MLB Game Previews & Matchups
Sunday, August 5th (All times eastern)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (48-61) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (60-50), 1:05 P.M. Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Gil Meche (7-8, 3.70) New York - Mike Mussina (6-7, 4.75)
The New York Yankees will attempt to complete a three-game weekend sweep of the Kansas City Royals in the Bronx today.
Alex Rodriguez hit career home run No. 500 on Saturday as the Yankees downed the Royals, 16-8. Rodriguez, who turned 32 on July 27, surpassed Jimmie Foxx (32 years, 338 days) as the youngest player to reach 500 career home runs.
A-Rod smacked the first pitch he saw from Kyle Davies over the left field wall for his 36th home run of the season and became the 22nd player in MLB history to reach the 500 home run mark. He had gone 28 at-bats since his last home run, which occurred on July 25 against the Royals.
He is the third player to reach 500 home runs in Yankee pinstripes, joining Hall of Famer’s Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth.
It took Rodriguez 1,855 games to reach 500 home runs, which is the third fastest in MLB history. Mark McGwire did it in 1,639 games, while it took Ruth 1,740 games.
Rodriguez finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored and became the first player in MLB history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI in 10 straight seasons.
Robinson Cano went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored while Wilson Betemit added three hits and three RBI for the Yankees, who have won five of their last six games and sit 1 1/2 games off the AL wild card chase.
Phil Hughes, who had been out since May 1, made the start and gave up six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Mike Myers (3-0) got the win for recording the final out of the fifth inning.
David DeJesus hit a two-run home run and drove in three while Ross Gload went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Royals, who have dropped four of their last five games.
Davies got the start but was roughed up for five runs on six hits in just three innings of work. John Bale (0-1) got the loss for giving up two runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Kansas City will give the ball to Gil Meche today, and while his 7-8 record isn’t impressive by any means, the 3.70 ERA that he has posted is much more indicative of his play this season. On Monday, Meche lost to the Twins despite his 15th quality start of the campaign. He has 23 total starts under his belt and has yet to throw a complete game.
Meche got beat up in his only previous start against the Yankees this season, and he is 3-3 lifetime against the Bronx Bombers with a 4.18 ERA.
New York will counter with Mike Mussina this afternoon in hopes that he can improve his modest 6-7 record and 4.75 ERA. Although Mussina is 2-1 in his last three outings, his 5.51 ERA during that span suggests that he has gotten plenty of help from the highest-scoring lineup in baseball. The veteran hurler has surrendered 113 hits in 100 1/3 innings the season.
Mussina pitched an outstanding game against the Royals earlier this season and is 16-7 lifetime against Kansas City with a 2.98 ERA.
The Yankees have won five of six from the Royals this season and are 12-3 against them since the start of last season. KC has also lost 13 of its last 14 and 26 of 29 in the Bronx.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (51-59) AT DETROIT TIGERS (61-48), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Gavin Floyd (0-1, 10.05) Detroit - Jordan Tata (1-0, 2.57)
The Detroit Tigers have lost four straight games and will attempt to avoid a weekend sweep at the hands of the Chicago White Sox, who are aiming for their fourth consecutive victory.
The White Sox will send righty Gavin Floyd to the hill tonight, as he replaces the struggling Jose Contreras in the rotation. The fact that Floyd is 0-1 with a 10.05 ERA this season doesn’t exactly give White Sox fans reason to be optimistic. In 14 1/3 innings of work this season, the young hurler has yielded 25 hits, including eight homers.
Floyd has only faced the Tigers once in his career, as he was torched for 11 hits and five earned runs in only 4 2/3 innings against Detroit earlier this season.
Young Jordan Tata will get the ball for the Tigers this evening, and he hopes for another strong showing after a successful Major League debut on Monday. Tata allowed only two runs over seven innings against Oakland, thanks in large part to an effective cutter. It seems that Tata is simply keeping the seat warm for Kenny Rogers so to speak, as Rogers will likely return from the disabled list next week. Still, a second straight solid outing would certainly leave an impression on the big league club.
Yesterday, A.J. Pierzynski went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored to pace Chicago over Detroit, 7-5.
Jermaine Dye finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two knocked in for the White Sox. Jim Thome homered and scored three runs, Paul Konerko had two hits and scored, and Scott Podsednik added an RBI.
