Wednesday, August 1st (All times eastern) TORONTO BLUE JAYS (53-53) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (40-66), 3:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Josh Towers (5-7, 5.08) Tampa Bay - Jason Hammel (1-1, 5.33)
Josh Towers takes the hill for the first time since ripping his team and coaching staff when the Toronto Blue Jays play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.
Towers was tagged with the loss on Friday against the Chicago White Sox, as he surrendered four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, dropping him to 5-7 on the season, while raising his earned run average to 5.08.
After the game, though, Towers complained that he was taken out too early, then went on to say that the coaching staff does not put the team in position to win and that some players don’t consistently show up sometimes.
Apparently, everything was settled following a players-only meeting the next day.
Towers, who was almost shipped to Philadelphia at Tuesday’s trade deadline, beat Tampa earlier in the year and is 8-5 lifetime against the Devil Rays in 19 games, 16 of which have been starts. His 19 games and eight wins are the most against any opponent for him.
Tampa Bay will counter with right-hander Jason Hammel, who is 1-1 with a 5.33 ERA. Hammel was tagged with the loss in just his second start of the season on Friday against Boston, despite allowing just two runs and one hit in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-1 loss.
Hammel has never faced the Blue Jays.
In the middle contest of this set on Tuesday, former Devil Rays bat boy Jesse Litsch pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings, as Toronto blanked Tampa Bay, 2-0. Vernon Wells hit an RBI double and scored a run for the Blue Jays, who have won two of three and seven of their last 10.
Litsch (4-4), a Tampa Bay native, scattered seven hits to notch his third win in his last four starts.
Scott Downs pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings and Jeremy Accardo worked around trouble in the ninth to record his 18th save of the season.
Delmon Young collected three hits for the Devil Rays, who lost for the ninth time in their last 11 games. Tampa Bay, which has finished in last place in all but one of its first nine seasons, has lost 26 of 33 since June 25.
Tampa Bay starter Edwin Jackson (2-11) was the hard-luck loser after giving up just one unearned run on five hits through six innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked one.
Toronto has won six of its 11 matchups with the Devil Rays this season, but have lost three of four and four of the last six meetings. The Jays have also won in 15 of their last 23 visits to St. Petersburg.
DETROIT TIGERS (61-45) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (50-57), 3:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Nate Robertson (6-8, 5.08) Oakland - Dallas Braden (1-6, 5.53)
The Detroit Tigers wrap up what has been a long and challenging road trip when the current American League Central leaders finish off a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics this afternoon at McAfee Coliseum.
After splitting the first four tests of their 11-game trek, the Tigers have proceeded to lose five of their next six games. Despite those recent struggles, Detroit has managed to hold on to a one-game lead atop the AL Central because second-place Cleveland also hasn’t been winning much lately.
On Tuesday, the Tigers blew an early two-run lead as Oakland halted a four- game losing streak by rallying for a 7-3 victory.
The Athletics scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead, then tacked on two more runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Kurt Suzuki and Jack Cust each delivered two-run singles in the sixth to send Oakland in front.
Suzuki, Cust and Travis Buck all finished 2-for-3, with Suzuki knocking in three runs and both Cust and Buck ending with two RBI.
Oakland starter Dan Haren allowed three early runs, one of which was unearned, but settled down to pick up his 13th win of the year. The ace right-hander held Detroit to six hits and walked one over his six-inning stint.
Justin Verlander failed to hold up his end of the All-Star mound matchup, however, as the Tigers star was tagged for four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Sean Casey and Carlos Guillen each had two hits for Detroit, with Casey driving in a run with a second-inning double.
Ivan Rodriguez did not participate in Tuesday’s contest for the Tigers, as the All-Star catcher dropped the appeal of a one-game suspension for his tirade at umpire Mike Winters during a July 12 game at Seattle. Rodriguez is expected to be back in the lineup tonight.
A pair of slumping left-handers will toe the rubber in today’s rubber match, with Nate Robertson getting the call for the Tigers opposite A’s rookie Dallas Braden.
Robertson attempts to rebound from an awful outing Friday in Anaheim in which the veteran was rocked for eight runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings to suffer a loss. He wasn’t much better against Kansas City on June 22, surrendering five runs (four earned) and 11 hits in six frames during his team’s 5-2 setback.
The 29-year-old is 2-2 with a 5.46 earned run average in four regular-season starts against Oakland, but stifled the Athletics in Game 1 of last October’s AL Championship Series. Robertson delivered five shutout innings to help Detroit to a 5-1 victory and an eventual sweep of the series.
