Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

By Chris Rahill

Cardinals team report

The St. Louis Cardinals are running out of time to try to make a run at the National League Central crown. The Cardinals are still five games below .500 (45-50) and have gone just 5-5 since the All-Star break. St. Louis trails the Brewers by 8 /12 games and cannot afford to fall any further behind at this point in the season. The Cardinals’ season could very easily be decided by the end of this week, as they will play seven straight games versus the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. If St. Louis can come out on top in each of these series, it will be back in the race in both the division and the wild card. However, if the Cardinals come up short in either series, it could be the end of the road for St. Louis.

The Cardinals are coming off a four-game series split with the Atlanta Braves. St. Louis was pounded in Thursday night’s opener, losing 10-1. The Cardinals did manage to bounce back in Friday night’s contest, beating the Braves 4-2. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched a gem, allowing just one run on six hits through seven innings. The Cardinals bullpen took it from there, culminating in Jason Isringhausen’s 19th save of the season. St. Louis also showed some spark at the plate, collecting 11 hits in the win. Albert Pujols led the attack, going 2-for-3 with a homerun and an RBI.

St. Louis suffered a letdown in Saturday night’s contest, falling 14-6. Right-hander Braden Looper was hammered in the loss, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits through just 2 2/3 innings. However, the Cardinals did rebound to capture a 7-2 win in Sunday’s finale. Starter Brad Thompson led the way, allowing just two runs over six innings, but is was Isringhausen who walked away with the win. The cardinals closer pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning on the way to his fourth win of the season. The Cardinals relied on the long ball for runs, as Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Skip Schumaker all homered in the victory.

MAROTH MAKES TEMPORARY MOVE TO BULLPEN

Starter Mike Maroth will be available out of the bullpen this week should the Cardinals need a long-inning replacement. The move comes in response to the bullpen’s overuse during the Atlanta series. The Cardinals bullpen was forced to pitch 14 1/3 innings during the four-game set and is in need of a rest. Maroth made his last start on Thursday night against Atlanta and is not scheduled to make his next start until Friday night’s game against Milwaukee. The southpaw will be available if the Cardinals run into trouble in the early innings and need a long-inning reliever. If Maroth is not called upon he will make his scheduled start on Friday.

Maroth has struggled during his last three starts going 0-3, while surrendering 17 runs on 25 hits. However, the lefty remains confident that he can solve the problem and make a positive contribution to the starting rotation.

“At this point, it’s about making an adjustment,” Maroth said. “That’s the biggest thing. You look at the whole picture, and that’s what it comes down to. This game is all about adjustments. It has been all the way through the Minors. I’ve been able to make them before, and I’m at a point where I need to make another one.”

Maroth is not the only new face in the Cardinals bullpen, as the team also called up righty Kelvin Jimenez. Jimenez will take the place of southpaw Troy Cate, who saw limited action during his short stay in the majors.

CARDS SIGN TOP PICK

St. Louis has reached an agreement with shortstop Pete Kozma, who was the team’s first selection in this year’s draft. Kozma, who was the Oklahoma High School Player of the Year, was drafted by the Cardinals with the 18th overall selection. The shortstop hit .522 as a senior with 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases and passed up a scholarship to Wichita State University to sign with the Cardinals.

Kozma’s early signing will allow the Cardinals to designate him to a minor league affiliate with more than a month to play in the season. By signing Kozma the Cardinals have now locked up each of their top five draft picks in the 2007 draft.

INJURY NEWS

Righthander Mark Mulder is inching closer to a return after another successful bullpen session on Friday afternoon. Mulder, who has missed all of this season with a shoulder injury, threw 75 pitches including breaking balls and change-ups. This marks the first time that the right-hander has been able to throw any type of breaking pitch since his surgery in 2006.

Mulder is recovering from a rotator cuff surgery that has sidelined him since September of 2006. Although his return is still weeks away, the Cardinals are hoping that Mulder will be able to pitch a simulated game in the near future. Pitching coach Dave Duncan wants to see how Mulder responds to different hitters.

“I would recommend doing that pretty soon,” Duncan said. “But he’s got to feel comfortable. We’ll be back home the next time he throws. I’m going to talk to him between now and then, and see just how close he thinks he is to being ready to face hitters. If he is, then we’ll do it.”

While Mulder continues to improve, staff ace Chris Carpenter has taken a step backwards in his recovery. The right-hander will be forced to undergo another elbow surgery that will ultimately end his season. Carpenter, who injured his elbow on opening night, will now undergo Tommy John surgery, which could keep him out until mid-way through the 2008 season.

Carpenter did make a short return this season, starting two minor league games, but was forced back onto the DL after his elbow began to swell. The final decision came down after doctors spent most of last week discussing Carpenter’s options. For now the Cardinals are much more concerned with the health of their teammate than the affects his absence will have on the club.

“We are so much more concerned for him than we are for us,” said La Russa. “Chris is a stallion. He’s a prince. Being at the top of that rotation, taking the responsibility, competing, when you have talent like that. … He eats his heart out when he misses a little bit. And to have to go through a rehab, we really are more concerned that he get through it and he handle it.”

WHO’S HOT

Pujols is back in MVP form, going 15-for-35 at the plate over his last 10 games. During that time Pujols has six home runs, eight RBI, 11 runs scored and just four strikeouts. On the season he is batting .322 with 22 home runs and 60 RBI.

WHO’S NOT

Looper has been awful for the better part of two months, going just 2-6 over his last 10 starts. He has given up 23 runs over his last five games and has more walks than strikeouts over his last 10 outings. His recent funk has dropped his record to 7-8 record on the year with a 5.09 ERA.

ON DECK

The Cardinals will welcome the Chicago Cubs to town for a three-game set from Busch Stadium. Kip Wells (4-12, 5.75) will take on Carlos Zambrano (12-7, 3.69) in Tuesday night’s opener. Wednesday night’s contest will feature a showdown between Wainwright (9-7, 4.18) and Ted Lilly (10-4, 3.58), before Looper (7-8, 5.09) and Jason Marquis (7-5, 3.92) square off in Thursday night’s finale.

By Mike Castiglione

The 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox officially have garnered a new title: The last-place White Sox.

Thanks to a current four-game slide, Chicago now finds itself in the basement of the American League Central Division standings along with the Kansas City Royals. And with four more games to play this week against the first-place Detroit Tigers, the immediate future is not looking so promising for Chicago.

“With what we’ve gone through as a team, it has been a long season,” said pitcher Mark Buehrle on Monday, after he suffered his worst loss of the season. “It’s not over. Mathematically we are not out of it, but I don’t know how much closer it’s going to get.”

The current skid began on Friday against Boston, with White Sox starter Jose Contreras getting hammered for 10 runs in a 10-3 loss to the Red Sox.

Contreras, now 5-12 with a 5.76 ERA, has looked like a shell of his former self this season. At the very least, manager Ozzie Guillen and pitching coach Don Cooper said they were encouraged by the way Contreras was throwing. He was in fact reaching 93 mph on the radar gun, but many of his pitches caught too much of the plate against a dangerous Boston lineup.

On Saturday, it was John Danks’ turn to get roughed up by the Red Sox bats as Boston cruised this time to an 11-2 victory. Danks gave up four runs in six innings to have a personal three-game win streak snapped, but the Chicago bullpen struggled even more to contain the Red Sox hitters.

The White Sox ‘pen has a collective ERA above 6.00 on the season, and it is over 7.50 since May 8.

Sunday was another game against Boston, and another loss. Jon Garland was the next starter to get shelled, as he allowed six runs (both on three-run homers) in just 4 2/3 innings. He also walked five batters.

On Monday against the Tigers, it was Buehrle’s turn. Detroit kicked off the five-game series with a 9-6 triumph, with Buehrle allowing season-highs of seven runs and 14 hits.

In their postgame remarks, the players offered little insight to the team’s struggles, other than to say they are trying. General manager Kenny Williams has been quiet on the trade front, saying he will not add anything new on the subject until a deal has been made. Regardless, there isn’t much left for Williams to say that he hasn’t already said publicly about his team’s struggles this season.

