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Chicago, IL - Matt Murton scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs over the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, and into first place in the National League Central Division.

Murton opened the ninth with a double off Brett Myers (1-3), then advanced to third on a wild pitch before Ronny Cedeno drew a free pass and Jacque Jones was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Jason Kendall struck out, but on a 1-0 count to pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd, Myers bounced the offering in front of the plate and it caromed toward the backstop, allowing Murton to trot home with the winning run.

Derrek Lee doubled twice and scored a pair of runs, while Murton finished 2- for-4 and also knocked in a run for Chicago, which has won four of five and is locked in a virtual tie with Milwaukee for first place in the Central. The Brewers lost to the New York Mets, 8-5, on Wednesday.

Ryan Dempster (2-3) earned the win after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth. Dempster combined with four other relievers, allowing just one hit over 4 1/3 innings to bail out starter Rich Hill, who gave up four runs — three earned — and eight hits over 4 2/3 frames.

Jimmy Rollins went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Aaron Rowand homered for the injury-riddled Phils, who have dropped back-to-back games in the series after taking the opener on Monday night.

Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer labored through five innings, allowing four runs and nine hits. Moyer, who walked two and fanned six, threw 100 pitches — just 62 for strikes.

The Phils grabbed the lead in the first on a wild pitch from Hill with the bases loaded.

Chicago, however, came right back in the bottom half. Lee doubled to center with two outs, Mark DeRosa walked and Murton’s single off the glove of a diving Rollins plated Lee to make it a 1-1 game.

Hill helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead, and Chicago added two more in the third while continuing to hit Moyer hard.

Lee ripped a leadoff double to left, his second of the game, and scored on Cedeno’s two-out single. Cedeno then came around on a double by Jones to make it 4-1.

Philadelphia, however, scored three times in the fifth to tie the game. Tadahito Iguchi doubled, Rollins knocked him in with a single, and Ryan Howard followed with a run-scoring double before he was cut down trying to advance to third. Rowand came up next and launched his 16th homer of the season, and second of the series, to make it 4-4.

Game Notes

Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth (strained left wrist) was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday…Howard has struck out in nine of his last 15 plate appearances…The Phillies fell four games behind the Mets in the NL East…Attendance was 40,558…The series concludes Thursday afternoon.

Minneapolis, MN - The Minnesota Twins have postponed Thursday afternoon’s game against the Kansas City Royals due to the tragic bridge collapse along Interstate Highway 35W over the Mississippi River.

The bridge collapsed during the evening rush hour, shortly after 6 p.m. local time, dumping an estimated 50 vehicles into the water and onto the land below, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. It wasn’t immediately known how many people were hurt or killed, but CNN reported at least three were dead.

The newspaper also reported several vehicles were on fire and pictures showed a car precariously hanging over the damaged side of the bridge.

“In deference to the tragedy, the Twins, Hennepin County and the Minnesota Ballpark Authority have also postponed Thursday evening’s new ballpark groundbreaking ceremony,” the team said in a statement.

The bridge is approximately six blocks from the Metrodome, home of the Twins, who were playing the Royals Wednesday night. The stadium is also close to Hennepin County Medical Center, where many of the victims were apparently taken.

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.

Tuesday, July 31st (All times eastern) CHICAGO WHITE SOX (48-57) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (56-49), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Jose Contreras (5-13, 6.22) New York - Mike Mussina (5-7, 4.77)

Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees have been temporarily cooled off and will begin a six-game homestand with the first of three meetings against the Chicago White Sox this evening in the Bronx.

New York had ripped off six straight wins before dropping the finale of a four-game series with Kansas City and the first two contests of a three-game set against Baltimore. The Yankees, though, salvaged the finale with the Orioles by recording a 10-6 win Sunday at Camden Yards.

Johnny Damon went 3-for-5 with two RBI and four runs scored, while Rodriguez went 0-for-2 and was walked three times.

Rodriguez is still one home run shy of 500 for his career. The 32-year-old is trying to become the youngest player in history to reach that milestone.

Melky Cabrera also had a three-hit day and scored two runs with an RBI for the Yankees, who are four games off the AL wild card lead and eight games behind Boston for the top spot in the American League East division. Starter Chien-Ming Wang yielded nine hits and three runs in six innings for the win.

Taking the ball for the Yankees tonight will be Mike Mussina, who is 5-7 with a 4.77 ERA in 17 starts this season. Mussina was 0-2 in a three-start stretch before earning the win over the Royals on Wednesday, surrendering one run and six hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 7-1 victory.

The right-hander, who is 3-4 in eight starts at Yankee Stadium this season, is 15-16 with four complete games and a 4.63 earned run average in 36 career starts against the White Sox. Mussina is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts against Chicago this season.