Javier Vazquez (9-6) allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks over seven innings. He has won three of his last four starts.
Jeremy Bonderman (10-4) took the loss, charged with six runs and 10 hits over seven innings and losing for the third consecutive start.
Placido Polanco was 2-for-4 with a homer and a pair of runs scored for the Tigers, who have lost 10 of their last 12, yet remain a half-game behind Cleveland in the AL Central after the Tribe fell to Minnesota, 3-2 earlier Saturday. Sean Casey added two hits and drove in a run in defeat.
Chicago has won seven of its 11 matchups with the Tigers this season and is 33-16 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The White Sox have also won in 17 of their last 24 visits to the Motor City. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (51-58) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (42-67), 1:40 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Erik Bedard (11-4, 3.05) Tampa Bay - Andy Sonnanstine (1-6, 5.55)
The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will conclude their three-game weekend series today as the AL East foes meet at Tropicana Field.
Orioles’ ace Erik Bedard will take the ball this afternoon, hoping to improve his already impressive 11-4 record and 3.05 ERA. Bedard hopes August will yield similar results to July, as he went 5-0 last month with a 2.21 ERA. The lefty has won seven consecutive decisions and can’t be counted out in the AL Cy Young race, although the lack of overall team success hurts the cause.
Bedard, who leads the majors with 181 strikeouts, is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA against Tampa this season and 9-3 lifetime against the Devil Rays with a 2.87 ERA.
Tampa Bay’s Andy Sonnanstine is expected to start today, and the right-handed hurler is just 1-6 with a 5.55 ERA. Sonnanstine has failed to pick up a win in nine straight starts, and while he has only yielded 13 walks in 71 1/3 innings, the 80 hits have hurt.
Earlier this season, Sonnanstine was handed the loss after not pitching well in his only career meeting with the Orioles.
Carlos Pena belted a two-run homer and Scott Kazmir threw seven strong innings as the Devil Rays crushed the Orioles, 9-2, in the second game of the series yesterday.
Kazmir (8-7) yielded just one run on seven hits, while walking two and striking out nine. He has allowed one run or less in each of his past four starts at home. Prior to his last four starts, he hadn’t won at home since July 3, 2006, a span of 14 starts.
Delmon Young drove in three runs and Carl Crawford had three hits with two RBI and three runs scored for the Devil Rays, who have won four of six.
Baltimore starter Brian Burres (5-5) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings.
Aubrey Huff had two hits and scored a run and Corey Patterson and Jay Payton knocked in a run apiece for the Orioles, who have lost three of four.
Baltimore has won nine of 11 from the Devil Rays this year and is 15-3 in the last 18 matchups. Since the start of the 2004 campaign, the Orioles are 39-16 in the series, including a 20-14 mark at the Trop. TEXAS RANGERS (48-62) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (55-54), 1:07 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Brandon McCarthy (5-7, 5.18) Toronto - Dustin McGowan (7-5, 4.36)
The Toronto Blue Jays need a win today at Rogers Centre to complete a weekend sweep of the Texas Rangers.
Texas will pin its hopes on righty Brandon McCarthy today, but the fact that he is just 5-7 with a 5.18 ERA suggests that he hasn’t been reliable. On a positive note, McCarthy won his first game since May 20th last time out, surrendering only one run against Cleveland.
McCarthy is 1-1 in his career against Toronto with a 4.50 ERA.
Toronto’s Dustin McGowan will be on the hill this afternoon, and he is 7-5 this season with a 4.36 ERA. McGowan allowed only two runs on four hits to Tampa Bay on Monday, and although he was in line for a victory, the Jays’ bullpen failed the starter.
McGowan is 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA lifetime against Texas.
Frank Thomas hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs to lead the Blue Jays over the Rangers, 9-5, on Saturday.
John McDonald added two hits and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays. Alex Rios and Vernon Wells also drove in a run each for Toronto, which has won seven straight at home.
Thomas, who ended 2-for-4, increased his career total of home runs to 505, passing Eddie Murray to sit alone in 20th place on the all-time list.
Blue Jays’ starter Shaun Marcum (8-4) won his third straight start, allowing three runs — two earned — on eight hits, striking out five without a walk, over six innings. The right-hander has won six of eight decisions.
Nelson Cruz drove in two runs and Brad Wilkerson homered for the Rangers, who have lost three straight and six of eight on their nine-game road trip.
