Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

Friday, July 20th

American League Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers, 7:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

Chicago White Sox at Boston Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m.

Mostly Cloudy Mostly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

Cleveland Indians at Texas Rangers, 8:35 p.m.

Mostly Cloudy Mostly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

Baltimore Orioles at Oakland Athletics, 10:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70.

National League Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Sunny Sunny. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

Cincinnati Reds at Florida Marlins, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates, 7:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves, 7:35 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 50-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from left to right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers, 8:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing from left to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70.

Philadelphia Phillies at San Diego Padres, 10:05 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70.

New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:40 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

The Cleveland Indians haven’t won back-to-back games in more than two weeks. Their dominating pitching duo is trying to end that drought.

The Indians look to continue their success against the Texas Rangers when they meet Friday in the second game of a four-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Cleveland (56-39) won six in a row from June 28-July 3, but is 5-7 since. Ace left-hander C.C. Sabathia wasn’t at his best Thursday, but pitched well enough to lead the Indians to a 7-5 win over Texas and become the first 13-game winner in the majors.

Now the Indians will try for consecutive victories for the first time since that six-game winning streak when they hand the ball to Fausto Carmona (11-4, 3.77 ERA). The right-hander is enjoying a breakout season and looks to win his fourth straight start.

He held Kansas City to two runs and eight hits over seven innings in a 5-3 victory Sunday.

With his latest win, Carmona improved to 8-0 with a 1.98 ERA in nine day starts, compared to 3-4 with a 6.00 ERA in nine night games. He lost his only career start against the Rangers when he gave up six runs over 5 2-3 innings in a 7-5 defeat on April 29, 2006.

Cleveland has won all won all three meetings with Texas this season and five straight overall.

Indians first baseman Ryan Garko extended his hitting streak to 13 games Thursday and is batting .467 (21-for-45) with three homers, eight doubles and 10 RBIs during that stretch.

Center fielder Grady Sizemore went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs. He’s 5-for-11 in his career against Brandon McCarthy, Texas’ Friday starter.

McCarthy gave up four runs - three earned - and six hits over six innings Sunday, and didn’t factor in the decision in a 5-4, 11-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels. He walked two and struck out four, and is 0-2 with a 5.16 ERA over his last five starts.

McCarthy (4-6, 5.59) hasn’t had much support during that stretch, though, as the Rangers didn’t score a run in four of those outings.

McCarthy is 3-1 with a 6.16 ERA in 10 games, including two starts, against the Indians. He threw two scoreless innings of relief in Texas’ 8-7 loss at Cleveland on April 25.

The Rangers (41-54) placed reliever Akinori Otsuka on the 15-day disabled list Thursday after an MRI exam determined the right-hander has inflammation in his forearm that is causing pain in his elbow.

Texas was also without shortstop Michael Young on Thursday after the death of his wife’s grandmother in Southern California. He’s expected to miss Friday’s contest as well and rejoin the team Saturday.

The Rangers are trying to avoid losing three in a row for the first time since June 10-13.

For Pizza I’ll back Carmona & the Tribe laying the chalk here -128

Good Luck,

Tommy Mac

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FEDS PROBING REF IN MAFIA BET SCAM

THE FBI is investigating an NBA referee who allegedly was betting on basketball games - including ones he was officiating during the past two seasons - as part of an organized-crime probe in the Big Apple, The Post has learned.

The investigation, which began more than a year ago, is zeroing in on blockbuster allegations that the referee was making calls that affected the point spread to guarantee that he — and the hoods who had their hooks in him — cashed in on large bets.

A law enforcement official told the AP on the condition of anonymity that the referee was aware of the investigation and was planning to surrender next week.

The official said the bets involved thousands of dollars and were made on games during the 2005-2006 and the 2006-2007 seasons.

The NBA issued a brief statement: “We have been asked by the FBI, with whom we are working closely, not to comment on this matter at this time.”

Federal agents are set to arrest the referee and a cadre of mobsters and their associates who lined their pockets, sources said.

“These are dangerous people [the referee] was involved with,” a source said.

One source close to the probe counted the number of games on which the ref and his wiseguy buddies scored windfalls in the “double digits.”

NBA Commissioner David Stern is aware of the investigation and has a report about the referee on his desk, another source said.

