Sunday, July 15th (All times eastern)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (39-51) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (53-37), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Jorge De La Rosa (7-9, 5.16) Cleveland - Fausto Carmona (10-4, 3.85)
The Cleveland Indians will try to keep pace in the American League Central when they battle the lowly Kansas City Royals today in the finale of a three-game set from Jacobs Field.
Cleveland will try to bounce back from yesterday’s loss to the Royals when they send Fausto Carmona to the hill today. Carmona has been very solid this season and heads into this matchup with a two-game winning streak.
The last time the 23-year-old was on the mound, Carmona allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of work to earn his 10th victory of the season. He also struck out five batters and walked three en route to a 9-4 win over Toronto on July 7.
This will be the third start of the year for Carmona against the Royals. In the previous two outings, Carmona tossed 13 innings and allowed just four runs on 16 hits while striking out five batters.
As for the Royals, they will send the red-hot Jorge De La Rosa to the hill. The native Mexican has won three consecutive games, including a 12-4 victory over Tampa Bay on July 8. In the win, the southpaw surrendered only two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings of duty. De La Rosa also struck out seven batters and walked three.
The 26-year-old has struggled against the Tribe this season, posting an 0-2 mark with a terrible 7.71 ERA in a pair of starts. In 11 2/3 innings of work, De La Rosa has allowed 10 runs on 11 hits and walked nine Cleveland hitters.
For his career De La Rosa is 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA in five starts versus the Indians.
On Saturday, Emil Brown belted a three-run home run in the third inning and the Royals held on to edge the Indians, 6-5, and even this series.
Billy Butler finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for the Royals, who have won three of four. Mark Teahen went 3-for-5 and scored three runs in the win.
Gil Meche (6-6) allowed four runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts over five-plus frames for Kansas City, winning his third straight decision. Four Royal relievers finished the job, with Octavio Dotel notching his ninth save of the season.
Ryan Garko homered for the Indians, who have dropped five of seven. Jhonny Peralta ended 2-for-3 and scored twice in the loss.
Tribe starter C. C. Sabathia (12-4) gave up six runs on 11 hits with two walks and six strikeouts over seven innings.
These clubs have split eight meetings in the 2007 season series, but Kansas City has dropped 13 of its last 17 games in Cleveland. The Indians have won nine of their last 11 overall games at Jacobs field and own a 32-13 record at home, which is best in the majors.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (40-49) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (40-50), 1:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Jose Contreras (5-10, 5.19) Baltimore - Garrett Olson (0-0, 4.15)
The Baltimore Orioles will try to push their winning streak to three games when they battle the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a four-game set this afternoon from Camden Yards.
Jose Contreras takes the hill for the White Sox this afternoon as he tries to snap out of a personal slump. The right-hander has lost five of his last six starts, including three in a row.
The last time the 35-year-old was on the bump, he was rocked for six runs on eight hits in just five innings of work by the Orioles on July 4. The final result was a 9-6 setback to Baltimore.
Including the loss to the O’s earlier this month, the right-hander is 3-3 with a 5.24 ERA in eight career outings against Baltimore.
Garrett Olson will be making his second career start this afternoon for Baltimore. Olson made his major-league debut in that Independence Day encounter with Contreras and the White Sox.
Olson couldn’t notch the victory because he only worked 4 1/3 innings. The young lefty allowed just two runs on five hits, but walked five batters while striking out four.
Baltimore has taken the last two games of this series after dropping Friday’s opener. Nick Markakis scored the tying run in the ninth inning, then knocked in the winning run in the 10th as the Orioles rallied to edge the White Sox, 7-6, on Saturday.
Kevin Millar and Jay Payton homered for the Orioles, who came back from 5-1 and 6-4 deficits to win for the third time in five games.
Corey Patterson led off the 10th with a single off Sox reliever Charlie Haeger (0-1), stole second and advanced on a fly ball before Brian Roberts received an intentional walk. After Chris Gomez grounded out, Markakis hit a grounder through the hole to plate Patterson with the game-winner.
Chris Ray (5-6) pitched a scoreless top of the 10th to record the win. Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera went six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out seven.
Paul Konerko had three hits and two RBI and Jerry Owens had two hits, two stolen bases and three runs scored for the White Sox, who have lost two games in a row following a three-game winning streak. Konerko has now hit safely in 10 consecutive games.
Chicago starter Javier Vazquez surrendered four runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames. Closer Bobby Jenks blew a save for the fourth time in 28 opportunities, while Haeger completed the collapse in the 10th.
Prior to the game, Baltimore placed third baseman Melvin Mora on the 15-day disabled list with a left mid-foot sprain and recalled outfielder Jon Knott from Triple-A Norfolk.
