, 3.87) Houston - Chris Sampson (6-5, 4.15)
The Philadelphia Phillies will try to salvage the finale of a three-game series against the Houston Astros this afternoon at Minute Maid Park.
Philadelphia dropped the opener of this set on Monday by a 7-5 score before losing last night’s second test in 13 innings. Relief pitcher Jose Mesa’s first pitch in the bottom of the 13th was deposited into the stands in left field by Astros rookie center fielder Hunter Pence, giving Houston a 5-4 victory.
Michael Bourn went 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored while Ryan Howard knocked in a pair of runs for the Phillies, who have lost five of six and still sit five games behind the National League East-leading New York Mets. Atlanta is second at four games off the pace.
Philadelphia starter Adam Eaton gave three runs and four hits over six innings of work.
Phillies All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels is in the midst of a rough stretch, as he has posted an 0-2 mark with a 6.92 ERA over the last three trips to the hill.
Hamels, who is 9-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 17 outings this season, will take the ball today in Houston and was beaten by the New York Mets his last time out on Friday. Hamels gave up three runs and five hits in five innings of a 5-2 setback at Citizens Bank Park.
The left-hander is 4-2 in nine road starts in 2007.
Hamels faced Houston on April 14 of this season and recorded the victory, as he surrendered five runs in six innings of an 8-5 win. In three career starts against the Astros, Hamels is 2-0 with a 3.74 earned run average.
Houston will shoot for its fourth straight win and first series sweep since taking all three games from the Seattle Mariners at home from June 15-17. Last night Pence finished 3-for-6 and Matt Albers pitched two shutout innings to pick up the win for the Astros, who took advantage of a questionable call in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
Phillies reliever Antonio Alfonseca came on to close things out with his team leading 4-3 in the ninth. Craig Biggio singled to left with one out and Pence followed with a bloop base-hit to center to put runners on the corners.
Alfonseca walked Lance Berkman to load the bases and then got Carlos Lee to ground into a potential game-ending double play. Jimmy Rollins tossed the ball to Chase Utley to get the out at second and Utley’s throw to first appeared to beat Lee. However, first base umpire Tim Welke ruled Lee safe as Biggio scored to tie the game at 4-4.
Astros starter Roy Oswalt was tagged for four runs on 10 hits through seven innings for the no decision.
Houston will hand the ball to Chris Sampson on Wednesday afternoon and he is 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) this season.
Sampson is unbeaten over his last six starts, with four straight no decisions. In his last outing on Friday against Colorado, Sampson lasted 5 2/3 innings and yielded seven runs during a 9-8 win over the Rockies.
The right-hander, who is 3-1 in eight home starts this season, lost to the Phillies on April 23. Sampson gave up seven runs in four innings as the Astros dropped an 11-4 decision.
Sampson is 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in three career games (two starts) against Philadelphia.
Despite the two recent losses, the Phillies are still 6-5 in their last 11 matchups with the Astros.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (48-35) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (36-47), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Claudio Vargas (6-1, 4.29) Pittsburgh - Ian Snell (6-5, 2.90)
Dominican right-hander Claudio Vargas will try to stay unbeaten against the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon when the Milwaukee Brewers visit PNC Park for the third game in a four-game series.
Vargas, a 29-year-old, is 4-0 in seven career appearances - six starts - against the Pirates with a 1.54 earned run average in 41 innings. He’s beaten them twice in 2007 alone, allowing a combined nine hits and one earned run in 12 innings.
He’s unbeaten overall since May 26, when he dropped a 6-3 decision to San Diego. He’s gone 3-0 with a save in six subsequent outings, but got a no- decision in an 11-5 Brewers defeat of Houston after allowing four earned runs in five innings.
Vargas is 2-1 with a save in seven appearances on the road in 2007.
Delaware native Ian Snell has pitched at least six innings in seven straight starts, during which he’s gone just 2-3.
He got a no-decision against Washington on June 29, allowing five hits and two runs in seven innings, walking none and striking out five.
Snell is 3-0 with a 3.86 earned run average in four lifetime appearances - three starts - against the Brewers, and is 5-2 in eight starts a home this season.
On Tuesday, Jack Wilson went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored as the Pirates knocked off the Brewers, 6-2.
Ronny Paulino, despite having no hits, drove in a pair of runs while Rajai Davis went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Pirates, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Shane Youman (1-0) got his first major league win as he gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings of work. Youman replaced full-time starter Zach Duke, who is sidelined with a sore left elbow and will visit Dr. James Andrews for an examination on Friday.
Kevin Mench hit a solo home run and Ryan Braun drove in the other run for the Brewers, who had won five of seven coming into the contest. Johnny Estrada went 3-for-4 in the loss.
Chris Capuano started but lasted just 3 1/3 innings and was charged with two runs on five hits. Yovani Gallardo (1-1) was saddled with the loss as he gave up four runs on five hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work.
Milwaukee has won six of eight 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.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (47-38) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (37-43), 7:15 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Livan Hernandez (5-5, 4.58) St. Louis - Brad Thompson (6-3, 4.88)
Livan Hernandez will try to help the Arizona Diamondbacks to their second straight win when they continue a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Busch Stadium.