The official, whose name was withheld, allegedly wagered on games during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 NBA seasons.

James Margolin, an FBI spokesman, declined comment on the latest black eye for professional sports.

The sources indicated the referee apparently had a gambling problem, slipped into debt and fell prey to mob thugs.

” That’s how he got himself into this predicament” by wagering with mob-connected bookies, one source said.

Veteran oddsmaker John Avello, at the Wynn resort on the Las Vegas Strip, said that without specific information it would be difficult to identify wagering irregularities over the last two seasons.

“At this point, it’s too early to know if any games were affected,” Avello said, adding that no regulators or investigators had contacted him about the case.

Jay Kornegay, executive director of the sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton, said he had never seen any unusual activity in NBA betting, and was surprised not to have heard about an investigation until Friday.

“Whispers would have happened on the street, and we would have heard something,” Kornegay said. “Any type of suspicious or unusual movements, you usually hear in the industry. We’re so regulated and policed, any kind of suspicion would be discussed.

“We haven’t seen anything like that in the NBA that I can remember,” he said, “and we haven’t been contacted by anybody.”

Kornegay said legal sports betting in Nevada represents a fraction of sports betting worldwide, with 98.5 percent of all action taken outside the state.

Professional basketball has remained largely unscathed by allegations of game-fixing, although college basketball has been rocked by several scandals involving point-shaving by players, but not officials.

One of the most recent was a Boston College point-shaving scam arranged in the 1980s by mobster Henry Hill, who bribed several players. Hill later became a government informant, and his life was depicted in the movie “GoodFellas.”

Having a referee in their pockets provides a two-fold bonanza to game fixers.

Gamblers would be able to directly cash in by betting on games where they knew the point spread was compromised.

But having a ref in their pocket could prove even more lucrative to crooks in a bookmaking syndicate.

Bookmakers hope to encourage an equal amount of betting on each team and make their money on the “vigorish,” which is typically 10 percent of a losing bet.

But armed with the inside information, the bookmaking syndicate could set an artificial point spread that would encourage large “layoff” bets from other bookies carrying too much action on one team, that were likely now to lose.

An FBI organized-crime squad in the bureau’s flagship New York office is handling the case, but the referee traveled the country officiating various games on which he allegedly bet.

It was not determined which games were allegedly affected by the referee’s actions, or how much money may have been won by him and his cohorts.

The FBI got wind of the scheme while conducting a separate mob investigation.

The most prominent American sport- gambling scandal in recent history involved Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose, who was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on his own team.

Based largely on testimony of two Rose associates, Ron Peters and Paul Janszen, Major League Baseball determined that from 1985 through 1987, Rose bet on baseball, including 52 Reds games in 1987, at a minimum of $10,000 a game.

All of Rose’s bets on Cincinnati were to win.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

murray.weiss@nypost.com

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have done everything they can to separate themselves from the rest of the American League West. The Angels finished up the first half of the season with a Major League-best 53 wins and have since gone 3-3 to start the second half of the season.

However, they have not been able to slow down the red-hot Seattle Mariners, who are now just two games behind LA in the AL West standings. The Angels have dominated at home thus far, posting a 31-14 record. They have also had success on the road with a solid 25-24 record away from Angel Stadium. The next two weeks will be crucial for Anaheim, as it will face off against some of the AL’s best in Minnesota, Oakland and Detroit. Those three series will lead up to a very important three-game set versus Seattle.

The Angels began the second half of the season on fire taking two out of three games from the lowly Texas Rangers. However, Anaheim failed to take advantage of another bottom feeder in Tampa Bay, dropping two out of three to the Devil Rays.

Tuesday night’s opener was the most disappointing loss of the series for the Angels, as they were dominated in an 8-3 setback. Starter Ervin Santana put together another disappointing performance, allowing seven runs on 14 hits through six innings. The Angels were active at the plate, collecting 10 hits on the night, but still managed to leave seven runners on base.

Wednesday proved to be more of the same for the Angels, as they were hammered 7-2. Right-hander Bartolo Colon was solid in the loss, surrendering three runs on five hits through five innings. Reliever Dustin Moseley let the game slip away in the sixth, allowing four runs on four hits to put the game out of reach. The Angels were stifled at the plate, managing just six hits in the loss.

