Friday, July 6th (All times eastern)
MINNESOTA TWINS (43-41) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (37-45), 2:05 & 8:11 P.M. (DH)
Probable Starting Pitchers: Game 1: Minnesota - Scott Baker (2-3, 4.98) Chicago - Jon Garland (6-5, 3.15)
Game 2: Minnesota - Matt Garza (0-0, 0.00) Chicago - Gavin Floyd (0-0, 0.00)
The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins start up a four- game weekend series with a day-night doubleheader which begins this afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field.
Today’s first game is a makeup of an April 6th contest that had to be postponed due to extremely cold conditions.
The Twins hope to close out their first half of the season on a positive note after putting together a disappointing showing in New York coming into this set. Minnesota dropped three of four games to the Yankees, including a 7-6 setback in Thursday’s finale.
Twins reliever Pat Neshek, one of five candidates for the final spot on the American League All-Star team, didn’t help his cause when he served up a two- run homer to Hideki Matsui in the eighth inning that snapped a 5-5 tie. Minnesota scored once in the ninth against Mariano Rivera, but the Yankee closer struck out Michael Cuddyer with the tying run on second to end the game.
Joe Mauer and Jason Bartlett each drove in two runs for the Twins, who have now lost four of their last five. Mauer finished 2-for-4 on the afternoon, while Bartlett scored a pair of runs.
Chicago has been going much better as of late. The White Sox posted their eighth victory in their last 11 outings on Thursday, as Tadahito Iguchi and Jermaine Dye each homered and knocked in three runs to lead the way in an 11-6 rout of Baltimore from U.S. Cellular Field.
Juan Uribe also homered for Chicago and Jim Thome compiled two RBI to help the Sox earn a split of its four-game series with the Orioles. Iguchi ended 3- for-4 with three runs scored and fell just a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
Chicago rookie John Danks (5-6) picked up the win despite allowing five runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 frames.
This afternoon’s opener features a pair of right-handers who are coming off outstanding last starts in the White Sox’ Jon Garland and Minnesota’s Scott Baker.
Garland limited Kansas City to one unearned run over seven innings in a 3-1 triumph on Sunday, five days after the veteran tossed seven frames of one-run ball to defeat Tampa Bay.
The 27-year-old is 7-6 with a 4.17 earned run average in 24 career games (21 starts) against Minnesota, although he struggled in an encounter with the Twins earlier this season. Garland was tagged for six runs and walked five in six innings of a no decision at the Metrodome on May 30.
Baker dominated the Detroit Tigers over the first seven innings this past Sunday, but the young hurler yielded a solo homer to Marcus Thames in the eighth which accounted for the game’s only run. Baker surrendered just three hits and one walk in his first career major league complete game.
The 25-year-old also pitched well but was denied a win in his previous start, when he held Toronto to one run and struck out a career-best nine over seven innings on June 26. Baker did not factor in the decision, however, of Minnesota’s 2-1 decision.
Baker went opposite Garland in that May 30 encounter and was rocked for six runs and 10 hits before being yanked after just three innings. In three lifetime starts against Chicago, the Oklahoma State product is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA.
Two former first-round draft picks set to make their first big league starts of the season will go head-to-head in the finale, as Gavin Floyd makes his White Sox debut opposite Twins prospect Matt Garza.
Floyd, the fourth overall selection by Philadelphia in the 2001 draft, was traded to Chicago as part of the deal which brought Freddy Garcia to the Phillies this past winter. The right-hander had a disappointing tenure in Philly, having posted a 6.96 ERA over 19 starts and five relief appearances at the major-league level.
The 24-year-old has performed well with the White Sox’ Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte this season. In 15 starts with the Knights, Floyd amassed a 7-5 record with a 3.10 ERA and 80 strikeouts. This will be his first appearance against Minnesota.
Garza, the 25th overall pick in 2005, was called up by the Twins from Triple A last week and tossed two scoreless innings of relief against the Yankees on Monday. The well-regarded righty had gone 4-6 with a 3.92 ERA in 16 starts for Rochester prior to his promotion.
The 23-year-old struggled with Minnesota last season, posting a 3-6 record and a 5.76 ERA in 10 games, nine of which were starts. Garza faced the White Sox last September and was dealt a loss after allowing four runs and eight hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work.
Minnesota has won five of the eight previous meetings between these AL Central rivals this season, with the clubs splitting an abbreviated two-game set at Chicago in early April.
BOSTON RED SOX (53-31) AT DETROIT TIGERS (49-34), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Julian Tavarez (5-6, 4.39) Detroit - Andrew Miller (3-2, 3.81)
Two of the American League’s best will square off tonight when the Boston Red Sox begin a three-game set with the host Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
The Red Sox come into tonight’s matchup on a four-game winning streak, just one shy of their season high that they have set twice this year. The club won five straight contests from April 18-22 and May 25-29.
This latest winning run has stretched Boston’s lead for first place in the AL East to 12 games over Toronto and the New York Yankees.
