Thursday, July 5th (All times eastern)
MINNESOTA TWINS (43-40) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (39-42), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Kevin Slowey (3-0, 5.13) New York - Kei Igawa (2-2, 6.91)
Kevin Slowey tries to remain perfect in his major league career this afternoon when the Minnesota Twins conclude their four-game set against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Slowey, who will be making his first-ever appearance against the Yankees, has yet to lose any of his six major league starts, going 3-0 with a 5.13 earned run average. His latest win came Saturday against Detroit, as he held the Tigers to four runs and nine hits in six innings.
New York will counter with Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, who is 2-2 with a 6.91 ERA. Igawa, who has never faced the Twins, suffered his first loss since returning from the minors on Saturday against Oakland, which ripped him for four runs and five hits — three home runs — in 6 1/3 frames.
In the third game of this set Wednesday, Jason Kubel’s seventh-inning two- run homer gave Minnesota the lead and the Twins went on to beat New York 6-2 and spoil Yankees’ owner George Steinbrenner’s 77th birthday celebration.
Johan Santana (10-6) got the win, his fourth straight, allowing just two runs on four hits over seven innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two, combining with Pat Neshek and Joe Nathan on the four-hitter. The trio also worked together to set down the final 16 New York batters in order.
Luis Rodriguez also hit a two-run homer for Minnesota, which rebounded after losing the first two games of this series. Justin Morneau had two hits and drove in a run and Torii Hunter went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Twins, who ended a three-game slide.
Hideki Matsui homered and Andy Phillips drove in a run for the Yankees, who lost for the 10th time in 14 outings. Derek Jeter ended 1-for-4 with a run scored for New York, which fell to 3-3 on its current 10-game homestand.
New York starting pitcher Mike Mussina (4-6) suffered his third loss in four starts, allowing four runs — three earned — on five hits in six-plus innings. The right-hander, who struck out five and didn’t walk a batter, has not allowed more than three earned runs over his last six starts, but has just a 2-3 record to show for it.
The Yankees took two of three from the Twins earlier this season and hold a slight 10-8 edge in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. Minnesota has also won just three times in its last 18 regular season visits to the Bronx since the start of the 2002 season.
CLEVELAND INDIANS (51-33) AT DETROIT TIGERS (48-34), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cleveland - C.C. Sabathia (12-2, 3.20) Detroit - Justin Verlander (9-3, 3.18)
A starting assignment at next week’s All-Star game may be on the line this afternoon when C.C. Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians close a three-game series against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Sabathia has arguably been the best pitcher in the league this season, posting a 12-2 mark to go along with a 3.20 earned run average. He won his third straight start Saturday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in seven innings.
The 26-year-old left-hander, who leads the majors in wins, defeated the Tigers earlier in the season and is 12-7 lifetime against them with a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts.
Verlander, meanwhile, has shown no signs of a sophomore slump, as he is putting up better numbers than his AL Rookie of the Year campaign from a year ago and has a no-hitter this season to boot.
The 24-year-old righty, though had a four-start winning streak stopped in his last start on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, as he surrendered six runs and four hits in five innings. Verlander also walked five batters to fall to 9-3 on the year, while raising his ERA to 3.18.
Verlander is 2-3 lifetime against the Indians with a 5.97 ERA in six starts.
Detroit cut into the Indians’ lead in the AL Central in the second game of this pivotal series on Wednesday, as Carlos Guillen and Ivan Rodriguez hit back-to- back triples in the seventh inning, and Kenny Rogers won for the third time in as many starts this season to lead the Tigers to a 6-4 win.
Carlos Guillen had three hits with an RBI and scored for Detroit, which bounced back from a 5-4 loss in 11 innings in the opener to climb within two game of the first-place Indians in the AL Central.
Rogers (3-0), who has been dominant since returning from surgery to remove a blood clot in his throwing shoulder, allowed seven hits and two runs — one earned — over 5 1/3 innings. His ERA is 1.04 through his three starts.