Anaheim finally turned things around in Thursday’s finale, capturing a 3-0 win. Starter Kelvim Escobar led his team to victory, limiting the Devil Rays to nine hits through 7 2/3 scoreless innings. Escobar set the tone for closer Francisco Rodriguez who came on in the ninth to nail down his 25th save of the season. Anaheim gave their pitching staff plenty of support, compiling 10 hits in the win. Left fielder Garrett Anderson led the way, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Following the game manager Mike Scioscia praised Escobar for his outstanding performance this season.

“He’s been on the money this whole season,” Scioscia said. “So I think it goes past the last couple of games he’s pitched. Along with [12-game winner] John Lackey, I’d hate to see where we’d be without these guys.

“I think [Escobar’s] confidence is high, he’s getting a little bit of support to match what he can do on the mound, and it’s leading to some wins for him and that’s good to see.”

SANTANA’S STRUGGLES LAND HIM IN MINORS

It seems as if Scioscia and the rest of the Angels brass have given Santana more than enough time to turn things around. Following Wednesday’s loss, the 24-year old right-hander was sent to Triple-A Salt Lake where he will remain until he proves that he is ready to return to the majors. The decision must have been a difficult one for the Angels, as Santana proved to be one of the brightest young talents in baseball just a year ago. In 2006 Santana went 16-6 with a 4.28 ERA in 33 starts. Anaheim had high expectations for the young hurler this season, expecting him to develop into a strong number two starter.

However, that was not the case as Santana has compiled a disappointing 5-11 record with a 6.22 ERA in 19 starts. Anaheim had hoped that the All-Star break would give Santana sufficient time to refocus on his mechanics. Although that did not come to fruition, as the right-hander fell apart during Wednesday night’s loss, surrendering 14 hits in what resulted in his fourth straight defeat. During the four-game slide Santana has compiled an 11.64 ERA and showed signs of frustration on the mound.

Scioscia now feels that Santana needs some minor league work before he can turn things around at the professional level.

“It was a move that became more and more apparent as Ervin was struggling from start to start and not moving forward,” Scioscia said. “Looking at certainly the last six or seven starts, he’s been having trouble bringing some things to the game that he needs to. He’s been working extremely hard — and nobody feels it any more than Ervin — but for him to move forward, we’re going to have to take this half-step backward.”

Santana was optioned to make room for catcher Mike Napoli, who was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday. The Angels are confident that by sending Santana to the minors he will be able to work on some of the mechanics that have made him ineffective this season.

“It’s tough to make adjustments at the Major League level,” Scioscia said. “I don’t think he’s that far off, but that gap that’s there is important, and he needs to bridge it.

“I think Ervin’s going to make the adjustments and get into the groove that he was, and I expect him back here.”

As for Napoli he rejoins the team after being sent to the DL on July 2nd with an ankle injury. Napoli could give the Angels a spark at the plate, as he was hitting .243 with 29 RBI at the time of his injury. Napoli was available for Thursday’s game, but is not expected to play until this weekend’s series with the Minnesota Twins.

INJURY NEWS

Howie Kendrick has been sent back to the disabled list for the second time this season. The second baseman has already missed more than a month of action with a broken middle finger on his left hand. This time around he is expected to miss at least 15 days with a broken index finger on the same hand.

Minor league standout Brandon Wood was called up to replace Kendrick and will serve as a utility infielder for the time being. Wood is making his second trip the majors this season after a short stint in late April. The rookie has tore through the minors, holding team records in doubles (53) and total bases (370).

WHO’S HOT

Starter John Lackey picked up where he left off before the All-Star break, winning his first start since play resumed. Lackey’s win over the Texas Rangers on July 14th gave him 12 wins on the season. The right-hander has been lights out this year, compiling a 12-5 record with a 2.98 ERA over 19 starts.

WHO’S NOT

Bartolo Colon is having trouble finding his groove, going 0-3 over his last five starts. The right-hander is just 2-5 in his last 10 appearances and has walked 22 batters during that time. Colon has not shown the consistency that made him a Cy Young Award winner in 2005. He is 6-5 on the year with a disappointing 6.38 ERA

ON DECK

The Angels will travel to Minnesota this weekend for a three-game set against the Twins from the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Friday night’s matchup will feature Lackey (12-5, 2.98) and Carlos Silva (7-10, 4.55). Saturday night’s contest will be a showdown between Jered Weaver (6-5, 3.36) and Boof Bonser (5-6, 4.68) before Joe Saunders (3-0, 2.97) and Matt Garza (1-1, 0.00) square off in Sunday’s finale.