The Red Sox are coming off a blowout win on Thursday that saw it plate 13 runs in the first three innings en route to a 15-4 rout over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The victory completed a three-game sweep for Boston.
Coco Crisp had a grand slam in the win and totaled five RBI on the night, while Mike Lowell ended 5-for-6 with a homer, five RBI and three runs scored.
Josh Beckett (12-2) allowed three runs and nine hits with nine strikeouts over six innings to join Cleveland’s C.C. Sabathia as the only 12-game winners in the majors this season.
Boston did play without first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who missed the game due to a sore left quadriceps and is questionable for tonight’s matchup.
In All-Star news, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that Sox reliever Hideki Okajima won the Final Vote competition for the remaining spot on the AL roster. He will join a slew of Boston players already on the team, including Beckett, Lowell, Jonathan Papelbon, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.
Julian Tavarez will toe the rubber for Boston tonight hoping to snap a personal two-game losing streak. Tavarez allowed six runs in a setback at Seattle on June 25 before taking a tough-luck loss on Sunday against Texas.
The right-hander lasted 5 2/3 frames versus the Rangers and gave up just two runs (one earned) on seven hits in a 2-1 loss that dropped him to 5-6 with a 4.39 earned run average on the year.
The 34-year-old started against the Tigers on May 17 and earned the win behind seven innings of one-run ball. Tavarez is 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 lifetime appearances (two starts) against Detroit.
The Tigers, meanwhile, have won two straight games and trail Cleveland by one game for first place in the AL Central. The club is also coming off a decisive win, as it pounded the Indians 12-3 on Thursday.
Justin Verlander (10-3) struck out seven batters and gave up just two earned runs in the win. He allowed six hits without walking a batter.
Gary Sheffield homered in the fourth inning for the Tigers, who improved to just 4-5 on a 12-game homestand. Placido Polanco and Carlos Guillen also homered in the win.
Young Andrew Miller will make his sixth start of the season tonight for Detroit. Miller is coming off his worst outing of the year, as he was tagged for six runs (five earned) on six hits in five innings of an 8-5 defeat to Minnesota. The loss dropped the left-hander to 3-2 with a 3.81 ERA on the year.
The 22-year-old has never faced Boston before.
The Red Sox have won three of four meetings against the Tigers this season, with all of those games taking place in Boston. The clubs split six games in 2006. LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (52-33) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (40-42), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Bartolo Colon (6-4, 5.79) New York - Andy Pettitte (4-6, 3.77)
The New York Yankees may have All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez back in the lineup this evening, when they open a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Yankee Stadium.
Rodriguez, who is mired in an 0-for-19 slump, missed his first game of the season on Thursday due to a strained hamstring he sustained in Monday’s win over Minnesota.
The two-time MVP, though, has had tremendous success against the Angels’ starter tonight, Bartolo Colon, as he is hitting .444 with eight homers and 17 RBI off of him. Back on April 26, 2005, A-Rod reached Colon for three homers and a career-high 10 RBI.
Manager Joe Torre said he is questionable for tonight’s affair.
The Yankees did not need Rodriguez on Thursday, as Hideki Matsui ripped a two- out, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift his team past Minnesota, 7-6, in the finale of a four-game set in the Bronx. Melky Cabrera was 3-for-5 with a three-run homer for New York, which took three of four in the series.
Robinson Cano also homered for the Yankees.
Kei Igawa started on the hill for the Yankees but was ineffective again. The much-hyped Japanese left-hander allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings to raise his earned run average to 7.14 on the season. Kyle Farnsworth (1-1) got his first win of the season after pitching a perfect eighth. Mariano Rivera worked a shaky ninth, but picked up his 11th save of the season and the 424th of his career, tying John Franco for third on the all-time list.
Heading to the hill tonight for the Yankees will be left-hander Andy Pettitte, who had one of the worst outings of his career in his last start on Sunday against Oakland. The Athletics touched Pettitte for eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits in just 1 2/3 innings to drop him to 4-6 on the season, while raising his earned run average to 3.77.
Pettitte is 11-6 lifetime against the Angels with a 3.79 ERA.
Colon, meanwhile, is winless in his last three starts and is 6-4 on the season with a 5.79 ERA. Colon suffered the loss against Baltimore on Saturday, as he surrendered three runs and eight hits in six innings.
Colon has faced the Yankees 12 times (11 starts) and is 4-5 against them with a 5.32 ERA.
The Angels salvaged the finale of their three-game series with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, as Kelvim Escobar tossed seven strong innings to earn his 10th win of the season in Anaheim’s 5-2 win. Maicer Izturis had a two-run triple and also scored a run for the Angels, who won for just the third time in their last nine games.
Escobar (10-3), who found out just before the game that he would not be representing the American League at the upcoming All-Star Game, allowed just one run, walked three and fanned eight over seven innings.
The right-hander was not one of the 11 pitchers named to the AL squad for the upcoming Midsummer Classic last Sunday, despite putting up some of the best numbers of his career. He was then included on a list of five candidates eligible for the last available spot on the roster, which was determined by fan balloting that ended Thursday. Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima won the AL vote, while San Diego Padres starter Chris Young was chosen for the NL.