Meanwhile, the White Sox have lost six of 11 contests and had a three-game winning streak come to an end with Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago’s Javier Vazquez was reached for five hits and four runs — two earned — with five strikeouts and three walks in 7 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. Vazquez took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning before his outing took a turn for the worse.

Jermaine Dye, who has been the subject of recent trade rumors, homered in the loss for Chicago, which is 12 games off the pace in the American League wild card standings.

Struggling starter Jose Contreras will toe the rubber for the Pale Hose this evening and owns a 5-13 record with a 6.22 ERA in 20 starts this season. Contreras has lost six straight starts and has a 9.41 ERA over that span since his last victory on June 18 versus Florida.

The Cuban righty, who is 2-7 in 11 road starts this season, was reached for nine runs and 12 hits through 4 2/3 innings his last time out, a 13-9 loss to Detroit on Wednesday.

Contreras has lost both of his 2007 starts against the Yankees and is 2-3 with a 2.50 ERA in five career outings against them.

New York is 4-3 against the White Sox this season and 8-5 over the previous 13 encounters between the teams.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (49-55) AT BOSTON RED SOX (64-41), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Erik Bedard (10-4, 3.05) Boston - Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27)

Streaking lefty Erik Bedard can stretch his unbeaten streak to nine starts tonight when the Baltimore Orioles head to Fenway Park for the first of three games with the American League East Division rival Boston Red Sox.

Bedard, a sixth-round draft pick of the Orioles in 1999, is 6-0 with a pair of no-decisions since losing, 6-1, to Colorado back on June 10.

He’s given up two or fewer earned runs in seven of those eight starts, including a six-inning, one-run effort in a 6-1 defeat of Tampa Bay in his last outing on July 25.

The 28-year-old Canadian is 6-1 in 12 road starts this season with a 3.76 earned run average and is 3-4 in nine career appearances - eight starts - against Boston.

The Red Sox counter with ace right-hander Josh Beckett, who’s one win off the major-league lead and just three away from tying the career-high of 16 he established last season.

The former first-round draft pick of the Florida Marlins was a tough-luck loser in his last start, allowing four hits and a run in eight innings of a 1-0 loss to Cleveland on July 25.

He’s 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three career starts against Baltimore, including a 5-2 win at Camden Yards on April 26.

On Sunday in Baltimore, Johnny Damon went 3-for-5, drove in two runs and scored four times as the New York Yankees outslugged the Orioles, 10-6, in the finale of a three-game set.

Miguel Tejada and Nick Markakis each had three hits, and Brian Roberts homered and drove in three for the Orioles, who saw their six-game win streak come to an end. Daniel Cabrera (7-11) gave up six hits and four runs while fanning five and walking five in six innings.

In Tampa Bay, Dioner Navarro hit a solo home run to break a scoreless game during a five-run seventh inning as the Devil Rays defeated the Red Sox, 5-2, to salvage the final game of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.

Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis accounted for the Red Sox’s only runs with a pair of solo homers. Boston had a brief three-game winning streak halted.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (12-8) was the hard-luck loser. The righty had a solid outing for the Red Sox, giving up two runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out six and walked a batter.

Boston has won four of five from the Orioles this season and is 29-12 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Orioles have also struggled in Beantown, where they have posted just two wins in their last 12 visits.

TEXAS RANGERS (46-59) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (60-45), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Brandon McCarthy (4-7, 5.52) Cleveland - Fausto Carmona (13-4, 3.31)

Fausto Carmona will attempt to extend a string of winning performances when he takes the mound tonight for the Cleveland Indians, who aim to continue their recent success against the Texas Rangers when the two clubs begin a three-game series tonight at Jacobs Field.

Carmona has won each of his last five starts and has a chance to become the first American League pitcher to reach 14 victories this season. The Dominican standout has compiled an impressive 1.57 earned run average during the win streak and was practically untouchable in his last two outings.

The 23-year-old dominated the Rangers in Arlington on July 20, limiting Texas to three hits and striking out seven over eight shutout innings. Carmona was equally dominant last Wednesday, as he held Boston to just four hits and two walks in eight scoreless frames to lead the Indians to a 1-0 victory.

Carmona has also been tough to beat on the Jacobs Field mound this year. In 10 home starts, the right-hander has gone 7-2 with a 3.68 ERA. He is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in two lifetime games against Texas.

The talented young hurler is tied with teammate C.C. Sabathia and Boston’s Josh Beckett, who is also pitching tonight, for the AL lead with 13 wins. Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano tops the majors with 14 victories, a number that can also be matched tonight by the Dodgers’ Brad Penny.