Braden has lost three straight starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento in mid-July. The young southpaw’s most recent outing was the worst of the bunch, as he yielded seven runs — four earned — on seven hits in just four innings of work Friday in Seattle.
The 23-year-old, who will be facing Detroit for the first time, has lost all five of his starts at McAfee Coliseum this year and has compiled a 6.08 ERA in 26 2/3 innings at home.
Oakland snapped a six-game losing streak against Detroit, which includes the 2006 ALCS, last night. The Tigers won five of the nine regular-season meetings with the Athletics last year and split six games at McAfee Coliseum. CHICAGO WHITE SOX (48-58) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (57-49), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - John Danks (6-7, 4.83) New York - Andy Pettitte (6-7, 4.11)
New York Yankees All-Star Alex Rodriguez still needs one more home run to become the 22nd player in history to reach 500. Tonight, he will lead the Bronx Bombers in the second test of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium.
Rodriguez is still sitting on 499 career home runs after finishing 0-for-5 in Tuesday’s 16-3 bashing of the White Sox in the series opener. He is now hitless in 17 at-bats since he belted home run No. 499 at Kansas City on July 25. The 32-year-old third baseman is also trying to become the youngest player in history to reach the 500-homer mark.
The rest of the Yankees picked up the slack last night, as Hideki Matsui hit two of eight New York home runs. Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon, and Shelley Duncan also went deep for the Yankees, who equaled a club record for homers in a game. They also went deep eight times on June 28, 1939 versus Philadelphia in the opener of a doubleheader.
Starting pitcher Mike Mussina allowed six hits and three runs and fanned six over six innings to get the win.
New York, which sits within three games of Cleveland for the lead in the American League wild card standings, has won two straight since a three-game losing streak and was victorious for the 13th time in 18 tries.
In trade news for the Bronx Bombers, the club sent reliever Scott Proctor to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Wilson Betemit on Tuesday.
Yankees starter Andy Pettitte tries to get back in the win column when he takes the ball tonight against the White Sox. Pettitte is 6-7 with a 4.11 ERA in 24 games (22 starts) this season.
He had been 2-0 in four starts before losing to Baltimore on Friday. Pettitte was reached for three runs and eight hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss to the Orioles.
The left-hander will face Chicago for the 21st time in his career and is 10-8 with three complete games and a 4.59 earned run average over 20 lifetime appearances against the White Sox. Pettitte last faced Chicago on June 23, 2006 and was reached for six runs in four innings of a 7-4 setback.
Last night Juan Uribe clubbed a three-run homer for the White Sox, who have lost two in a row and seven of their last 12 games. White Sox starter Jose Contreras, who leads the majors in defeats, surrendered eight hits — including three homers — and seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. The right-hander has lost seven consecutive starts.
Toeing the rubber for the Pale Hose this evening will be rookie John Danks, who is 6-7 with a 4.83 ERA in 19 starts in 2007.
Danks is 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA over his last two starts and did not factor in the outcome last Thursday against Detroit. Danks allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 4-3 win against the Tigers.
The left-hander squared off with the Yankees for the first time in his career on May 16 and recorded the win. Danks yielded just a pair of runs and seven hits through 6 1/3 innings of a 5-3 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.
New York is 5-3 against the White Sox this season and 9-5 over the previous 14 encounters between the teams.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (50-55) AT BOSTON RED SOX (64-42), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Steve Trachsel (5-7, 5.26) Boston - Julian Tavarez (6-8, 5.08)
Aging right-hander Steve Trachsel looks for his first win since June 8 tonight when the Baltimore Orioles visit Fenway Park for the second of three games with their American League East Division rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
Trachsel, who’ll turn 37 in October, is 0-3 with three no-decisions since, including 4 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay on July 26 in which he allowed seven hits and five runs in the Orioles’ 10-7 win.
He is 2-7 in 11 starts away from home in 2007, posting a 5.95 earned run average.
Trachsel is 1-0 in two career starts against the Red Sox, giving up eight hits and three earned runs in 13 1/3 innings.
Veteran Julian Tavarez gets the start for Boston after a trade-deadline deal shuffled the rotation.
The 34-year-old Dominican right-hander will go in place of young lefty Kason Gabbard, who was sent to Texas with two minor-leaguers in a move that brought reliever Eric Gagne to the Red Sox.
Tavarez began the season by making 18 starts, but was sent to the bullpen in late July and had gone 1-0 in three appearances while allowing two hits and four unearned runs in 3 2/3 innings.
He is 2-3 in 14 lifetime appearances against the Orioles - three starts - with a 4.68 ERA in 25 innings.