Vladimir Guerrero, who will make his fifth All-Star start in San Francisco next week, extended his season-best hitting streak to nine games with an RBI single in the first.
The Angels swept the Yankees in a three-game set in the Bronx earlier in the season and are 20-12 against them since the start of the 2004 campaign.
CLEVELAND INDIANS (51-34) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (41-43), 7:07 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cleveland - Cliff Lee (5-4, 4.90) Toronto - Roy Halladay (9-3, 4.27)
Roy Halladay tries to stay perfect in his career against the Cleveland Indians tonight, as the Toronto Blue Jays open a three-game set against them at Rogers Centre.
Halladay is 4-0 lifetime against the Indians with a 3.33 earned run average in nine games, eight of which have been starts.
The 30-year-old right-hander, though, enters this matchup on the heels of his first loss since May 10. Halladay also lost for the first time since returning from appendectomy surgery, as he allowed the Seattle Mariners three runs and 10 hits in six innings to fall to 9-3 on the season, while raising his ERA to 4.27.
Halladay, who is 5-1 in eight home starts this season, could also have something to prove tonight. Halladay learned on Thursday that he lost out to Boston reliever Hideki Okajima in the voting to be the final AL All-Star.
The Blue Jays enter this series on a winning note after taking two of three from the Oakland Athletics, culminating with a 10-3 win in Wednesday’s finale at McAfee Coliseum. Matt Stairs homered and drove in four runs in the victory and Dustin McGowan allowed just four hits over seven shutout innings to pick up the win.
All-Star Alex Rios added two hits and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays, who ended a 10-game road trip with a 4-6 mark. Vernon Wells also homered, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
McGowan (5-4) picked up his fifth win in seven decisions, adding four strikeouts and two walks to his line. This was his seventh quality start in nine trips to the mound.
Cleveland, meanwhile, had its lead in the AL Central cut to just one game on Thursday, as it dropped the rubber match of its three-game series with the Detroit Tigers, getting routed 12-3 at Comerica Park. Victor Martinez homered for the Indians, who have lost two in a row after a six-game winning streak.
C.C. Sabathia (12-3), arguably the best pitcher in the league this season, was hammered for seven runs on 10 hits with a walk and three strikeouts over just four frames.
The Indians will send lefty Cliff Lee to the hill tonight. Lee improved to 3-0 over his last four starts on Sunday against Tampa, as he allowed a run on four hits in eight innings to post the win.
Lee was rocked for five runs and nine hits in six innings in his season debut against the Blue Jays back on May 3 and is 0-2 in his career against them with a 6.05 ERA in four starts.
The Indians swept the Jays in a three-game set at Jacobs Field earlier this season and is 16-6 against them since the start of the 2004 season.
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (33-51) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (36-49), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - James Shields (6-4, 3.76) Kansas City - Odalis Perez (4-7, 5.56)
James Shields tries to snap an 11-game losing streak for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as they begin a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals this evening at Kauffman Stadium.
After winning his first six decisions of the year in impressive fashion, Shields — like the Rays — has hit the skids of late. He has lost his last four starts, with the latest setback coming on Sunday against the Cleveland Indians.
The right-hander allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in 6 1/3 frames to fall to 6-4 to go along with a 3.76 earned run average.
Shields beat the Royals earlier in the season and is 2-0 in his brief career against them with a sparkling 1.35 ERA in two starts.
Tampa’s struggles continued on Thursday, as it was routed by the Boston Red Sox, 15-4, at Fenway Park. Delmon Young went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Devil Rays, who are four losses away from tying the franchise- record 15-game losing skid of 2002.
J.P. Howell (1-3) recorded only two outs in the first inning before being pulled. He gave up six runs on six hits and walked two.
The Devil Rays, who set their franchise-worst slide from April 25-May 10, 2002, are being outscored 70-30 during their skid and have not lost 12 in a row since August 27-September 10, 2004.
Kansas City occupies the cellar in the AL Central but has played better of late. The Royals, though, were denied a sweep in their three-game series with the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, falling 4-0 at Kauffman Stadium.
Esteban German had two of the Royals’ five hits in the loss, just the third defeat for Kansas City in their last 10 tries.
Brian Bannister (5-5) was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven hits and four runs over seven innings. Three of his five losses this year have come to Seattle.
Odalis Perez will try and get the Royals back in the win column tonight and looks to push his unbeaten streak to four games.
Perez has not picked up a decision in either of his last two starts, but has been tremendous in both. Against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, Perez surrendered just a run on three hits in seven innings, but did not factor in his team’s 3-1 loss.
Perez, who is 4-7 with a 5.56 ERA on the season, has given up just six runs in his last three starts, a span of 18 innings.
The 30-year-old left-hander has faced the Devil Rays three times and is 2-1 with a 7.63 ERA against them.