The Orioles and White Sox split a four-game set at Chicago from July 2-5. The White Sox, though, have won eight of their last 13 meetings with Baltimore.
NEW YORK YANKEES (44-44) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (35-55), 1:40 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Mike Mussina (4-6, 4.62) Tampa Bay - Edwin Jackson (1-9, 7.23)
Finally back at .500 for the season, the New York Yankees will look to close out a four-game set against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with a victory this afternoon from Tropicana Field.
Mike Mussina will try to get back on track when he takes the hill for New York this afternoon. Mussina has struggled over his past four starts, having lost three of four decisions during that span, and is just 1-3 with a 4.46 earned run average in seven road starts this year.
The last time the Moose was on the mound, he suffered a 6-2 loss to Minnesota on July 4. In the setback, Mussina surrendered four runs on five hits in six innings of work. He also struck out five batters and walked none.
The veteran right-hander has been extremely dominant against the Devil Rays in his career, however. In 27 starts versus Tampa Bay, the 38-year-old is 16-6 with a 3.25 ERA.
As for the Devil Rays, Edwin Jackson will take the hill looking for just his second victory of the year. Jackson has had an atrocious season, posting a horrendous 1-9 ledger with an equally-bad 7.23 ERA.
The last time Jackson made a start, the right-hander was rocked for seven runs on nine hits in just five innings of work in a loss at Boston on July 4.
This will be the first start for Jackson against the Yankees. The 23-year-old has done some relief work against the Bronx Bombers, and in four appearances the youngster has allowed four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.
Last night, Bobby Abreu hit a two-run home run and finished with five RBI as the Yankees rallied from an early three-run deficit to top Tampa Bay, 6-4. New York has now taken two of the first three games of this series.
Hideki Matsui also homered and Johnny Damon scored a pair of runs for the Yankees, who have won three of four to crawl back to even on the season.
The Devil Rays got to Chien-Ming Wang (10-4) for three runs in the first inning, but the New York starter settled down to pitch six solid frames. The Taiwan native finished with just three runs allowed on seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Mariano Rivera worked around a one-out single by Jonny Gomes in the ninth to nail down his 12th save of the season and the 425th of his career, moving him past John Franco and into sole possession of third place on the all-time list.
Carlos Pena went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI for Tampa Bay, which has lost four of five and 15 of 17. Andy Sonnanstine (1-4) was tagged for five runs on nine hits through 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Pena is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak and leads Tampa with 21 home runs this season.
The lowly Devil Rays have still taken four of their seven 2007 meetings with New York.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (44-46) AT BOSTON RED SOX (55-35), 2:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Jesse Litsch (1-3, 4.74) Boston - Josh Beckett (12-2, 3.44)
The Boston Red Sox will try to hold on to a sizeable lead in the American League East when they again host the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a four-game set from Fenway Park.
The Blue Jays, who trail the first place Red Sox by 11 games in the standings, will send another young arm from their patched up rotation to the hill in an attempt to gain ground, as Jesse Litsch takes the ball today for Toronto.
Since almost tossing a complete game in his major league debut back on May 15th, the young right-hander has lost three of his last four games, including a 3-1 setback to Oakland back on July 3.
The 22-year-old actually tossed a solid game in the loss to the A’s, surrendering just two unearned runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. This will be Litsch’s first-ever career start against the Red Sox.
As for Boston, the team will place ace pitcher Josh Beckett on the mound. Beckett has been one of the top pitchers in the AL this season and is currently tied for the major-league lead with 12 victories.
In the 27-year-old’s last start, Beckett defeated Tampa Bay in a 15-4 rout on July 5. In the victory, the flame-thrower tossed six strong innings, allowing just three runs on nine hits while striking out nine batters.
Beckett dominated the Blue Jays earlier this season, throwing seven innings and allowing just one run on five hits en route to victory at Rogers Centre on May 8. He is 2-2 with a 5.25 ERA in six career starts against Toronto.
On Saturday, Coco Crisp went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored as Boston rallied to top Toronto, 9-4.
David Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored for the Red Sox, who have won two of the first three games of the series. Julio Lugo was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and Jason Varitek added a two-run homer.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-6) got the win despite a less-than-stellar start, as the Japanese sensation gave up four runs on nine hits in six innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Toronto starter Dustin McGowan (5-5) allowed eight hits and six runs over five-plus innings, striking out four and walking a pair while giving up three home runs.
Aaron Hill finished 3-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three of five. Troy Glaus was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Vernon Wells collected a pair of hits in the loss.
The Sox are 7-4 this season against the Jays, but have dropped six of eight to Toronto at Fenway since September of 2006.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS (44-47) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (48-43), 2:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Dan Haren (10-3, 2.30) Minnesota - Boof Bonser (5-6, 4.70)
The Minnesota Twins will try to complete a four-game sweep over the Oakland Athletics this afternoon, when the two teams meet once again at the Metrodome.