Willie Eyre (3-4) got the spot start for the Rangers and absorbed the loss. He was charged with seven runs on six hits, striking out two and walking two, in 2 1/3 innings.
Texas has won five of nine from the Blue Jays this season and is 23-11 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
CLEVELAND INDIANS (62-48) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (56-53), 2:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cleveland - Fausto Carmona (13-5, 3.27) Minnesota - Scott Baker (5-4, 4.88)
The AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians are set to do battle with the Minnesota Twins in the third of four weekend meetings at the Metrodome.
Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona has seemingly come out of nowhere to establish himself as one of baseball’s top pitchers. The righty is 13-5 this season with a 3.27 ERA, and he would have had his 14th win in his last start if not for a lack of run support. After posting a 1.76 ERA in July, it will be interesting to see how the young hurler begins August.
Carmona has beaten the Twins twice this season, surrendering a total of two runs in 16 2/3 innings. Perhaps most impressive is that he outdueled Johan Santana on both occasions.
Scott Baker will be the pitcher for Minnesota today, and he is 5-4 with a 4.88 ERA. Baker was outstanding on Monday, allowing only one earned run on two hits in eight innings. He was perfect in seven of those innings and shows a tremendous amount of promise for a 25-year-old hurler.
Baker has not faced Cleveland this season, but he was 1-3 against the Indians last season with a 5.74 ERA.
Michael Cuddyer drove in two runs and four Minnesota relievers combined to throw five shutout innings as the Twins edged the Indians yesterday by a 3-2 final.
Jason Bartlett had two hits and scored a run and Joe Mauer had two hits, an RBI and scored a run for the Twins, who snapped a two game skid and have won five of their last seven games.
Minnesota starter Matt Garza went just four innings, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking two. Ramon Ortiz (4-4) tossed two scoreless innings, Dennys Reyes 2/3 of an inning and Matt Guerrier 1 1/3 innings before Joe Nathan closed it out with a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 27 chances this season.
Casey Blake and Victor Martinez knocked in a run apiece, and Trot Nixon and Jhonny Peralta had two hits each for the Indians, who have lost five of seven but remained a half-game ahead of Detroit in the AL Central after the Tigers lost to Chicago.
Cleveland starter Aaron Laffey (0-1) lasted 5 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs on six hits with one strikeout and one walk in his major league debut.
The Indians won the first six meetings between these clubs this season before Minnesota recorded back-to-back wins at Jacobs Field this past weekend. Cleveland swept a two-game set in the Metrodome back in April. LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (63-46) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (53-58), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - John Lackey (13-6, 3.07) Oakland - Dan Haren (13-3, 2.44)
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have lost consecutive games to the Oakland Athletics on the road, and they will attempt to get back on track at McAfee Coliseum this afternoon.
The Angels will pin their hopes on John Lackey today, and he has been tremendous for the club this season. Lackey is 13-6 with a 3.07 ERA and is fresh off his sixth career shutout and first of the season.
In his career against Oakland, Lackey is 10-3 with a 2.93 ERA. This season, he is 1-1 against the Athletics with a 3.15 ERA.
Oakland will counter with Dan Haren, who has to be considered a leading Cy Young candidate despite the struggles of his team. Sure, the A’s are five games below .500, but Haren is 13-3 with a 2.44 ERA. With 121 strikeouts and only 40 walks, Haren combines power and control.
The Oakland ace has not fared well in his career against the Angels, as he owns a 3-5 record and 4.05 ERA.
Joe Blanton outdueled Kelvim Escobar yesterday and pinch-hitter Travis Buck singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, as the Athletics capitalized on the few scoring opportunities they had in a 2-1 victory over the Angels.
Oakland had just two hits, but managed to win for the fourth time in five games.
Blanton (9-8) scattered eight hits and walked just two across seven innings to halt a personal four-game losing streak.
Huston Street came on to pitch a scoreless eighth, and Alan Embree threw a perfect ninth for his 13th save of the season, a single-season record for an Oakland left-hander.
Escobar (11-6) gave up just two hits in seven innings, but also walked seven batters to drop his third consecutive start.
The AL West-leading Angels lost for the third time in four games and fell to 4-8 against Oakland this season.
BOSTON RED SOX (67-43) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (60-48), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - John Beckett (13-5, 3.41) Seattle - Miguel Batista (11-7, 4.23)
The rubber match of the weekend set between the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners will ensue this afternoon at Safeco Field.