Brandon Inge drove in two runs and Todd Jones threw the final inning for his 21st save and 200th as a member of the Tigers.
Travis Hafner belted a two-run homer for the Indians, who had a six-game winning streak broken.
Jake Westbrook (1-4) gave up 10 hits and five runs over six innings to suffer the loss.
The Indians have won six of their nine meetings with the Tigers this season, including four of five in the Motor City. Detroit had won 13 of the 19 matchups a year ago. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (33-49) AT BOSTON RED SOX (51-31), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - J.P. Howell (1-2, 5.19) Boston - Josh Beckett (11-2, 3.38)
Josh Beckett makes his final case to be the American League’s starting pitcher at next week’s All-Star Game when the Boston Red Sox conclude a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Fenway Park.
Beckett has been brilliant for the Red Sox this season, going 11-2 with a 3.38 earned run average. However, he enters tonight’s tilt on a sour note after falling to the Texas Rangers in his last start on Saturday. Beckett surrendered five runs and 10 hits over five innings of that one.
The 27-year-old right-hander is 1-2 in his career against the Devil Rays with a 5.03 ERA in three starts.
Tampa will counter with righty J.P. Howell, who is winless in his last five starts. Howell was tagged with the loss on Saturday against Cleveland, as he allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings to fall to 1-2 on the season, while raising his ERA to 5.19.
Howell received a no-decision in his only other start against the Red Sox, yielding five runs (four earned) on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Boston added to Tampa’s misery on Wednesday, as Mike Lowell hit a two-run home run and Doug Mirabelli knocked in a pair of runs to lead the Red Sox to a 7-5 win.
Lowell also scored twice and J.D. Drew contributed with two doubles and an RBI for the Red Sox, who have won three in a row and four of their last six.
Tim Wakefield (9-8) earned the win despite struggling at times. The knuckleballer gave up four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out a pair and walked two. Jonathan Papelbon came in for the ninth to earn his 20th save of the season.
Carl Crawford finished 3-for-5 with a two-run double and scored a run and Carlos Pena drove in a pair for Tampa, which has dropped 10 straight.
Edwin Jackson (1-9) struggled through five innings of work, surrendering seven runs on nine hits, while striking out five and walking one.
Since the start of the 2004 campaign Boston holds a 39-20 advantage in the series, including an impressive 26-5 mark in Beantown during that time. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (37-47) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (36-45), 8:11 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Brian Burres (4-2, 3.38) Chicago - John Danks (4-6, 4.43)
A pair of rookie left-handers will go head-to-head as the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles conclude a four-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.
Youngster John Danks will attempt to match a stellar performance in his last outing when he takes the mound for the White Sox, while Baltimore southpaw Brian Burres looks to build off an impressive start of his own in this evening’s finale.
Danks worked a career-best eight innings Saturday in Kansas City and limited the Royals to one run and four hits while recording six strikeouts. The 22- year-old failed to get much help from his offense, however, and wound up without a decision on the night.
Wins have been hard to come by for the 22-year-old as of late for Danks, who has registered just one victory over his last seven starts. He is 1-2 with a 5.30 earned run average during that span.
This will be Danks’ first career appearance against the Orioles.
Burres also amassed a career high for innings pitched in his last mound trip. The Oregon native went 7 2/3 innings against the Angels on Saturday and allowed three runs on five hits to win his third consecutive decision.
The 26-year-old has not lost since a May 16 setback at Toronto and owns a 2-1 record with a strong 2.78 ERA in seven road games this season, five of which have been starts. Burres has also never previously faced Chicago.
Baltimore also sent out a rookie lefty in Wednesday’s matchup with the White Sox, as Garret Olson made his major-league debut. The recent callup allowed two runs over the first 4 1/3 innings in a 9-6 Orioles victory.