For most of the first half of the 2007 MLB season, Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones couldn’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag with scissors in his hand.

Forget that Jones is a treasure chest full of talent in the outfield because he was not producing offensively to help his team reach the win column on a regular basis. Not that he has to do all of the work, but from June 10 - 25 Jones did not record a home run or an RBI and was mired in an 0- for-21 hitless streak.

Then the sleeping giant awoke from his slumber and began making contact with the ball similar to his days as a teenage rookie. Since June 26 Jones has hit safely in 17-of-19 games with eight home runs, 23 RBI and a .303 batting average (23-for-76). Over his last 10 games, the nine-time Gold Glove award winner is batting .385 (15-for-39) with five homers and 16 runs batted in.

In Thursday’s series-opening 10-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, Jones homered and knocked in three runs. However, his season marks are still low with a .220 batting average, 19 home runs and 65 RBI. But what do you expect from a player who opened the first eight weeks of the season hitting much like former Golden Girls star Betty White circa 2007?

Jones, a five-time All-Star, is on pace for his 10th straight season with at least 25 home runs and will most likely add a 10th Gold Glove to his name. Manager Bobby Cox surely hopes so since his ballclub is only 2 1/2 games off the lead in the National League East standings. And don’t forget Jones is in his contract year so big numbers will bring in big bucks.

Jones and the Braves have won 13 of their last 20 games, and put the brakes on a three-game losing streak with last night’s nine-run triumph over the defending World Series-champion Cardinals.

CHIPPER RIPPIN’ IT UP/ FRANCO RETURNS

Chipper Jones has been on a tear since coming off the disabled list on June 13 because of sore hands.

Jones is batting .388 (45-for-116) and has hit safely in 26 of his last 30 games, including 14 multi-hit games. Jones went 2-for-3 in last night’s win.

Meanwhile, ageless veteran Julio Franco made his return to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday after the New York Mets placed him on waivers.

“If it wouldn’t have been Atlanta, I would have gone home because I know this is one organization that I can trust to know what I’m capable of doing and how to use me,” said, Franco, who started at first base on Thursday and drove in a pair of runs with a single.

The 48-year-old Franco batted .292 with the Braves from 2001-2005 and has already earned the trust and confidence from his manager.

“It’s nice to see his smiling face in that clubhouse,” longtime skipper Bobby Cox said. “He looks good. He loves the game of baseball and he has fun with it. Plus he’s a winner. He was a big cog in our wheel during the years that he was here.”

Franco will be primarily used as a pinch-hitter and will also get most of his starts at first base against left-handed starters. Rookie Jarrod Saltalamacchia will play first base against right-handed starting pitchers.

To make room for Franco on the roster, the Braves sent starting pitcher Kyle Davies to Triple-A Richmond. Davies was 4-8 with a 5.76 ERA in 17 starts this season, but was 1-5 with a 7.31 ERA in his past seven trips to the mound.

“He’s just got to be more consistent,” Cox said of Davies. “He’s got everything going for him. He’s a sharp kid. He’s got all the pitches. He’s a great athlete.”

SMOLTZ BACK IN ACTION

Veteran starting pitcher John Smoltz was activated off the disabled list this week because of shoulder inflammation.

Smoltz, who was shelved on July 6, pitched seven shutout innings and gave up five hits in a 5-4 15-inning loss to the Reds. He struck out 11 and walked just two, and even struck out five consecutive batters during the game.

“Mentally I was as good as I’ve ever been — you have to be when you’ve had a long layoff,” Smoltz said after the game. “The physical part will click back in when I get back in a five-day routine.

“I guess it was best that it was a day game, to get really hot and be able to stay loose.”

The right-hander was named to his eighth All-Star Game but couldn’t play because of injury.

He is 2-2 over his last five outings with a 3.00 ERA.

WHO’S HOT

Andruw Jones. (See above)

Also, starting pitcher Tim Hudson is riding a five-game unbeaten streak.