Boston’s Josh Beckett will try to improve his 13-5 record and 3.41 ERA today, and while those numbers are outstanding, he has lost back-to-back starts for the first time this season. He was outdueled by Baltimore’s Erik Bedard last time out, as the Orioles’ ace is also making a Cy Young push. Beckett has posted 123 strikeouts and 27 walks in 132 innings of work this season.
Beckett has already beaten Seattle once this season and is 2-1 lifetime against the Mariners with a 3.92 ERA.
The Mariners will give the ball to Miguel Batista this afternoon, and he is 11-7 overall with a modest 4.23 ERA. Batista’s most recent outing was anything but modest, however, as he pitched seven shutout innings against the Angels. Of his last 14 outings, the righty has posted 10 quality starts.
Batista is 4-4 lifetime against Boston with an ugly 6.61 ERA. He will be facing the Red Sox for the first time this season.
Seattle is an impressive 12 games over .500 despite only scoring four more runs this season than it has surrendered.
As for Boston, it owns the best record in all of baseball at 67-43.
Jason Varitek’s two-run double was the difference as Boston held off a late rally to edge Seattle on Saturday, 4-3.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-8) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, tying a career-high with 10 strikeouts.
David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis collected two hits each for the Red Sox, who have won three of four and snapped a nine-game losing streak in Seattle. Manny Ramirez drove in a run and scored once.
Jarrod Washburn (8-8) took the loss, yielding eight hits and four runs with four strikeouts and two walks over 6 1/3 innings.
Adrian Beltre homered for the Mariners, who saw their two-game win streak ended. Kenji Johjima and Yuniesky Betancourt both collected two hits and an RBI each.
The Mariners have won five of eight overall meetings with the AL East-leading Red Sox this season and are 11-7 in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign.
Sunday, August 5th (All times eastern) COLORADO ROCKIES (56-53) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (58-53), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Aaron Cook (8-6, 4.13) Atlanta - Chuck James (9-8, 3.70)
The Atlanta Braves will try to stay on the winning track when they close out a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies today from Turner Field.
Atlanta ended a two-game losing streak with Saturday’s 6-4 victory in the second test of this series thanks to starting pitcher Tim Hudson, who hurled seven shutout innings and drove in a pair of runs. Hudson scattered five hits, struck out seven batters and walked a pair to improve to 6-0 over his last eight starts.
Willie Harris started in center field for the injured Andruw Jones and finished 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI for the Braves, who are two games off the NL wild card lead and 4 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the lead in the NL East. Jones, who didn’t start due to a sore left elbow, came into the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning.
After hitting home runs in his first three games with Atlanta since being acquired from Texas at the trade deadline, first baseman Mark Teixeira ended 0-for-4 with a walk.
Chuck James gets the nod for the Braves today and he is 9-8 with a 3.70 ERA in 22 starts this season.
James is 3-1 in his last six trips to the hill, and recorded the win against Houston on July 31. James lasted five innings and permitted four runs in a 12-4 victory at Turner Field.
The left-hander owns a 1-0 mark and an 8.03 ERA in three career games (two starts) against Colorado. James defeated the Rockies on April 27 this season, surrendering four runs over 5 1/3 innings of a 9-7 win at Coors Field.
Colorado will send Aaron Cook to the mound today and he owns an 8-6 record with a 4.13 ERA in 23 starts this season.
Cook is riding a personal three-game winning streak and is unbeaten over his last four starts. In his previous outing on July 31 against Florida, Cook earned the win after allowing three runs — two earned — in 7 2/3 innings.
The right-hander is 0-1 with a 5.81 ERA in six career games (four starts) against the Braves. Cook faced Atlanta on April 29 this season and did not post a decision, yielding five runs over six innings of a 9-7 win at Coors Field.
Colorado was aiming for its third straight win last night, but was denied by Hudson and Co. Garrett Atkins hit a grand slam in the eighth inning for the Rockies, who sit three games off the NL wild card chase and 4 1/2 games behind Arizona for NL West supremacy.
The Braves and Rockies met in Colorado from April 27-29, with Atlanta winning two of three. The clubs split six games in 2006.