On Tuesday, Kevin Millar drove in a pair of runs as Baltimore topped Boston, 5-3. Brian Roberts went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI and Ramon Hernandez knocked in one for the Orioles, winners in eight of their last 10 games.
Erik Bedard (11-4) allowed just two runs and two hits over six innings, winning his seventh straight decision. Jamie Walker retired the final two batters of the game to earn his fourth save.
The Orioles announced prior to the game that interim manager Dave Trembley will manage the club for the remainder of the season.
Boston hurler Josh Beckett (13-5) was charged with nine hits and five runs with six strikeouts and two walks in eight full innings, losing consecutive starts for the first time all season.
David Ortiz drove in all three runs on a pair of home runs for the Red Sox, who have dropped two straight following a three-game win streak.
Boston has won four of six from the Orioles this season and is 29-13 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Orioles have also struggled in Beantown, where they have posted just three wins in their last 13 visits. TEXAS RANGERS (47-59) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (60-46), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - John Rheinecker (1-0, 3.18) Cleveland - Paul Byrd (9-4, 4.40)
The new-look Texas Rangers aim for a second straight victory over the playoff-hopeful Cleveland Indians when the two teams resume a three-game set this evening at Jacobs Field.
Despite trading away two of their best players right before Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Rangers managed to come away with a 3-1 victory in last night’s series opener. Brandon McCarthy led the way with seven strong innings as Texas put an end to a three-game losing streak.
The Rangers were one of the most active sellers on Tuesday, as the club shipped off first baseman Mark Teixeira and closer Eric Gagne in separate deals. Teixeira was sent to Atlanta along with reliever Ron Mahay in exchange for catcher/first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four prospects. Gagne went to Boston for a trio of young players, including pitcher Kason Gabbard.
McCarthy (5-7) outdueled Cleveland standout Fausto Carmona and limited the Tribe to one run on five hits while walking just one. C.J. Wilson assumed Gagne’s role last night and recorded the final four outs for his first save.
Nelson Cruz led Texas offensively with a pair of hits in three at-bats, including a solo home run.
Carmona (13-5) had a string of five consecutive winning starts snapped. The Dominican right-hander allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits over the first seven innings.
Ryan Garko accounted for Cleveland’s only run with a solo homer in the seventh inning. The Tribe suffered their third straight loss but remained one game behind first-place Detroit, which fell to Oakland on Tuesday, in the American League Central standings.
Saltalamacchia arrived at the ballpark after the game had started and did not play. The highly-regarded 22-year-old is expected to start tonight’s contest at first base.
The struggling Indians turn to Paul Byrd tonight in hopes of evening this series. The veteran has had a fine season thus far for Cleveland, having posted a 9-4 record in 19 games, and enters this evening’s tilt on a two-start win streak.
Byrd’s back-to-back wins began with a victory over the Rangers on June 22. He held Texas to two runs and just three hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right- hander then bested Minnesota on Friday after surrendering four runs — three earned — over seven frames in a 10-4 Cleveland triumph.
Although the 36-year-old pitched well in his last start against Texas, Byrd is just 3-5 with a 6.46 earned run average in eight lifetime appearances versus the Rangers.
Texas will send out John Rheinecker, who returned from Triple-A Oklahoma on June 24 with an outstanding performance against Seattle. The left-hander gave up only one unearned run and six hits over seven innings to lead the Rangers to a 2-1 decision.
Rheinecker followed that effort up with 1 1/3 scoreless frames of relief Saturday in Kansas City, which lowered his ERA to 3.18 in 11 1/3 innings with the Rangers this season.
The 28-year-old faced Cleveland twice in relief as a rookie in 2006 and did not allow a run in 1 2/3 innings of work.
The Indians have won seven of the last nine meetings in this series, including five of seven matchups this year. Cleveland swept a two-game set from the Rangers at Jacobs Field back in April. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (47-59) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (55-51), 8:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Brian Bannister (7-6, 3.42) Minnesota - Boof Bonser (5-7, 4.72)
The Minnesota Twins try for their fifth straight win this evening when they continue a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals at the Metrodome.
In the second game of this set on Tuesday Carlos Silva threw eight innings and Torii Hunter homered, as Minnesota rolled to a 5-3 win. Alexi Casilla, Lew Ford and Jason Bartlett each had two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who had lost five in a row prior to their winning streak.
Silva (9-11) allowed seven hits and two runs, while fanning three to win for the third time in four decisions.
Mark Grudzielanek had three hits, including a solo homer, for the Royals, while Jason LaRue and Jason Smith added home runs for Kansas City, which has lost two in a row on the heels of a four-game winning streak.