Hernandez is 5-5 with a 4.58 earned run average over 17 starts this season, but 0-3 in his last six starts. He posted a no decision his last time out on Friday against San Francisco, allowing three runs and nine hits through eight innings of an eventual Arizona 4-3 victory.
The veteran righty is 2-4 in nine road starts this season and 5-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 15 career starts against St. Louis.
Arizona ended a three-game losing streak with Wednesday’s 7-1 win in the second installment of this series. Chris Young homered and Chad Tracy and Mark Reynolds hit back-to-back blasts in the third inning for the Diamondbacks, who are 1 1/2 games behind San Diego for the lead in the National League West standings.
Spot starter Yusmeiro Petit pitched into the sixth inning to pick up the victory in place of the injured Randy Johnson, who landed back on the disabled list because of a nagging back problem. Petit, who was recalled from Triple-A Tucson prior to the game, threw 5 1/3 innings and gave up just one run on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks for his second career win.
The Cardinals will hand the ball to Bard Thompson tonight and he is 6-3 with a 4.88 ERA in 26 games (nine starts) this season.
Thompson, who is 2-1 in his previous four outings, did not factor in the outcome his last time out on Friday against Cincinnati. He was reached for a pair of runs in six innings of a 4-2 victory over the Reds.
The right-hander is 0-0 with a 4.50 earned run average in three career relief appearances against the Diamondbacks.
Albert Pujols hit three singles in last night’s loss and Scott Rolen knocked in the only run for the Cardinals, who had won three of four coming in. Starter Todd Wellemeyer was tagged with the loss after yielding six runs — four earned — on seven hits through three innings of work.
St. Louis is 9 1/2 games off the top spot in the NL Central division.
Arizona and St. Louis are meeting for the first time this season after the D’Backs went 4-3 in the 2006 series.
NEW YORK METS (46-36) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (41-43), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Orlando Hernandez (4-3, 2.78) Colorado - Josh Fogg (3-6, 5.31)
The Colorado Rockies aim for their second consecutive sweep of a New York team tonight, when they play the finale of a three-game series versus the Mets at Coors Field.
Colorado, whose last sweep was against the Yankees at home from June 19-21, has won the first two games of this set in convincing fashion. The Rockies took the opener on Tuesday, 6-2, before recording an 11-3 rout last night.
Garrett Atkins belted a two-run homer and Ryan Spilborghs connected for his first career grand slam as the Rockies pulled within seven games of the top spot in the National League West division.
Atkins ended 2-for-4 with three RBI and former Met Kaz Matsui ended 5-for-5 with two runs scored for Colorado, which has won three of four overall and four in a row at Coors Field. Willy Taveras added three hits and scored three times and Yorvit Torrealba homered in the winning cause.
Rockies All-Star Matt Holliday finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and is riding a 23-game hitting streak at home.
Colorado starting pitcher Aaron Cook got the win, his first in seven starts. The right-hander allowed three runs — two earned — on seven hits over eight innings. He had gone 0-4 in six starts since his last win on May 26.
Toeing the rubber for the Rockies tonight will be Josh Fogg, who is 3-6 with a 5.31 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) this season.
Fogg is 0-1 in two starts since going 2-0 over his past four outings. He did not record a decision his last time out on Friday against Houston, giving up seven runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. The Rockies lost the game by a 9-8 score.
The right-hander defeated the Mets on April 25 with seven innings of three-run ball during an 11-5 victory. Fogg is 1-3 with a 6.00 earned run average in six career starts against the Mets.
New York is still four games ahead of second-place Atlanta and five games in front of Philadelphia in the NL East division. Both the Braves and Phillies lost on Tuesday night.
In Tuesday’s loss, Ramon Castro homered and ended 2-for-3 while David Wright drove in a run for the Mets, who have lost three straight. Carlos Delgado went 2-for-4 as New York fell to 3-3 on its current 11-game road trip.
New York starting pitcher Jason Vargas, who was spot starting for the injured Oliver Perez, suffered the loss. The left-hander was charged with nine runs on 11 hits, striking out two and walking two, in 3 1/3 innings.
Vargas was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans after Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a sore lower back.
Orlando Hernandez gets the nod for the Mets and will try for back-to-back wins this evening. Hernandez, who is 4-3 with a 2.78 earned run average in 12 starts this season, was 0-2 in four previous starts before winning his last outing on Friday against Philadelphia.
The right-hander permitted two runs in six innings of a 6-5 win over the division-rival Phillies.
Hernandez faced Colorado on April 24 and posted a no decision. He pitched seven shutout innings and allowed four hits in an eventual 2-1 victory over the Rockies at Shea Stadium.
In five career starts against the Rockies, “El Duque” is 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA.
New York took two of three games against the Rockies from April 23-25 of this season at Shea Stadium. The Mets are 16-8 over the last 24 matchups with Colorado.
FLORIDA MARLINS (39-45) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (47-35), 9:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Josh Johnson (0-3, 10.97) San Diego - Chris Young (8-3, 2.14)
Chris Young makes his final case for inclusion on the National League All-Star team when he takes the mound for the San Diego Padres in tonight’s encounter with the Florida Marlins from Petco Park.