The O’s pounded out 14 hits on the evening, with Jay Gibbons leading the charge with a 2-for-4, three-RBI game that included his fourth homer of the season. All-Star Brian Roberts contributed three hits and two runs scored in the winning effort.
Baltimore’s Kevin Millar finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and has now hit safely in nine straight games.
Rob Bell (2-1) was credited with the win, Baltimore’s second over the first three games of this series, after yielding one run in 1 2/3 innings in relief of Olsen, who walked five and fanned four in his first career start.
Jose Contreras (5-10) took the loss after surrendering six runs on eight hits over five innings of work.
Rob Mackowiak belted a three-run homer in the ninth inning for Chicago, which had won seven of nine coming in. Josh Fields added a solo shot in the loss.
Baltimore will be aiming for its first series win in Chicago since the club took two of three games from June 29-July 1, 2001. The White Sox are 16-8 against the Orioles since the start of the 2004 campaign and have won 10 of the last 14 matchups between the squads.
LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (51-32) AT TEXAS RANGERS (35-48), 8:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Kelvim Escobar (9-3, 3.32) Texas - Robinson Tejeda (5-7, 6.69)
Kelvim Escobar makes his final case for inclusion on the American League All-Star team when he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as they try to avoid a sweep in tonight’s finale of a three- game series with the host Texas Rangers.
Escobar was not one of the 11 pitchers named to the AL squad for the upcoming Midsummer Classic on Sunday, despite putting up some of the best numbers of his career. In 15 starts this season, Escobar is 9-3 with a 3.32 earned run average.
The right-hander, though, is one of five candidates eligible for the last available spot on the AL roster, which will be determined via fan balloting this week. However, according to Major League Baseball’s official site, Escobar is trailing in the voting.
Escobar did not help his cause any in his last start on Friday against Baltimore when he had his worst outing of the season. He surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 frames of that one.
The 31-year-old hurler defeated the Rangers earlier this season and is 3-8 lifetime against them with three saves and a 4.45 ERA in 30 games, 12 of which have been starts.
Texas will counter with right-hander Robinson Tejeda, who is 5-7 with a 6.69 ERA this season. Tejeda received a no-decision for the third straight start on Saturday against Boston, as he surrendered four runs and five hits in four innings of his team’s 5-4 win.
Tejeda has faced the Angels three times in his career and is 1-1 against them with a 3.18 ERA in three starts.
In the second game of this series on Wednesday, Marlon Byrd finished 3-for-3 with a double, drove in a run and scored as Texas topped the Angels, 4-2. Frank Catalanotto went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored for the Rangers, who have won four of five.
Jamey Wright (2-2) allowed two runs and five hits over six-plus innings, and Eric Gagne hurled a perfect final inning for his 11th save.
Jered Weaver (6-5) gave up seven hits and three runs over five-plus innings for the Angels, losers of two straight and six of eight. Vladimir Guerrero knocked in a run and Chone Figgins collected a pair of hits in defeat.
Despite this series, the Angels have had success against the Rangers so far this year, winning six of the nine meetings. The Rangers have not swept the Angels since taking three games from them at home September 21-23, 2001. SEATTLE MARINERS (46-35) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (43-41), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Miguel Batista (8-6, 4.63) Oakland - Chad Gaudin (7-3, 2.92)
Two American League West contenders will close out their respective first halves of the season with a four-game series beginning tonight at Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum, where the Athletics will try to gain ground on the Seattle Mariners in the division standings.
Oakland enters this set 4 1/2 games behind the second-place Mariners, with both clubs currently looking up at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Seattle trails the division-leading Angels by 3 1/2 games at the moment.
The Athletics dominated the 2006 series with the Mariners, taking 17 of the 19 matchups between the rivals and winning all nine encounters that took place at the Coliseum. Seattle has had the upper hand so far this year, however, as the Mariners have won four of the five 2007 showdowns with Oakland.