Jorge De La Rosa (8-11) yielded eight hits and five runs in six innings for the Royals, who saw some changes on Tuesday. Kansas City dealt right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel to Atlanta for pitcher Kyle Davies.
Hoping to keep Minnesota on the winning track tonight will be right-hander Boof Bonser, who is winless in his last eight starts. Bonser was tagged with the loss on Friday against Cleveland, as he gave up six runs (four earned) on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings to fall to 5-7 on the year, while raising his earned run average to 4.72.
Bonser received a no-decision against the Royals earlier in the year and is 1-2 lifetime against them with a 3.96 ERA in five starts.
Kansas City will counter with righty Brian Bannister, who has won his last two starts and is 7-6 on the year with a 3.42 ERA. Bannister was brilliant against the Texas Rangers on Friday, holding them to just four hits over seven scoreless innings.
Bannister, who has never faced the Twins, has surrendered just a run and eight hits over his last two starts, spanning 14 innings.
Minnesota has won four of its seven meetings with the Royals this season and is 22-9 in its last 31 visits to Minnesota.
LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (62-43) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (58-47), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Jered Weaver (7-5, 3.68) Seattle - Felix Hernandez (7-6, 3.85)
The two best clubs in the American League West close out a three-game series tonight at Safeco Field, as the Seattle Mariners play the rubber match with the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Angels entered this key set with a four-game lead on Seattle in the standings and have maintained that cushion by splitting the first two games. After the Mariners came through with a 2-0 decision in the opener, Anaheim rebounded with an 8-0 rout on Tuesday.
John Lackey went the distance on a seven-hitter and Gary Matthews belted a pair of home runs as the Angels won for the fifth time in six games.
Lackey (13-6) walked three and struck out five while throwing 67 of his 106 pitches for strikes. It was the All-Star right-hander’s sixth career shutout.
Matthews finished 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the offense, while Orlando Cabrera had three hits, including a solo homer, and knocked in four runs for the Angels.
Ex-Angel Jeff Weaver (2-10) was roughed up for six runs on seven hits with three walks in just four innings of work for the Mariners, who had a four-game winning streak stopped. Jose Vidro went 2-for-4 in the loss.
Seattle will attempt to gain ground tonight behind Felix Hernandez, who halted a personal two-start losing streak with an impressive performance on Friday.
Hernandez limited Oakland to one run on seven hits and struck out seven over seven innings in the Mariners’ 7-1 victory. The 21-year-old rebounded from a rough outing in Toronto five days earlier in which he was rocked for six runs in six innings.
The native Venezuelan did struggle in a pair of starts against the Angels back in May, surrendering 10 runs over 9 2/3 combined innings in a loss and a no decision. Hernandez is 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA in six career starts versus Los Angeles.
The Angels counter with a talented young righty of their own tonight in Jered Weaver. The brother of last night’s Seattle starter brings a 7-5 record and a 3.68 earned run average into tonight’s tilt, but is coming off a shaky performance in his last start.
Weaver picked up a win over Detroit on Friday despite allowing six runs and a season-high 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. He had yielded two or less runs in five of his seven previous starts.
The 24-year-old is 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in four lifetime starts against Seattle. In his only appearance versus the Mariners in 2007, Weaver was touched for five runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in a no decision on May 30.
The Angels have won eight of 11 matchups against Seattle so far this season and are 16-5 in the last 21 games played in this series. Los Angeles took two of three games at Safeco Field back in May.
CINCINNATI REDS (45-62) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (45-61), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Bronson Arroyo (4-11, 4.33) Washington - John Lannan (0-0, 8.31)
Young lefty John Lannan makes the second start of his big- league career tonight when the Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a three-game series at RFK Stadium.
A 22-year-old product of Siena College, Lannan made his debut on July 26 at Philadelphia, allowing six hits and four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 7-6 loss to the Phillies.
In that game, the Long Beach, N.Y. native walked two and struck out one.
He was an 11th-round draft pick of the Nationals in 2005.
Right-hander Bronson Arroyo makes his second start of the season against Washington. The 30-year-old Key West, Fla. native was raked in his last meeting with the Nationals, lasting just two innings while giving up six hits and six runs in a May 21 game the Reds came back to win, 8-7.
The no-decision came early in a miserable stretch for Arroyo, who earned his second win of the season on May 6 but didn’t pick up win No. 3 until July 5 - a 10-start winless skid in which he fell from 2-2 to 2-9.
He got a tough-luck no-decision last time out, allowing four hits and two unearned runs in 7 2/3 innings in a 5-4 Cincinnati win over the Chicago Cubs on July 27.