Tampa has split its four games with the Royals this season, but is 18-9 against Kansas City since the start of the 2004 season.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (37-48) AT TEXAS RANGERS (36-49), 8:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Jeremy Guthrie (4-2, 2.63) Texas - Kameron Loe (5-6, 5.72)
The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles will wrap up disappointing first halves of the season with a three-game series that begins tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Both teams enter tonight’s play 16 games back of the leaders in their respective divisions. Texas’ 36-49 overall record is tied with Kansas City for the second-worst mark in the American League, while Baltimore is currently 10 games under .500 and appears headed towards a 10th straight losing campaign.
Although Texas remains well out of the playoff picture, the club has been playing pretty well over the last two-plus weeks. The Rangers have gone 10-5 since June 20 and took the first two tests of a three-game home set with the AL-West leading Angels before falling to Anaheim in Thursday’s finale.
Angels standout Kelvim Escobar allowed one run over seven innings to notch his 10th victory of the season and lead his club to a 5-2 decision last night.
Robinson Tejeda (5-8) wasn’t nearly as sharp, as the Rangers starter allowed four runs on six hits and walked three over the first 5 1/3 innings.
Marlon Byrd and Michael Young knocked in the lone runs for Texas.
A key contributor to the Rangers’ recent strong play has been pitcher Kameron Loe, who takes the mound tonight in search of a fifth consecutive winning start.
Loe has been brilliant since returning from a short stint in the minors in mid-June. The right-hander has amassed an impressive 1.95 earned run average during his current winning streak and allowed two or less runs in three of those four victories.
The 25-year-old turned in another outstanding effort Sunday in Boston, where he limited the Red Sox to one run on six hits in six innings of his team’s 2-1 triumph.
Loe has never started against the Orioles but has faced them four times previously in relief. He is 1-0 with one save in those games and surrendered only one run in six innings of work over that span.
Baltimore counters with Jeremy Guthrie, who has been one of the bright spots in the Orioles’ otherwise dim first half. The rookie right-hander enters tonight’s game ranked second in the AL with a 2.63 ERA to go along with a 4-2 record in 18 appearances, including 12 starts.
Guthrie has also excelled on the road this season, bringing a 3-0 record with a 2.56 ERA in 10 away outings (five starts) into tonight’s tilt.
The former first-round draft choice did suffer his first defeat since April 24 in Sunday’s 4-3 setback against the Angels. Guthrie held Anaheim to just four hits and struck out seven without a walk over eight innings, but gave up a pair of homers that proved to be his undoing.
Guthrie allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings in a pair of relief appearances against Texas while with the Cleveland Indians last season.
Tonight’s game marks the first meeting between these teams in 2007. Texas won six of nine matchups with Baltimore last season and is 12-7 in this series since the start of the 2005 campaign.
SEATTLE MARINERS (46-36) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (44-41), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Jeff Weaver (2-6, 6.75) Oakland - Dan Haren (10-2, 2.20)
Dan Haren puts a most-impressive personal win streak on the line when the All-Star right-hander makes his final first-half start tonight for the Oakland Athletics, who play the second of four consecutive games with the American League West rival Seattle Mariners.
Haren lost his first two starts of his 2007 campaign but has been unbeatable since. He has compiled a 10-0 record in 16 outings following his most recent defeat and emerged as a leading candidate to start for the AL in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic. Haren leads the league with a 2.20 earned run average and a .202 batting average against so far this season.
One of Haren’s two blemishes this season came against the Mariners, however, although he was hampered by his defense in a 4-0 loss on Opening Day. All four runs he allowed during his six-inning stint were unearned.
Haren didn’t have one of his best performances when he took the mound Sunday in New York, but benefited from an offensive outburst by his Oakland teammates in an 11-5 win over the Yankees. The 26-year-old gave up five runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 frames, his second shortest outing this year.
For his career Haren is 5-2 with a 2.54 ERA in eight starts against Seattle. The Pepperdine product has also been sensational at home this season, bringing a 6-0 record with a 2.11 ERA in nine Coliseum starts into tonight’s tilt.
He’ll attempt to follow a strong effort from teammate Chad Gaudin in Thursday’s series opener. The right-hander held the Mariners to two runs over 7 2/3 innings of work as Oakland came through with a 3-2 decision.
The A’s trailed 2-1 before moving ahead on solo homers by Nick Swisher and Bobby Crosby in the sixth inning. Gaudin (8-3) made the lead stand before turning things over to Santiago Casilla, who got the final out in the eighth inning with a pair of runners on base.
Alan Embree then tossed a scoreless ninth for his ninth save.
Jose Guillen went 3-for-4 with an RBI single for Seattle, which is 1-3 since John McLaren took over as interim manager on Monday. Miguel Batista (8-7) suffered the loss despite yielding three runs and six hits over the first 7 2/3 innings.
Seattle will send out Jeff Weaver, who appears to have turned things around after a horrendous start to 2007, in tonight’s matchup.
Weaver was 0-6 with an astronomical 10.97 ERA over his first eight games of the season, but has since delivered three consecutive outstanding mound performances. After yielding only one unearned run over a combined 14 2/3 innings in back-to-back victories over Pittsburgh and Boston, the erratic righty turned in another gem in a no decision against Toronto on Sunday.