“This is the hand we’ve been dealt and there’s no sense in crying about it,” Williams said. “It’s up to me to rectify the situation.”

INJURY NEWS

A few White Sox players continue to work their way back to the lineup. Outfielder Scott Podsednik (ribs) has completed his minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte and is expected to return to the lineup for Tuesday’s doubleheader with the Tigers.

Fellow outfielder Darin Erstad is continuing to rehab his sprained ankle in Charlotte.

“(Erstad is) still sore, that’s what I hear, that he’s not 100 percent yet to come back,” Guillen told the team’s official web site on Tuesday.

Third baseman Joe Crede was seen in the team’s clubhouse yesterday, when he reaffirmed that he will not be return this season as he recovers from back surgery.

WHO’S HOT

Rob Mackowiak and A.J. Pierzynski each have seven hits in their last 20 at- bats. But aside from those two, none of the White Sox players are hitting better than .300 over the last seven games.

WHO’S NOT

As mentioned, nobody in the lineup is particularly “hot” at the moment. However, Paul Konerko has struggled more than usual, with just four hits in his last 26 at-bats.

A LOOK AHEAD

Javier Vazquez (7-5, 3.73) will pitch the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader as the White Sox continue their series with Detroit. Jeremy Bonderman will go for the Tigers. Gavin Floyd (0-1, 9.53) gets the nod for Chicago in game two against Virgil Vasquez (0-1, 20.25).

Contreras tries to rebound from his last outing when he takes the mound on Wednesday, though he will do so against veteran Kenny Rogers (3-2, 3.77). And on Thursday, Danks (6-7, 4.88) will close out the series against Justin Verlander (11-3, 3.40).

Tuesday, July 24th (All times eastern) DETROIT TIGERS (59-38) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (43-55), 2:05 & 8:11 P.M. (DH)

Probable Starting Pitchers: Game 1: Detroit - Jeremy Bonderman (10-1, 3.53) Chicago - Javier Vazquez (7-5, 3.73)

Game 2: Detroit - Virgil Vasquez (0-1, 20.25) Chicago - Gavin Floyd (0-1, 9.53)

The Detroit Tigers will get two contests of their current 11-game road trip out of the way today, as the club is slated to play a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

The teams kicked off their rare five-game series on Monday, with the Tigers emerging 9-6 victors. Mike Hessman, seeing major league action for the first time since 2004, hit a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh to boost Detroit.

Curtis Granderson homered and finished with three hits, four RBI and reached base five times for Detroit, which leads the American League Central by two games over Cleveland. Magglio Ordonez added three hits to lift his major- league leading batting average to .362.

The victory was the sixth in eight games for the Tigers.

Mark Buehrle (7-6) was tattooed for a career-high 14 hits and allowed seven runs over 6 1/3 innings, and the White Sox left 14 men on base in losing for the fourth straight time.

Josh Fields hit a two-run homer for the White Sox.

While an experienced duo will be on the mound for their respective teams in the first game of the doubleheader, it will be a pair of call-ups pitching game two.

Jeremy Bonderman takes the hill for the Tigers in the day game with a 10-1 record and 3.53 earned run average this season. Bonderman is 2-0 over four starts since his lone loss of the season on June 25 against Texas, but has allowed six runs and 15 hits over his last two starts.

However, it was good enough to beat Seattle on July 13, and the right-hander got a no-decision on Thursday at Minnesota behind 6 2/3 frames of nine-hit, three-run ball.

Bonderman is just 5-6 in 12 career starts against the division-rival White Sox, but has a 3.82 ERA against them.

Javier Vazquez will counter for the White Sox riding a seven-game unbeaten streak. Vazquez is 4-0 over that span and bested Boston last time out on Thursday. Against the Red Sox, the right-hander yielded only two runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 victory to improve to 7-5 on the season with a 3.73 ERA.

Vazquez, in his second season with the White Sox, has faced the Tigers five times in his career and is 1-4 against them with a high 5.87 ERA. That includes one shutout against the Tigers.

The White Sox are then expected to recall Gavin Floyd from Triple-A Charlotte to start the second game of the twin bill. Floyd, acquired from the Phillies in the Freddy Garcia trade this offseason, made one start for Chicago back on July 6 and was hammered for six runs on eight hits and four walks over 5 2/3 frames of a 12-0 loss to Minnesota. Four of those hits were home runs.

The right-hander, who has never faced Detroit in his career, went 4-3 with a 7.29 earned run average in 11 starts with the Phillies last year.

Detroit, meanwhile, is expected to recall right-hander Virgil Vasquez from Triple-A Toledo. Vasquez faced the Twins on May 13 and was shelled for six runs on nine hits over just 2 2/3 innings in his major league debut. He also walked a pair and struck out one.

The Tigers hold a slight 3-2 edge in the season series so far this year, and have won both meetings at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox won 12 of the 19 meetings last year.

SEATTLE MARINERS (54-42) AT TEXAS RANGERS (43-56), 5:05 (DH)

Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Ryan Feierabend (1-3, 9.31) Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 4.02)

Texas - John Rheinecker (0-0, 12.00) Kameron Loe (5-8, 5.69)

Texas Rangers fans will get a double dose of Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners today, as the two American League West inhabitants play a pair of games at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

This doubleheader became necessary due to a rainout of a game originally scheduled on April 24. Each team will call up a left-hander from Triple A to pitch in the opener, with the Mariners tabbing Ryan Feierabend for the assignment and the Rangers planning to go with John Rheinecker.

Feierabend made six starts for Seattle earlier this season but produced less than desirable results. The 22-year-old went 1-3 in those outings and allowed a total of 30 runs in just 27 innings of work.

The young southpaw last pitched in the majors on July 8 and surrendered three runs with four walks in a four-inning no decision against Oakland. He was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma shortly afterward.

Feierabend’s most recent start in the minors wasn’t particularly impressive, either. On Thursday against Salt Lake, he yielded five runs and 10 hits in six innings of work.

Feierabend did record his only major league victory to date against the Rangers on June 3, when he gave up four runs over a career-high 7 1/3 innings at Safeco Field. He also faced Texas last September and threw five frames of two-run ball in a no decision.

Rheinecker has spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Oklahoma and recorded a 4-2 record and a 3.57 earned run average in nine starts with the RedHawks. He also made an emergency start for the Rangers on June 5 and allowed four runs on seven hits over only three innings in a no decision versus Detroit.

The 28-year-old pitched in 21 games, 13 of which were starts, for Texas last season and compiled a 4-6 mark with a 5.86 ERA. Six of those appearances came against Seattle, including one start, and Rheinecker went 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 10 2/3 innings over that span.

The Mariners enter this twinbill just two games off the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s lead in the AL West despite having lost three consecutive contests. In Monday’s opener of this four-game set, Texas broke open a tie game with a five-run fifth inning and held on for an 8-7 victory.

Sammy Sosa snapped a 3-3 deadlock with a three-run homer in the fifth and finished 2-for-4 with five RBI for the Rangers. Brad Wilkerson added a two-run shot later on in the frame and also collected a pair of hits on the evening.

Kevin Millwood (7-8) allowed four runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. Seattle starter Horacio Ramirez (5-3) was torched for 11 hits and eight runs over 4 2/3 frames.

The Mariners, who entered the matchup having been shut out in back-to-back games, received a 4-for-4, two-RBI performance at the plate from Jose Vidro. Richie Sexson belted a three-run homer in the loss, while Suzuki had two hits and scored a pair of runs.

Seattle, which is the midst of its longest losing streak since a six-game slide from June 13-19, will sent out Jarrod Washburn in the nightcap. The veteran lefty will be attempting to improve off a pair of rough performances in his last two starts.

Washburn allowed five runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings in a no decision against Baltimore on Wednesday, five days after he was touched for five runs (four earned) in six innings in a loss to Detroit. The Wisconsin native had won three straight starts prior to those two mound trips.

The 32-year-old is 7-7 with a 4.28 ERA in 25 career games (23 starts) against Texas, but has struggled in two outings against the Rangers this season. In those starts, Washburn has gone 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA and surrendered 16 hits over 9 2/3 innings of work.