On Tuesday, Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run double in the fifth inning as Washington downed the Reds, 6-3. Ryan Church went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Nook Logan was 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Nationals, who have won four of their last six games.
Matt Chico (5-6) got the win as he gave up two runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work.
Edwin Encarnacion and Brandon Phillips each had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Reds, who have dropped their last three games.
Bobby Livingston (2-2) was handed the loss as he gave up five runs on eight hits in four-plus innings of work.
Washington won three of four earlier in the season from the Reds, but is just 8-15 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
COLORADO ROCKIES (54-51) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (49-58), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Josh Fogg (5-6, 4.84) Florida - Byung-Hyun Kim (5-5, 4.72)
Sidearming Korean veteran Byung-Hyun Kim faces one of his former teams tonight when the Florida Marlins host the Colorado Rockies in game two of a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium.
Kim, a 28-year-old right-hander, pitched for the Rockies in 2005, 2006 and into this season before coming to the Marlins. He made 70 appearances - 50 starts - for Colorado, going 14-26 in 309 innings of work.
The native of Gwangju, South Korea is 4-3 in 13 appearances - 12 starts - with the Marlins, posting a 4.22 earned run average over 70 1/3 innings. He’s 2-3 in eight outings in Miami with a 5.63 ERA in 40 innings.
Kim is 3-4 in 26 appearances - three starts - against the Rockies in his career, recording eight saves and a 3.52 ERA.
Right-hander Josh Fogg has won two straight and four of his last five decisions.
The 30-year-old Massachusetts native is unbeaten since a June 24 loss at Toronto. He’s since gone 2-0 with a no-decision, allowing 16 hits and six earned runs in 19 innings.
A former third-round pick of the Chicago White Sox, Fogg is 3-3 in 11 starts away from home this season and is 4-3 lifetime against the Marlins in nine starts.
On Tuesday, right-hander Aaron Cook got his third straight win and fourth in five decisions, as the Rockies downed the Marlins, 6-3.
Cook (8-6), coming off a complete-game victory over San Diego on July 25, allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks over 7 2/3 innings. He hasn’t lost since July 8. Manny Corpas pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save this season.
Matt Holliday ended 3-for-4 and scored two runs for the Rockies, who won their third straight game. Garrett Atkins hit a three-run double, and Willy Taveras finished 2-for-4 and scored twice in the win.
Miguel Olivo homered for the Marlins, who have lost seven of their last eight. Florida lefty Scott Olsen (8-9) gave up six runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks over five frames to absorb the loss.
Florida will be playing the Rockies for the first time this season, but is 11-7 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (50-53) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (42-62), 7:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Braden Looper (8-8, 4.85) Pittsburgh - Tony Armas (0-3, 6.93)
The St. Louis Cardinals shoot for season-best five straight wins when they continue a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at PNC Park.
St. Louis posted its fourth consecutive victory with Tuesday’s 6-4 win over the Pirates in the series opener, with starting pitcher Adam Wainwright carrying the load with six strong innings on the hill.
Wainwright allowed two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk for the Cardinals, who are 5 1/2 games off the National League wild card lead and six games behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the NL Central division.
Yadier Molina drove in two runs and Scott Rolen added two hits and two runs scored in the win. Rolen is 8-for-18 (.444) with seven runs and four RBI in his last six games for St. Louis, which has not won five games in a row since ripping off seven straight victories from July 7-16 of last season.
In trade news for the Cardinals, the team acquired right-hander Joel Pineiro and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for a minor league player to be named later.
Braden Looper gets the nod for St. Louis tonight and is 8-8 with a 4.85 ERA in 19 starts this season.
Looper is just 2-5 over his last nine starts, but recorded the win in his previous outing on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. Looper allowed just one run in seven strong innings of an 11-1 bashing of the Cubs.
The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 25 career games (two starts) against the Pirates. Looper is 2-0 with a 0.69 earned run average in two starts against Pittsburgh this season.
Getting the call for the Pirates this evening will be Tony Armas, who is 0-3 with a 6.93 ERA in 20 games (seven starts) this season.
Armas last started on May 17 against Florida, allowing a pair of runs in three innings of a 7-2 win over the Marlins. He previously took the hill in relief on Friday against Philadelphia and yielded one run over 1 2/3 innings of work.
In six career games (five starts) against St. Louis, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.94 earned run average.
Pittsburgh has dropped four straight contests and is a lowly 2-14 since the All-Star break. Last night Ryan Doumit homered and Jason Bay finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jack Wilson notched two RBI in the loss, which left the Buccos 14 games off the pace in the National League wild card race.