HOUSTON ASTROS (48-62) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (51-60), 1:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Matt Albers (2-4, 5.93) Florida - Scott Olsen (8-9, 5.53)
Right-hander Matt Albers gets his ninth start of the season today when the Houston Astros complete a three-game weekend series with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium.
A 24-year-old Houston native, Albers has made 11 trips from the bullpen and eight starts over 19 appearances in 2007.
He pitched in relief on July 31 and August 1, allowing five hits and seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in a pair of Astros losses to Atlanta. His last start came July 25 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He posted a no-decision after allowing just three hits over five scoreless innings in a 2-1 Houston victory.
Albers, who is 1-4 with a 5.54 earned run average in his eight starts, has never faced the Marlins.
He reached the major leagues last season with the Astros, going 0-2 in four appearances — two starts — while posting a 6.00 ERA in 15 innings.
Lefty Scott Olsen tries to snap a two-start losing streak for the Marlins.
The 23-year-old has been touched for 18 hits and 13 runs in just 10 innings over those two outings, dropping decisions to Arizona and Colorado in July 25 and 31, respectively.
He was mired in off-the-field trouble late in the month as well, including a team suspension handed down by manager Fredi Gonzalez and an arrest in connection with a traffic incident.
Olsen has made one career start against the Astros, winning it after allowing six hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. He is 6-3 in 12 home starts in 2007, with a 4.65 ERA.
On Saturday, Miguel Cabrera belted the tying homer in the seventh inning and scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 12th, as Florida edged Houston, 6-5.
Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla also homered for the Marlins, who snapped a two- game skid. Ramirez had three RBI, as Florida beat Houston for just the fourth time in the last 13 meetings.
Jason Lane hit a three-run homer for the Astros, losers in four of their last six contests.
Cabrera was intentionally walked by Stephen Randolph (0-1) with two outs in the 12th, and went to second on a wild pitch that hit catcher Eric Munson in the throat. Cabrera scored all the way from second on another wild pitch on a ball that bounced into the Florida dugout.
Lee Gardner (3-2) threw the top of the 12th to get the victory.
Houston swept a two-game set from Florida at Minute Maid Park back in April and has taken nine of the last 13 matchups between the clubs. CINCINNATI REDS (47-64) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (44-64), 1:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Bronson Arroyo (4-12, 4.72) Pittsburgh - Tom Gorzelanny (9-6, 3.55)
Young left-hander Tom Gorzelanny makes his fourth attempt at his 10th victory of the season today when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds to close out a three-game National League Central division series at PNC Park.
Just 25, Gorzelanny improved to 9-4 on July 5 with a 6-3 defeat of the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s 0-2 with a no-decision since having surrendered 19 hits and 12 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings, including a 6-3 loss to the New York Mets on July 25 in which he lasted just 2 1/3 innings.
The Illinois native and former second-round draft choice made his lone career appearance against the Reds on April 28, allowing eight hits and five runs in an 8-1 Cincinnati victory.
Gorzelanny entered this season with a 2-6 record in 14 major league appearances — 12 starts.
The Reds counter with lanky right-hander Bronson Arroyo, whose 2007 struggles continued in his last start.
On August 1, the 6-foot-5, 194-pounder allowed seven hits and seven runs over just 1 2/3 innings, suffering his 12th loss of the season via a 7-2 thumping by the Washington Nationals.
Arroyo won 14 games with the Reds in 2006 after being acquired in Spring Training for Wily Mo Pena.
A third-round pick of the Pirates in 1995, Arroyo allowed seven hits and six runs in a 9-5 loss to Pittsburgh on May 26.
He is 1-3 in four career starts against them, posting a 5.40 earned run average in 25 innings.
On Saturday, Adam Dunn hit his 30th home run of the season, a two-run blast in the top of the 10th inning, to propel the Reds to a 9-8 comeback victory over the Pirates.
Dunn’s homer off Pittsburgh closer Matt Capps came after Jeff Keppinger tied the game with a solo homer off Capps in the top of the ninth.
The late-inning support made a winner of right-hander Jared Burton (3-1), who pitched a hitless 1 2/3 innings. David Weathers came on in the 10th for his 21st save of the season, despite giving up a one-out homer to pinch-hitter Jack Wilson.
Reds starter Bobby Livingston went 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking none. Javier Valentin went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs for Cincinnati.
The Reds have now won two straight over the Bucs following a five-game losing streak.