The Mariners swept a two-game set at McAfee Coliseum back in April but are just 8-22 as the visitor in this series since 2004.
It’s been a turbulent week so far for Seattle, as manager Mike Hargrove unexpectedly announced his resignation on Sunday and the club proceeded to lose two of three games to the lowly Kansas City Royals under interim skipper John McLaren.
The Mariners averted a sweep, though, behind a terrific performance out of Jarrod Washburn on Thursday. The veteran lefty took a shutout into the ninth inning to lead Seattle to a 4-0 triumph over the Royals.
Washburn (8-6) held Kansas City to only four hits through the first eight frames before yielding a single to Esteban German and walking Mark Teahen. J.J. Putz then entered to earn his 24th save of the season, with the All-Star closer inducing a game-ending double-play grounder off the bat of Alex Gordon.
All of Seattle’s runs came in the first inning, with Jose Guillen delivering a two-RBI single and Adrian Beltre sending two more men home with a double later on.
Guillen and Beltre each finished 3-for-4 for the Mariners, who won for the ninth time in their last 11 games.
Oakland dropped two of three tests at home to Toronto prior to this series, with the Blue Jays coming through with a 10-3 rout in Thursday’s rubber match.
Jack Cust had a two-run double for Oakland and Dan Johnson added an RBI single in defeat.
A’s starter Joe Kennedy (2-7) failed to get out of the first inning, with the left-hander surrendering four runs and walking four batters before being lifted.
The Athletics should get a better showing on the mound tonight, as scheduled starter Chad Gaudin has emerged as one of the AL’s better pitchers during a breakthrough 2007 campaign.
Gaudin currently ranks fourth in the AL with a 2.92 earned run average and delivered a dominating performance at Yankee Stadium in his most recent start. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and gave up only a Johnny Damon single and three walks over seven shutout frames to defeat New York on Saturday.
The 24-year-old halted a four-start winless streak and had lost back-to-back appearances prior to Saturday’s triumph.
Gaudin has not faced Seattle yet this season but is 1-0 with a 5.89 ERA in nine career games (two starts) against tonight’s opponent.
The Mariners counter with veteran Miguel Batista, who was also sharp in his last trip to the hill. The Dominican native limited Toronto to one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings to lead Seattle to an 8-3 decision last Saturday.
This will be Batista’s third start versus Oakland this season. He was rocked for eight runs and 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings of work to lose his 2007 debut on April 4, but rebounded to defeat the A’s at the Coliseum later that month. The 36-year-old allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings in that game.
For his career Batista is 3-3 with a 6.31 ERA in 15 games, including eight starts, against Oakland. MILWAUKEE BREWERS (48-36) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (37-47), 12:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Ben Sheets (10-3, 3.19) Pittsburgh - Tom Gorzelanny (8-4, 3.05)
Red-hot right-hander Ben Sheets goes for a seventh straight winning decision when the first-place Milwaukee Brewers wrap up a four-game series with their National League Central rival Pittsburgh Pirates today at PNC Park.
Sheets, who fell to 4-3 on the season with a loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 22, has since gone 6-0 with a no decision in seven starts for the Brewers, who defeated the Chicago Cubs 13-4 in his last outing on Saturday.
The 28-year-old, a first-round pick in 1999, has gone six innings in all but one start of those seven and has surrendered three earned runs or less six times during his unbeaten stretch.
Sheets, a member of this year’s National League All-Star squad, is 6-7 with a 2.90 earned run average in 19 lifetime starts against the Pirates. He is currently tied with fellow All-Stars Brad Penny and Cole Hamels, along with Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano, for the NL lead in victories. Penny will also take the mound today in search of his 11th win of the season.
Tom Gorzelanny has been a bright spot in a dismal season for Pittsburgh, winning two straight decisions since a 6-0 loss against Texas on June 14. The young lefty goes for his ninth victory of the 2007 campaign in today’s finale.