Texas will hand the ball to Kameron Loe in game two. The right-hander also looks to bounce back from back-to-back poor starts, including Thursday’s loss to Cleveland in which he surrendered six runs in six innings.

Loe was even worse in his previous appearance, as he was rocked for five runs (three earned) on five hits and walked five before being lifted after 2 2/3 innings in a 9-5 setback at Anaheim on July 14. Prior to that start, he had posted a 4-0 record and a 1.60 ERA over his previous five appearances.

The 25-year-old has a 2-1 record and a 3.76 ERA in eight lifetime games (three starts) against Seattle, but that lone defeat came at Safeco Field on June 2. Loe was tagged for five runs on eight hits and walked four in 5 1/3 innings during that contest.

Seattle has won six of nine 2007 matchups with the Rangers, all but two of which have been played at Safeco Field. The clubs have split the two games in Texas.

The Mariners are just 9-22 in Arlington since 2004, however.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-60) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (44-53), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - Scott Kazmir (7-6, 4.02) Baltimore - Daniel Cabrera (6-10, 5.30)

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays hope that Scott Kazmir can give them a better pitching performance than they received this weekend when they begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles tonight at Camden Yards.

Tampa dropped the final three games of their four-game series with the New York Yankees over the weekend, getting outscored 45-12 in the losses, while surrendering 53 hits — 10 of which were home runs.

The Devil Rays were crushed 21-4 in Sunday’s finale and the 38 runs allowed in the final two games were the most since Atlanta gave up 39 in consecutive games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati in 1977.

Tampa Bay, which owns the majors’ worst mark at 38-60, has now dropped 20 of its last 25 games.

Kazmir, meanwhile, cannot be blamed for the Devil Rays’ troubles of late, as he tries to win three straight starts for the first time in his career. Kazmir was brilliant against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday, as he allowed a run on three hits in seven innings to run his record to 7-6, while lowering his earned run average to 4.02.

Over his last two starts the 23-year-old left-hander has surrendered just an earned run on seven hits in 13 frames.

Kazmir has faced the Orioles eight times in his young career and is 2-2 with a 5.01 ERA.

Baltimore will counter with righty Daniel Cabrera, who is winless in his last five starts. Cabrera, who is 6-10 with a 5.30 ERA, received a no-decision against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, yielding five runs and eight hits in five innings of his team’s 6-5 loss. Cabrera also walked three batters and has issued a league-high 68 on the season.

Cabrera is perfect 4-0 against the Devil Rays with a 3.56 ERA in eight starts.

Baltimore enters this series after blanking the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series at McAfee Coliseum. Jeremy Guthrie tossed seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball in the win, while Kevin Millar and Jay Payton knocked in a run each for the Orioles, who have won three of five.

Guthrie (6-3) struck out six and walked three, lowering his ERA to 2.88, third-lowest in the American League. He did not allow a runner past second base in his start.

Baltimore has won five of six against the Devil Rays this season and is 11-2 in the last 13 matchups. Tampa Bay has also dropped six straight and 17 of its last 21 at Camden Yards since the start of the 2005 season.

BOSTON RED SOX (60-39) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (58-41), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-7, 3.99) Cleveland - C.C. Sabathia (13-4, 3.81)

C.C. Sabathia will try to become the first 14-game winner in the majors this season when the Cleveland Indians continue their four-game series with the Boston Red Sox tonight at Jacobs Field.

Sabathia earned the 13th win of his season to just four losses, and stopped a personal two-game losing streak, on Thursday with a victory over Texas. The left-hander limited the Rangers to four runs (three earned) on nine hits over six innings and got plenty of support in his team’s 7-5 victory. Sabathia had been rocked for 13 runs over his previous two starts.

Sabathia will be facing Boston for the first time this year and is 2-3 with a 4.35 earned run average in six career starts against them.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will toe the rubber for Boston tonight and is 11-7 with a 3.99 earned run average. However, Matsuzaka is just 1-2 over his last three starts while pitching to a 7.31 ERA in that span. He was handed a loss on Thursday against the White Sox after allowing three runs on two hits over five frames. However, “Dice-K” also walked a career-high six batters.

He had walked just five batters over his previous four outings.

The right-hander battled Cleveland on May 30 and was tagged for six runs on 12 hits over 5 2/3 innings of an 8-4 loss.

In Monday’s emotional series opener, Jon Lester began his courageous comeback from cancer by allowing five hits and two runs over six innings to help lead Boston to a 6-2 victory.

Lester (1-0) struck out six and walked three in his first major-league start since a win over the Angels last August 23. He set down the final eight batters he faced and needed just 96 pitches to earn the win.

Manny Ramirez provided some offensive help with a two-run double, while Coco Crisp finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored for the Red Sox, who have won four in a row and lead the American League East by 7 1/2 games over the New York Yankees.

Boston was again without David Ortiz, who is day-to-day after suffering a left shoulder strain on Friday. He could return to the lineup as early as tomorrow.

Tribe hurler Jake Westbrook (1-6) was tagged for 10 hits and five runs with four walks and one strikeout in six innings. Grady Sizemore hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who have dropped two of three and trail Detroit by two games for the top spot in the AL Central.

Ryan Garko had a double to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, the current longest active streak in the AL.

The Red Sox and Indians met for three games in Boston in late May, with the Red Sox taking two of three.

MINNESOTA TWINS (51-48) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (49-50), 7:07 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Scott Baker (4-3, 5.32) Toronto - Dustin McGowan (6-5, 4.84)

Right-hander Dustin McGowan can string back-to-back wins together for the first time since early June tonight when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Minnesota Twins in game two of a three-game series at Rogers Centre.

The 25-year-old Georgian defeated the New York Yankees his last time out, allowing four hits and two runs over seven innings of the Blue Jays’ 3-2 win.

He pitched seven innings of scoreless baseball against Boston on July 4 and tossed a one-hitter over nine full innings against Colorado on June 24. He was also touched for eight hits and five runs in a 5-3 loss to Seattle on June 29, then dropped a 9-4 verdict to Boston on July 14.

Lifetime against the Twins, he’s made one relief appearance, allowing a hit and an unearned run.

Scott Baker faces Toronto for the second time this season. He got a no- decision last time around, allowing just four hits and a run in seven innings of the Twins’ 2-1 triumph. Baker has started twice in his career against the Blue Jays posting a 2.92 earned run average in 12 1/3 innings.

Baker is unbeaten in his last three starts, going 2-0 with a no-decision while allowing 24 hits and 12 runs in 17 1/3 innings.

On Monday, Frank Thomas hit a pair of two-run home runs as the Blue Jays downed the Twins, 6-4. Alex Rios and Reed Johnson each hit solo home runs for the Blue Jays, who have won three straight and have split their eight meetings with the Twins this season.

Thomas, who has 503 career home runs, is now just one home run behind Eddie Murray for 20th place on the all-time list.

Shaun Marcum (6-4) got the win as he gave up four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in six innings.

Justin Morneau hit two home runs and had three RBI, and Torii Hunter added a solo shot for the Twins, who have dropped five of their last seven contests.

Johan Santana (11-8) got the loss as he was rocked for six runs on seven hits in five innings. He also allowed four homers for the first time in his career.

NEW YORK YANKEES (52-46) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (43-55), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Chien-Ming Wang (10-5, 3.44) Kansas City - Scott Elarton (2-3, 9.17)

The New York Yankees hope to keep up their recent offensive eruption when the resurgent club plays the second of three consecutive games with the Kansas City Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium.

After racking up a whopping 38 runs and 45 hits in back-to-back wins over Tampa Bay to conclude the weekend, the Bronx Bombers tallied 13 more hits in Monday’s 9-2 triumph over the Royals.

New York broke open a close contest by scoring five ninth-inning runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Jorge Posada. Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui also finished with two RBI in the win, with Damon collecting three hits in four at-bats. Every Yankee starter ended with at least one hit.

The Yanks also received a strong performance on the mound from the ageless Roger Clemens (3-4), who earned his 351st career win by limiting Kansas City to two runs and four hits through seven innings.

New York has now won four straight contests and has moved within 5 1/2 games of Cleveland’s lead in the American League wild-card race.