Capps (4-5) blew his first save since moving into the closer’s role, and it negated a go-ahead home run by Pirates catcher Ronny Paulino, who had given the Bucs a 7-6 lead heading into the ninth.
Pittsburgh has now lost six of eight, and wasted a solid outing from Matt Morris, who was making his first start since being acquired from San Francisco at the trade deadline. Morris allowed five runs — four earned — in 6 1/3 innings and helped his own cause with a single and a solo home run.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (50-57) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (50-60), 1:35 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Adam Wainwright (10-8, 4.38) Washington - Matt Chico (5-6, 4.73)
The Washington Nationals will attempt to stretch their season high winning streak to six games this afternoon, when they close out a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at RFK Stadium.
Washington made it five wins in a row with Saturday’s 12-1 pounding of the Cardinals, as Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three RBI to keep the streak alive. Brian Schneider finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored for the Nationals, who scored the most runs at RFK since moving from Montreal three seasons ago.
Nook Logan had three hits, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs, while Ronnie Belliard and Tony Batista both added an RBI. Washington has won seven in a row at home. Starter Joel Hanrahan yielded just one run and six hits in five-plus innings for his first major league win in his second big league start. He also helped his cause with a two-run double.
Washington will hand the ball to rookie pitcher Matt Chico on Sunday. Chico is 5-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 22 starts this season.
Chico, who is 2-1 in his last five outings, beat Cincinnati his last time out on July 31. He allowed two runs and nine hits in five innings of a 6-3 victory at RFK Stadium.
The left-hander faced St. Louis for the first time in his career on May 27 and did not post a decision. Chico lasted four scoreless innings and gave up three hits in a 7-2 triumph at Busch Stadium.
Adam Wainwright has been impressive as of late and will lead St. Louis this afternoon against Washington.
Wainwright, who is 10-8 with a 4.38 ERA in 21 starts this season, is 4-1 in his previous five trips to the rubber. He defeated Pittsburgh his last time out on July 31, yielding two runs over six innings of a 6-4 triumph.
The right-hander is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in three career games (one start) against Washington. Wainwright faced the Nationals at home on May 27 this season and was saddled with the loss. He was reached for two runs in seven innings of a 7-2 loss.
St. Louis has lost four straight and sits eight games off both the NL wild card race and top spot in the Central division. In last night’s 11-run loss at RFK, Adam Kennedy homered and Joel Pineiro suffered the loss in the Cardinals debut. Pineiro was rocked for seven hits and five runs — four earned — with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings of work.
The Nationals took two out of three from the Cardinals in St. Louis from May 25-27 this season.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (57-53) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (60-51), 2:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Adam Eaton (9-7, 5.87) Milwaukee - Jeff Suppan (8-9, 4.97)
The NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers shoot for a series sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies when the two ballclubs wrap up a three-game set this afternoon at Miller Park.
Milwaukee won Friday’s opener by a 2-1 score before handing the Phillies a 6-5 setback last night. Prince Fielder cracked a two-run homer in the eighth inning to put the Brewers on top for good, while Corey Hart robbed Tadahito Iguchi of a potential tying home run in the ninth inning.
Fielder finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and Ryan Braun also went deep for Milwaukee, which is still one game ahead of the surging Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Cubs beat the Mets, 6-2, earlier on Saturday.
Derrick Turnbow earned the win with an inning of relief before Francisco Cordero notched his 34th save in 39 chances by tossing a perfect ninth. Brewers starter Dave Bush allowed five runs and eight hits, walked three batters and fanned four over five-plus innings of work.
Today Milwaukee will hand the ball to Jeff Suppan, who is 8-9 with a 4.97 ERA in 23 games this season.
Suppan is 0-2 with a 5.16 earned run average in his last seven starts, and did not factor in the outcome his last time out on July 31 against the New York Mets. He was reached for two runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 victory.
The right-hander, who is 5-2 in 11 home starts this season, countered the Phils on May 16 and was dealt the loss. Suppan permitted six runs — four earned — through seven innings in South Philly.
In nine career starts against Philadelphia, Suppan is 3-5 with a 6.75 ERA.
Adam Eaton will try to get back in the win column when he leads the Phillies today against the Cubs.
Eaton, who is 9-7 with a 5.87 ERA in 22 starts this season, owns a 1-2 mark over his previous four trips to the mound. He was defeated by the Cubs in his last appearance on July 31, allowing five runs — four earned — in 5 1/3 innings of work.