He defeated Washington his last time out by allowing five hits and two runs in seven innings. In three starts since the loss to the Rangers, the 2003 second- round pick has given up 20 hits and seven earned runs in 20 1/3 innings.
Gorzelanny is one of five candidates eligible for the final spot on the NL All-Star team that will determined by fan balloting this week.
He is 1-0 in three appearances - two starts - against the Brewers in his career, posting a 1.84 ERA in 14 2/3 innings.
On Wednesday, Ryan Doumit and Adam LaRoche each belted two-run home runs as the Pirates beat the Brewers, 5-3.
Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell (7-5) went eight innings, allowing three runs on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Matt Capps pitched the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.
LaRoche scored twice for the Pirates, who have won six of nine — including the last two games of this set — since losing five in a row.
Ryan Braun homered and had three RBI for the Brewers, who have lost three of four. Milwaukee fell to 13-25 all-time on July 4, the worst record among active teams with at least 20 games played on Independence Day.
Brewers starter Claudio Vargas (6-2) was tagged for five runs on six hits in six frames.
Milwaukee has won six of nine from the Pirates this season after the Bucs took nine of 16 against the Brewers in 2006. The Brewers also dropped seven of 10 in the Steel City a year ago. FLORIDA MARLINS (39-46) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (48-35), 3:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Byung-Hyun Kim (3-4, 5.19) San Diego - Jake Peavy (9-2, 2.09)
Less than 24 hours after being shut out by the San Diego Padres, the Florida Marlins face another stern challenge on the mound when they wrap up a four-game series with the current National League West leaders this afternoon at Petco Park.
The Marlins will take their swings today at San Diego ace Jake Peavy, a leading candidate to start for the NL in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. The standout right-hander has built a strong case for the assignment, as Peavy ranks second in the league in strikeouts (119) and third in earned run average (2.09) to go along with a 9-2 record.
Peavy is winless over his two most recent starts, although he held the Dodgers to just one run and five hits in seven innings this past Saturday. The 26- year-old was matched up against fellow All-Star Brad Penny in that game, with neither hurler factoring in the decision of an eventual 3-1 San Diego win.
Los Angeles’ only run in that contest came on a solo homer by Nomar Garciaparra. It was just the second home run allowed by Peavy in 112 innings of work this season.
Peavy hopes to duplicate his May 6 outing against the Marlins at Dolphin Stadium, when he limited Florida to one unearned run and just one hit while racking up 10 strikeouts in seven innings to lead the Padres to a 3-1 victory. He is 3-3 with a 3.03 ERA in six career starts against the Marlins.
Florida mustered only six hits in Wednesday’s 1-0 setback to San Diego, with the Padres’ Mike Cameron scoring the game’s only run on an error by Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Cameron opened the frame with a double off Matt Lindstrom (1-3), who then walked Khalil Greene intentionally before Hiram Bocachica dropped down a bunt single to load the bases. Kevin Kouzmanoff then hit a ground ball to Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who fired the ball home to force out Cameron. However, Olivo dropped the throw as Cameron slid into the plate.
Padres starter Chris Young, one of five candidates eligible for the final spot on the NL All-Star team, helped his cause with seven shutout innings of work. The towering right-hander yielded just five hits and struck out nine to lower his season ERA to 2.00, which is tied with Penny for tops in the league.
Josh Johnson worked the first five frames for Florida before being removed with stiffness in his right forearm. The young pitcher, who missed the first 2 1/2 months of the season with a nerve problem in his throwing arm, was placed back on the disabled list following the game.
Padres reliever Heath Bell (2-2) earned the victory after tossing a scoreless top of the ninth.
Byung-Hyun Kim will take the mound for Florida in today’s finale and is coming off one of his best starts in a Marlins uniform. The Korean righty gave up only one run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings against Atlanta on Saturday, but did not factor in the decision of his team’s 6-5 defeat.