The Indians enter this set one game behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the AL Central standings despite a disappointing homestand thus far. Cleveland has gone just 2-5 on the 10-game residency and dropped the final two tests of a three-game series with division rival Minnesota over the weekend.

In Sunday’s finale, the Twins scored three times in the eighth inning to spoil a great pitching performance by Sabathia and pull out a 4-1 win.

Sabathia (13-6) shut Minnesota out over the first seven innings, but was let down by his defense in the eighth. The star left-hander allowed three runs — one earned — on six hits without a walk over 7 2/3 innings and matched a career high with 11 strikeouts.

After the Twins tied the game at 1-1 on Mike Redmond’s one-out double, Cleveland second baseman Josh Barfield committed a throwing error that allowed the go-ahead run to score. Justin Morneau followed with an RBI double to make it a 3-1 game.

Jhonny Peralta had two hits and Trot Nixon contributed a run-scoring double for the Indians, who still own one of baseball’s top home records at 36-20.

Texas is currently buried in the basement of the AL West standings and is expected to have a different look when it takes the field for tonight’s opener. On Monday, the Rangers agreed to a deal with Atlanta that will send slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira and reliever Ron Mahay to the Braves. The trade, which is pending a review of medical records, will land four young prospects to the Rangers, including well-regarded young catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

The Rangers may not be done dealing before this afternoon’s trade deadline, with closer Eric Gagne a target of a number of contending clubs.

On the field, Texas began a nine-game road trip by losing three straight to Kansas City. The Royals completed the sweep with Sunday’s 10-0 rout.

The Rangers mustered just five hits on the afternoon, two of which came from Gerald Laird. Starting pitcher Kameron Loe (5-9) was rocked for six runs over 5 1/3 innings.

Texas now must visit a Cleveland team that has won seven of the last eight meetings in this series, including five of six matchups this year. The Indians swept a two-game set from the Rangers at Jacobs Field back in April.

Brandon McCarthy will try to end that string of futility for Texas this evening. The right-hander matched up against Carmona in that July 20 game and suffered the loss after yielding three runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings.

McCarthy was last in action on Wednesday and received a no decision against Seattle. He surrendered three runs on eight hits before being removed after five innings.

The 24-year-old is 3-2 in 11 lifetime games (three starts) against Cleveland, but has posted a 5.84 ERA over that span. TORONTO BLUE JAYS (52-53) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (40-65), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Jesse Litsch (3-4, 4.01) Tampa Bay - Edwin Jackson (2-10, 7.00)

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays take aim at their third straight win this evening when they continue their three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field.

In the opener of this set on Monday, Carl Crawford scored the tying run with two outs in the ninth to force extra innings and then homered in the 11th inning, lifting Tampa Bay to a 5-4 win.

Crawford, who came on as a pinch-runner for Jonny Gomes in the ninth, ended the game and capped the comeback by homering over the wall in left-center on a 3-2 pitch from Brain Wolfe (2-1). Crawford didn’t start the game because of an injured wrist and was in obvious pain earlier in the at-bat after swinging and missing.

Gomes and B.J. Upton also homered for the Devil Rays, who rallied from a two- run deficit to win consecutive games after losing eight straight

Tampa Bay reliever Scott Dohmann (1-0) got the win after he pitched himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 11th, striking out Reed Johnson and getting Lyle Overbay to fly out to end the frame.

Alex Rios had two hits, drove in a run and scored twice for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of four on their current six-game road trip.

Getting the call for the Devil Rays tonight will be right-hander Edwin Jackson, who is just 2-10 with a 7.00 earned run average this season. Jackson was pounded by the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, as he allowed six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 frames.

Tampa has lost five of Jackson’s last six starts, even though he has surrendered one or no runs in three outings over that span.

Jackson has yet to record a decision against the Blue Jays, but has pitched to a 4.72 ERA against them in three games, two of which have been starts.

Toronto will counter with righty Jesse Litsch, who has won two of his last three starts. Litsch was impressive against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, as he allowed a run on five hits in seven innings to run his record to 3-4, while lowering his ERA to 4.01.

Litsch, who is just 1-2 away from home this season, has never faced the Devil Rays.

Toronto has split its matchups with the Devil Rays this season, but have lost three straight and four of the last five meetings. The Jays have also won in 14 of their last 22 visits to St. Petersburg.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (47-58) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (54-51), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Jorge De La Rosa (8-10, 5.35) Minnesota - Carlos Silva (8-11, 4.76)

The Minnesota Twins try for their fourth straight win this evening when they continue a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals at the Metrodome.