Ross Gload had a solo home run for the Royals, who had won four of five coming in. Starting pitcher Odalis Perez (5-9) lasted seven innings, but was tagged with the loss after yielding four runs on eight hits and walking three.

Kansas City will have to go up against another tough Yankee right-hander tonight in Chien-Ming Wang, who leads New York with 10 victories this season and had won seven straight decisions before suffering a tough-luck loss to Toronto on Thursday.

Wang shut out the Blue Jays over the first six innings, but was touched for three runs in the seventh and wound up on the short end of a 3-2 decision. The Taiwanese star allowed seven hits and walked none in his 7 1/3 innings of work.

The 27-year-old should be tough to beat if the Yankees keep swinging the bats the way they have lately. Wang is 31-2 over his career when he receives four or more runs of support, including a 10-0 mark this season.

Wang has faced the Royals three times previously and is 1-0 with a 5.79 earned run average against Kansas City. His only career start in Kauffman Stadium came last September, when he gave up three runs on seven hits in a 5 2/3- inning no decision.

The Royals will activate Scott Elarton from the disabled list to make tonight’s start. The oft-injured right-hander has not pitched for Kansas City since June 19 due to a right foot strain.

Elarton hasn’t been effective when he’s been healthy this season. In eight 2007 starts, he has amassed an ugly 9.17 ERA and surrendered 47 hits over 35 1/3 innings.

His most recent major-league outing came in mid-June against St. Louis. Elarton lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed five runs and five hits to suffer the loss.

In his final rehab start for Triple-A Omaha, Elarton was rocked for eight runs (six earned) over 5 2/3 innings on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old has never lost to the Yankees, however. In four career starts against New York, Elarton is 3-0 with a 4.85 ERA.

Monday’s game was the first 2007 meeting between these teams. The Yankees have won 11 of their last 13 encounters with Kansas City and took two of three contests at Kauffman Stadium last September. OAKLAND ATHLETICS (47-52) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (57-41), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Lenny DiNardo (4-6, 2.51) LA Angels - Kelvim Escobar (11-3, 2.85)

Kelvim Escobar has emerged as an effective stopper for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this season. Tonight the standout right-hander will try to get his slumping club back on track as it resumes a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium.

The Angels have lost six of their last eight games following Monday’s 12-6 defeat to the A’s. Mike Piazza led Oakland’s offensive explosion with a home run and four RBI, while Mark Ellis belted a pair of solo homers in the win.

Ellis finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored to help the Athletics to only their third victory in the last 14 contests. Shannon Stewart and Marco Scutaro each had two hits and two RBI on the evening.

Vladimir Guerrero finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and Mike Napoli clubbed a solo homer for the Angels, who maintained a two-game edge over second-place Seattle in the American League West standings despite the loss.

Neither starting pitcher made it to the fifth frame, as Oakland’s Chad Gaudin was removed because of ineffectiveness and Anaheim’s Bartolo Colon left due to injury.

Colon (6-6) was removed with a sore right elbow after just one inning. He surrendered four runs on four hits and walked one.

Gaudin was pulled after giving up five runs and issuing six walks in only 3 2/3 innings of work. Joe Kennedy (3-8) claimed the victory in relief, giving up one hit with one strikeout in two innings.

Oakland closer Huston Street made his first appearance since May 12 on Monday and allowed one run in an inning of work. The former AL Rookie of the Year had been sidelined with irritation in his elbow.

The Angels expect a longer and more effective outing out of Escobar, who brings an impressive 11-3 record into tonight’s tilt and has won five straight decisions. The hard-throwing veteran also ranks second among AL hurlers with a 2.85 earned run average and hasn’t tasted defeat since a May 31 setback to Baltimore.

Escobar halted a three-game losing streak for the Angels in his most recent start, which came last Thursday at Tampa Bay. He scattered nine hits and three walks over 7 2/3 shutout innings to lead Anaheim to a 3-0 triumph.

The 31-year-old has yielded just two runs in 22 2/3 combined innings over his last three outings and the Angels have won each of his last six starts.

Escobar has historically struggled when facing Oakland, however. He owns just a 4-8 record and a 4.47 ERA in 26 career games against the A’s, 16 of which were starts. One of those defeats came back on April 8, although the native Venezuelan surrendered only two runs over six innings.

Lenny DiNardo will take the mound tonight for Oakland and is also coming off a very sharp last effort. The left-handed swingman fired seven shutout innings to defeat Texas last Wednesday, giving up just three hits and no walks.

DiNardo has now yielded two runs or less in three straight appearances and takes a solid 2.51 ERA over 71 2/3 innings into tonight’s matchup.

The 27-year-old’s only career appearance against Anaheim came in relief while with the Red Sox on August 20, 2005. He allowed two runs on a pair of hits and recorded only one out in that game.

Oakland owns a 5-2 advantage in this year’s season series thus far, with the rivals having split a four-game set at Angel Stadium back in April.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (42-56) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (50-48), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Jason Bergmann (2-5, 4.46) Philadelphia - Kyle Kendrick (4-1, 4.40)

Young right-hander Kyle Kendrick tries to get back on the winning track tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies host the Washington Nationals in the first of three games at Citizens Bank Park.

The former seventh-round draft pick was beaten for the first time on July 18 at Los Angeles, allowing seven hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings of the Dodgers’ 5-4 win.

Previously, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Texan was 4-0 with two no-decisions in his first six big-league starts.

He’s 3-0 in four home starts in 2007, posting a 3.51 earned run average in 25 2/3 innings.

Washington’s Jason Bergmann tries for a second straight win.

He allowed six hits and four runs in six innings of a 7-6 defeat of Houston on July 18.

Previously, he’d gone four starts without a win, dropping two and getting two no-decisions while allowing 25 hits and 17 runs in 17 2/3 innings.

He’s 0-1 in five career games against the Phillies with a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings.

On Sunday in San Diego, J.D. Durbin tossed nine scoreless innings to notch his first career shutout, as the Phillies blanked the Padres, 9-0, at Petco Park.

Durbin (2-2) gave up five hits while striking out three and walking three to win his second straight start for the Phillies. On Tuesday, Durbin tossed six innings of one-run ball in a 15-3 rout of the Dodgers to pick up his first career victory.

Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-4 and fell a double short of the cycle with a single, home run and triple for the Phillies, who took three of four from San Diego. Shane Victorino went 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles and three RBI in the win.

In Washington, Austin Kearns broke open a scoreless game with a three-run homer in the eighth and four Washington pitchers combined on a second consecutive shutout of the Colorado Rockies in the Nationals’ 3-0 win in the final contest of a four-game series at RFK Stadium.

The Nationals finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth off Rockies reliever Jorge Julio (0-3). D’Angelo Jimenez singled to right and advanced to second on a passed ball. Julio then intentionally walked Ryan Zimmerman to get to Kearns, who drilled his sixth homer of the year, a shot over the left-field wall.

Jon Rauch (5-2) earned the win pitching a scoreless eighth. Washington starter Tim Redding tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits with two walks and one strikeout. Chad Cordero worked the ninth for his 19th save.

Kearns’ homer was his first in 53 games for the Nationals, who have won four of five and also posted a 3-0 win on Saturday.

The Phils have won three of their five matchups with the Nationals this season, including two of three in Philly.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (41-56) AT NEW YORK METS (55-43), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Ian Snell (7-7, 3.31) New York - John Maine (10-5, 3.07)

John Maine targets win No. 11 when the New York Mets open a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening at Shea Stadium.

Maine has been a pleasant surprise for the Mets this season, going 10-5 with a 3.07 earned run average. However, he is winless in his last two starts and received a no decision against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, when he allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings of his team’s 5-4 loss.

The 26-year-old right-hander has lost both of his career starts to the Pirates despite pitching to a 3.38 ERA in those outings.

New York picked up a big win on Sunday in Los Angeles, as Chip Ambres hit a two-out RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Mets to a 5-4 win over the Dodgers in the finale of a four-game set.

Jose Reyes finished 3-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored for the Mets, who took three of four against LA. Pedro Feliciano (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win

Pittsburgh will pin its hopes tonight on Ian Snell, who is 7-7 with a 3.31 ERA. Snell lost for the third time in his last four decisions on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies, as he allowed five runs and five hits in six innings.