Starter Paul Maholm absorbed the loss despite pitching six decent innings. Maholm allowed three runs — two earned — on six hits with three strikeouts.
The Pirates improved their pitching staff on Tuesday’s trade deadline, acquiring starting right-hander Matt Morris from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for outfielder Rajai Davis.
St. Louis is 7-2 against Pittsburgh this season, including a three-game sweep in the Steel City from April 9-11. The Cardinals are 40-17 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
HOUSTON ASTROS (46-60) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (56-51), 7:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Wandy Rodriguez (7-9, 4.28) Atlanta - Buddy Carlyle (5-3, 4.25)
The Atlanta Braves were winners at the trade deadline yesterday and then went on to defeat the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series. The two clubs will continue the set this evening at Turner Field.
Atlanta bolstered their lineup by acquiring coveted first baseman Mark Teixeira from the Texas Rangers as part of a seven-player deal. Teixeira and lefty reliever Ron Mahay joined the Braves in exchange for heralded rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, minor league infielder Elvis Andrus and minor league pitchers Matt Harrison, Beau Jones and Neftali Feliz.
The Braves also traded for right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel from the Kansas City Royals for righty Kyle Davies.
In Tuesday’s series-opening 12-4 pounding of the Astros, Kelly Johnson finished 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI to lead the way. Brian McCann homered and knocked in four runs, while Jeff Francoeur went deep and scored three times for the Braves, who have won two in a row after a four-game skid.
Atlanta starter Chuck James picked up the win despite being shaky through five innings. The left-hander gave up four runs on six hits before relievers Peter Moylan, Tyler Yates, Rafael Soriano and Jose Ascanio each tossed a hitless frame to close out the win.
The Braves are 1 1/2 games out of the NL wild card race and sit 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the top spot in the National League East division.
Atlanta will send Buddy Carlyle to the mound tonight and he is 5-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) this season. Carlyle had won his previous four decisions before losing to San Francisco on Thursday. He was reached for four runs over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-2 loss at AT&T Park.
Carlyle, a right-hander, has never faced the Astros in his career.
Houston has dropped three of its last four games. In last night’s setback at Turner Field, Lance Berkman homered and Craig Biggio knocked in a pair of runs. Starting pitcher Chris Sampson was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits in just four innings of work.
The Astros are 11 games off the pace in the NL wild card standings and 11 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central.
Wandy Rodriguez will get the nod for Houston tonight and owns a 7-9 record with a 4.28 ERA in 20 starts this season.
Rodriguez is 3-2 in his past five outings and beat San Diego his last time out on Thursday, hurling seven innings of one-run ball in a 7-1 victory.
The lefty, who is just 1-7 in 10 road starts in 2007, will face the Braves for the third time in his career tonight. Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two career games (one start) against Atlanta.
Atlanta and Houston are meeting for the first time since the Astros went 4-3 in the 2006 season series. NEW YORK METS (59-47) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (58-49), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Oliver Perez (9-7, 2.84) Milwaukee - Claudio Vargas (9-2, 4.30)
The Milwaukee Brewers try to string back-to-back wins together this evening, when they play the second of three games against the New York Mets at Miller Park.
Milwaukee won the opener in thrilling fashion on Tuesday, as Geoff Jenkins’ two-run home run in the 13th inning gave the Brewers a 4-2 win, denying Tom Glavine his 300th victory.
Glavine did not get his milestone win in his first attempt despite giving up just one run on two hits with five walks and two strikeouts in six-plus innings. The Mets were ahead 2-1 at the time of Glavine’s departure, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the edge.
Tony Graffanino led off the 13th inning with a double down the left field line off Aaron Sele (3-1) and Jenkins followed by slamming a 1-2 fastball over the left field wall for the win.
J.J. Hardy scored twice while Prince Fielder and Bill Hall each drove in a run for the Brewers, who snapped a three-game losing streak and remain one game ahead of the Cubs for first place in the NL Central.
Dave Bush (9-8), who was scheduled to start tonight’s contest, got the win for pitching a scoreless top of the 13th. Jeff Suppan started on the hill for Milwaukee and gave up two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
David Wright went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Moises Alou drove in the other run for the Mets, who have dropped four of their last six.
Claudio Vargas toes the rubber tonight for the Brewers as he tries to win for the sixth time in his last seven decisions. Vargas won his third straight start on Friday against St. Louis, giving up two runs and nine hits in eight innings to improve to 9-2 on the year and lower his earned run average to 4.30.
Vargas, who is a perfect 6-0 at home this season, is 0-2 in his career against the Mets with a 9.13 ERA in six games, three of which have been starts.