In the opener of this set on Monday, Scott Baker threw eight strong innings and Joe Mauer drove in three runs as the Twins rolled to a 3-1 win. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save in 25 chances for Minnesota, which had dropped five in a row prior to its current streak.

Baker (5-4) allowed a career-low two hits and one run while striking out seven without a walk. Over the last three games, Twins’ starters have given up just four runs and 11 hits in 21 innings (1.71 ERA).

Jason Tyner had three hits including a triple and Mauer and Morneau had two hits apiece for the Twins, who traded second baseman Luis Castillo prior to the game.

The Twins sent the 31-year-old Castillo to the Mets in exchange for Double-A catcher Drew Butera and Single-A outfielder Dustin Martin.

Kansas City starter Gil Meche (7-8) went seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts. David DeJesus and Mark Grudzielanek accounted for the two hits by the Royals, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Getting the call for the Twins tonight will be right-hander Carlos Silva, who is 8-11 with a 4.76 earned run average. Silva was tagged with the loss on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, as he surrendered six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Silva has faced the Royals nine times and is 3-2 against them with a 4.18 ERA.

Kansas City will counter with Jorge De La Rosa, who is coming off a brilliant effort against the New York Yankees in his last start. De La Rosa scattered six hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings on Thursday to improve to 8-10 on the year, while lowering his ERA to 5.35 on the season.

De La Rosa surrendered just an unearned run in defeating the Twins earlier in the year and is 1-3 lifetime against them with a 4.76 ERA in six games, four starts.

Kansas City has split its six meetings with the Twins this season, but is just 9-21 in its last 30 visits to Minnesota. DETROIT TIGERS (61-44) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (49-57), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Justin Verlander (11-3, 3.43) Oakland - Dan Haren (12-3, 2.42)

An All-Star mound matchup will be on display tonight at Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum as the host Athletics and the Detroit Tigers resume a three-game series.

The American League Central-leading Tigers will send young star Justin Verlander to the hill in hopes of earning a second straight win over Oakland. It won’t be an easy task, however, as they’ll be facing Athletics ace Dan Haren in this evening’s showdown.

Haren was the AL’s starting pitcher in this year’s All-Star Game and currently leads the junior circuit with a 2.42 earned run average to complement an outstanding 12-3 record. The standout righty has remained strong after the break, having posted a 2-0 record with a 3.20 ERA in three second-half starts.

In his most recent outing, Haren limited Seattle to two runs on seven hits while registering seven strikeouts over seven innings in Thursday’s 6-2 Oakland victory.

Haren has been sensational at home this season, with a 7-1 record and 2.45 ERA in 11 Coliseum starts to his credit in 2007, but he is still searching for his first career victory over Detroit. In three regular-season starts against the Tigers, he is 0-2 with a 5.31 ERA.

The 26-year-old last faced the Tigers in Game 4 of the 2006 AL Championship Series and allowed three runs while striking out seven in a five-inning no decision.

Verlander enters tonight’s encounter having won six of his last seven decisions but hasn’t factored in the outcome of his two most recent starts. On Thursday, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year held the White Sox to three runs on just three hits over seven innings, but was denied a win when the Tiger bullpen faltered late.

The hard-throwing right-hander has excelled when pitching away from home this season, bringing a 6-1 record with a 2.97 ERA in 10 road starts into tonight’s tilt.

Verlander is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three regular-season starts against Oakland and defeated the A’s in Game 2 of last year’s ALCS after allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings during Detroit’s 8-5 triumph.

The Tigers halted a four-game losing streak in Monday’s series opener behind a strong mound performance by Jordan Tata. The rookie surrendered just two runs on six hits over the first seven innings to lift Detroit to a 5-2 decision.

Tata, who pitched in eight games as a reliever for the Tigers last season, was filling in for an injured Kenny Rogers. The veteran southpaw was placed on the disabled list Monday due to elbow inflammation.

Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco each had three hits and combined to score four of Detroit’s five runs. Todd Jones earned his 28th save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth.

Mark Kotsay went 2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored for the Athletics, who lost for the fourth time in a row. Starting pitcher Joe Blanton (8-8) continued to struggle, as the right-hander was tagged for five runs on nine hits through 6 2/3 innings and fell to 0-4 over his last five appearances.

Monday’s victory extended Detroit’s lead over idle Cleveland to one game atop the AL Central and improved the club’s major league-best road record to 35-23.

Detroit, which swept Oakland in four games during last October’s ALCS, has now taken the last six overall meetings between the teams. Last night’s game was the first encounter between the Tigers and A’s this season.