Hudson is 4-0 with a 2.61 earned run average in his last five starts, with his only poor performance during that stretch coming on July 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That day Hudson yielded six runs and 10 hits in three innings of an 8-6 Atlanta victory.

The right-hander is currently riding a personal two-game winning streak.

WHO’S NOT

Starting pitcher Kyle Davies was certainly not doing well as of late and the recent acquisition of Julio Franco made him expendable.

ON DECK

Atlanta is 4-3 on a 10-game homestand and will wrap it up with three more games against the St. Louis Cardinals.

After the Braves close out the stand on Sunday, they will open a seven-game road trip to San Francisco and Arizona.

Barry Bonds is within reach of Hank Aaron’s all-time home run mark of 755, and may catch “Hammerin Hank” in the city that the legend spent most of his career, as the San Francisco Giants are set to begin a three-game series tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Bonds returned to the lineup in a big way on Thursday against the Cubs after missing three straight games due to sore legs. He first snapped his 0-for-21 skid when he led off the second inning with a home run to right field, and then belted the 753rd homer of his career in the seventh inning.

Overall, he finished 3-for-3 with six RBI and three runs scored, but it wasn’t enough as the Giants fell to Chicago, 9-8.

Matt Morris (7-6) was tagged for eight runs — five earned — over 4 2/3 innings of work for the Giants, who have dropped seven of eight.

So now Bonds brings his home run chase to Milwaukee, where Aaron played from 1954-65 with the Braves and then in 1975-76 with the Brewers.

And if that wasn’t enough pressure, Bonds will also have to endure questions as to whether he thinks MLB commissioner Bud Selig should be in attendance as he attempts to catch and pass Aaron. Selig is a former owner of the Brewers and a Milwaukee resident.

The Giants will send Noah Lowry and his team-high nine wins to the hill tonight as they try to get back on the winning track. The left-hander is 3-1 over his last four starts with a 2.63 earned run average, but that loss came last time out against the Dodgers on Sunday. Lowry was tagged for five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings for his seventh loss of the season. His ERA also lifted to 3.50 in the setback.

The 26-year-old is 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA in three lifetime starts against Milwaukee. That includes a setback to the club on June 18 of this year in which Lowry allowed five runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Jeff Suppan, meanwhile, will attempt to halt a four-start winless streak when he toes the rubber for the Brewers tonight. Since a victory over Kansas City on June 22, Suppan has gone 0-1, but pitched well in a no-decision against Colorado on Sunday. Versus the Rockies, the right-hander yielded just two runs over six innings on five hits and three walks.

Suppan, who is 8-8 on the year with a 4.90 ERA, has yet to face the Giants this season, but won his lone start against them last year. Lifetime, he is 3-4 against them with a 4.95 ERA in seven starts.

Bonds is just 2-for-12 lifetime against Suppan, but one of those hits was a home run. However, he is a career .363 hitter against Milwaukee with 21 lifetime long balls.

The Brewers come into this set as winners in five of six. That includes a rout of Arizona on Thursday, as Tony Graffanino went 2-for-4, homered, drove in three runs and scored three times to lead Milwaukee to a 10-1 victory.

Yovani Gallardo (2-1) held Arizona to only three hits through six innings, striking out four, and Matt Wise earned a rare save, his first of the season.

Gabe Gross also homered for the Brewers, who lead the Chicago Cubs by 3 1/2 games for first place in the NL Central. The club is also 5-2 on a 10-game homestand.

The Brewers have won seven straight — all at home — over the Giants, including a three-game sweep this year in Milwaukee from June 18-20. San Francisco’s last win at Miller Park came on May 3 of last season.

The Oakland Athletics are in dire straights right now, having lost nine of their last 10 games. The A’s are a pathetic 1-6 since the All-Star break and now trail the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by 11 1/2 games in the American League West. With a 45-50 record on the season, Oakland needs an immediate turnaround in order to become a serious contender for a postseason birth in the American League.

Oakland’s demise began right before the All-Star break, when the club dropped three of four games to the Seattle Mariners. The A’s continued their losing after the break, dropping five straight games to the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. Things will not get easier for Oakland over the next three weeks, as they play 20 straight games without a day off. The results of those next 20 days could in fact decide the A’s season.