Kim has posted a 2-2 record and 4.50 ERA in nine games (eight starts) since being acquired from Colorado in mid-May.
The converted reliever has faced San Diego 26 times over the course of his career, with all but one of those outings coming out of the bullpen. Kim is 3-2 with six saves and a 3.55 ERA lifetime against the Padres.
San Diego has taken two of the first three games of this set and is 4-2 against the Marlins so far this season. The clubs split six meetings last year. CHICAGO CUBS (42-41) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (34-50), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Sean Marshall (4-3, 3.50) Washington - Jason Bergmann (1-5, 3.47)
The Washington Nationals will try for a series split when they close out a four-game set versus the Chicago Cubs this evening at RFK Stadium.
After losing the first two games of this series, the Nationals bounced back with a 6-0 victory in Wednesday’s third test. Starter Matt Chico combined with Saul Rivera and Ray King on a five-hit shutout, with Chico holding the Cubs to four hits through seven innings for the win.
All-Star Dmitri Young went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and Ryan Zimmerman also homered for the Nationals, who are still last in the National League East division.
Washington will send Jason Bergmann to the mound in Thursday’s series finale and he is 1-5 with a 3.47 ERA in 10 starts this season. Bergmann has dropped back-to-back starts, including Saturday’s appearance against Pittsburgh. He was reached for six runs in four innings of a 7-2 setback to the Pirates.
Bergmann faced the Cubs for the first time in his career on May 4 and was saddled with the loss. The right-hander gave up five runs — four earned — and eight hits over six innings during a 6-4 defeat.
Chicago, meanwhile, had won 10 of 11 games entering Wednesday’s matinee at RFK Stadium. However, starter Rich Hill was rocked for 10 hits and six runs in six innings of work.
Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Theriot each doubled in the shutout loss for the Cubs, who had a five-game winning streak against Washington come to an end.
Taking the ball for the Cubs tonight will be Sean Marshall, who is 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA in eight starts this season. Marshall had been 4-0 in a five-start stretch before getting rocked in his last outing on Saturday against Milwaukee.
Marshall was tagged for seven runs — six earned — on seven hits through a season-low two innings of work in a 13-4 blowout loss to the Brewers. The left-hander, however, is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two career starts against the Nationals.
Chicago swept a three-game set from the Nats earlier in the season and is 11-13 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Cubs have lost six of their last eight games in DC, however. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (36-46) AT CINCINNATI REDS (32-52), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Matt Morris (7-4, 3.25) Cincinnati - Bronson Arroyo (2-9, 4.89)
Right-hander Bronson Arroyo tries again tonight for his first win since early May when the Cincinnati Reds host the San Francisco Giants in the finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
The 30-year-old native of Key West, FL has dropped seven straight decisions while seeing his earned run average climb from the low two’s to 4.89. Arroyo tossed seven innings of one-run ball in his last outing, but got a no-decision as the hapless Reds dropped a 4-2 decision to St. Louis on June 29.
Arroyo is 1-3 in five career appearances — four starts — against the Giants, posting a 4.62 ERA in 25 1/3 innings.
He’s also 1-3 at home in 2007 with a 6.25 ERA in 44 2/3 innings.
Former Cardinals ace Matt Morris tries to snap a three-start winless drought for the Giants tonight.
The former first-round draft pick in 1995 has picked up a loss and two no- decisions since his last win on June 11 against Toronto. In the three outings since, he’s been tagged for 32 hits and 13 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings for a 7.01 earned run average.
Morris is 8-5 against the Reds in 21 appearances — 19 starts — with a 3.85 ERA.
On Wednesday, Fred Lewis belted a grand slam, while Ray Durham and Rich Aurilia hit back-to-back solo shots as the Giants topped the Reds, 9-5.