Snell has not received a decision in two previous games (one start) against the Mets and is pitching to a 4.05 ERA in those starts.

The Pirates lost for the eighth time in nine games since the All-Star break on Sunday, as they dropped a 1-0 decision to the Houston Astros at PNC Park. Matt Kata had two of Pittsburgh’s six hits.

Shane Youman (2-2) was the hard-luck loser, yielding just four hits and one run with two walks and three strikeouts in eight strong innings.

The Mets have yet to face the Pirates this season, but won five of the nine matchups between them in 2006. All five of the Mets’ wins against the Bucs last season came in Flushing.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (55-44) AT CINCINNATI REDS (42-58), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Yovani Gallardo (2-1, 2.34) Cincinnati - Matt Belisle (5-6, 5.13)

Rookie right-hander Yovani Gallardo looks to extend his scoreless innings streak tonight, when the Milwaukee Brewers visit Great American Ball Park for the second of a four-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.

Gallardo, a 21-year-old Mexican, picked up his second big-league win on July 19, defeating Arizona after tossing six innings of scoreless three-hit ball.

Previously, he had allowed two hits and no runs over 6 2/3 innings in two relief appearances against Washington and Colorado.

Gallardo began his stint with the Brewers in a June 18 start against San Francisco, allowing four hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-4 victory.

He got no-decisions in two subsequent starts, then pitched in relief three times before the win over the Diamondbacks.

Cincinnati’s Matt Belisle makes his second 2007 start against the Brewers.

On April 17, he allowed eight hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings, getting a no-decision in the Reds’ 11-5 victory.

He’s struggled as of late, however, going 0-2 with six no-decisions in eight starts since a 2-1 triumph over Houston on May 29.

He was touched for nine hits and four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against Florida on July 19, getting another no-decision in Cincinnati’s 7-5 victory.

Belisle is 1-2 in 10 career appearances against the Brewers with an 8.04 earned run average in 15 2/3 innings.

On Monday, pinch-hitter Javier Valentin’s run-scoring single in the 12th inning gave the Reds a 2-1 victory over the Brewers.

Grant Balfour started the frame for Milwaukee and immediately struggled with his control, walking Jeff Conine and Pedro Lopez. David Ross then laid down a bunt and Balfour attempted to get pinch-runner Norris Hopper at third, but his throw was not in time. Valentin then stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw from Balfour into right field to win it for the Reds.

Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang, who was activated from the bereavement list prior to the game, was brilliant in allowing just one run on seven hits through 10 innings. Harang also struck out 10 while not issuing a walk in the no decision.

Chris Capuano, who came into the game losing his last six decisions, started for Milwaukee and was just as good as Harang. The left-hander went eight strong frames, giving up only one run on seven hits to go along with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Ross finished 2-for-4 with a home run for the Reds, who ended a three-game losing streak. Jared Burton (1-1) picked up his first career victory after retiring the only two batters he faced in the top of the 12th inning.

Ryan Braun collected three hits, including a home run for the Brewers, who have three losses over their last four games. Balfour (0-2) absorbed the loss while Prince Fielder had two hits.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (56-44) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (42-57), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Mark Hendrickson (4-5, 4.54) Houston - Jason Jennings (1-6, 4.76)

The National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers will try to gain some more breathing room in the division standings when they resume a three-game series against the Houston Astros tonight at Minute Maid Park.

Los Angeles grabbed a two-game lead over San Diego in the NL West thanks to Monday’s 10-2 pummeling of the Astros in the series opener. James Loney belted a three-run homer and Jeff Kent finished 4-for-4 with two RBI as the Dodgers posted their second win in three tries.

Nomar Garciaparra ended with three hits and drove in a run for Los Angeles, which received an excellent pitching performance from Chad Billingsley. The right-hander went the distance and allowed two runs and five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Billingsley is the first Dodgers pitcher to begin a season 7-0 since Matt Herges started won his first eight decisions in 2000.

Toeing the rubber for the Dodgers on Tuesday will be Mark Hendrickson, who is 4-5 with a 4.54 ERA in 24 games (11 starts) this season.

Hendrickson is 2-2 over his last five trips to the hill and did not record a decision his last time out on Thursday against the New York Mets. He was reached for a run and two hits in two innings of relief of a 13-9 setback.

The lanky lefty has never faced the Astros in his career.

Houston has dropped seven of its last 10 games, including last night’s eight- run debacle in front of the home crowd. Luke Scott hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and Mike Lamb added a pair of hits for the Astros.

Astros starting pitcher Chris Sampson absorbed the loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits over five innings.

Houston, which is 13 games off the NL Central lead, will send struggling pitcher Jason Jennings to the mound on Tuesday. Jennings is 1-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 12 starts this season and has lost five straight starts, while amassing a 6.23 earned run average over that span.

Jennings last pitched Wednesday against Washington and was dealt the loss after permitting seven runs and eight hits in five innings of a 7-6 setback at RFK Stadium.

The right-hander, who is 0-3 in seven home starts this season, owns a 6-8 mark with two complete games and a 4.16 ERA over 19 career starts against Los Angeles.

Los Angeles and Houston are squaring off for the first time since splitting six encounters during the 2006 campaign. The Astros went 4-2 against Los Angeles in 2005.

CHICAGO CUBS (51-46) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (45-50), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Carlos Zambrano (12-7, 3.69) St. Louis - Kip Wells (4-12, 5.75)

Carlos Zambrano takes aim at his third straight win this evening, when the Chicago Cubs begin a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

After splitting his first 10 decisions, Zambrano has won seven of nine since and is a big reason behind the Cubs’ resurgence. His latest win came Wednesday against San Francisco, as he scattered two hits over five scoreless innings to run his record to 12-7 and lower his earned run average to 3.69.

Zambrano is 6-4 lifetime against the Cardinals with a 2.43 ERA in 17 games, 16 of which have been starts.

Chicago enters this series on a sour note after dropping the final two tests of its three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, including a 3-0 setback in Sunday’s finale at Wrigley Field. Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot and Jason Kendall accounted for the four hits for the Cubs, who lost for only the third time in their last 10 games and are three games back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

Sean Marshall (4-4) went six innings for Chicago, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a tough-luck loss.

St. Louis, meanwhile, picked up a big win on Sunday. Albert Pujols’ two-out home run in the eighth inning tied the game, then Skip Schumaker and Scott Rolen both went deep in the 10th inning in the Cardinals’ 7-2 win over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

Pujols finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Cardinals, who earned a split of a four-game set with Atlanta and finished a 10-game road trip at 5-5.

Jason Isringhausen (4-0) didn’t give up a hit over the last two innings for St. Louis and struck out four to pick up the win.

The Cards will pin their hopes tonight on Kip Wells, who will be trying to string back-to-back wins together for the first time this season.

Wells had his best outing of the season on Wednesday against Florida, as he scattered two hits over eight scoreless innings to run his record to 4-12 and lower his ERA to 5.75.

Wells is 3-3 lifetime against the Cubs with a 3.06 ERA in 14 starts.

Chicago has won three of the five matchups with St. Louis this season and is 24-16 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Cubs have won both of their meetings in St. Louis this season, but lost six of nine there a year ago. SAN DIEGO PADRES (53-45) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (50-49), 9:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Chris Young (9-3, 1.85) Colorado - Ubaldo Jimenez (0-0, 3.60)

The San Diego Padres will try to avoid losing a season-high fifth straight game when they resume a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies this evening at Coors Field.

San Diego has lost four in a row for the first time since they dropped four straight games from June 8-12 of this season. In Monday’s 7-5 setback in the series opener with the NL West-rival Rockies, starting pitcher Greg Maddux gave up two runs and five hits through six innings in a no decision.

Relief pitcher Scott Linebrink was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in just two-thirds of an inning, including a three-run homer by Matt Holliday which tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth.

Milton Bradley hit a three-run homer for the struggling Padres, who have lost 10 of their last 15 games and sit two games behind Los Angeles for the lead in the National League West standings. San Diego hasn’t dropped five straight games since April 24-29 of the 2006 season.