Oakland’ series loss to the last-place Rangers was the worst showing of the 10-game stretch. Despite a solid effort from starter Dallas Braden, Monday’s opener ended in a 4-1 Oakland loss.

Braden allowed four runs on eight hits through six innings, while striking out seven. The A’s did little to support their hurler, however, collecting just six hits in defeat.

Tuesday’s game ended in another embarrassing loss, as the A’s fell by an 11-4 margin. Starting pitcher Chad Gaudin was knocked around, surrendering five runs on eight hits through six innings. However, it was the play of the Oakland bullpen that sealed the deal, as the A’s relievers surrendered five runs over the final three innings.

The A’s finally got things going in Wednesday’s finale, capturing a 6-0 win to snap their nine-game losing streak. Starter Lenny DiNardo carried the A’s to victory by allowing just three hits through seven shutout innings. Oakland only managed six hits in the win, but received a 2-for-3 performance from second baseman Mark Ellis.

Following the game, manager Bob Geren spoke about the importance of Wednesday’s victory.

“It was a much-needed win for the team,” Geren said. “I couldn’t be happier with the entire performance, it was a real nice win.”

A’S SEND STRUGGLING KENDALL TO CUBS

The A’s dealt catcher Jason Kendall to the Chicago Cubs on Monday. In return Oakland received catcher Rob Bowen and minor league pitcher Jerry Blevins. The trade was not a total shock, as general manager Billy Beane has been known for making deals at the trade deadline and the team having fallen almost completely out of the playoff picture.

Kendall became expendable after failing to break out of a season-long slump that saw him bat just .226 with 26 RBI through the first half of the season.

The veteran catcher was in his third season with the A’s and was coming off an impressive 2006 campaign in which he batted .295. However, Oakland’s recent struggles have forced the team to make some decisions that will either lead them into the postseason, or clear some salary for the offseason market. Kendall falls into the latter, as he was scheduled to make $13.5 million this season.

Outfielder Mark Kotsay, who is a close friend of Kendall’s, is optimistic he will be able to turn things around in Chicago.

“He’s one of the most professional guys I’ve ever come across,” said Kotsay. “He’s just the epitome of what a big league player and teammate should be. But this is probably a good thing for Jason. He’s had a lot of success in the NL Central. He had the best years of his career in that division, and I’m sure he’ll be able to give (the Cubs) a big boost in what they’re trying to do.”

As for Bowen, he will be playing for his third team this season. The catcher played 30 games for the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Cubs on June 20. He struggled with Chicago, batting just .065 in 10 games, and is hitting .212 with two home runs and 13 RBI over 40 contests this year.

Bowen will back up rookie catcher Kurt Suzuki, who was named the starter following the trade. Suzuki has shown promise behind the plate but is struggling worse than Kendall with the stick. The rookie is batting just .200 with 10 strikeouts in 35 plate appearances this season.

Kendall’s trade may signify Oakland’s surrender, as the team has fallen 11 1/2 games back in the AL West. The pitching staff has been thwarted with injuries and the latest losing streak may have been enough to put the Athletics out of the race for good. However, Beane was quick to announce that the Kendall trade had no bearing on the team’s immediate future.

“Certainly with the injuries we’ve had, we’re not in a place we’d like to be sitting right now. It’s quite an uphill battle. … But this doesn’t necessarily mean anything team-wise beyond [trading Kendall].”

PIAZZA ON THE MEND

Designated hitter Mike Piazza may be able to return from the disabled list, following a productive rehab stint in Triple-A Sacramento. Piazza, who has missed more than two months with a shoulder sprain, is batting .400 with a home run and two RBI during his minor league assignment. That success at the plate may prompt the A’s to recall the catcher for this weekend’s series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Prior to the All-Star break there was some talk about moving Piazza into a backup catcher role. However, that idea died quickly when Piazza told the A’s front office that his arm would not be strong enough to catch on a regular basis. Either way, the A’s need Piazza’s bat back in their ailing lineup. The veteran DH was batting .282 with eight RBI in just 26 games before his injury.

Geren is excited about Piazza’s return, but does not want to rush the veteran and risk further injury.

“He’s gonna be ready to DH, but I can’t predict how many games he’ll play right away,” Geren said. “But anybody that’s a major hitter of his stature is going to help our lineup.”