Matt Cain (3-9) had a rough outing, giving up nine hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and two walks, but still earned his first win since May 13. Cain, who has taken some hard-luck losses during the eight-start winless streak, received seven runs of support, a marked change from his last few starts in which the Giants managed only three runs over the last 28 2/3 innings Cain toed the mound.
The slam capped a three-hit day for the rookie Lewis. Mark Sweeney also homered for the Giants, who have won three of four and broke a seven-game road losing skid.
The day after belting career homer No. 751, Barry Bonds did not play for the Giants due to sore legs, and is five homers away from breaking Hank Aaron’s all-time mark of 755 home runs.
Matt Belisle (5-6) lasted only four innings, giving up five runs on six hits with no strikeouts and no walks. Ken Griffey Jr. was 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run for the Reds, who left 10 runners on base and have dropped two of three.
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 11-6 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (47-39) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (38-43), 7:15 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Doug Davis (5-9, 4.29) St. Louis - Adam Wainwright (6-7, 4.81)
The Arizona Diamondbacks will try for a series split with the St. Louis Cardinals when they play the finale of a four-game set this evening at Busch Stadium.
Arizona has lost four of five and seven of 10, including Wednesday’s 5-4 setback in the third installment of this set. Arizona starting pitcher Livan Hernandez and Miguel Montero each hit a two-run homers, while Hernandez went allowed three runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work for the no decision.
Montero went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Stephen Drew and Eric Byrnes both ended with two hits for the Diamondbacks, who fell 2 1/2 games off the pace in the National League West standings.
Doug Davis will take the ball for Arizona in tonight’s series finale and is 5-9 with a 4.29 ERA in 17 starts this season.
Davis is just 1-3 in his last five outings and lost his last start on Saturday against San Francisco. He was reached for four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Giants.
The left-hander, who is 2-7 in nine road starts this season, is 4-4 with a 4.92 earned run average in 11 career games (10 starts) against St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals have won three of their last four games. In Wednesday’s victory over the D’backs, Juan Encarnacion and Scott Rolen hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the eighth inning to put St. Louis ahead.
Chris Duncan and Brendan Ryan each homered for the Cardinals, who are 8 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the NL Central standings.
St. Louis starter Brad Thompson allowed four runs on seven hits over seven frames in the no decision. Ryan Franklin earned the win by hurling a scoreless eighth before Jason Isringhausen pitched a shutout ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances.
The Cardinals will send Adam Wainwright to the rubber this evening and he owns a 6-7 record with a 4.81 ERA in 16 starts in 2007.
Wainwright has alternated wins and losses over his last five decisions and dropped his last start on Saturday against Cincinnati. He yielded five runs and five hits through five innings of a 5-1 loss.
The right-hander has made three career relief appearances against the Diamondbacks and is 0-1 with a 7.71 earned run average against them.
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 (46-37) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (37-48), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - John Maine (9-4, 2.74) Houston - Jason Jennings (1-3, 3.69)
The National League-East leading New York Mets are struggling as of late and will try to snap a four-game losing streak when they open a four-game set tonight against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
The Mets have lost some ground in the division after suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies, including an embarrassing 17-7 setback in Wednesday’s series finale at Coors Field. The loss shaved New York’s lead to three games over Atlanta and four games ahead of Philadelphia.
David Wright clubbed a three-run homer and collected four RBI for New York, which is winless so far in the month of July and in the midst of its longest slide since losing a season-high five straight from June 9-13.
Orlando Hernandez gave up six runs — five earned — and six hits over four innings for the loss. He walked six, fanned two and labored through 107 pitches, just 59 of which were thrown for strikes. Reliever Guillermo Mota had an even worse outing, yielding six runs on six hits in just two-thirds of an inning.
John Maine gets the nod in Thursday’s series opener at Houston and will try to extend his personal winning streak to four games.
Maine, who is 9-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 16 starts this season, has won three straight outings and sports a 1.61 earned run average over that span.