The 30-year-old surrendered just one run and seven hits in eight innings against the Blue Jays in a game the Mariners rallied late for a 2-1 win.
Weaver owns a 3-3 record with a 5.61 ERA in 10 lifetime appearances (nine starts) against Oakland. He has not fared well on the road this season, having accumulated an 0-4 record and an ugly 9.12 ERA in his six away starts of 2007.
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 six 2007 showdowns with Oakland.
The Mariners swept a two-game set at McAfee Coliseum back in April but are just 8-23 as the visitor in this series since 2004.
CHICAGO CUBS (42-41) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (38-47), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Jason Marquis (6-4, 3.31) Pittsburgh - Paul Maholm (4-11, 4.74)
Right-hander Jason Marquis looks to stay on the winning track tonight when the Chicago Cubs visit PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series.
The 28-year-old native of Manhasset, N.Y. ended a nine-start winless skid in his last outing, allowing just four hits and a run over seven innings in a 5-1 defeat of the Milwaukee Brewers.
He began the season with five wins in seven starts, including a three-hit shutout of the Pirates on May 9. He also downed Pittsburgh, 7-1, on May 2, giving up four hits and a run in eight innings.
Marquis is 2-2 in eight road starts this season with a 3.43 earned run average.
Lefty Paul Maholm took a tough-luck loss in his last start, allowing nine hits and three runs in seven innings during Washington’s 3-2 defeat of the Pirates.
He’s pitched at least seven innings in four straight outings, during which he’s 2-2 and has allowed 24 hits and 10 earned runs in 28 2/3 innings.
He beat the Cubs, 6-4, on May 10 at Wrigley Field, allowing seven hits and four runs in 7 1/3 innings.
Maholm is 3-0 in four career starts against Chicago with a 4.88 ERA.
On Thursday in Washington, former National Daryle Ward had two hits, knocked in a pair of runs and also scored once as the Cubs edged the Nationals, 4-2, in the finale of a four-game set at RFK Stadium.
Mike Fontenot went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for Chicago, which took three of four in the series and has won 11 of its last 13 games.
Will Ohman (1-4) earned the win, getting the final two outs in the sixth. Starter Sean Marshall went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits, walking four and fanning two.
In Pittsburgh, Adam LaRoche went 3-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored to lead the Pirates past Milwaukee, 6-3, in the finale of a four- game set at PNC Park.
Xavier Nady was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Pirates, who took the final three games in the series and have won four of their last six. Ryan Doumit homered and Jason Bay added a run-scoring single.
Tom Gorzelanny (9-4) allowed four hits and three runs over seven innings, fanning five and walking two. Matt Capps earned his ninth save of the season with a scoreless inning to finish the contest.
These teams have split six matchups this season, but Pittsburgh has won 14 of the last 23 games between the two. Chicago, though, has had success in the Steel City, where it is 17-9 in its last 26 visits.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (48-37) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (34-50), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Dave Bush (6-7, 5.11) Washington - Mike Bacsik (2-5, 4.65)
Wake Forest product Dave Bush goes for his fourth win in five outings tonight when the Milwaukee Brewers visit RFK Stadium for the opening game in a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.
The 27-year-old Pittsburgh native won three straight decisions between June 16 and June 27, downing Minnesota and Kansas City in starts and pitching two innings of scoreless relief in a victory over Houston.
The run ended on July 1 at Wrigley Field when Bush allowed six hits and four runs over six innings in the Brewers’ 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Bush is 1-2 in three lifetime starts against the Nationals with a 4.41 earned run average. He beat them, 6-4, on May 8, allowing seven hits and three runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Southpaw Mike Bacsik snapped a six-start winless skid with a defeat of Pittsburgh in his last outing on July 1, in which he surrendered just five hits and an earned run in six innings.
He’d not scored a win between May 30 and June 26, going 0-5 with a no-decision while his ERA swelled from 1.98 to 5.08. His previous win came May 24 at Cincinnati, when he allowed seven hits and three runs in 7 2/3 innings.
Bacsik is 0-2 in four home starts this season with a 4.64 ERA in 21 1/3 innings.
On Thursday in Pittsburgh, Adam LaRoche went 3-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored to lead the Pirates past Milwaukee, 6-3, in the finale of a four-game set at PNC Park.
Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets (10-4) was charged with eight hits and five runs in six innings, with six strikeouts and a walk in the loss.
In Washington, Daryle Ward had two hits, knocked in a pair of runs and also scored once as the Chicago Cubs edged Washington, 4-2, in the finale of a four-game set at RFK Stadium.
Dmitri Young had two hits - including his first triple since August 8, 2006 against Minnesota - while knocking in a run and scoring once for Washington, which has dropped eight of its last 10 games.
Luis Ayala (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in one relief inning. Jason Bergmann yielded two runs on six hits, with two strikeouts and no walks over 5 1/3 innings in the start.