INJURY NEWS

The A’s were forced to place right-hander Rich Harden back on the DL with a strained right shoulder. Harden had already missed most of the season with the same injury, but returned to the A’s bullpen on June 21. He pitched well in a relief role, holding opponents scoreless over three separate appearances. However, things took a turn for the worse when he was placed back in the rotation on July 7.

Harden was forced to leave that game against Seattle after just 2 2/3 innings. He complained of stiffness upon entering the dugout and was eventually placed back on the DL for the second time this season.

Beane was not discouraged upon hearing about Harden’s diagnosis, however.

“It’s obviously a blow for the club, but we’ve managed to do a pretty good job of staying afloat without him for most of the first half,” Beane said.

WHO’S HOT

Rookie Travis Buck has come on over the past month, hitting safely in seven of his last 10 games. The outfielder is batting .273 with six home runs and 23 RBI this season.

WHO’S NOT

Kotsay continues to struggle, as he has gone just 5-for-34 at the plate over his last 10 games. The center fielder is batting just .186 in the month of July and has watched his average slip to .219 on the season.

ON DECK

The A’s will welcome the Baltimore Orioles to town for a three-game set from McAfee Coliseum beginning Friday. Joe Blanton (8-6, 3.36) will take on Orioles ace Eric Bedard (8-4, 3.22) in Friday’s opener. Saturday’s game will feature Dan Haren (10-3, 2.33) and Baltimore’s Steve Trachsel (5-6, 4.95) before Braden (1-4, 6.07) and Jeremy Guthrie (5-3, 3.06) close out Sunday’s finale.

Josh Beckett tries to become the second 13-game winner in the majors this evening when the Boston Red Sox continue their four-game series with the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.

Beckett has dropped two of his last three starts, but with a victory tonight he will tie Cleveland left-hander C.C. Sabathia for the league lead in wins. Beckett was the hard-luck loser on Sunday against Toronto, as he surrendered a pair of runs on seven hits in eight innings to fall to 12-3 this season to go along with a 3.35 earned run average.

The 27-year-old right-hander, who has won just once at home since May 29, has faced the White Sox only twice in his young career and is 1-0 against them with a 4.66 ERA.

Chicago will counter with Cuban right-hander Jose Contreras, who is a dismal 5-11 with a 5.32 ERA. Contreras dropped his fourth straight start and fell for the seventh time in his last eight decisions on Sunday in Baltimore, as the Orioles battered him for five runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Contreras is 3-4 lifetime against the Red Sox with an 8.56 ERA in nine games, eight of which have been starts.

In a soggy opener to this set on Thursday, A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and knocked in three runs, and Paul Konerko homered, as the White Sox rolled to a 4-2 win in a game that started nearly two hours late due to rain.

Javier Vazquez (7-5) scattered nine hits and surrendered two runs over 6 1/3 innings to win his fourth straight decision. Bobby Jenks threw the ninth inning for his 26th save, as Chicago won for the third time four games following a three-game skid.

Dustin Pedroia had three hits and knocked in a run for the Red Sox, who have lost three in a row and eight of 11.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-7) was lifted after giving up two hits and three runs with a career-high six walks and six strikeouts in five-plus innings.

This is the first series of the season between these teams, but Boston is 12-8 in the matchup since the start of the 2004 campaign. The White Sox have also struggled in Beantown, where they have won just three times in their last seven visits.

The Chicago Cubs are enjoying a very successful homestand and will hope that trend continues this afternoon with the opener of a three- game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs swept a three-game set with Houston to begin the 10-game residency before taking three of four against San Francisco, including Thursday’s 9-8 victory that was overshadowed by two home runs from Barry Bonds.

Ted Lilly (10-4) served up Bonds’ first homer, but got the win behind five innings of three-run ball. Aramis Ramirez provided the offensive spark in the absence of Derrek Lee, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.

Alfonso Soriano also had three hits, scored twice and knocked in a run, while Jacque Jones finished 4-for-5.

The Cubs did suffer a set of injuries in the game, though. Daryle Ward, subbing for Lee at first base, was forced out of the game in the second inning due to a right calf strain, while Cliff Floyd left in the third with a sore neck after a collision at first.

Ward’s injury may be the most concerning due to the fact Lee is currently serving a five-game suspension — he will sit out his third game today — and is not eligible to return until Tuesday. Mark DeRosa came off the bench to spell Ward yesterday.

