Monday, July 16th (All times eastern) CHICAGO WHITE SOX (40-50) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (54-37), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - John Danks (5-6, 4.62) Cleveland - Cliff Lee (5-5, 5.23)
The Cleveland Indians try to move back into first place in the American League Central this evening, when they open a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox at Jacobs Field.
The Indians enter this series a half-game back of division-leading Detroit, which is idle tonight, meaning a win tonight would put the Tribe into a first- place tie with the Tigers.
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Cleveland took two of three over the weekend from the lowly Kansas City Royals, as it captured a 5-3 win in Sunday’s rubber match. Fausto Carmona hurled seven solid innings and Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko both homered to power the win.
Carmona (11-4) allowed just two runs on eight hits for the Indians, who won for just the third time in eight games. Hafner finished 3-for-4 and Garko was 2-for-3 in the game.
Heading to the hill tonight for the Indians will be lefty Cliff Lee, who was hammered by the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start before the break. Lee gave up six runs and six hits in four innings of that one, as he fell to 5-5 on the year and had his earned run average raised to 5.23.
Lee has faced the White Sox 14 times and is 4-4 with a 6.07 earned run average against them.
Chicago will counter with rookie lefty John Danks, who is unbeaten in his last five starts (2-0) and is 5-6 with a 4.62 ERA on the year. Danks earned the win in his last start before the break, as he defeated the Baltimore Orioles despite giving up five runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings on July 5.
Danks lost his only career start to the Indians despite a pretty solid effort. He served up a pair of runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of that one.
The White Sox dropped the final three tests of their four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, dropping a 5-3 decision on Sunday at Camden Yards.
Jermaine Dye hit a pair of solo home runs for the White Sox, who had won three straight before their current slide
Jose Contreras (5-11) continued to struggle on the hill for Chicago, as he gave up five runs on 10 hits in six innings of action. He has lost six of his last seven starts, including four straight.
Chicago will be starting a difficult stretch tonight, as it plays 12 games in the next 11 days against three of the top four teams in the American League. After this series the White Sox will visit the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox for four games, then will head home to face the Detroit Tigers in a five-game set that includes a doubleheader.
The Indians have won four of six from the White Sox this year and are 15-10 against them since the start of last season, winning seven of the eight series played between them in the process.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (39-52) AT BOSTON RED SOX (55-36), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Brian Bannister (5-5, 3.71) Boston - Kason Gabbard (2-0, 4.87)
The Boston Red Sox hope to continue their home dominance of the Kansas City Royals as they open a three-game set against them this evening at Fenway Park.
Boston, which took two of three from the Royals in Kansas City earlier this season, has won 12 of its last 15 at home in this series since the start of the 2003 campaign.
The Red Sox, though, enter this series on a sour note after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. David Ortiz went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run for Boston, which has dropped five of its last seven but still maintains a nine-game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Josh Beckett (12-3) took the loss despite allowing seven hits and two runs over eight strong innings. The All-Star fanned eight and walked two.
Getting the call for the Red Sox tonight will be rookie left-hander Kason Gabbard, who is 2-0 with a 4.87 earned run average. Gabbard received a no decision in his last start before the break, giving up two runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings of his team’s 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on July 7.
Gabbard, who is a perfect 3-0 in his career at Fenway, has never faced the Royals.
Kansas City will counter with Brian Bannister, who like Gabbard, will be facing his opponent for the first time tonight.
After winning four straight starts, Bannister has struggled of late, losing two of his last three. He was saddled with the loss back on July 4 against the Seattle Mariners, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings to fall to 5-5 and raise his ERA to 3.71.
The Royals dropped two of three to the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, dropping Sunday’s rubber match, 5-3, at Jacobs Field. Jason Smith hit a solo home run for the Royals, who remained mired in last place in the AL Central. Billy Butler and Ross Gload also drove in a run apiece for Kansas City.