Milwaukee swept a three-game set from the Nationals in early May, after Washing ton won five of the six matchups a year ago.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (47-39) AT CINCINNATI REDS (32-52), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Micah Owings (5-3, 4.42) Cincinnati - Kyle Lohse (4-10, 4.77)
Cincinnati right-hander Kyle Lohse, who ended a three-start losing streak in his last outing, looks for a second straight win when the Reds host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first of three at Great American Ball Park.
The former 29th-round pick of the Chicago Cubs downed St. Louis, 5-1, on June 30, allowing five hits and a run in seven successful innings.
Previously, he’d lost four of five outings, also defeating the Cardinals on June 7 with 8 1/3 innings of seven-hit, one-run ball.
Lohse tossed seven innings against the Diamondbacks on April 10, giving up six hits and four runs in getting a no-decision in Arizona’s 5-4 triumph.
Micah Owings is winless in three starts since beating Tampa Bay on June 20.
He lost a 13-0 decision to San Francisco on July 1, lasting only four innings while allowing eight hits and seven runs.
On April 11 against Cincinnati, Owings allowed seven hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings of a tough-luck 3-2 loss to the Reds.
On Thursday in Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. drove in a pair of runs to help the Reds knock off the San Francisco Giants, 6-3, in the conclusion of a three- game set. Josh Hamilton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three runs scored for the Reds, who have won two of their last three games.
Bronson Arroyo (3-9) got his first win since May 6 as he gave up just three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He also hit the third home run of his career in the game.
In St. Louis, Juan Encarnacion’s three-run homer was the difference, as the Cardinals survived a late rally to top Arizona, 3-2, in the final game of a four-game set from Busch Stadium.
Arizona’s Doug Davis (5-10) allowed seven hits and three runs with five strikeouts and five walks in seven full innings. Davis is just 1-4 in his last six starts.
Augie Ojeda drove in a pair for the D-Backs, losers of two straight and five of six. Conor Jackson and Mark Reynolds each had two hits in the loss.
Arizona won two of three from the Reds earlier in the season and is 6-3 against them since the start of last season.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (36-47) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (39-43), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Noah Lowry (8-6, 3.46) St. Louis - Mike Maroth (0-0, 5.23)
Barry Bonds is still four home runs shy of tying the all- time mark and will lead the San Francisco Giants this evening in the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Bonds owns 751 career homers, just four shy of Hank Aaron’s record mark of 755. Bonds owns 39 home runs in his career against St. Louis, including 13 at the old Busch Stadium. The future Hall of Famer was recently selected to the 78th All-Star Game to be played at AT&T Park in San Francisco, but will not compete in the Home Run Derby.
The Giants will need Bonds to get his power stroke back because they have dropped two of three and five of their last eight games. San Francisco lost Thursday’s series finale of a three-game set against Cincinnati by a 6-3 score, as Rich Aurilia went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Ryan Klesko added two hits and an RBI.
Starting pitcher Matt Morris was saddled with the loss after he gave up six runs on seven hits in six innings of work for the Giants, who are 11 1/2 games off the top spot in the National League West standings.
Giants starter Noah Lowry will aim for his third straight win when he takes on the Cardinals tonight at Busch Stadium.
The left-hander defeated St. Louis on April 19 this season, hurling seven strong innings of two-run ball in a 6-2 triumph at AT&T Park. He is 1-2 with a 4.05 earned run average in three career starts against the Cardinals.
Lowry, who is 8-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 16 starts this season, has won consecutive trips to the hill and owns a 3-1 mark in his last four outings. Against Arizona on June 30 at AT&T Park, Lowry held the Diamondbacks to a run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings of a 4-1 victory.
St. Louis will send newcomer Mike Maroth to the mound and he is 5-2 with a 5.08 ERA in 15 starts this season with Detroit and the Cardinals.
Maroth was acquired in mid-June from Detroit and is 0-0 with a 5.23 earned run average over two starts with the Cardinals. In a no decision against Cincinnati on July 1, Maroth yielded five runs and six hits in just three innings of an 11-7 victory over the Reds.
The left-hander is 1-1 with a 3.66 ERA in three career starts against San Francisco. Maroth last toed the rubber against the Giants on June 19, 2005 as a member of the Tigers and did not post a decision. He gave up four runs in five innings of a 10-8 win at Comerica Park.
Bonds is 1-for-2 with a single and a walk against Maroth in his career.
St. Louis has won two straight and four of its last five games, including Thursday’s 3-2 win over Arizona in the finale of a four-game series at Busch Stadium. Juan Encarnacion belted a three-run homer in the sixth inning to lead the way and So Taguchi collected a pair of hits for the Cardinals, who are 7 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the NL Central division.
Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright scattered five hits over seven-plus innings for the win, while fanning four batters and walking three. Jason Isringhausen held on in the ninth to record his 17th save of the season.
San Francisco took two games from St. Louis earlier this season April 18 - 19 at AT&T Park. The Cardinals went 4-1 last season against the Giants and are 8-5 over the last 13 matchups.