New York will counter with lefty Oliver Perez, who is 9-7 with a 2.84 ERA. Perez was tagged with a hard-luck loss in his last start Thursday against Pittsburgh, as he surrendered five unearned runs and five hits in six innings.
Perez beat the Brewers with one his best starts of the season earlier in the year, holding them to a run and two hits in 8 1/3 innings. He is 2-1 lifetime against them with a 4.04 ERA in six starts.
The Mets took two of three earlier in the season from the Brewers after the teams split the season series the last two years. The Mets, though, have won in six of their last 10 visits to Milwaukee.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (56-50) AT CHICAGO CUBS (56-49), 8:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Jamie Moyer (9-8, 4.75) Chicago - Rich Hill (6-6, 3.59)
Injuries are forcing Philadelphia to alter things a bit in their lineup. It didn’t produce a win on Tuesday, so the Phillies will try to get back on track tonight against the Chicago Cubs in the third contest of a four-game series at Wrigley Field.
Yesterday, Shane Victorino (right calf strain) and Michael Bourn (sprained left ankle) became the third and fourth players to be placed on the DL by Philadelphia in the last five days, joining reliever Ryan Madson (strained right shoulder) and All-Star second baseman Chase Utley (right hand surgery).
The run of injuries forced the Phillies to shuffle their lineup on Tuesday. Jimmy Rollins had moved down from leadoff to third in the order when Utley was injured and was replaced by Bourn. However, with the speedy outfielder now out, Greg Dobbs moved to the leadoff spot and Tadahito Iguchi landed in the second spot.
The new-look lineup failed to produce enough runs to win yesterday, however, as the Phillies fell 7-3, halting their four-game winning streak while losing for just the second time in 11 games.
Chris Roberson, who was recalled earlier Tuesday from Triple-A Ottawa, finished 4-for-4 with an RBI for Philadelphia, while Pat Burrell homered in the setback.
Adam Eaton (9-7) suffered the loss after he surrendered five runs — four earned — on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Eaton’s counterpart, Jason Marquis, fared much better. Marquis (8-6) limited Philadelphia to three runs on eight hits over six innings of work. Jason Kendall knocked in a pair of runs in the win, Chicago’s third in four games. The club is also a major-league best 34-18 since June 3.
The victory also allowed the Cubs to remain one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central. They are also a half game out of the NL wild card race. The Phils, meanwhile, are still three games behind the New York Mets for the top spot in the NL East, but are one game off the NL wild card lead.
Jamie Moyer will start tonight for the Phillies. After a tough four-game stretch that saw the 44-year-old go 0-3 with an 8.61 earned run average, Moyer has rebounded to win his last two outings to improve to 9-8 on the year with a 4.75 ERA.
The left-hander was just short of spectacular on Friday against Pittsburgh, limiting to the Pirates to one run on six hits without a walk over seven innings.
Moyer, who has a 5.05 road ERA this season, is 2-0 in three lifetime starts against the Cubs, with both victories coming last year.
Rich Hill will counter for the Cubs and has pitched very well in his last three starts, though he has just one win to show for it. He bested the Giants on July 16 behind eight innings of two-run ball, and has allowed just four runs (three earned) in his last two starts, but got a no-decision in each game.
He was last in action in Cincinnati on Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in five innings of a Cubs’ 5-4 loss.
The 27-year-old lefty is 0-2 in two career starts against the Phillies, including a setback to the club on May 11 that saw Hill get tagged for five runs on four hits over five frames.
While the Cubs were silent at yesterday’s no-waiver trade deadline, the Phils made a minor move, getting troubled reliever Julio Mateo from Seattle. The trade came one day after the club acquired Kyle Lohse from Cincinnati.
Also, the Phils are expected to activate outfielder Jayson Werth from the DL in time for tonight’s game.
The Phillies took two of three against the Cubs when the two squads clashed from May 11-13. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (59-49) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (56-49), 10:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Micah Owings (5-5, 5.13) San Diego - David Wells (5-7, 5.02)
The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to further the gap in the National League West tonight when they play the middle portion of a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
The Diamondbacks posted a 4-0 victory over the Padres on Tuesday to move 1 1/2 games up on third-place San Diego in the standings. The victory also pushed Arizona a full game ahead of Los Angeles for the top spot.
Brandon Webb (10-8) tossed seven scoreless innings in yesterday’s win, scattering three hits with seven strikeouts. Stephen Drew and Chris Young both hit two-run homers to provide the offense for Arizona, which has won nine of its last 10 games.
Justin Germano (6-6) suffered the loss after he allowed four runs on four hits in five innings with seven strikeouts for the Padres, who have dropped eight of their last 11 games overall.