The right-hander is 6-3 in 11 road starts this season and will face Milwaukee for the second time in 2007. On May 15 at Citizens Bank Park, Eaton gave up two runs — one earned — in 7 2/3 innings of a 4-3 Philadelphia win.
Eaton is 2-0 with a 4.20 ERA in five career starts against the Brewers.
Philadelphia has dropped two in a row and four of five, including yesterday’s second one-run loss. Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard and Greg Dobbs all homered for Philadelphia, which is 2 1/2 games off the NL wild card lead and five games behind the New York Mets for the top spot in the NL East.
Phils starter Cole Hamels allowed four runs and seven hits, fanned five batters and did not walk a batter over seven innings, but was denied his 13th win of the season. Tom Gordon yielded two runs on two hits in the eighth and was also charged with the blown save.
The Phillies won three of four versus the Brewers when the clubs met in Philadelphia from May 14-17. Milwaukee, however, defeated the Phillies in five of their last six meetings last year and won all three contests at home.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (47-61) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (59-50), 4:05 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Noah Lowry (12-7, 3.32) San Diego - Justin Germano (6-6, 4.38)
Barry Bonds finally connected for his 755th career home run to tie Hank Aaron for the all-time lead, and will most likely have Sunday off when the San Francisco Giants try to salvage the finale of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
The Giants have lost two straight and three of four, including Saturday’s 3-2 setback in 12 innings. Bonds, who usually doesn’t play afternoon games following a night contest, tied perhaps the most popular record in sports history when he went deep for his 21st homer of the year in the second inning off Padres starter Clay Hensley. Bonds then walked in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings before being replaced by Rajai Davis.
Bonds was 2-for-18 since hitting his 754th homer on July 27 against Florida. This was his 87th career homer against the Padres, his most against any team. However, it was just his fourth homer at spacious Petco Park. After today’s game, Bonds and the Giants will return home for seven games against Washington and Pittsburgh.
Giants starter Patrick Misch allowed two runs in five innings on Saturday for the no decision, while Randy Messenger gave up a bases-loaded single to Khalil Greene in the 12th to absorb the loss. San Francisco is 11 1/2 games off the NL wild card chase after the setback.
Noah Lowry will take the ball for the Giants today and he is 12-7 with a 3.32 ERA in 21 starts this season.
Lowry has won three straight starts and is 6-1 over the past seven trips to the mound. In his last appearance on July 31 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lowry hurled 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 victory at Chavez Ravine.
The southpaw is 3-2 with a 3.90 ERA in 11 career games (nine starts) against the Padres. Lowry faced San Diego on April 11 this season and was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs — three earned — in six innings of work.
Struggling right-hander Justin Germano gets the nod for San Diego today and he is 6-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 15 starts.
Germano has dropped his last three outings, including a July 31 performance against Arizona in which he gave up four runs in five innings of a 4-0 setback at Petco Park.
The California native made his first-ever appearance against San Francisco on June 25 this season. Germano pitched six innings of two-run ball during a 4-3 setback to the Giants at AT&T Park.
San Diego is still 1 1/2 games behind Arizona for the top spot in the NL West standings and will shoot for its fourth straight win and a three-game sweep of the division-rival Giants. Last night, Greene was the hero and Mike Cameron added three hits with an RBI for the Padres. Hensley gave up a pair of runs in 4 2/3 innings and Cla Meredith collected the win with a perfect inning of relief.
The Padres hold an 8-3 edge in their season series with the Giants and have won four of five at home this year against them. San Francisco, though, won seven of 10 at San Diego in 2006. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (62-50) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (58-52), 4:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Brandon Webb (10-8, 3.08) Los Angeles - Brad Penny (13-2, 2.60)
The NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks will shoot for a series sweep of the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at Chavez Ravine.
Arizona is 1 1/2 games ahead of San Diego and three games in front of Los Angeles in the NL West standings. The Diamondbacks posted an 8-7 win on Saturday at Dodger Stadium, as Eric Byrnes homered and drove in three runs to lead the way.
Miguel Montero also homered for the surging Diamondbacks, who have won four of their last five games and 12 of 14 overall. Starting pitcher Livan Hernandez allowed two runs — one earned — and five hits in six innings for the win. It was the first time in his last 13 starts that he did not allow a home run, and he also picked up his first road win since May 17.