The Tigers won five of the nine regular-season meetings with the Athletics in 2006 and split six games at McAfee Coliseum. LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (61-43) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (58-46), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - John Lackey (12-6, 3.27) Seattle - Jeff Weaver (2-9, 5.96)

The Seattle Mariners will attempt to further close the gap in the American League West when the resurgent club aims for a second straight victory over the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight at Safeco Field.

Seattle posted its fourth consecutive overall win and moved within three games of the first-place Angels by posting a 2-0 victory in Monday’s opener of this key three-game set.

Miguel Batista (11-7) held Anaheim’s red-hot offense in check over the first seven innings, as the veteran righty yielded just four hits and did not walk a batter. After Brandon Morrow tossed a scoreless eighth, J.J. Putz preserved the shutout in the ninth and picked up his 31st save.

The Angels had won four in a row coming in and were fresh off a three-game sweep of Detroit in which they amassed 34 total runs.

Ichiro Suzuki finished 3-for-4 with an RBI single to lead Seattle offensively. The All-Star outfielder also scored the game’s first run on a Jose Vidro base hit in the third inning.

Kelvim Escobar (11-5) went the distance for the Angels in a hard-luck loss. The Venezuelan righty allowed just the two runs on eight hits and fanned seven over eight innings of work.

Los Angeles will attempt to even things up tonight behind John Lackey, who has struggled some in three starts since earning his first career All-Star selection. The standout right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.82 earned run average following the break and is coming off Wednesday’s no decision against rival Oakland.

In that game Lackey gave up three runs over six innings and recorded seven strikeouts. That was a significant improvement over his previous start, when he was tagged for seven runs (five earned) and 10 hits in five innings during a July 20 setback at Minnesota.

Lackey has been tremendous on the road this season, having compiled a 7-3 record and a 2.85 ERA in 11 starts away from home. One of those victories came at Safeco Field on May 16, when he delivered six shutout innings in Anaheim’s 5-0 decision.

The 28-year-old is 7-8 with a 4.61 ERA in 19 career starts against Seattle.

Ex-Angel Jeff Weaver will have a second opportunity to exact revenge on the team that discarded him a year ago when he takes the mound tonight for the Mariners.

Weaver signed with the Angels prior to the beginning of the 2006 season, but pitched badly over 16 starts before the club designated him for assignment in late June and subsequently traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran righty had a 3-10 record and a subpar 6.29 earned run average during his short stay in Anaheim.

The erratic right-hander returned to Angel Stadium to face his old club on April 22, but he lasted only three innings and was stuck with the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits.

Weaver does have a respectable 5-6 record with a 3.03 ERA in 13 career appearances (11 starts) against Anaheim, however.

The 30-year-old will also be attempting to halt a personal three-game losing streak this evening, although he has pitched well in both of his last two starts. Weaver held Oakland to three runs over 7 1/3 innings in a 6-2 loss on Thursday, five days after he threw eight frames of one-run ball in a hard-luck 1-0 defeat at Toronto.

The Angels have won seven of 10 matchups against Seattle so far this season and are 15-5 in the last 20 games played in this series. Los Angeles took two of three games at Safeco Field back in May.

CINCINNATI REDS (45-61) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (45-60), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Bobby Livingston (2-1, 3.72) Washington - Matt Chico (4-6, 4.78)

Left-hander Bobby Livingston takes his first turn as a regular member of the Cincinnati starting rotation tonight when the Reds visit RFK Stadium to open a three-game series with the Washington Nationals.

Livingston, who reached the majors with three relief outings for the Seattle Mariners last season, took over the spot when the Reds dealt right-hander Kyle Lohse to Philadelphia in exchange for Double-A starter Matt Maloney.

Lohse, who was 6-12 with a 4.58 earned run average in 21 starts, had been scheduled to start the series opener.

Instead, it’ll be Livingston, who’s made three starts this month as the Reds have struggled to fill the slots of injured starters like Eric Milton. The 24- year-old Missouri native has been effective, allowing just 12 earned runs in 29 innings while striking out 11 and walking five.

He’s never faced the Nationals.

Washington lefty Matt Chico looks for just his second win since mid May.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder defeated Atlanta with six innings of five-hit, three-run ball on May 17, but since has won just once while losing a pair and picking up nine no-decisions.

The Nationals are 11-10 in his 21 starts.

Chico, who is 4-1 in 11 outings at RFK Stadium, got a no-decision in his lone career start against the Reds, allowing three hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

On Sunday in New York, John Maine tossed five innings of one-hit ball in a game shortened by rain, as the Mets blanked the Nationals, 5-0, in the finale of a four-game set at Shea Stadium.