Jorge De La Rosa (7-10) surrendered three runs on two hits in just 3 1/3 innings en route to the loss. The Royals starter struggled with his command throughout, walking six before leaving with a bruised left thumb.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (45-46) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (45-44), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Josh Towers (4-5, 5.07) New York - Kei Igawa (2-2, 7.14)
The New York Yankees try to stay on the winning track this evening, when they open a four-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
After losing eight of 11 games to close the month of June, the Yankees have responded by winning eight of 12 to open the month of July, including taking three of four over the weekend from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to get back above the .500 mark (45-44).
In Sunday’s finale, Andy Phillips drove in a pair of runs, scored twice and saved the game with a great defensive play at first to lead the Yankees to a 7-6 win at Tropicana Field.
Derek Jeter homered and knocked in three runs for New York, which has won four of five but is still nine back of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Mike Mussina got the start for the Yankees and allowed 11 hits and three runs over six innings. Luis Vizcaino (5-2) was awarded the win despite pitching only a third of an inning, while Mariano Rivera slipped out of trouble in the ninth for his 13th save.
Kei Igawa takes the hill for the Yankees tonight as he tries to put a miserable first half of the season behind him and post his first victory since April 28. Igawa was just 2-2 but pitched to a miserable 7.17 earned run average in his nine games (eight starts) before the break.
Igawa, who has never faced the Blue Jays, did not receive a decision in his last start on July 5 against the Minnesota Twins. He surrendered five runs and seven hits in five innings of his team’s 7-6 win.
Toronto will counter with right-hander Josh Towers, who is 4-5 with a 5.07 ERA. Towers was sensational in his last start back on July 8, but had nothing to show for it.
The right-hander scattered three hits to the Cleveland Indians over eight scoreless innings in that one, but did not factor in the decision of his team’s 1-0 win.
Towers is 2-7 lifetime against the Yankees with a 4.62 ERA in 12 games, eight of which have been starts.
Toronto earned a split in its four-game series with the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, as Jesse Litsch gave up nine hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings in the Blue Jays’ 2-1 win Sunday at Fenway Park.
Litsch (2-3) struck out two and walked one, needing 94 pitches to hold a usually explosive Red Sox offense at bay. Jeremy Accardo hurled a perfect ninth to pick up his 13th save.
Lyle Overbay finished 3-for-3 and scored a run for the Blue Jays, who have won three of five. Royce Clayton was 2-for-4 with an RBI single and Aaron Hill drove in a run and scored once.
Toronto has won three of four from the Yankees already this season, but is just 24-35 in the series since the start of the 2004 season. The Blue Jays are also only 11-18 in the Bronx over that time, but won in their only visit there this season.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (41-50) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (51-38), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Brian Burres (4-3, 4.18) Seattle - Horacio Ramirez (4-2, 6.47)
The Seattle Mariners could be without superstar Ichiro Suzuki when they open a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles this evening at Safeco Field.
Suzuki was hit by a pitch in Sunday’s 11-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers and had to leave the contest with a thigh contusion. He is listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated again on Monday, although he told manager John McLaren after the game that he should be ready to go.
Suzuki, who recently agreed to a $90 million, five-year contract extension, is the only Mariner to play in all 89 games this season. He is batting .350 - the second-best mark in the AL - with 40 RBI and 23 stolen bases.
Seattle split its four-game series over the weekend with the Tigers, but is still 14-5 in its last 19 games and just three games back of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West. The Mariners are also only two games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL wild card chase.
Heading to the hill for the Mariners tonight will be left-hander Horacio Ramirez, who will be activated from the disabled list to start tonight’s contest. Ramirez has not pitched since May 24 because of left shoulder tendinitis and is 4-2 with a 6.47 earned run average this season.
Ramirez is 2-0 in his career against the O’s with a 2.40 ERA in two starts.
Baltimore will counter with lefty Brian Burres, who is 4-3 with a 4.18 ERA. The Orioles, though, have lost four of his last five starts.
Burres pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, but was roughed up in his last start. On July 5 against the White Sox, Burress surrendered seven runs and six hits in just 1 1/3 innings.