Minnesota will have to go up against Oakland’s top pitcher, however, in today’s finale.
Dan Haren has been one of the top surprises in the American League this season and comes into this matchup with a 10-3 ledger and an outstanding 2.30 ERA. Unfortunately the right-hander finished the first half on a down note, losing a 7-1 decision to Seattle on July 6.
In the setback, the 26-year-old surrendered four runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Haren then earned the starting nod for the AL in Tuesday’s All-Star Game and allowed one run in two innings.
Haren has been solid away from the Coliseum this year, posting a 4-2 ledger with a sensational 2.29 ERA in nine starts. He has made five career starts against Minnesota and owns a 2-2 record with an outstanding 2.50 ERA in those games.
Unlike his counterpart, Minnesota’s Boof Bonser has struggled for the majority of this season and comes into this matchup with a 5-6 record and a 4.70 ERA. After winning four of his previous five starts, Bonser has stumbled drastically. He is 0-4 over his last five outings and lost three starts in a row.
The last time Bonser was on the mound, the right-hander suffered a tough 3-1 setback to Chicago on July 7. In the loss, the 25-year-old surrendered three runs on four hits in seven innings of work.
Bonser has made just one career start against Oakland. In that outing, he surrendered four runs on five hits in seven innings of work to take the loss on June 1, 2006.
The Twins extended Oakland’s losing streak to six games with a 4-3 victory on Saturday. Michael Cuddyer knocked in a pair of runs to lead the way.
Minnesota starter Carlos Silva pitched 6 2/3 solid innings, allowing three runs on two hits. Silva (7-10) also held the A’s to one hit through the first six innings.
Pat Neshek tossed a scoreless eighth and Joe Nathan closed things out with a scoreless ninth to record his 18th save of the season.
Jason Tyner and Joe Mauer each had two hits and knocked in a run for the Twins, who have five wins in their last seven games.
Joe Blanton (8-6) started for Oakland and gave up four runs on 10 hits in 7 2/3 frames. Mark Kotsay knocked in all three runs for the slumping Athletics.
Oakland has now lost eight of its last nine regular-season games in Minnesota, although the club did win twice in the Metrodome during last October’s sweep of the Twins in the American League Division Series. Minnesota owns a 4-2 overall advantage in this year’s season series.
TEXAS RANGERS (38-52) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (55-35), 3:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Brandon McCarthy (4-6, 5.70) LA Angels - Jered Weaver (6-5, 3.67)
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will try for a sweep against the lowly Texas Rangers as the two squads collide this afternoon for the final matchup of the three-game series.
On Saturday, Vladimir Guerrero, Reggie Willits and Gary Matthews Jr. each knocked in a pair of runs as the Angels blasted the Rangers, 9-5.
Garret Anderson went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored for Anaheim, which has won three of four and continued its dominance of the Rangers.
The Angels have taken nine of the 12 overall meetings between these divisional foes so far this season and swept a three-game set from Texas at home to begin the 2007 campaign. Since the start of the 2005 season, the Rangers have gone just 5-18 at Angel Stadium.
Angels All-Star John Lackey (12-5) pitched six innings to become the third 12- game winner in the majors. The right-hander, who has won eight of his last 10 decisions, gave up four runs — three earned — on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk.
Kenny Lofton went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored and Sammy Sosa tripled and scored twice for the Rangers, who have lost three of four.
Texas starter Kameron Loe (5-7) lasted just 2 2/3 innings and was tagged for five runs — three earned — on five hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
Brandon McCarthy will take the hill today for Texas in hopes of snapping a personal winless streak. McCarthy has not tasted victory since May 20th, going 0-2 in three starts and one relief appearance following that win.
His most recent setback came against Baltimore on July 7 by a score of 3-0. Although he recorded the loss, McCarthy pitched well, tossing six innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits.
McCarthy has been dreadful on the road this season, however, posting a 2-4 mark with a poor 6.09 ERA in eight games (seven starts)
The young right-hander has made five previous appearances against Anaheim, including a start at Angel Stadium on April 4. In the outing, the 24-year- old surrendered five runs on 10 hits in just six innings of work and suffered the loss.
Much like his counterpart, Jered Weaver will take the hill for the Angels today looking to snap out of a personal two-game losing skid. In his last time on the mound, the 24-year-old only surrendered three runs on seven hits in five innings. However, that was enough for Weaver to earn a 4-2 setback to Texas on July 4.