Ronnie Belliard’s one-out single in the first inning accounted for Washington’s lone hit. Nationals starter Billy Traber (2-2) was tagged for five runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

Washington had won three of its last four,

In Cincinnati, Carlos Zambrano combined with two relievers on a three-hit shutout as Chicago blanked the Reds, 6-0, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Brandon Phillips, Ryan Freel and Javier Valentin had a hit apiece for the Reds, who have dropped two straight after winning the previous three.

Matt Belisle (5-8) allowed four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings en route to the loss.

Washington won three of four earlier in the season from the Reds, but is just 7-15 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. COLORADO ROCKIES (53-51) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (49-57), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Aaron Cook (7-6, 4.22) Florida - Scott Olsen (8-8, 5.31)

Red-hot right-hander Aaron Cook looks for his third straight win and fourth in five decisions tonight when the Colorado Rockies visit Dolphin Stadium for the first of three games with the Florida Marlins.

Cook, a 28-year-old Kentucky native, is coming off a complete-game victory over San Diego on July 25, during which he struck out two, walked none and threw just 74 pitches in allowing seven hits and two runs.

One start earlier, in Washington, Cook went seven innings and allowed four hits and no runs en route to a 3-1 victory over the Nationals on July 20.

He hasn’t lost since July 8 and has allowed just 15 hits and four runs in 24 innings since.

Cook is 0-1 with a 7.94 earned run average in two career games - one start - against the Marlins.

Florida lefty Scott Olsen was touched for 11 hits and seven runs in just five innings in his most recent start, a 7-0 loss at Arizona. That outing came just four days after Olsen encountered off-the-field trouble, in the form of an arrest for driving under the influence, resisting an officer with violence and fleeing and eluding an officer.

The southpaw has been effective at home this season, going 6-2 in 11 starts with a 4.18 ERA in 66 2/3 innings.

He won his lone career start against the Rockies, allowing six hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

On Sunday in Colorado, Matt Holliday hit a two-run home run and finished with three RBI as the Rockies defeated Los Angeles, 9-6, and handed Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley his first loss of the season.

Yorvit Torrealba went 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored, while Jamey Carroll knocked in a pair of runs for the Rockies, who took two of three from LA in a rain-shortened series.

Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0), meanwhile, pitched six strong innings to pick up his first career win. The right-hander gave up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

In San Francisco, Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-5 with a solo home run, three RBI and two runs scored as the Marlins downed the Giants, 8-5, in the finale of a three-game set at AT&T Park.

Jeremy Hermida went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Hanley Ramirez scored a pair of runs for the Marlins, who snapped a six-game losing streak.

Sergio Mitre (5-5) got the win as he gave up five runs on six hits with a pair of walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.

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 (49-53) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (42-61), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Adam Wainwright (9-8, 4.45) Pittsburgh - Paul Maholm (7-12, 4.57)

The St. Louis Cardinals will try for their first four-game winning streak since April when they open a three-game series tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

St. Louis hasn’t won four in a row since April 8-11, but just took the last three tests of a four-game series versus the Milwaukee Brewers. In Sunday’s 9-5 victory at Busch Stadium, Albert Pujols had two hits and three RBI to lead the way for the Cardinals.

Ryan Ludwick drove in a pair of runs and David Eckstein had three hits, two runs scored and an RBI as St. Louis posted its fourth win in five tries. Relief pitcher Ryan Franklin picked up the win by allowing one hit in 1 2/3 innings, while starter Kip Wells gave up five runs on 11 hits in five frames.

The Cardinals, who are six games off the National League Central lead, will send Adam Wainwright to the mound on Tuesday. Wainwright is 9-8 with a 4.45 earned run average over 20 starts this season, but had a personal three-game win streak halted Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. He was reached for six runs and nine hits over five innings of a 7-1 setback.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.09 ERA in seven career games (three starts) against Pittsburgh. He is 0-2 with a 4.00 earned run average in three appearances this season against the Pirates.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, was just swept in three games by the Philadelphia Phillies and has lost 13 of its last 15 contests. On Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, Bucs starter Ian Snell yielded three runs over six innings in a 5-1 loss.

Nate McLouth homered for the Pirates, who are basement dwellers in the NL Central standings.

The Pirates will hand the ball to Paul Maholm on Tuesday, and he is 7-12 with a 4.57 earned run average in 21 starts this season. Maholm has won two straight starts and is 3-1 in his last four trips to the mound, including Thursday’s victory against the New York Mets in which he gave up three runs over six innings of an 8-4 triumph.

Maholm is 1-1 with a 2.94 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis. He did not post a decision versus the Cardinals on April 11 this season, allowing six hits and two runs through five innings of a 3-2 Pittsburgh loss.