Burres did not pick up a decision against the Mariners in his only career start against them, allowing a run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Orioles enter this tilt on a three-game winning streak, after Brian Roberts and Corey Patterson each hit solo homers in Baltimore’s 5-3 win over the White Sox in Sunday’s finale of a four-game set at Camden Yards.
Aubrey Huff hit a two-run triple and Nick Markakis drove in a run for the Orioles, who have not won four in a row since a season-high six-game run from May 26-31.
Garrett Olson (1-0) picked up his first win in the majors, as he gave up two runs on six hits in five innings of work.
Seattle took two of three from the O’s earlier this year and is 8-5 against them since the start of last season.
TEXAS RANGERS (39-52) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (44-48), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Jamey Wright (2-2, 5.55) Oakland - Dallas Braden (1-3, 6.08)
The Oakland Athletics try to stop a seven-game losing streak when they open a three-game set with the Texas Ranges tonight at McAfee Coliseum.
Oakland’s latest setback came on Sunday, as it dropped a 4-3 decision to the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. Travis Buck drove in two runs while Eric Chavez hit a solo home run for the Athletics, who are now a season-worst four games under .500 after being swept in the four-game series.
A’s reliever Joe Kennedy (2-8) dropped his fourth straight decision after giving up the game-winning run in the ninth inning. Dan Haren had a good start on the mound for Oakland, as he gave up just two runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
The A’s, who trail the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by 11 1/2 games, are in the midst of their worst stretch since falling in seven straight from May 20-26 of last season. They haven’t lost eight in a row since May 21-29, 2005.
A big reason behind Oakland’s skid is its lack of offense. The team has not scored more than three runs in 10 straight games, which matches a team record set in 1978.
Hoping to get Oakland back in the win column tonight will be young Dallas Braden, who is 1-3 with a 6.08 earned run average. Braden, who will be recalled from Triple-A to make the start, has not started for the A’s since back on May 17, when he was tagged with the loss against the Kansas City Royals. He has had three relief stints with them since, though.
Braden has never faced the Rangers.
Texas will counter with righty Jamey Wright, who is 2-2 with a 5.55 ERA. Wright has not pitched since July 4, when he allowed two runs in a season-high six innings against the Angels.
Wright has not received a decision in two career starts against Oakland despite allowing 16 runs in 12 innings.
The Rangers enter this series after a dramatic win on Sunday, as Mark Teixeira smacked a leadoff home run in the 11th inning that lifted Texas over the Angels, 5-4, to avoid a sweep in the final matchup of the three-game series.
With the score knotted at four, the Rangers got the winning run in the top of the 11th on Teixeira’s homer to right field on a full count off reliever Justin Speier.
Ramon Vazquez finished 2-for-4 and scored twice for the Rangers, who improved to 6-5 in July.
Texas’ C.J. Wilson (1-1) got the final out of the 10th to earn the win and Eric Gagne tossed a perfect 11th for his 13th save of the season.
Texas has split its six matchups with the A’s this year and holds a slim 13-12 edge in the series since the start of last season.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (41-47) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (44-48), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Braden Looper (6-7, 4.72) Florida - Byung-Hyun Kim (4-4, 4.94)
The defending world champion St. Louis Cardinals begin their lone visit to Miami’s Dolphin Stadium of the season with tonight’s opener of a three-game series with the Florida Marlins.
This evening’s game also marks the first 2007 meeting between the clubs, the last two National League squads to capture a World Series title. The teams will also play three games in St. Louis from August 21-23.
The Cardinals took five of six games from Florida last season and swept a three-game set at Dolphin Stadium during their championship campaign. St. Louis is an impressive 7-2 in South Florida since the start of the 2004 season.
The Marlins have also had struggles winning at home this year, as their 19-26 record as the host bests only Washington’s 19-27 mark among major league teams. Florida did take the final two tests of a three-game home set with the Nationals over the weekend, however, thanks to a big series from All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera.
Cabrera slammed two solo home runs in Sunday’s 5-3 victory over Washington and went 4-for-10 with three homers, four RBI and four runs scored during the three games.