This will be the third start for the right-hander against the Rangers this season. In the two previous outings, Weaver has gone 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
The Angels will again play today without second baseman Howie Kendrick, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a fractured left index finger. To take his spot, Los Angeles recalled infielder Brandon Wood from Triple-A Salt Lake.
DETROIT TIGERS (53-36) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (51-37), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Justin Verlander (10-3, 3.14) Seattle - Jeff Weaver (2-6, 6.34)
Two teams trying to claw their way into the playoffs will collide once again this afternoon at Safeco Field, where the Seattle Mariners host the Detroit Tigers in the finale of a four-game set.
Justin Verlander takes the mound today for Detroit hoping to keep up his winning ways. The All-Star closed out the first half of the season with five wins in six outings.
The last time the 24-year-old made a start, he defeated the Cleveland Indians on July 5. In the victory, the right-hander surrendered just three runs on six hits in seven innings. The young hurler also struck out seven and walked zero.
For his career Verlander is 2-0 in two starts against the Mariners and has allowed just three runs in 12 1/3 innings of work. One of those wins came earlier this year, as he threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed just two runs on nine hits.
As for the Mariners, they will send Jeff Weaver to the hill this afternoon. The right-hander opened the year with an 0-6 ledger, but after a short stint on the DL, has come back better then ever. The 30-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.67 earned run average in six outings since returning from shoulder tendinitis.
Before his stay on the disabled list, Weaver had a 14.32 ERA, but that number has dropped tremendously and is currently sitting at 6.34.
In his most recent outing, a 7-1 win over Oakland on July 6, Weaver tossed five innings, allowing one run on four hits. He also struck out four batters and walked two.
Weaver was hammered by the Tigers, the team he began his pro career with, earlier this season. He surrendered six runs on 10 hits in five innings of duty in a loss on May 10.
In four career outings against Detroit, Weaver is 1-3 with a 4.10 ERA.
On Saturday, Kenji Johjima hit his second grand slam of the season as the Mariners held on to beat the Tigers, 6-4.
Richie Sexson doubled and scored three runs for the Mariners, who have won five of six. Miguel Batista (9-7) pitched six strong innings to pick up the win. The right-hander gave up just one run on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
All-Star closer J. J. Putz recorded the final four outs of the game for Seattle to notch his 28th consecutive save dating back to last season, breaking Eddie Guardado’s club record of 27 straight.
Curtis Granderson tripled and homered for the Tigers, who have lost two of three to Seattle after a five-game winning streak.
Kenny Rogers (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season after yielding six runs — five earned — on five hits and four walks in five-plus innings.
Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez played on Saturday despite receiving a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his tirade directed at home plate umpire Mike Winters during Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Mariners. Rodriguez is appealing the suspension and went 1-for-4 for the game.
Detroit took two of three from the Mariners back in May and is 11-6 in the last 17 meetings between the teams. The Tigers won five of six games against Seattle in Safeco Field a year ago.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (37-53) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (43-48), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Jason Simontacchi (6-6, 6.11) Florida - Scott Olsen (6-7, 5.23)
The Florida Marlins will attempt to earn a rare series win at home when they take on the Washington Nationals this afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set between the National League East inhabitants.
Florida sports the worst home record in the majors at 18-26 and has lost its last six series at Dolphin Stadium since taking two of three contests from Philadelphia from May 22-24. The Marlins have gone 6-14 as the host over that span.
After dropping Friday’s opener to the Nationals, Florida received home runs from Miguel Cabrera, Josh Willingham and Jeremy Hermida to back a solid mound performance from Sergio Mitre and come through with a 5-2 victory.
Mitre (3-4) allowed two runs and six hits while walking none over the first 7 2/3 innings to help the Marlins snap a two-game skid. Kevin Gregg shut Washington out in the ninth to pick up his 19th save of the season.
Cabrera gave Florida a quick lead with a two-run homer in the first inning and Willingham added a two-run shot of his own in the sixth. Hermida delivered a solo blast in the second and finished 2-for-4 on the night.
Matt Chico (4-6) served up all three long balls and was touched for five runs on seven hits over six innings for Washington, which had a three-game win streak halted.
The Marlins will also be trying for consecutive home victories for the first time since the club defeated Los Angeles on May 10 and won the opener of the Philadelphia series on May 22. To do so, they’ll likely need a better effort from Scott Olsen this afternoon than the young lefty has provided over his last few starts.
Olsen allowed three first-inning runs and five hits to the Dodgers on July 8 before leaving that start following the opening frame due to a stiff back. He received the loss in Florida’s 9-3 setback that afternoon.
The 23-year-old wasn’t particularly sharp in his previous outing either, as he gave up four runs and walked five in 5 2/3 innings of a July 3 no decision at San Diego.