St. Louis is 6-2 against Pittsburgh this season, including a three-game sweep in the Steel City from April 9-11. The Cardinals are 39-17 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.

HOUSTON ASTROS (46-59) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (55-51), 7:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Chris Sampson (7-7, 4.29) Atlanta - Chuck James (8-8, 3.55)

The Atlanta Braves are making some noise at the trade deadline and will play the first of three games against the Houston Astros this evening at Turner Field.

Atlanta reached an agreement on Monday to acquire Texas Rangers slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira in exchange for rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and three minor leaguers. The deal is not expected to go through until Tuesday.

The Braves ended a four-game losing streak with a 14-0 blowout of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game series Sunday at Chase Field. Chipper Jones knocked in five runs and Jeff Francoeur went 3-for-5 and scored twice for the Braves, who are 2 1/2 games off the National League wild card lead and 4 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the top spot in the NL East standings.

Willie Harris was 2-for-3 with four runs scored, while Kelly Johnson and Andruw Jones both drove in a pair of runs in the rout. Braves starter Tim Hudson yielded three hits over seven scoreless innings, fanning five and walking one to improve to 4-0 lifetime against Arizona.

Chuck James will take the ball for the Braves tonight, and he is 8-8 with a 3.55 ERA in 21 starts this season. James is 0-1 over his previous three trips to the hill and was beaten by San Francisco the last time out on Wednesday. He was reached for two runs and seven hits in six innings of a 2-1 loss.

James won his only career start against Houston on September 29 of last season, allowing one run and in seven innings during a 4-1 win at Turner Field.

Houston has lost two of its last three games, including Sunday’s 18-11 setback to the San Diego Padres in the finale of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park. Eric Munson, Lance Berkman, Luke Scott and Chris Burke each homered for the Astros, who are 10 1/2 games off the lead in the NL Central standings.

Starting pitcher Jason Jennings was brutalized for 11 runs on eight hits and three walks in just two-thirds of inning.

Chris Sampson will try to bounce back from a rough outing when he takes the ball tonight for the Astros. Sampson, who is 7-7 with a 4.29 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) this season, owns a 1-2 mark in his past three starts and lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers his previous time out on July 23. Sampson allowed four runs in five innings of a 10-2 setback at Minute Maid Park.

Sampson, a right-hander, is 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA in two career games (one start) against the Braves.

Atlanta and Houston are meeting for the first time since the Astros went 4-3 in the 2006 season series.

NEW YORK METS (59-46) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (57-49), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Tom Glavine (9-6, 4.51) Milwaukee - Jeff Suppan (8-9, 5.08)

Tom Glavine will try and become just the 23rd pitcher in major league history to reach 300 wins this evening, when the New York Mets open a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Glavine will be trying to become just the 11th pitcher in the last 60 years, only the fourth since 1990, and the first since longtime teammate Greg Maddux to reach the milestone. And there is a good chance that he may be the last to accomplish the feat.

Arizona left-hander Randy Johnson has 284 victories, but his season was cut short last week due to back surgery and at the age of 43, his career could very well be over. Of the active pitchers with 200 wins, 300 is more than likely out of reach for them, and you cannot make a compelling argument for anyone else.

A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Glavine has won four of his last five decisions and is 9-6 with a 4.51 earned run average on the year. However, Glavine could have trouble getting the historic victory away from home, as he is 0-3 with an 11.96 ERA in his last five road starts.

Glavine was hammered in his last outing on the road back on July 19, surrendering six runs and 10 hits in just two innings against the Dodgers.

The 41-year-old left-hander picked up a win in his last start on Wednesday against Pittsburgh, though, as he gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings.

Glavine is 6-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 lifetime starts against Milwaukee.

The Mets enter this series having won two of three games and still own the National League’s best record at 59-46. They could be without All-Star center- fielder Carlos Beltran for the foreseeable future, though, as he is expected to go on the disabled list with a strained abdomen.

New York did make a move on Monday, when it acquired second baseman Luis Castillo from the Minnesota Twins for a pair of minor leaguers.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, comes into tonight’s matchup holding a slim one-game lead over the surging Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Brewers finished an eight-game road trip with just two wins, dropped the final three games of their four-game weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and have lost eight of 11.

Hoping to reverse that trend tonight for Milwaukee will be veteran right- hander Jeff Suppan, who has not beaten an NL team since topping the Cubs back on June 6. Suppan was tagged with the loss on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, as he allowed five runs and 10 hits in five innings to fall to 8-9 and have his ERA raised to 5.08.

Suppan has faced the Mets seven times previously and is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA against them.