Josh Willingham homered for a third straight game in Sunday’s win, while Marlins starter Scott Olsen (7-7) held Washington to two runs over the first five innings. Kevin Gregg threw a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 20th save of the year.
Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols is also coming off a productive weekend, as the superstar first baseman finished 6-for-14 with four homers, five RBI and five runs scored over St. Louis’ three games at Philadelphia. The Cardinals dropped the first two encounters of the series, however, before rebounding for a 10-2 triumph in Sunday’s finale.
Pujols led the way with a 3-for-5, three-RBI performance that included a pair of home runs. As a team the Cardinals belted a season-high six long balls on the evening.
Chris Duncan, Juan Encarnacion, Adam Kennedy and Ryan Ludwick also went deep for St. Louis, which had lost four of five coming in.
The power surge backed up an outstanding mound performance by Adam Wainwright (8-7), who scattered six hits and a pair of walks over seven shutout innings.
Florida is seeking its first three-game home win streak since April 21-23 and will give the ball tonight to Byung-Hyun Kim. The Korean righty posted a victory in his final start prior to the All-Star break, as he limited San Diego to two runs on three hits while striking out seven over 6 1/3 innings on July 5.
It was the second straight strong outing for Kim, who allowed just one run and four hits in a 6 1/3-inning no decision against Atlanta on June 30.
The side-armer is 1-2 with a 5.28 earned run average and one save in 12 career appearances against St. Louis, nine of which have come in relief. In his only game versus the Cardinals last season, Kim was rocked for seven runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings while a member of the Colorado Rockies.
St. Louis counters with ex-Marlin Braden Looper, who looks to break out of a long winless streak tonight. Since recording his last victory on May 24, the converted reliever has gone 0-4 with an awful 7.60 ERA in six starts.
In his most recent appearance, Looper was tagged for five runs (four earned) over 6 1/3 innings in a loss to San Francisco on July 7.
Looper pitched five seasons for the Marlins from 1999-2003 and saved 28 games for the club during its world championship run of 2003. He has faced his former team 16 times previously, all in relief, and is 2-2 with a 7.63 ERA and four saves.
CINCINNATI REDS (37-55) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (50-42), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Bobby Livingston (1-0, 3.00) Atlanta - Kyle Davies (4-7, 5.55)
The Atlanta Braves try to continue their recent winning ways when the owners of the National League’s worst record, the Cincinnati Reds, invade Turner Field tonight for the first of three games with the NL East contenders.
Atlanta has climbed back into the thick of the division race by amassing seven victories in its last eight games, including four in a row. The surge, coupled with some late struggles of the Mets, has propelled Atlanta within 1 1/2 games of New York’s lead in the East.
The Braves are fresh off a three-game home sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates that culminated with Sunday’s 5-1 decision.
Buddy Carlyle (3-2) turned in a dominating performance on the mound for Atlanta, as the journeyman righty limited the Pirates to a run on just four hits and walked none over eight innings of work.
The Atlanta offense was led by Edgar Renteria, who finished 4-for-5 with an RBI single. Yunel Escobar added two hits and also knocked in a run on the afternoon.
The Braves’ current win streak was ignited by a strong outing from pitcher Kyle Davies on July 8. On that night, the young right-hander held San Diego to one run and four hits while fanning six over six innings to earn the victory in a 5-4 Atlanta triumph at Petco Park.
Prior to that effort, Davies had gone 0-4 with a horrid 8.06 earned run average over his five most recent starts and yielded five or more runs in all but one of those games.
The 23-year-old Georgia native is 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA in two career starts against Cincinnati, both of which came during the 2005 campaign.
The Reds will promote Bobby Livingston from Triple-A Louisville to start tonight’s contest. The left-hander made a pair of spot starts for the club earlier this season and earned his first major league win with an impressive showing at Colorado on June 1.
In that game Livingston yielded just one unearned run on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings to help Cincinnati to a 4-2 victory at Coors Field. He was sent back to the minors the following day.
The 24-year-old, who will be facing the Braves for the first time, has gone 3-4 with a 3.80 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) for Louisville this season.