Meanwhile, closer Ryan Dempster could be activated from the disabled list today for Chicago, which is 3 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Jason Marquis will try to shake off two recent horrid outings when he starts today for the Cubs. The right-hander has allowed six runs and eight hits in each of his last two starts while pitching just a total of 8 2/3 innings. Marquis began the season 5-1 through seven starts, but is now just 6-5 with a 4.03 earned run average.

Despite a 2.84 ERA in seven career outings (six starts) against the Diamondbacks, Marquis is just 1-3 against them. That lone victory came on May 13 of last season behind seven innings of one-run ball and was the first of five straight winning starts for Marquis.

Chicago wasn’t able to gain any ground on the Brewers despite their winning ways against the Giants, and the club has the Diamondbacks to blame for that. Arizona comes into this series having just lost three of four to Milwaukee, including a 10-1 rout at the hands of the Brew Crew on Thursday.

Livan Hernandez (5-6) was ripped for eight hits and six runs — five earned — in 5 1/3 innings, while Conor Jackson’s solo homer provided the only run for Arizona.

Overall, the club has lost 12 of its last 16 games and is currently 4 1/2 games behind San Diego for the top spot in the NL West.

Brandon Webb will toe the rubber for the Diamondbacks today and is aiming for his first win in four starts. Webb is 0-2 over his last three outings, including a loss on Sunday against the Padres.

The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned), but was also battered for 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner did strikeout 10 batters, however, to just two walks.

The 28-year-old Webb is pitching to a 4.40 ERA over his last five starts and has fallen to 8-7 on the season with a 3.42 ERA.

He has pitched well historically against the Cubs in his career, going 4-0 with a 2.52 earned run average over six starts against them.

Arizona has also had recent success against Chicago. It won four of six against the Cubs in 2006, and is 13-6 against them since the start of the 2004 season.

Pittsburgh hasn’t had much success this season, except for when it plays against Houston. The struggling Pirates shoot for their seventh straight win versus the Astros this year in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park.

The Pirates got their season off to a promising start when they swept the Astros in Houston from April 2-4 to open the season. The club then hosted Houston from April 24-26 and took all three games of that set as well.

It was a quick turnaround for a Pirates team that lost 13 of the 16 games they played against the Astros last season. That included seven losses in 10 home games in 2006.

While the Pirates will be trying to extend a winning streak against the Astros, they will also be attempting to halt a six-game losing streak on the season. The club comes into this series having been swept in three games at Atlanta and then in three games at home against Colorado.

Against the Rockies on Wednesday, Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez both homered in a 5-3 setback. Ian Snell (7-7) was tagged for five runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk in six innings.

Tom Gorzelanny will shoot for his fourth straight winning decision with tonight’s start for Pittsburgh. The left-hander is 3-0 over his last five outings and received a no-decision on Saturday at Atlanta. On that day, Gorzelanny allowed four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts over six innings of work.

The 25-year-old is 9-4 on the year with a solid 3.24 earned run average.

Gorzelanny is just 1-3 in four career starts against the Astros while pitching to a 4.84 ERA against them. His lone victory versus Houston came this season in the left-hander’s first start of the year on April 4.

Houston will send Roy Oswalt to the hill tonight. Oswalt is coming off a horrid outing that saw him allow a career-high eight earned runs (nine total) on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Cubs on July 14. The setback dropped the right-hander to 8-6 on the season with a 3.91 ERA.

The All-Star then made a relief appearance on July 17, recording the final out of the seventh inning of his club’s 4-2 win over the Nationals.

The 29-year-old is 10-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) lifetime against Pittsburgh. That includes a no-decision against the club on April 2 of this season.

Houston has lost five of its last six games and sits dead last in the NL Central. However, the club is only a half-game back of Pittsburgh for fifth place in the standings.

The Astros just lost two of three to Washington, including a 7-6 setback on Wednesday that saw Houston plate four runs in the seventh inning to get within one, only to fall short.

Mike Lamb and Luke Scott each homered and scored twice in the setback, while Jason Jennings (1-6) was tagged for seven runs on eight hits through five innings.

The loss dropped Houston to 1-5 on its current nine-game road swing.