NEW YORK METS (47-37) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (37-49), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Mike Pelfrey (0-6, 6.11) Houston - Wandy Rodriguez (5-7, 4.23)
The National League East-leading New York Mets put to rest their four-game losing streak and will try for back-to-back wins when they resume a four-game set tonight against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Starting pitcher John Maine continued to impress this season and gave up two runs and six hits through 7 2/3 innings in Thursday’s series-opening 6-2 victory. Maine struck out a career-high nine batters and issued a pair of walks.
Ramon Castro went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, Carlos Delgado was 4- for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Carlos Beltran homered for the Mets, who are three games ahead of Atlanta and 4 1/2 games in front of Philadelphia in the NL East standings.
In injury news for the Mets, outfielder Carlos Gomez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an injured hand. Gomez, who fractured a bone in his left hand on a check swing in New York’s 17-7 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday, had the broken bone removed on Thursday and will be out six to eight weeks.
Mike Pelfrey gets the call for New York tonight and will try for his first win of the season. Pelfrey is 0-6 with a 6.11 ERA in seven starts.
Before his last trip to the mound on July 1 against the Phillies, Pelfrey was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans when Oliver Perez was scratched because of a stiff back. The Mets then placed starter Jorge Sosa on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring to make room for Pelfrey.
Against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park, Pelfrey yielded three runs — two earned — and four hits over five innings in a 5-3 loss.
The right-hander has faced Houston just once in his career and suffered the loss on July 23 last season. Pelfrey was reached for five runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings of an 8-4 setback at Shea Stadium.
Taking the mound for the Astros will be Wandy Rodriguez, who is 5-7 with a 4.23 earned run average in 16 starts this season.
Rodriguez is 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in his last four starts and defeated Colorado his last time on July 1. He put forth perhaps his best effort of the season with seven shutout innings of three-hit ball during a 12-0 victory at Minute Maid Park.
The left-hander, who is 4-2 in eight home starts in 2007, will take on the Mets for the first time this season. Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 3.60 earned run average in two career starts against them.
In last night’s loss to the Mets, starter Jason Jennings gave up nine hits and five runs in six innings for the loss with four strikeouts and three walks. Craig Biggio, Carlos Lee and Mark Loretta each had two hits for the Astros, who dropped their second in a row and sit 11 1/2 games off the lead in the National League Central division.
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. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (43-42) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (42-43), 9:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Kyle Kendrick (3-0, 4.38) Colorado - Jeff Francis (8-5, 3.56)
The Colorado Rockies are on a roll and will shoot for their fourth straight win when they play the first of three games tonight versus the Philadelphia Phillies from Coors Field.
Colorado is fresh off a three-game sweep of the New York Mets and has won four of its last five games. In Wednesday’s 17-7 blowout in the series finale against the Mets, Garrett Atkins finished with a season-high four hits, including a two-run homer, and four runs batted in to lead Colorado.
Todd Helton added five RBI, while Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki both homered for the Rockies, who pounded out 20 hits and outscored the Mets 34-12 in the series. Colorado also swept the Yankees at home from June 19-21, becoming the first team in more than a half-century to sweep two New York clubs in the same year. The Rockies have also won six in a row at home.
Starter Josh Fogg was tagged for five runs — four earned — and eight hits over six innings to earn the win. He walked one and struck out three.
Jeff Francis is enjoying a solid season for the Rockies and will put his unbeaten streak on the line against Philadelphia. Francis is 3-0 with a 2.62 ERA over his last four outings and 7-1 in the previous 11 trips to the hill.
Francis last pitched on June 30 against Houston and tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit ball in a 5-0 victory at Minute Maid Park.
The left-hander, who is 4-3 in nine home starts this season, will face Philadelphia for the first time this season. Francis squared off with the Phillies for the first time in his career on July 31, 2005 at Coors Field and pitched six shutout innings of four-hit ball with eight K’s and one walk in a 9-2 win.
Philadelphia has won two of its last four games and salvaged the finale of a three-game series against the Houston Astros with Wednesday’s 8-3 win at Minute Maid Park. Ryan Howard belted a two-run homer and ended with three RBI, while Wes Helms chipped in with a double, homer and two RBI for the Phillies, who are 4 1/4 games behind the National League East-leading New York Mets.
Howard is batting .317 with six homers and 19 RBI in his last 16 games.
Chase Utley went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins both homered in the win. Starting pitcher Cole Hamels had a solid outing for the Phils, giving up just one run and eight hits in seven innings of work. The southpaw, who snapped a brief two-game skid, struck out eight and didn’t issue a walk.
Rookie Kyle Kendrick will try to stay unbeaten when he takes the hill this evening against Colorado.
Kendrick, who is 3-0 with a 4.38 ERA in four starts this season, has ripped off three straight wins since posting a no decision in his major league debut on June 13 against the Chicago White Sox.
In his previous start on July 1 versus the New York Mets, Kendrick allowed two runs and six hits during a 5-3 win at Citizens Bank Park.
The right-hander will face Colorado for the first time in his career.