Cincinnati enters this series with an NL-worst 37-55 record and did not help the Braves’ cause by dropping three of four games to the Mets to begin the second half. In Sunday’s series finale at Shea Stadium, Oliver Perez tossed six effective innings in his return from the disabled list to lead New York to a 5-2 decision.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips went 2-for-4 with an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He is batting .375 (18-for-48) with five home runs and 15 RBI during the tear.
Adam Dunn accounted for Cincinnati’s other run with a solo homer, his 25th of the season.
Reds starter Kyle Lohse (5-11) lasted only 4 2/3 innings and was charged with five runs on six hits and three walks.
These teams have not faced one another yet this season. Atlanta won four of seven meetings with Cincinnati last year and is 11-6 in the overall series since the start of the 2005 campaign.
The Reds lost three of four games in their only visit to Turner Field last season.
COLORADO ROCKIES (45-46) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (40-51), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Taylor Buchholz (4-3, 4.65) Pittsburgh - John Van Benschoten (0-3, 5.40)
The Pittsburgh Pirates hope that a return home can get them back on the right track as the perennial doormats start up a three-game series with the visiting Colorado Rockies at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh did not get its second half off to a good beginning, as the club lost all three games at Atlanta over the weekend. The Braves outscored the Pirates by a 19-6 margin for the set and completed the sweep with Sunday’s 5-1 victory.
The Bucs mustered just one run and four hits in eight innings against Atlanta’s Buddy Carlyle, with the only tally coming on a Freddy Sanchez solo home run in the opening frame.
Paul Maholm (5-12) pitched fairly well for Pittsburgh in defeat, as the left- hander allowed three runs — two earned — on eight hits over the first six innings.
Prior to the All-Star break, the Pirates went 7-3 on a 10-game homestand. Pittsburgh is just 22-24 at PNC Park this season but has won each of its last five series as the host.
Colorado is in the midst of a 10-game road trip that began with three meetings with National League Central frontrunner Milwaukee. The Rockies lost the final two matchups with the Brewers after posting a 10-6 win in Friday’s opener.
Milwaukee edged Colorado by a 4-3 count in Sunday’s rubber match, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 2-2 tie.
Reliever Jeremy Affeldt (4-2) came on for the Rockies in the bottom of the seventh and was greeted by a double by Geoff Jenkins followed by Kevin Mench’s RBI triple. Mench later crossed the plate on an Affeldt wild pitch.
Aaron Cook worked the first six innings for Colorado and surrendered two runs on just four hits.
Brad Hawpe had a solo home run in the loss, the Rockies’ third in four outings following a five-game win streak, while Kaz Matsui finished 2-for-5 with an RBI double.
A pair of young right-handers will square off in tonight’s opener, with Taylor Buchholz getting the call for Colorado opposite the Bucs’ John Van Benschoten.
Buchholz will be making his first start since he was touched for four runs in 6 2/3 innings in a loss to Cincinnati on June 1. He has been outstanding in a relief role since that defeat, having posted a 2-0 record and a 1.38 earned run average in nine games out of the pen.
The 25-year-old has been placed back in the rotation to fill in for the injured Jason Hirsh, who is currently on the disabled list with a sprained ankle.
Buchholz made a pair of starts against Pittsburgh while with Houston last season and went 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA in those games. He was rocked for nine runs and 11 hits over just 3 2/3 innings by the Bucs in his only career appearance at PNC Park.
Van Benschoten will try again to notch his first big league victory since he beat Houston on September 10, 2004. The former first-round pick’s career has been derailed by injuries since, as he did not pitch in the majors in 2005 and 2006.
The 27-year-old made it back to the big leagues in mid-June but has struggled in five starts following the promotion. Van Benschoten is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 15 walks in 23 1/3 inning since being called up.
His last start was a disaster, as he was lit up for five runs on seven hits and lasted only 2 2/3 innings in a home loss to the Cubs on July 7.
This will be Van Benschoten’s first-ever start against Colorado.
The Rockies and Pirates split six encounters in 2006, with Pittsburgh taking two of three games from Colorado at PNC Park. The Rockies are just 4-9 in the Steel City since 2004.