All-Star pitcher Chris Young will try to stop San Diego’s recent woes when he toes the rubber this evening. Young is 5-0 over his last 11 starts and hasn’t lost since a May 12 appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals. In his previous trip to the mound on Thursday against Philadelphia, Young earned the win with seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball.

Young, who is 9-3 with an MLB-best 1.85 ERA in 19 starts this season, owns a 5-2 mark with a 3.13 earned run average through 10 road starts in 2007.

The big right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.65 ERA in six career starts against Colorado. He defeated the Rockies on April 20 after allowing just one run and four hits in seven innings of an 11-1 victory.

Colorado got a big lift last night from Holliday and Brad Hawpe, whose two-run homer in the eighth inning put the Rockies ahead for good. Hawpe went 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Garrett Atkins had two hits, a run scored and an RBI for the Rockies, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Starter Jeff Francis tossed six frames, allowing five runs on 10 hits in a no decision which allowed him to remain unbeaten over his last eight outings. Taylor Buchholz pitched two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the victory.

Ubaldo Jimenez will make his second start of the 2007 season and third of his career this evening for Colorado.

In his season debut on Thursday against Washington, Jimenez did factor in the outcome of a 5-4 loss to the Nationals. He allowed two runs and four hits over five innings of work.

The Dominican right-hander, who was called up last week from Triple-A Colorado Springs, went 0-0 with a 3.52 ERA in two games, including one start, in 2006. He will face San Diego for the first time in his career.

San Diego is 4-3 against the Rockies this season, including a 2-2 mark at Coors Field. Colorado went 10-9 in last season’s series with the Padres.

FLORIDA MARLINS (48-52) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (53-48), 9:40 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Sergio Mitre (4-4, 2.82) Arizona - Livan Hernandez (5-6, 4.77)

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Livan Hernandez will shoot for his first win in nearly two months when he takes the ball tonight against the Florida Marlins in the second of four games between the teams at Chase Field.

Hernandez hasn’t tasted victory since May 27 against Houston and is 5-6 with a 4.77 ERA in 20 starts this season. The former Marlin owns an 0-4 record over the previous nine trips to the mound and was saddled with the loss in his last performance Thursday against Milwaukee. He gave up six runs — five earned — and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The veteran right-hander spent the first three-plus years of his career with the Marlins and won a World Series with the team in 1997. In 23 lifetime starts against Florida, Hernandez is 10-7 with six complete games (three shutouts) and a 3.40 earned run average.

Arizona is 3 1/2 games off the lead in the NL West standings and has won three straight contests after losing five of its previous six. In Monday’s series- opening 4-3 victory, Orlando Hudson hit a two-run homer and Chris Snyder knocked in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the sixth inning.

Hudson finished 2-for-4 with three RBI for the Diamondbacks, who haven’t won four in a row since a season-high eight-game winning streak from May 24-June 1 of this season.

Arizona starter Doug Davis gave up three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings of work to pick up the win. The left-hander struck out a career-high eight batters and walked two. Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two to pick up his 31st save of the season, which ties him for the major league lead.

Mike Jacobs homered and had two RBI yesterday for the Marlins, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Miguel Cabrera had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. The slugging third baseman is hitting .435 with six home runs and 13 RBI during that span.

Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis lost his seventh straight decision after yielding four runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander hasn’t won since May 29, a span of 10 starts.

Sergio Mitre gets the nod this evening for Florida and brings a 4-4 record with a 2.82 ERA in 17 starts into the mix.

Mitre is 2-0 with a 2.61 earned run average in his last three trips to the mound. He last pitched during Thursday’s loss against Cincinnati, allowing three runs — two of which were earned — in six innings of a no decision.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 10.97 earned run average in three career games (two starts) against Arizona.

Monday’s showdown between Arizona and Florida is the first since the Marlins won four of six meetings in 2006. Florida is 12-8 against the Diamondbacks since the 2004 campaign.

ATLANTA BRAVES (53-47) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (41-56), 10:15 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Tim Hudson (10-5, 3.24) San Francisco - Matt Morris (7-6, 4.08)

Barry Bonds will attempt to celebrate his birthday with a home run, maybe two, as the San Francisco Giants continue their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park.

Bonds, who turns 43 today, and his Giants returned home on Monday for the first of seven straight games with the slugger just two homers shy of matching Hank Aaron’s all-time mark of 755.

The left fielder went 1-for-3 in yesterday’s 4-2 setback, San Francisco’s ninth in 12 games, but failed to go deep. Bonds now has six more games at home to catch Aaron before hitting the road for six games.

Absent from AT&T Park was MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who watched Bonds play in his hometown of Milwaukee over the weekend, but did not make the trip to the bay.

Matt Cain (3-12) lost his third straight start by surrendering six hits and four runs over 4 1/3 frames to tie for the major league lead in defeats.

Brian McCann stroked a three-run double in the first inning and John Smoltz threw seven solid frames for Atlanta, which has won five of its last six road games.

Smoltz (10-5) scattered seven hits and allowed two runs — one earned — while walking two and fanning four. Bob Wickman threw the ninth for his 17th save.

Atlanta trails the Mets by three games for first place in the National League East.

Tim Hudson will start for the Braves riding a personal five-game undefeated streak (4-0). Hudson began the run with a pair of victories and has also won his last two outings. Sandwiched in between those wins was a July 5 start that saw the right-hander get rocked for six runs in just three innings, however, the Braves won the game 8-6.

In Hudson’s last four wins, he has scattered just three runs and posted a victory against the Cardinals on Thursday behind seven innings of one-run ball. He is 10-5 on the season with a 3.24 earned run average.

The former Oakland Athletic has faced the Giants nine times in his career and is 3-4 with a 4.25 ERA and a shutout against them.

Bonds has homered four times in his career against Hudson, going 9-for-19 lifetime against him with six RBI and six walks.

The Giants are slated to send Matt Morris to the mound tonight. Morris is winless over his last six starts (0-3) and is coming off a pounding at the hands of the Cubs on Thursday. The right-hander allowed eight runs (five earned) on 12 hits in just 4 2/3 innings of a loss that dropped him to 7-6 on the year with a 4.08 ERA.

Morris, who hasn’t won since June 11 versus Toronto, is 2-5 in 13 games (10 starts) with a 3.47 ERA lifetime against the Braves.

This series is the first of 2007 between the two clubs. The Giants won four of seven against the Braves last year, including three of four at home.

By Nichola Groom

LOS ANGELES - Starbucks Corp will raise U.S. prices on coffee, lattes and other drinks by an average of 9 cents a cup next week to help offset soaring costs for milk and other commodities, a spokesman said on Monday.

The widely anticipated move marks Starbucks’ second price increase in less than a year and comes a month after the coffee shop chain’s chief financial officer warned it would be “very challenging” for Starbucks to meet the high end of its 2007 earnings forecast, in part because of rising dairy prices.

JACKIE MASON TELLS YOU WHY YOU ARE A MORON TO BUY A CUP OF COFFEE FROM STARBUCKS

U.S. milk prices have soared recently amid strong global demand for dairy products and higher production costs.

“We’re always looking at the business costs, and given the rising cost environment in which we operate, we think this is an appropriate time,” spokesman Brandon Borrman said.

The increase will vary by drink and by market, but will average out to about 9 cents a cup, Borrman said. Starbucks’ last price rise of about 5 cents per drink went into effect in October.

Analysts said the increase would be welcomed by investors, who have seen Starbucks’ shares fall more than 20 percent this year on concerns about higher costs, slowing U.S. sales growth and increased competition from fast-food rivals.

“I can’t imagine that it comes as a surprise to anyone, but it should definitely be a positive on both sales and earnings going forward,” said Dan Geiman of McAdams Wright Ragen, who has a “buy” rating on Starbucks shares.

And as with past Starbucks price increases, analysts also said consumers were unlikely to balk at paying a few cents more for their daily caffeine fix.

“There will probably be some grumblings initially, but at the end of the day I think people aren’t going to change their pattern of buying,” said Morningstar Inc restaurant analyst John Owens.