Olsen is 2-2 with a 4.05 earned run average in six career starts against Washington and will be facing the Nationals for the fourth time in 2007. He has compiled a 1-1 record and a 5.63 ERA over the previous three games.
Jason Simontacchi looks to build off a solid showing in his final first-half appearance when he takes the mound for Washington today. The well-traveled right-hander recorded his team-high sixth win of the season on July 7 by holding Milwaukee to three runs, all of which came on solo homers, over six innings of work.
Simontacchi, who did not pitch in the majors in 2005 or 2006, is now 4-2 over his last six starts and has yielded three runs or less in three of his last five games.
The 33-year-old defeated Florida in Washington on May 13 after allowing four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings. That was Simontacchi’s only decision in three career appearances, two of which have been starts, against the Marlins.
Simontacchi will be pitching in Dolphin Stadium today for the first time since August 12, 2004, when he tossed two scoreless innings of relief for St. Louis.
The Nationals had won four straight games against the Marlins until last night’s loss. Washington holds a 6-5 advantage in the 2007 series, but Florida has taken eight of the last 11 meetings between the teams in Miami.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (40-50) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (49-42), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Paul Maholm (5-11, 4.76) Atlanta - Buddy Carlyle (3-2, 4.50)
The resurgent Atlanta Braves will aim for a fourth consecutive victory as well as a weekend sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates when the teams conclude a three-game series this afternoon at Turner Field.
Atlanta came through with its sixth win in seven games last night, as Jeff Francoeur delivered a bases-loaded single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Braves a 5-4 decision over the pesky Pirates.
The Braves jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but Pittsburgh drew even with a four-run seventh inning capped by Ryan Doumit’s pinch-hit three-run homer off reliever Rafael Soriano.
Shawn Chacon (4-2) worked out of a bases-loaded jam for the Pirates in the bottom of the eighth but couldn’t get out of the ninth unscathed. The Braves loaded the bases on Willie Harris’ infield single and walks to Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones before Francoeur ripped a base hit to center.
Andruw Jones smacked a three-run homer in the first inning and is now 8-for-16 with three long balls over his last five games. Chipper Jones finished with three hits for Atlanta on the night.
Braves starter Chuck James threw six scoreless frames but was denied a win when relievers Tyler Yates and Soriano faltered in the seventh. Bob Wickman (2-2) picked up the victory after tossing a scoreless top of the ninth.
Atlanta, which enters today’s play 1 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East standings, can record its first three-game sweep of the Pirates at home since April 21-23, 2000. The Braves will look to accomplish the task behind journeyman Buddy Carlyle, who’s provided a needed lift to the team’s injury-plagued rotation as of late.
Carlyle put together two straight outstanding starts just prior to the All- Star break. The right-hander tossed seven innings of one-run ball to defeat Washington on June 26, then threw three shutout innings of relief at Florida on July 1. In his most recent start, Carlyle held San Diego to three runs over a career-high eight innings to lead Atlanta to a 7-4 victory on July 6.
This will be the first career appearance against Pittsburgh for Carlyle, who brings a 3-2 record and a 4.50 earned run average into today’s tilt.
Workhorse Paul Maholm will take the mound for the Bucs in the finale. The left-hander has lasted at least seven innings in each of his last five starts and registered a 3-2 record with a solid 3.53 ERA over that span.
Maholm’s last outing was a winning one, as he allowed four runs and just five hits over seven frames to defeat the Cubs on July 6.
The former first-round pick’s only previous start against the Braves came last August at PNC Park. Maholm limited Atlanta to two runs and five hits in seven innings, but did not factor in the decision of a 3-2 Pirates’ loss.
Today’s matchup marks the final meeting between these clubs this season. Atlanta has won four of the five previous encounters in 2007.
CINCINNATI REDS (37-54) AT NEW YORK METS (50-40), 1:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Kyle Lohse (5-10, 4.47) New York - Oliver Perez (7-6, 3.14)
After receiving a sensational start out of Tom Glavine last night, the New York Mets hope for a similar mound performance from another left-hander when the National League East leaders wrap up a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds today at Shea Stadium.
The Mets will activate Oliver Perez from the disabled list in time to start today’s finale. The talented southpaw was shelved on June 27 because of a stiff lower back, an injury that clearly limited Perez’s effectiveness over his most recent starts.
After compiling a 6-3 record and an impressive 2.69 earned run average over the season’s first two months, Perez went just 1-3 with a 4.06 ERA in five June starts before being placed on the DL. The Mexican native also issued 19 walks in 31 innings during that span, compared to 18 free passes in 63 2/3 frames over his first 10 outings.
Perez prepped for this assignment by throwing four shutout innings for the Mets’ Rookie Gulf Coast League team on Tuesday, striking out seven batters without a walk. His most recent major league start came against St. Louis on June 26, when he allowed two runs on five hits and fanned six in a 6 1/3- inning no decision.