Milton Bradley posted two hits in the losing effort.
The Padres will send David Wells to the hill tonight in hopes that the veteran can recover from two horrendous outings. After besting the Mets on July 16 behind six innings of one-run ball, Wells has been tagged for 14 runs in 7 1/3 innings over his last two starts.
The left-hander allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of work in a loss to the Phillies on July 21, and was again tagged for seven runs five days later in just three innings at Houston. Wells’ recent losing stretch has dropped his record to 5-7 with a 5.02 earned run average on the season. However, his home ERA is much better at 3.55.
The 44-year-old has faced the Diamondbacks 10 times in his career and is 4-2 against them with a 4.62 ERA. Wells is 1-0 in two starts against Arizona this year.
Arizona starter Micah Owings will try to snap a seven-outing winless stretch tonight. Owings hasn’t won since June 20 against Tampa Bay, going 0-4 with a 7.53 ERA in six starts and one relief appearance since. The right-hander last started on Thursday against the Marlins and hurled three innings in the 7-4 victory. He earned a no-decision after allowing four runs and six hits.
The 24-year-old rookie has never faced the Padres before in his career.
While first-place Arizona didn’t make any moves before yesterday’s non-waiver trade deadline, San Diego made several small deals to alter its roster.
The club acquired Morgan Ensberg from Houston for cash considerations before grabbing Rob Mackowiak from the White Sox for pitcher Jon Link. San Diego didn’t stop there, getting pitchers Wilfredo Ledezma and Will Startup from Atlanta for reliever Royce Ring.
The slew of moves forced the Padres to designate Jose Cruz Jr. for assignment.
Even the managerial staff failed to remain untouched, as the Padres named Wally Joyner their hitting coach.
The Padres and Diamondbacks split a brief two-game set in San Diego on April 18-19. Arizona has taken four of six against the Padres at home to own a 6-3 edge in the season series.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (46-58) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (57-49), 10:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Tim Lincecum (6-2, 3.90) Los Angeles - Mark Hendrickson (4-5, 4.58)
Barry Bonds will try to make Mark Hendrickson victim No. 445 tonight when the Giants continue their three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine
Bonds is 2-for-8 with no homers, one RBI and four walks lifetime against Hendrickson, who will start tonight for Los Angeles.
Hendrickson has also spent time in the Dodgers’ bullpen this year and is coming off a no-decision last time out. He faced the Astros in Houston as a starter on July 24 and gave up three runs on six hits in five innings of work.
On the year, the 6-foot-9 lefty is 4-5 with a 4.58 earned run average in 25 games (12 starts). In five games (three starts) against the Giants lifetime, Hendrickson is 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA.
Hendrickson may pitch to Bonds the same way tonight as the rest of LA’s staff did on Tuesday. Bonds walked twice and struck out once, going 0-for-2 in the Giants’ 3-1 victory.
Bonds, who has gone deep off of an MLB-best 444 different pitchers, hardly got a chance to hit career home run No. 755 and equal Hank Aaron’s all-time mark.
Randy Winn went 4-for-5 while Pedro Feliz knocked in a pair of runs for the Giants, who won for the fifth time in six games and for the fourth straight time at the Dodgers.
Noah Lowry (12-7) yielded only one run in 5 2/3 innings, despite allowing five hits and walking five. Brad Hennessey worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
Tim Lincecum will attempt to run his unbeaten streak to seven starts (4-0) when he toes the rubber for the Giants tonight. The 23-year-old is pitching to a 1.34 ERA over his last six starts and hasn’t allowed a run in three of those outings. He improved to 6-2 with a 3.90 ERA on Thursday, limiting the Braves to two runs on six hits over six frames with five strikeouts.
The right-hander will start against the Dodgers for the first time in his career tonight.
Brad Penny (13-2) saw his eight-decision win streak come to an end with Tuesday’s loss after giving up three runs on six hits with five walks and one strikeout in six frames.
Rafael Furcal drove in the lone Dodgers run in the club’s fifth loss in six games. The setback also dropped LA a full game back of Arizona for first place in the National League West.
Before the non-waiver trade deadline on Tuesday, the Dodgers sent utilityman Wilson Betemit to the Yankees for reliever Scott Proctor, while the Giants shipped pitcher Matt Morris to Pittsburgh for outfielder Rajai Davis.
The Dodgers own a 6-4 mark against the Giants this year, but have yet to beat them in Chavez Ravine after getting swept by the club from April 24-26. LA went 13-6 against San Francisco last season, winning six of 10 at home.