Brandon Webb will toe the rubber for Arizona this afternoon and he is 10-8 with a 3.08 ERA in 23 starts this season.
Webb has won back-to-back starts since going 0-3 in his previous four outings. In his last start on July 31 against San Diego, Webb tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit ball in a 4-0 victory at Petco Park.
The 2006 NL Cy Young award winner is 6-4 in 13 road starts this season and will face Los Angeles for the third time in 2007. Webb, a righty, is 2-0 with a 0.64 earned run average against the Dodgers this season, and 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 12 career starts against them.
Trying to get back in the win column today will be Los Angeles ace Brad Penny, who is 13-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 22 starts this season.
Penny suffered his first loss since May 18 his last time out on July 31 against San Francisco. Penny, who was 8-0 in 12 outings before the loss, allowed three runs in six innings of a 3-1 setback at Chavez Ravine.
The bulky right-hander, who is trying to become the second 14-game winner in the NL behind Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, is 2-0 with a 0.85 ERA in three starts against Arizona this season.
In 14 career appearances against the D’backs, Penny is 7-2 with a 1.81 earned run average.
The Dodgers have lost eight of 10, including last night’s second one-run loss. They dropped Friday’s opener by a 1-0 score. On Saturday, Nomar Garciaparra and Andre Ethier both homered for the Dodgers, who have lost three straight and 11 of their last 15 games.
LA starter Derek Lowe allowed six runs — four earned — and four hits over five innings to suffer the loss. The right-hander, who allowed a walk and struck out four, was making his first start in 10 days after irritation in his left hip forced him to miss his last scheduled outing for the first time in 211 career starts.
Los Angeles has won seven of the 11 encounters between the division foes this season and is 9-5 in its last 14 home games against the Diamondbacks.
NEW YORK METS (62-48) AT CHICAGO CUBS (58-51), 8:05 P.M. Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Tom Glavine (9-6, 4.38) Chicago - Jason Marquis (8-6, 4.22)
Tom Glavine will once again shoot for career win No. 300 when he leads the New York Mets in the finale of a three-game series this evening against the Chicago Cubs at historic Wrigley Field.
Glavine owns 299 career victories and is just one win shy of becoming the 23rd pitcher to reach the illustrious plateau. He is 9-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season and 2-0 over the previous five trips to the mound.
The left-hander last toed the rubber on July 31 against Milwaukee and did not factor in the outcome. Glavine yielded just one run and two hits in six innings before the bullpen imploded for a 4-2 loss at Miller Park.
Glavine is 14-13 with six complete games (two shutouts) and a 3.64 earned run average in 34 career starts against the Cubs. He posted a no decision against the Cubs on May 14 this season, allowing four runs in six innings of a 5-4 victory at Shea Stadium.
Taking the ball for the Cubs on Sunday will be Glavine’s former Atlanta teammate Jason Marquis, who is 8-6 with a 4.22 ERA over 22 starts this season.
Marquis owns a 2-1 record in his last three appearances, and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies his last time out on July 31. Marquis gave up three runs in six innings of a 7-3 victory at Wrigley Field. He is 6-2 in 12 home starts this season.
The right-hander is 5-4 with a 4.17 earned run average over 19 games (12 starts) in his career against the Mets. Marquis countered Glavine on May 14 and also did not record a decision. He yielded four runs through five innings of that 5-4 setback in Flushing, NY.
On Saturday, Jacque Jones collected three hits and knocked in a run as the Cubs used a six-run third inning to down the Mets, 6-2.
Ted Lilly pitched 7 2/3 strong innings, allowing two runs on seven hits for the Cubs, who ended a two-game slide. Lilly (12-5), who has won seven of his last eight starts, also struck out eight while walking one.
Mark DeRosa knocked in two runs in the victory for the Cubs, who trail Milwaukee by one game in the NL Central. The Brewers defeated the Phillies on Saturday night.
New York starter John Maine, who came into the game with wins in his last two starts, was roughed up for six runs on four hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Maine (12-6) also walked three, hit a batter and struck out one.
Moises Alou hit two home runs for the NL East-leading Mets, who had a three- game winning streak come to an end.
The Mets have won four of six this season from the Cubs and are 11-7 in the series since the since the start of the 2005 campaign. Last year, the Mets won two of three at Wrigley.