The 25-year-old owns a 6-3 record with a 4.06 ERA in 14 career starts against Cincinnati. Perez has not faced the Reds since being traded to the Mets from Pittsburgh last July.
Perez has a tough act to follow, as Glavine baffled Cincinnati hitters through eight innings to earn career win No. 298 in Saturday’s 2-1 Mets’ triumph.
The crafty veteran yielded just two hits and a run while striking out five and not walking a batter. However, Reds starter Matt Belisle was just as strong, with the right-hander surrendering just one run and fanning six over the first seven frames.
Glavine appeared to be headed towards a no decision, but New York rookie Lastings Milledge singled off Mike Stanton (1-3) in the bottom of the eighth to bring home David Wright with the go-ahead run.
Billy Wagner then retired the Reds in order in the ninth to notch his 19th save and keep New York 1 1/2 games in front of second-place Atlanta in the NL East standings.
Cincinnati, which has dropped two of three in this series after coming in on a four-game win streak, got its only run on a solo homer by Brandon Phillips. The second baseman has now hit safely in 10 straight games.
The Reds will hand the ball today to Kyle Lohse, who has rebounded from a string of poor outings in June with back-to-back outstanding starts.
Lohse is coming off a complete-game victory over Arizona on July 6 in which he limited the Diamondbacks to a run on four hits. That effort came six days after the erratic right-hander yielded just one run and five hits while recording eight strikeouts in seven innings to defeat St. Louis.
The 28-year-old has had his troubles on the road this season, however. In 10 starts away from home, Lohse is just 2-7 with a 6.28 ERA.
He has pitched against the Mets just once previously. That start came on June 10, 2004 as a member of the Minnesota Twins, with Lohse allowing just two runs over seven innings in a no decision at the Metrodome.
New York has won five of its last seven games against Cincinnati dating back to last season.
COLORADO ROCKIES (45-45) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (50-40), 2:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Aaron Cook (5-6, 4.68) Milwaukee - Jeff Suppan (8-8, 5.00)
The Milwaukee Brewers hope to build off an exciting extra- inning victory last night when the struggling National League Central front- runners end a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies today at Miller Park.
Milwaukee entered Saturday’s matchup with the Rockies having lost six of its last seven games and saw a once-sizeable lead atop the division shrink to 3 1/2 games over the hard-charging Chicago Cubs. The Brewers showed some resiliency last night, as the club overcame an injury to ace Ben Sheets to earn a 2-1, 10-inning decision.
Geoff Jenkins led off the bottom of the 10th with a double off Colorado’s LaTroy Hawkins (0-4) and took third on Tony Gwynn Jr.’s ground out before pinch-hitter Tony Graffanino laced a game-winning single.
Sheets left with one out in the fourth inning with a sprained right middle finger, but rookie Yovani Gallardo provided a much-needed lift out of the bullpen. The young right-hander allowed just one hit over 4 2/3 innings of relief.
Corey Hart had a solo home run for Milwaukee, which has not won back-to-back contests since a three-game sweep of Houston from June 25-27.
Hart’s sixth-inning blast was the only hit allowed by Rockies starter Rodrigo Lopez in seven frames of work.
Ryan Spilborghs accounted for the lone run for Colorado, which lost for only the second time in eight games, with a solo homer in the third.
Much like his team, Brewers hurler Jeff Suppan got his 2007 campaign off to a terrific beginning but has had his share of struggles as of late. The veteran right-hander, who will take the mound this afternoon, posted a 5-2 record and an impressive 2.63 earned run average over his first seven starts of the season. Since then, he’s gone 3-6 with a 6.65 ERA in 12 appearances leading up to the All-Star break.
Suppan has allowed three runs or more in each of those 12 starts, including his most recent outing on July 7 when he surrendered four runs and walked five in five innings of a loss at Washington. The former Cardinals’ postseason hero has pitched six innings only once over his last five mound trips.
A matchup with the Rockies could be what Suppan needs to break out of his funk, as he owns a 5-1 record with a 3.65 ERA in seven career starts against Colorado.
The Rockies send out a struggling righty of their own this afternoon in Aaron Cook, who has dropped five of six decisions since a complete-game victory at San Francisco on May 26. The 28-year-old should be happy to get away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, as Cook has a 6.00 home ERA this season and a 3.34 ERA in his nine road starts.
Cook was tagged for five runs and 12 hits in six innings of work in a home loss to Philadelphia on July 8, but pitched well in a pair of starts prior to that game. The sinker specialist yielded only three runs over a combined 15 innings in a July 3 win over the Mets and a June 28 no decision at Houston.
The Kentucky native is 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA in seven lifetime games against Milwaukee, six of which have been starts.