HOUSTON ASTROS (39-53) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (37-54), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Woody Williams (4-10, 5.34) Washington - Mike Bacsik (2-6, 5.20)
Baseball’s worst home and road teams this season will get together for a three-game series that begins tonight at RFK Stadium, where the Washington Nationals host the Houston Astros in a matchup of two of the National League’s current also-rans.
Washington has compiled a disappointing 19-27 home mark thus far in 2007, but could improve that figure against a Houston club that is a pathetic 15-31 on the road and has dropped 12 of its last 14 contests away from home.
The Astros suffered their sixth consecutive road loss on Sunday, falling 7-6 to the resurgent Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Houston jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in that game, but the Cubs scored six times off Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez in the bottom of the second inning en route to completing a three-game series sweep.
The Astros’ bats went silent after the early uprising, as five Chicago relievers combined to hold Houston scoreless over the final five innings.
Rodriguez (6-7) was yanked after 3 1/3 innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits, including a pair of home runs.
Mike Lamb went 3-for-5 with a solo home run for the Astros, while Lance Berkman had two hits and three RBI on the afternoon.
Houston will look to veteran Woody Williams tonight in hopes of turning things around. The right-hander has made a significant contribution to the team’s road woes, however, as Williams brings a 1-7 record with a 5.54 earned run average in 11 away starts into this evening’s tilt.
Williams has been pitching pretty well as of late, though. He defeated Philadelphia with seven innings of three-run ball on July 2, then held the Mets to three runs and five hits over 7 2/3 frames in a no decision five days later. Both of those starts came at home, however.
The 40-year-old has made five career starts against the Montreal/Washington franchise and owns a 2-2 overall record with a 3.48 ERA. He is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings of work over a pair of previous starts at RFK Stadium.
Washington started its second half with a wild 14-10 win at Florida on Friday, then proceeded to lose the next two games of the weekend series. The Marlins used the long ball to come through with a 5-3 decision in Sunday’s rubber match.
Nationals starter Jason Simontacchi (6-7) served up three homers, including two to Marlins All-Star Miguel Cabrera, and allowed all five Florida runs in a 4 1/3-inning stint. The right-hander also walked four and gave up nine total hits.
Dmitri Young knocked in a pair of runs for Washington, which had won three in a row prior to the back-to-back defeats, while Ronnie Belliard ended 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Journeyman Mike Bacsik gets the call for the Nationals in tonight’s opener. The left-hander is coming off a rough outing against Milwaukee on July 6 in which he surrendered six runs in five innings to take the loss. Bacsik surrendered three home runs among his eight hits allowed on the evening.
The 29-year-old hopes for a performance similar to the one he delivered two starts back, when he held Pittsburgh to two runs — one earned — on five hits in six innings to pick up a victory on July 1.
Bacsik has faced the Astros once in relief, tossing two perfect innings during the 2002 season while with the Mets. He’s still searching for his first win at RFK Stadium, as the well-traveled southpaw is 0-3 with a 5.81 ERA in five home starts this season.
Tonight’s game will be the first encounter between these teams in 2007. The Astros and Nationals split eight meetings last season, with Washington taking three of four games played at RFK.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (38-51) AT CHICAGO CUBS (47-43), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Tim Lincecum (4-2, 4.63) Chicago - Rich Hill (5-6, 3.81)
The Chicago Cubs will try to continue their recent success this month when they open a four-game series versus the San Francisco Giants tonight at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs are 8-3 in July and just pulled off a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros over the weekend at home. They completed the sweep with Sunday’s 7-6 win, as Derrek Lee went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer to lead the way.
Ryan Theriot and Angel Pagan also went deep for the Cubs, who have won five of their last seven games and sit 3 1/2 games off the lead in the NL Central. Starter Jason Marquis was tagged for six runs in just four innings of work before the bullpen combined for five innings of shutout ball. Michael Wuertz earned the win and Bob Howry posted his fifth save of the season.