The latest increase affects drinks made behind the counter and is effective July 31 at Starbucks’ 6,300 company-owned stores in the United States, Borrman said. Licensed stores control their own prices, but are expected to follow the move, he added. There are about 3,500 licensed Starbucks stores in the United States.

The prices of bottled drinks, whole bean coffee and food are unaffected.

Starbucks shares rose 47 cents to close at $28.17 on Monday on Nasdaq. The shares after hours were down two cents each at $28.15.

Regulations under America’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are nearly two weeks overdue, but their effects are already being felt on Antigua and Barbuda’s online gambling industry.

The UIEGA, which was passed last year, made it illegal for banks and other financial institutions, like credit card companies, to process and transmit payments for transactions with online gaming companies.

The US legislation seeks to effectively prohibit gamblers from using credit cards, cheques and electronic transfers to settle online wagers.

With the majority of online gamblers at the time based in America, the fallout from the passage of the Act has dramatically reduced the value of what was, at its peak, estimated to be a US$12 billion industry.

In Antigua and Barbuda, it led to the widespread withdrawal of public gaming operators from the market.

The legislation stipulated that regulations would be put in place to guide financial institutions on their obligations under the UIGEA.

The US government has said that the regulations will be released shortly, but Antigua and Barbuda’s former gaming director Ron Maginley has said that their effect is already being felt by companies.

“I was informed by a couple of gaming companies that some jurisdictions have already started to close gaming accounts,” he said.

Maginley noted that the Isle of Man recently gave notice to gaming companies that it intends to close all gaming-related accounts.

“Already, some companies here have been given notice. Under the law here, gaming companies are required to put ‘gaming’ in their names and in relation to getting accounts, certainly the local banks here are showing reluctance to offer new accounts, even to companies registered here.

“That is made even worse internationally where a number of banks are simply refusing to either continue providing or to provide new accounts to gaming companies.”

He said several months ago local banks were given notice by corresponding banks overseas that there were concerns about domestic gaming accounts.

“Because the US legislation makes US banks criminally liable for facilitating gaming companies, you can have a situation where even domestic banks, because thy are concerned about the loss of corresponding accounts, are forced to close local gaming accounts,” Maginley told the SUN.

Maginley added that the magnitude of the current challenge becomes clear when one considers that a gaming company cannot function or continue to exist if it cannot maintain a bank account for the purpose of remitting cash.

He said under a worst case scenario, gaming companies might find themselves licensed in Antigua and Barbuda, but unable to get an account to meet payroll or local operational expenses.

When contacted yesterday, Director of Gaming Kay McDonald said that she was unaware that local banks are displaying reluctance to open or maintain accounts for Internet gaming companies.

Indianapolis, IN - Germany’s Michael Berrer upset seventh- seeded American Robby Ginepri in three sets to advance to the second round at the $575,000 Indianapolis Tennis Championships.

Berrer, a quarterfinalist last week in Los Angeles, topped Ginepri, the 2005 Indianapolis champion, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Another upset came when Canadian Frank Dancevic dropped eighth-seeded German Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-3.

American Sam Querrey advanced by handling Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, while Russian Evgeny Korolev knocked out veteran American Justin Gimelstob 6-2, 6-4; and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro beat American Amer Delic, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) on the hardcourts at the Indianapolis Tennis Center.

This week’s top seeds are last year’s runner-up and two-time champion Andy Roddick and defending titlist James Blake, who bested Roddick in last year’s all-American finale. Roddick titled here in 2003 and 2004.

Roddick will play his first-round match Tuesday night against fellow American Alex Kuznetsov. Blake will also be on the court in the final match of the night against Swede Thomas Johansson.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Total Prize Money: $575,000

MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND MATCHES Michael Berrer def. Robby Ginepri (7), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 Frank Dancevic def. Benjamin Becker (8), 6-4, 6-3 Evgeny Korolev def. Justin Gimelstob, 6-2, 6-4 Juan Martin del Potro def. Amer Delic, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) Sam Querrey def. Julien Benneteau, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1

Notes James Blake is the defending champion

With his playoff win at the British Open on Sunday, Padraig Harrington climbed four places to No. 6 in the latest World Golf Rankings.

Harrington matched his career-best ranking thanks to his first major championship win.

The top-five remained the same, but there was plenty of change behind that.

Tiger Woods held steady at No. 1 and was followed by Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and Adam Scott.

Following Harrington at No. 6, was Vijay Singh, who dropped one notch to seventh. Sergio Garcia, a playoff loser to Harrington, jumped five spots to eighth.

With those moves, Henrik Stenson, Geoff Ogilvy and Luke Donald all fell two places to ninth through 11th respectively. K.J. Choi tied for eighth at the British Open. That helped him inch up a spot to 12th.

Steve Stricker was one of three other players who tied for eighth. His amazing turn-around continues, as he moved up three places to 13th this week. Retief Goosen tumbled three to 14th.

Zach Johnson remained 15th, while Rory Sabbatini slipped two to 16th. The next three players — Angel Cabrera, Paul Casey and Trevor Immelman — stayed put at 17, 18 and 19.

Stewart Cink jumped up three to close out the top 20. His move bumped Niclas Fasth out of the top 20 to 22nd.

By Jeff Frank

Not only did the Broncos sweep their eight conference games last season, they finished the season undefeated after “hook and laddering” Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Boise State ended the campaign 13-0 with a fifth-place finish in the final AP Poll.

The WAC improved dramatically with a 6-14 record against BCS schools, much better than its 0-16 mark from 2005. The league also finished above .500 ATS in non-conference games at 18-17. The top four teams won three bowl games with the only loss coming from Nevada, a one-point defeat, at the hands of Miami- Florida. All four schools (Boise State, Hawaii, San Jose State and Nevada) covered the spread.

Can Boise repeat as WAC champions or will Hawaii reel off an undefeated season as a lot of writers are predicting? The Broncos are 100-1 to win the BCS National Championship Game while the Rainbows are 300-1. The other seven clubs are part of the field, currently listed at 50-1. Let’s take an inside look at the conference:

1) BOISE STATE - The Broncos had won 31 consecutive league games until Fresno State squashed them 27-7 in 2005. How did they respond to that defeat? How about 10 straight conference wins to move to 41-1 in their last 42 WAC games! Strengths - Ian Johnson rambled to the end zone 25 times last season to go along with 1,713 yards. The offensive line returns four starters from last year and is by far the biggest and best in the conference. The defense will be strong as well, despite losing two of its top three tacklers. Remember, only three starters returned in the 2001 season and the defense allowed just one- half point more per game than the year before. Weaknesses - A new quarterback must call the shots in Boise after three-year starter Jared Zabransky leaves. In addition, the top four pass-catchers all depart. Bottom line - In Zabransky’s first year, the Broncos ended the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record so back-to-back undefeated seasons is not out of the question. However, look for them to lose at Hawaii on November 23 ruining their 26-game winning streak. The last time Boise failed to go over .500 against the spread was back in 1998 so don’t look for it to happen in 2007.

2) HAWAII - June Jones breathed a sigh of relief the day Colt Brennan decided to remain in Honolulu. The senior quarterback’s two main reasons for returning are to reach a BCS bowl game and finish off his career with an undefeated season. Strengths - The Rainbows led the nation in scoring, passing and total offense last year as Brennan threw for 58 TDs and over 5,500 yards, completing 73% of his passes. Heck, the punter came on the field only seven times the final eight games! Weaknesses - Going into last season, the offensive line had a combined 88 lifetime starts. This season, that number is down to 31 as two first team and one second-team WAC linemen depart. The defensive line was also hit hard as two all-conference performers will be applying their trade in the NFL this season. Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville, who was the architect of the “D” that shaved off 14 ppg since 2004, leaves the program after accepting a head coaching position at Portland State. Bottom line - Even though the Rainbows will knock off Boise State, they will drop two conference games prior to their match-up with the Broncos. Expect a 10-2 record, 6-2 in conference play. They are a solid team to bet against as the public will jump all over them this season.