Friday’s 10-6 Rockies win was the first meeting between Colorado and Milwaukee this season. The Brewers were 4-2 against the Rockies in 2006, winning all three games at Miller Park. Milwaukee also swept the Rockies at home in three games in 2005.
HOUSTON ASTROS (39-52) AT CHICAGO CUBS (46-43), 2:20 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Wandy Rodriguez (6-7, 3.87) Chicago - Jason Marquis (6-5, 3.67)
Baseball’s hottest team tries to complete a three-game series sweep this afternoon at Wrigley Field, where the scorching Chicago Cubs go for another victory over the Houston Astros.
Chicago maintained its excellent recent form in Saturday’s clash with the Astros, as Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-4 with four RBI and Alfonso Soriano clubbed a three-run homer to lead the way in a 9-3 rout.
Soriano finished with a pair of hits and Cesar Izturis finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored as the Cubs posted their 14th triumph in 18 games. The surge has pulled Chicago within 3 1/2 games of first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central race.
The Cubs received excellent pitching from Ted Lilly (9-4) in addition to the offense’s 13-hit attack. The lefty allowed only one run on four hits and struck out seven over eight innings, while adding an RBI single at the plate.
Morgan Ensberg had three hits with an RBI and a run scored for Houston, which has dropped five of its last seven games.
All-Star Roy Oswalt (8-6) struggled mightily for Houston, giving up nine runs (eight earned) on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Chicago has also won 12 of its last 16 at Wrigley Field and improved to 22-21 at home with Saturday’s victory.
The Cubs could find the going a little tougher today, however, as the club will have to face a red-hot pitcher in Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez. The left- hander has been unscored upon in each of his last two starts and brings a string of 16 consecutive shutout innings into the game.
Rodriguez is coming off the first shutout of his career, a 4-0 blanking of the Mets on July 6 in which he gave up just four hits and a walk while striking out eight. The native Dominican was just as sharp five days earlier, when he yielded only three hits over seven scoreless innings to defeat Colorado.
The 28-year-old has lost both of his lifetime starts at Wrigley Field, however, and has been touched for nine runs and 14 hits over 9 2/3 innings in those games. For his career Rodriguez is 2-3 with a 4.70 earned run average in five outings versus Chicago.
The Cubs counter with the slumping Jason Marquis, who has lost four of his last five decisions and had a subpar performance in his final start before the All-Star break. The sinker specialist was tagged for six runs and eight hits while lasting just 4 2/3 innings in a loss at Pittsburgh on July 6.
After going 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA over his first seven games of 2007, Marquis has compiled a 1-4 mark and a 5.31 ERA in 11 starts since. He has pitched at least six innings only once over his last eight appearances.
Marquis lost to the Astros at Wrigley Field on April 10 after allowing four runs (three earned) in five innings, but does own a 7-5 record with a 4.92 ERA in 20 lifetime games (15 starts) against Houston.
The Cubs have won nine of their last 12 encounters with Houston and own a 3-2 edge on the Astros in the 2007 season series.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (51-40) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (38-50), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Brett Tomko (1-7, 6.18) San Francisco - Noah Lowry (9-6, 3.35)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had no trouble winning at San Francisco’s AT&T Park as of late. The current National League West leaders could find the task a little more challenging, however, in this afternoon’s finale with the rival Giants.
San Francisco lefty Noah Lowry has been nearly unbeatable in San Francisco this year. In nine home starts in 2007, the 26-year-old is 7-1 with an impressive 2.45 ERA and has posted wins in each of his last three AT&T Park appearances.
Lowry, who gets the call this afternoon, also put together an outstanding run to end his first half. The fifth-year hurler won his final three starts prior to the break and allowed only three runs and 11 hits over 18 1/3 innings (a 1.47 ERA) during that span.
He worked around five walks in his last start to limit St. Louis to a run on four hits over six innings and help San Francisco to a 4-3 win on July 6.
Lowry’s only home loss came to the Dodgers on April 6, although he allowed only two runs — one earned — in seven innings that game. He is 3-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 11 overall appearances (nine starts) against Los Angeles.
The Pepperdine product will attempt to stop a string of 10 straight San Francisco losses to the Dodgers at AT&T Park, including five such defeats this season. Los Angeles swept a three-game set in San Francisco in early April and has taken the first two tests of this series, including Saturday’s wild 8-7 win.
The Dodgers survived squandering an early 6-0 lead and a rare blown save from All-Star closer Takashi Saito to record their third straight victory and move into sole possession of first place in the NL West. Los Angeles is one game ahead of San Diego, which lost to Arizona last night.
Former Giant Jeff Kent finished 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI for the Dodgers, while Wilson Betemit went 4-for-6 with a solo homer in the win.