Taking the ball for the Cubs tonight will be Rich Hill, who is 5-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 17 starts this season. Hill is 0-2 over his last five starts and was beaten by Washington the last time out on July 4, allowing 10 hits and six runs over six innings of a 6-0 loss.
The left-hander, who is 2-2 in seven home starts in 2007, owns a 1-1 mark in three career starts against San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the Giants have dropped four in a row, including Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series from AT&T Park. Barry Bonds went 0-for-5 and is hitless in his last 20 at-bats. The future Hall of Famer is still stuck on 751 career home runs, four shy of tying Hank Aaron for the all-time record.
Dave Roberts went 3-for-5 and scored twice for the Giants, who are last in the National League West standings — 12 1/2 games off the pace. Starting pitcher Noah Lowry had a three-start winning streak stopped and saw his seven-game home winning string come to an end after giving up 10 hits and five runs — four earned — over 5 2/3 innings.
San Francisco will send rookie pitcher Tim Lincecum to the mound Monday night and he is 4-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 12 starts this season. Lincecum is riding a personal two-game winning streak and is unbeaten over his last three starts with a 1.34 earned run average.
In his previous performance on July 7 against St. Louis, the right-hander posted the win after yielding three runs in six innings of a 7-6 triumph.
Lincecum will face the Cubs for the first time in his career tonight.
Chicago and the Giants are meeting for the first time since San Francisco took four of six games during the 2006 campaign. The Giants went 2-1 at Wrigley Field that season.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (49-44) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (51-40), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Micah Owings (5-4, 4.84) Milwaukee - Dave Bush (7-7, 4.86)
The National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers will play the first of four games this evening against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park.
Milwaukee has won two in a row after a three-game slide and recorded a 4-3 victory over Colorado on Sunday at home. Kevin Mench stroked a triple in the seventh inning and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to lift the Brewers.
Corey Hart had two hits and knocked in a run, while starter Jeff Suppan allowed two runs and five hits, walked three and struck out five batters over six-plus innings. Suppan also drove in a run at the plate. Matt Wise notched the win after relieving Suppan in the seventh inning.
The Brewers, who are 3 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs in the division, will hand the ball to Dave Bush in Monday’s series opener. Bush is 7-7 with a 4.86 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season and owns a 4-1 record to go along with a 2.54 earned run average over his last five trips to the mound.
Bush won his last start on July 6 against Washington and surrendered just one run and seven hits in seven innings during a 6-2 win. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two career starts against Arizona.
The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, had a two-game winning streak come to and end with Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres in the finale of a three-game series at Chase Field.
Starting pitcher Brandon Webb was reached for 11 hits and four runs — three earned — in 5 2/3 innings for the loss despite striking out 10 batters. Chris Young collected two hits for the D-Backs, who have dropped six of eight and fell 3 1/2 games off the lead in the National League West division.
Arizona, which has lost five straight on the road, will send rookie pitcher Micah Owings to the hill tonight and he is 5-4 with a 4.84 earned run average through 16 games (14 starts) this season.
Owings, though, is winless in his last four outings with an 8.04 ERA. In his past start on July 6 against Cincinnati, Owings was saddled with the loss for allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings of an 8-1 setback. The right-hander has never faced Milwaukee in his career.
Milwaukee and Arizona are meeting for the first time since splitting six games last season.
NEW YORK METS (51-40) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (50-40), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Jorge Sosa (7-3, 3.92) San Diego - David Wells (4-5, 4.31)
The National League East-leading New York Mets shoot for their third straight win tonight when they begin a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
New York has won two straight and five of its last eight, including Sunday’s 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a four-game series. Starter Oliver Perez tossed six solid innings in his return from the disabled list and gave up just two runs and six hits, walked three and fanned six in his first start since June 26th.
The lefty was suffering from stiffness in his lower back following that outing, then was placed on the DL on July 3. Jose Reyes belted a two-run homer and finished with two hits and a scored a run for the Mets, who are 1 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta in the NL East. Philadelphia is five games behind.