Young was not one of the 11 pitchers named to the NL squad for the upcoming Midsummer Classic on Sunday, despite having held opposing hitters to a league- best .197 batting average and currently ranking third among senior-circuit hurlers with a 2.14 earned run average.
The towering right-hander is one of five candidates eligible for the last available spot on the NL roster, which will be determined via fan balloting this week. According to Major League Baseball’s official site, Young owned a slim lead in the voting through Tuesday.
Young has been on an incredible run over the last six weeks. He has posted a 4-0 record and a microscopic 1.25 ERA in eight starts since his latest defeat, a May 12 setback to St. Louis. Only twice during that span has he surrendered more than one run.
The Princeton University product is coming off a winning effort Friday in Los Angeles, where he held the rival Dodgers to two runs and struck out nine over six strong innings.
Young has also been outstanding at home this season, as he brings a 3-1 record and 0.94 ERA in seven Petco Park starts into tonight’s matchup. The 28-year- old has excelled in two career outings against Florida as well, both of which came last season. Young won both of those starts and gave up only one run to the Marlins in 12 combined innings.
He will be attempting to get his club back on track after a 6-4 loss to the Marlins on Tuesday. Florida scored four times in the seventh inning to erase a two-run deficit and win for only the third time in its last 10 games.
Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez did not start the contest after injuring his hamstring in Monday’s loss to the Padres. However, the budding young superstar slammed a pinch-hit two-run homer off Greg Maddux to tie the game in the top of the seventh.
Alfredo Amezaga finished 2-for-5 for Florida and scored the go-ahead run on a Royce Ring wild pitch later in the frame.
Justin Miller (3-0) picked up the win after recording the final out in the bottom of the sixth, while Renyel Pinto and Matt Lindstrom each threw scoreless innings before Kevin Gregg notched his 16th save with a perfect ninth.
Marlins starter Scott Olsen allowed four runs on eight hits over the first 5 2/3 innings.
Khalil Greene had a two-run homer for San Diego, which enters tonight’s play tied with the Dodgers for first place in the NL West. Brian Giles also knocked in a pair of runs with a second-inning single.
Maddux (7-5) failed in his attempt for win No. 341, as the four-time Cy Young Award winner yielded 10 hits and six runs while fanning five over 6 1/3 innings.
Florida’s Josh Johnson will try again to get untracked when the young righty makes his fourth start off an extended stay on the disabled list this evening.
Johnson missed the first 2 1/2 months of the season with a nerve problem in his right arm and has struggled to regain the form that made him a 12-game winner as a rookie last year. The 23-year-old has lost all three of his games since returning to action and has allowed 17 runs (13 earned), 22 hits and 12 walks in only 10 2/3 innings of work.
He did make some strides in his last start, however, as Johnson worked a season-best four innings and struck out six Atlanta hitters while surrendering a pair of runs in Friday’s 12-3 defeat to the Braves.
This will be Johnson’s first career start against San Diego, although he did face the Padres twice as a reliever in April of 2006. He allowed just one unearned run over two innings in those games.
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 (43-41) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (48-36), 9:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Chuck James (7-7, 4.08) Los Angeles - Mark Hendrickson (2-3, 4.08)
The Los Angeles Dodgers shoot for their fourth straight win when they resume a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves this evening at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles salvaged the finale of a three-game series with San Diego on Sunday before winning the first two tests of this series against Atlanta. In Tuesday’s 7-6 win at Chavez Ravine, Matt Kemp’s RBI single in the seventh inning put the Dodgers ahead for good and atop the National League West standings with the Padres.
Wilson Betemit had three hits, including a homer, and drove in four runs against his former team. Dodgers starter Randy Wolf gave up five hits and six runs over three innings, while reliever Rudy Seanez picked up the victory by tossing the seventh inning.
Mark Hendrickson will make his first start since May 31 tonight when he takes the ball for the Dodgers. He is 2-3 with a 4.08 ERA in 19 games (eight starts) this season.
In his last trip to the mound in late May against Washington, Hendrickson suffered the loss as he yielded five runs in 4 1/3 innings of an 11-4 setback.
The lanky left-hander has made one appearance against Atlanta and suffered the loss. Hendrickson was reached for eight hits and four runs in eight innings of work during a 4-1 loss on June 25 of the 2006 season.
Atlanta has dropped three in a row after a five-game winning streak. It lost the finale of a three-game series with Florida on Sunday, then suffered setback in the first two games of this set with LA. Last night Brian McCann hit a home run and knocked in three for the Braves, who are still four games behind the New York Mets for the lead in the NL East standings.
The Braves will go with Chuck James in Wednesday’s third installment and he is 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA in 17 games this season.
James is 2-1 in his last three outings and beat Florida on June 29, yielding just one run in 6 2/3 frames of a 12-3 victory.
The righty, who is 5-3 in 10 road starts this season, made one career appearance against Los Angeles and struck out two batters with a pair of walks in two relief innings of a 5-4 loss on April 4 last season.
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.