The go-ahead run came after James Loney led off the top of the 12th with a double off Giants reliever Patrick Misch. He took third on a Betemit single and eventually scored on Rafael Furcal’s sacrifice fly.
Rudy Seanez then retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame for his first save since June 23, 2001. Mark Hendrickson (4-4) worked two scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory.
San Francisco trailed 7-2 after 7 1/2 innings but pulled within a run on Randy Winn’s grand slam off Chin-hui Tsao in the bottom of the eighth. Pedro Feliz tied the game with two outs in the ninth when he singled home Barry Bonds, who drew a walk from Saito to start the frame.
Bonds went 0-for-5 on the afternoon and remains at 751 career homers, four behind Hank Aaron’s all-time mark. This will be the slugger’s last opportunity to move closer to the mark at home for a while, as the Giants embark on a seven-game road trip following today’s contest.
He’ll take his swings today against the badly-struggling Brett Tomko, who returns to the Los Angeles rotation for a spot start with Randy Wolf currently on the disabled list.
Tomko, who made eight starts between April and May before being demoted to the bullpen, hasn’t exactly earned this assignment on merit. The right-hander is 1-7 with a lackluster 6.18 earned run average on the season and allowed at least one run in each of his last five relief appearances leading up to the All-Star break.
During that stretch, Tomko has been dealt a pair of losses and surrendered eight runs over 5 2/3 innings of work.
The 34-year-old, who pitched for the Giants from 2004-05, is 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in 14 career games (10 starts) against his former club. Tomko has yet to face San Francisco yet this season.
Bonds is 6-for-19 with one homer and 13 walks against Tomko for his career.
Los Angeles owns a 5-3 edge in this year’s season series, with the road time emerging victorious in every one of those games. The Dodgers are 12-2 at AT&T Park since the start of the 2006 campaign.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (49-40) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (49-43), 4:40 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Justin Germano (5-3, 3.90) Arizona - Brandon Webb (8-6, 3.37)
The Arizona Diamondbacks continue their quest to regain the top spot in the National League West this afternoon, when the rejuvenated club aims for a three-game sweep of the rival San Diego Padres at Chase Field.
Arizona stumbled into the All-Star break, losing its last five games of the first half and eight of its final nine. By the looks of this series, the Diamondbacks appear to have turned their fortunes back around.
After cruising to an 8-3 win in Friday’s opener, Arizona rallied for a 5-4 decision over the Padres on Saturday. The Diamondbacks scored three times in the seventh inning to fight back from a 4-1 deficit, then went ahead in the eighth on Chad Tracy’s RBI single.
Orlando Hudson led off the bottom of the eighth with a double to left off Scott Linebrink (2-2). One out later, Tracy singled to center, scoring Hudson.
Arizona closer Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth for his 27th save in 30 opportunities, with Brandon Lyon (6-3) getting the win with a shutout eighth. Starter Livan Hernandez went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
Tony Clark homered and had three hits for the Diamondbacks, who remained 2 1/2 games off Los Angeles’ lead in the NL West. The Padres, who have dropped three in a row and five of six, are one game back of the Dodgers.
Kevin Kouzmanoff, Khalil Greene and Brian Giles all homered for the Padres in the setback. San Diego starter Chris Young threw six solid frames, yielding just one run on two hits while walking none and striking out eight.
Arizona has now won five of the seven meetings between these NL West rivals this season, including four of five matchups at Chase Field.
Brandon Webb makes his first start of the second half for Arizona today. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has not pitched since a July 7 no decision at Cincinnati in which he gave up four runs in seven innings.
Webb was named as an injury replacement for the NL squad in Tuesday’s All-Star Game but did not see action. He struggled in the latter stages of the first half, recording a 1-2 record over his final four starts and surrendering four or more runs in three of those games.
The standout right-hander is just 3-5 lifetime against San Diego, despite a 3.66 earned run average in 16 starts versus the Padres. Webb has faced them twice already this season and did not record a decision on either occasion, although he gave up only four runs — three earned — in a combined 16 innings of work.
With ace Jake Peavy being pushed back to Tuesday because of a sore biceps, the Padres will give the ball to Justin Germano in today’s finale. The rookie right-hander has struggled mightily as of late after a terrific string of performances following a mid-May callup from the minors.
Germano was rocked for seven runs and 10 hits over a season-low four innings in his last outing, a 7-4 loss to Atlanta on July 6. He has lost two straight starts and is 0-3 in four games since a May 14 victory at Tampa Bay which gave the youngster a 5-0 start to the season.
The 24-year-old’s only previous appearance against Arizona came in relief on October 3, 2004. Germano did not record an out in that game and was touched for a pair of hits.