Toeing the rubber for the Mets this evening will be Jorge Sosa, who is 7-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 11 starts this season. Sosa is expected to be activated off the disabled lost today after injuring his left hamstring the last time out on June 30 against the Phillies. Sosa allowed three runs in five innings for the win that day, as the Mets recorded an 8-3 triumph.
In five career games (one start) against San Diego, Sosa is 2-1 with a 3.09 earned run average.
The Padres, meanwhile, will try to stay on the winning track this evening against New York. They ended a three-game slide with Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Arizona in the finale of a three-game set at Chase Field, as Milton Bradley finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and Brian Giles was 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Mike Cameron drove in a run for the Padres, who are just one game behind the rival Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West division. Starter Justin Germano pitched 6 1/3 innings of four-hit shutout ball for the win. Germano struck out four and walked three to halt a personal three-game losing streak. He also helped his own cause with an RBI single.
David Wells gets the nod for the Padres tonight and he is 4-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 17 starts this season. Wells, who is 1-2 over the past six trips to the mound, did not factor in the outcome of his previous outing on July 7 against Atlanta after permitting three runs in three innings of an 8-5 win. He was ejected in the fourth inning by home plate umpire Ed Hickox for questioning balls and strikes.
The portly lefty has good career stats against the Mets, going 4-1 with a 2.73 earned run average over seven starts.
New York and San Diego are meeting for the first time since the Mets won five of seven games last season, including a 2-2 record at Petco Park. New York is 9-4 over the last 13 matchups with the Padres.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (46-45) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (52-40), 10:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Jamie Moyer (7-7, 4.43) Los Angeles - Brad Penny (10-1, 2.39)
Los Angeles ace Brad Penny will try to stay hot in the second half of the season when he leads the Dodgers this evening in the first of three games versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Chavez Ravine.
Penny enjoyed an outstanding first half of the 2007 season, going 10-1 with a 2.39 ERA through 18 starts. He was bothered by a blister on his right index finger the last time out on July 5 against Atlanta, earning a no decision after allowing six runs in just four innings of an 8-6 setback to the Braves.
The right-hander, who is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 10 starts at home this year, hasn’t lost since a May 18 performance against the LA Angels of Anaheim.
In 18 career starts against Philadelphia, Penny owns a 7-4 record with a 3.47 earned run average.
Los Angeles has won four in a row and just swept the NL West-rival San Francisco Giants in three games over the weekend. On Sunday, Rafael Furcal tripled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and scored on Juan Pierre’s bunt to lift Los Angeles to a 5-3 victory.
Matt Kemp had three hits, an RBI and scored twice for the division-leading Dodgers, who are just one game ahead of the San Diego Padres in the standings. Starter Brett Tomko allowed four hits and three runs — one earned — over five innings to post his first win since May 9.
Meanwhile, the Phillies have lost 10,000 games in their existence following Sunday’s 10-2 bashing by the St. Louis Cardinals in the finale of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. The loss ended a three-game winning streak and pushed the Phillies five games off the lead in the National League East division.
After pounding out a season-high 23 hits in a 13-3 rout of the defending world champions on Friday, the Phillies racked up 14 hits and three home runs en route to a 10-4 triumph Saturday afternoon. Sunday was another story, however.
Michael Bourn homered last night and starter Adam Eaton allowed six runs on 10 hits in just four-plus innings of work for Philadelphia, which became the first professional sports franchise to lose 10,000 games.
Taking the ball for Philly in Monday’s series opener in LA will be veteran Jamie Moyer, who is 7-7 with a 4.43 ERA in 18 starts this season. Moyer has dropped two straight starts and is winless in his last three. In a July 7 start against Colorado, Moyer was handed the loss after giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 frames.
In nine career starts against Los Angeles, the left-handed Moyer is 3-3 with a 3.62 earned run average.
Philadelphia activated closer Tom Gordon after Sunday’s loss and sent reliever Brian Sanches to Triple-A Ottawa to make room on the roster. Gordon had been shelved since May 2 with shoulder problems and is 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA and five saves (three blown) in nine games this season.
The Dodgers and Phillies are meeting for the time since Los Angeles won four of seven games in 2006.