Philly and Colorado are meeting for the first time since the Phillies won four of seven meetings last season, including a 2-1 record at Coors Field. The Phillies are 8-5 over the last 13 encounters with the Rockies.
ATLANTA BRAVES (45-41) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (48-36), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Buddy Carlyle (2-2, 4.74) San Diego - Justin Germano (5-2, 3.12)
The Atlanta Braves will continue to try to close the gap in the National League East race before the All-Star break when they kick off a three-game series tonight against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
The Braves have won two games in a row and sit three back of the New York Mets for the lead in the division.
On Thursday in Los Angeles, Chipper Jones homered twice to pass Dale Murphy on Atlanta’s all-time home run list and help the Braves edge past the Dodgers, 8-6.
Jones hit home run No. 371 in the sixth to put his team up for good, then belted record-setting homer No. 372 in the eighth, a solo shot to right- center.
Jeff Francoeur also went deep and drove in a pair of runs for the Braves, who are 4-3 on a 10-game road trip.
Braves starter Tim Hudson lasted just three-plus innings, allowing six runs — four earned — on 10 hits. Peter Moylan (3-1) got the win after tossing two scoreless frames of relief and Bob Wickman picked up his 16th save.
Buddy Carlyle will start tonight for the Braves and brings a 2-2 mark with a 4.74 earned run average into the outing. Carlyle received a no decision on Sunday against Florida, as his start was limited to just three innings due to a rain delay. The right-hander yielded only one hit with two strikeouts.
The 29-year-old pitched with the Padres in 1999 and 2000 and has faced his former club just once. That came with the Dodgers in 2005, when Carlyle allowed one runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Justin Germano starts for the Padres and is winless in his last three outings (0-2). He was pounded for five runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers on Sunday. The right-hander is now 5-2 with a 3.12 ERA on the year.
The 24-year-old made his first career start versus Atlanta on May 8 and walked away with a no decision after giving up one run and three hits over six frames.
The NL West-leading Padres split a recent four-game set with the Florida Marlins after a 3-2 loss to the club on Thursday. Marcus Giles and Michael Barrett each drove in a run, but All-Star Jake Peavy (9-3) was handed the loss after giving up three runs on five hits in seven innings of work.
San Diego, though, still leads the Dodgers by one game for the top spot in the standings.
In All-Star news, Padres pitcher Chris Young learned on Thursday that he won the Final Vote competition to earn the last spot on the NL’s roster. Young, who recently dropped his appeal of a five-game suspension stemming from an incident on June 16 against the Cubs, received more than 4.5 million votes.
For the Braves, John Smoltz will not participate in this year’s game due to tightness in his right shoulder. He was replaced by Houston’s Roy Oswalt on Thursday.
The Padres won the opener of a four-game set in Atlanta back in early May, but the Braves rebounded to win the next three games. Atlanta won seven of nine meetings with San Diego last season. FLORIDA MARLINS (40-46) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (48-38), 10:40 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Dontrelle Willis (7-7, 4.65) Los Angeles - Chad Billingsley (5-0, 3.44)
Dontrelle Willis will try to halt a six-start winless streak when the Florida Marlins begin a three-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight at Chavez Ravine.
Willis is 0-4 in his last six outings, having not posted a win since May 29 at the Cubs. He was last in action on Sunday against Atlanta, throwing four shutout innings before his day was cut short due to a rain delay. Overall, Willis is 7-7 with a 4.65 earned run average on the year.
The 25-year-old has made one start against the Dodgers this year, taking a loss on May 9 after yielding four runs on six hits and walking five in seven frames. Willis is just 1-5 with a 7.11 ERA in six lifetime starts versus Los Angeles.
The Marlins are coming off a split of a four-game series with the Padres after posting a 3-2 win at Petco Park on Thursday. Byung-Hyun Kim earned the win after giving up just two runs and three hits over 6 1/3 frames. He also struck out seven.
Matt Treanor went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI while Jeremy Hermida hit a solo home run and scored twice for Florida. Kevin Gregg retired the Padres in order in the ninth to pick up his 17th save of the season.
The Dodgers have lost two straight and are one game behind the Padres for first place in the National League West. The club fell to the Braves, 8-6, on Thursday.
Brad Penny yielded six runs over four innings, but did manage to tie a career- high by knocking in three runs. Luis Gonzalez and Nomar Garciaparra both scored twice for the Dodgers, who are 3-4 on a 10-game homestand.
Chad Billingsley will take the mound for the Dodgers coming off his first win as a starter in 2007. Billingsley threw seven shutout frames against the Padres on Sunday, allowing just three hits with nine strikeouts. He also didn’t walk a batter for the first time in 19 career starts.
The right-hander, who makes his fourth start of the season tonight, is 5-0 overall with a 3.44 ERA on the year.
The 22-year-old faced the Marlins out of the bullpen on May 8 and threw one hitless inning, striking out three. He faced Florida twice as a starter last year and won both outings after giving up just one run in 13 total innings.
These two clubs split a four-game series in Florida in May. The Dodgers, though, won five of six in the series last year.