3) NEW MEXICO STATE - The Aggies failed to win a single game in Hal Mumme’s first season in Las Cruces. Last year, they won four games and have a great shot at doubling that in ‘07. Strengths - New Mexico State had an amazing 15 more plays per game than its opposition last year which was tops in the country. That’s one reason Chase Holbrook had such a stellar season, throwing for over 4,600 yards with 34 TDs against just nine interceptions. Running back Justine Buries missed the last 10 games last year and his return will be a huge boost to the explosive offense. The defense was wrought with injuries, including the death of a linebacker, prior to the season. Even so, the Aggies allowed eight points less per game and almost a half-yard less per rush. More improvement is expected in ‘07. Weaknesses - The Aggies finished last in WAC play allowing 24 sacks and next to last in offensive turnovers with 21. Bottom line - New Mexico State owns the nation’s longest bowl drought of all teams that have played in at least one bowl game (46 years). That streak will end this season with an 8-4 mark and a three-way tie for third place in the WAC at 5-3. The Aggies will also have one of the top ATS records in the country!

4) FRESNO STATE - What an awful season it was for Fresno last year. The Bulldogs lost more games (eight) than they did the previous two regular seasons combined and at one point had dropped seven in a row! Strengths - The offensive line, which opened holes for five yards a carry last year, returns four starters. Injuries on the defensive side of the ball killed Fresno State last year and the unit as a whole will improve on its worst showing in over a decade. Weaknesses - The offense, without consistency at the QB position, scored just 23 ppg, down 15 points from the previous season. Only two clubs (Utah State and Michigan State) had a worse defensive TD-INT ratio as the Bulldogs allowed 26 passing touchdowns and intercepted only five balls. Bottom line - The last time, prior to ‘06, that Fresno State finished under .500 was back in 1998. The following season the Bulldogs won eight games. Don’t expect that type of turnaround this year, but 6-6 and 5-3 in WAC play will be a respectable season. In addition, they won’t finish 2-10 ATS like they did in ‘06.

5) NEVADA - The Wolf Pack have won 17 games the past two years, the best two- year stretch since 18 victories in ‘95-’96. Strengths - Nevada’s defense limited opponents to just 19 ppg last year and recorded 30 sacks the final nine games. Seven defensive starters return so look for another solid season. The Pack lose its leading rusher Robert Hubbard, but Brandon Fragger, who missed the final six games and Luke Lipincott will more than hold their own. The receiving core will be without its top pass catcher in Caleb Spencer, but once again there is loads of talent and speed amongst the holdovers. Weaknesses - Quarterback Jeff Rowe completed his eligibility so the position will be up for grabs between Nick Graziano and Colin Kaepernick. The defense forced 23 turnovers in league play (tops in the WAC), but loses its top two interception leaders, who combined for 10 picks last year. Bottom line - Nevada is a remarkable 15-3 (5-1 each season) at home since Chris Ault took over as head coach. Another 5-1 mark will lead the Wolf Pack to a 7-5 season and a piece of the three-way tie for third in the conference. They may not finish 10-2 ATS like they did a year ago, but should not be taken lightly even with uncertainty at the QB spot.

6) SAN JOSE STATE - The Spartans won only eight games combined in’03-’05, but went 9-4 last year, including a win in their first bowl game since 1990. Strengths - Quarterback Adam Tafralis finished 11th nationally in passing efficiency with 21 TDs and a 66% completion rate. A marked improvement from his 11 TDs and 50% completion percentage in ‘05. San Jose’s defense allowed 42.6 ppg the year before head coach Dick Tomey arrived and in two short years, the “D” cut that number in half giving up just 21 ppg in ’06. The cornerback duo of Dwight Lowery and Chris Owens led the nation with a combined 13 interceptions. Weaknesses - That CB combo must continue to perform at a high level, as the top five safeties are no longer with the team. In addition, the defense allowed 3.5 ypc or more in 10 of the 13 games. It will be interesting to see if Tafralis reverts back to his ‘05 form as San Jose State loses 78% of its completions with James Jones, John Broussard and Chester Coleman all departing. The leading returning pass catcher is fullback James Callier. Bottom line - The Spartans will not be as successful as they were last season. A 5-7 record, 4-4 in the WAC, will leave the folks in San Jose feeling empty. Play against them early and often.

7) IDAHO - With four wins last year, the Vandals had their best season since a five-win campaign back in 2000. However, head coach Dennis Erickson waved goodbye and Washington State defensive line coach Robb Akey takes over. Strengths - The defense, which finished fourth in league play in yards allowed, returns seven starters, including the top six tacklers. All-WAC cornerback Stanley Franks tied for the national lead in interceptions with nine. Weaknesses - Idaho has given up at least 4.7 ypc each of the last six seasons and the offense will be without its top three pass catchers and its quarterback. Bottom line - The lower echelon teams in the WAC usually have zero chance of upsetting the big boys, so it’s imperative to knock off the other basement dwellers. The Vandals did that last season and should do so again. They will win three games, two in conference play and by the middle of the season, will be a team to watch ATS.

8) LOUISIANA TECH - The Bulldogs finished last in the country in scoring and total defense, and won just three games after going 7-4 the previous season. Strengths - The major reason for the stumble was the loss of nine defensive starters. With 10 back this year, look for the ‘Dogs to make major strides. Remember, Louisiana Tech’s recruiting classes from ’05 and ’06 were rated near the top of the WAC. Weaknesses - L-Tech finished dead last in conference play last season turning the ball over 23 times in eight games. The defense recorded just nine sacks the entire season! Bottom line - The Bulldogs are still a year away from competing in the ever-improving WAC and will win only three games this season, two in league play. Nonetheless, L-Tech is a dark horse when it comes to betting against the spread.

9) UTAH STATE - The goal for head coach Brent Guy is to win at least two games after the Aggies posted just one “W” in the victory column last season. Strengths - Ten of the top 11 tacklers return and that doesn’t include LB Jake Hutton, who was leading the team in that department after four games, before an injury shelved him for rest of the season. Injuries also devastated the offensive line. Weaknesses - Both the offense and defense finished 117th in the nation in scoring. Last year’s leading runner Marcus Cross left the program to be closer to his family in Texas, so QB Leon Jackson is the leading returning rusher with just 105 yards! Bottom line - Utah State has a good chance to go winless this season, as the Aggies are the worst team in the country. They went 3-9 ATS in ’06 and might cover the same amount in ‘07.

New York, NY - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick not to report to the team’s training camp, which starts Thursday.

Goodell noted Vick won’t be allowed into training camp until the league completes a review of Vick’s recent indictment by a federal grand jury for allegedly participating in an interstate dog-fighting enterprise.

The charges stem from a dogfighting ring that allegedly was conducted at Vick’s house in Virginia.

He is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday for a bond hearing and arraignment. The court date coincides with the first day of training camp for the Falcons in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

Goodell informed Vick that the review would be completed as soon as possible and that the quarterback’s full cooperation is expected.

“While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy,” Goodell wrote in a letter to Vick.

The NFL said Vick will not forfeit his preseason pay during his excused absence from training camp.

Goodell also told the Falcons not to discipline Vick until the NFL review is finished.

Vick and three others were indicted with travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

If convicted of the travel part of the conspiracy charge, it carries with it a statutory maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution. If convicted on the dog fighting charge, the defendants could face either one-year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both.

The indictment was brought about in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Richmond, VA.

According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting business based out of Vick’s property located in Smithfield, VA from early 2001 through sometime in April of this year. Since Vick purchased the property in June 2001, the defendants formed a dog fighting enterprise known as “Bad Newz Kennels” and used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog fights on the property and bringing dogs from several states to participate in the events. During the fights, the participants would place bets ranging from the hundreds to thousands of dollars. The fights would last until either the death or surrender of the losing dog, which would then sometimes be put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution or other methods.

Also, the indictment said the defendants participated in dog fights in North and South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and elsewhere in Virginia.

The dogfighting affair was first brought to light when Vick’s home was raided on April 26 when authorities seized 54 dogs, along with several other pieces of equipment associated in dogfighting.

The property was again searched on June 7 by federal officials, who uncovered the graves of several pit bulls on the property.

Vick denied any involvement in dogfighting conducted on his property when the case first broke, and has blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity.

The indictment could affect Vick’s playing status for the upcoming season under the guidelines of the NFL’s new player conduct policy.