The right-hander, who is 6-1 in eight road starts this season, faced Houston twice in 2006 and went 2-0 with a shutout and a 1.17 earned run average in those games. In a July 21 outing at Shea Stadium, Maine tossed a four-hitter for a 7-0 victory over the Astros.
Houston will send Jason Jennings to the mound this evening and he is 1-3 with a 3.69 ERA over nine starts this season.
Jennings has dropped back-to-back starts and has a 3.85 earned run average during the recent skid. He lost his last start on Saturday against Colorado, allowing three runs in seven innings of a 5-0 setback.
The right-hander, who is 0-2 in six home starts in 2007, is 4-2 with a shutout and a 3.73 ERA in six career starts against the Mets. Jennings last pitched against the Mets on August 20 of last season and gave up a pair of runs through six innings of a 2-0 loss at Shea Stadium.
The Astros had a three-game winning streak halted and failed to complete a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies with Wednesday’s 8-3 loss at Minute Maid Park.
Eric Munson homered and knocked in a pair of runs and Hunter Pence added a solo shot for Houston, which lost for only the second time in seven games and sits 11 1/2 games off the lead in the National League Central.
Starting pitcher Chris Sampson absorbed the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking one over 6 1/3 innings.
New York and Houston are meeting for the first time since the Mets won four of six games last season. The Mets took two of three at Minute Maid Park in 2006. ATLANTA BRAVES (44-41) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (48-37), 10:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Tim Hudson (8-5, 3.18) Los Angeles - Brad Penny (10-1, 2.00)
One of baseball’s hottest pitchers will lead the Los Angeles Dodgers in tonight’s finale of a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves, as Brad Penny will take the hill at Chavez Ravine.
Penny is among the league leaders with a 10-1 record and a 2.00 earned run average over 17 starts. The right-hander, who is tied with San Diego’s Chris Young for the best ERA in the majors, is 5-0 with a 1.44 earned run average in his previous nine outings, but did not factor in the decision his last time out.
On Saturday against Jake Peavy and the Padres, Penny hurled seven innings of one-run ball during a 3-1 loss to San Diego.
The All-Star right-hander, who is 4-0 in nine home starts this season, will try to improve on his 8-4 career record against Atlanta. Penny has a 4.77 ERA through 18 lifetime starts versus the Braves.
Penny is tied with four other pitchers for the most wins in the National league and will try to be the first with 11 for Los Angeles, which had a three-game winning streak come to an end with Wednesday’s 5-2 loss.
Juan Pierre had three hits and drove in a run for the Dodgers, who are one game behind San Diego for the top spot in the National League West division.
Los Angeles’ Mark Hendrickson was making his first start since May 31 and allowed seven hits and two runs over five innings for the loss.
Tim Hudson will try to stretch his personal win streak to three games tonight, when he toes the rubber for Atlanta in the series finale.
Hudson, who is 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 18 starts this season, is 2-0 with a 1.28 earned run average over his last two trips to the mound. Hudson threw seven innings of one-run ball against Washington on June 25 before doing the same thing to Florida five days later.
The veteran right-hander is 4-1 in eight road starts this season, but lost to Los Angeles on May 5 of this season at Turner Field. Hudson gave up three runs in eight innings of a 6-3 setback to the Dodgers, his only career loss against the club. He is 5-1 with a 3.27 ERA in eight starts versus LA.
In last night’s win for the Braves, Andruw Jones homered and Chipper Jones added two RBI to lead the way. Yunel Escobar had three hits with an RBI and a run scored as Atlanta snapped a three-game skid and won for the sixth time in nine games.
Jeff Francoeur had two hits and also scored a run in the win, as the Braves pulled within three games of the NL East-leading New York Mets. The Mets were just swept in three games by the Colorado Rockies.
Chuck James started for Atlanta and yielded four hits and a run over five innings to win his second consecutive start. Bob Wickman avoided trouble in the ninth inning to post his 15th save of 2007.
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.