The Mets took two of three earlier in the season from the Brewers after the teams split the season series the last two seasons. The Mets, though, have won six of their last nine visits to Milwaukee.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (56-49) AT CHICAGO CUBS (55-49), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Adam Eaton (9-6, 5.83) Chicago - Jason Marquis (7-6, 4.20)

A pair of second place clubs will each continue to try and close the gap on their respective division leaders tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs play the second of four straight games at Wrigley Field.

Philadelphia moved to within three games of idle New York for first place in the National League East after Monday’s 4-1 victory over the Cubs in the series opener. The setback, meanwhile, dropped Chicago a game back of division-leading Milwaukee, which was also off yesterday.

Cole Hamels (12-5) baffled the Cubs for eight innings on Monday, yielding only three hits and a run while striking out eight batters. Aaron Rowand, meanwhile, provided the offensive spark with a three-run homer as the Phillies won their fourth straight game and for the ninth time in 10 games.

Recently acquired second baseman Tadahito Iguchi also homered in the win, which came at a price.

Starting right fielder Shane Victorino left in the fourth inning after suffering a right calf strain while his replacement, Michael Bourn, exited in the seventh because of a sprained left ankle he had injured two frames earlier.

Victorino will have an MRI done on his right calf today, and Bourn will get an X-ray performed on his left ankle.

The pair of injuries are just the latest blow to the Phils’ roster, as All- Star Chase Utley (right hand surgery), reliever Ryan Madson (strained right shoulder) and starters Jon Lieber (right foot surgery) and Freddy Garcia (strained right shoulder) are all currently sidelined.

The Phillies did make an addition yesterday after acquiring starting right- hander Kyle Lohse from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league pitcher Matt Maloney.

Taking the mound for the Phillies tonight will be Adam Eaton, who is 9-6 on the season with a 5.83 earned run average. Eaton got a no-decision his last time out on Thursday, as he allowed four runs on eight hits without a walk in 6 1/3 innings of his club’s 7-6 setback to Washington.

The right-hander had allowed just two runs over 5 2/3 innings of a win over San Diego the week before, and is 5-2 with a 4.31 ERA in eight career starts versus the Cubs.

The Cubs will hand the ball to Jason Marquis tonight. Marquis was hammered for six runs for the third time in four starts on Thursday in addition to five hits and four walks in five innings of work against St. Louis. The right- hander was saddled with the loss, falling to 7-6 with a 4.20 ERA on the year.

Marquis is 3-3 with a save in 16 games (nine starts) lifetime versus the Phillies with a 4.65 ERA. He split two starts against them last year while with the Cardinals.

Marquis will try to fare better than Ted Lilly, who surrendered seven hits and four runs in five innings of work in yesterday’s loss. Lilly (11-5) also walked three and struck out three.

Ryan Theriot’s solo homer provided the offense for the Cubs, who have dropped three of five.

The Phillies took two of three against the Cubs when the two squads clashed from May 11-13. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (58-49) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (56-48), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Brandon Webb (9-8, 3.23) San Diego - Justin Germano (6-5, 4.20)

The Arizona Diamondbacks had their eight-game winning streak halted in less-than-stellar fashion over the weekend. The club will try to rebound tonight in the opener of a three-game set with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

The Diamondbacks used their second eight-game winning streak of the year to get back into the thick of the chase for National League West supremacy with the Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona is just a percentage point behind the Dodgers for first place, while San Diego is a half game off the pace.

Arizona’s bats fell silent on Sunday to curb its winning run, as the club was blasted by Atlanta, 14-0, in the finale of a three-game series.

Starter Livan Hernandez (6-7) was tagged for eight runs and eight hits with three walks and no strikeouts over four innings. Eric Byrnes tripled for the D-Backs, who suffered their worst shutout loss in team history.

Arizona starter Brandon Webb will now try to carry over the momentum created in his last start against the Marlins. Webb threw seven shutout innings on Wednesday against Florida, scattering six hits and three walks while striking out eight. The victory put the right-hander back over .500 at 9-8 with a 3.23 earned run average on the season.

Prior to his win last week, Webb went 0-3 in four starts with one of his setbacks coming against the Padres. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner allowed four runs (three earned) on 11 hits with 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of the 4-0 defeat.

Webb is just 3-6 in 17 career starts against the Padres with a 3.72 ERA.

Justin Germano will counter for the Padres tonight and has lost his last two outings. After allowing four runs in a setback to Philadelphia on July 20, Germano was hammered for six runs and seven hits in five innings of a loss at Colorado on Wednesday. The right-hander fell to 6-5 on the year while seeing his ERA rise to 4.20.

Germano, who turns 25 on August 6, started against Arizona for the first time in his career on July 15 and earned the win behind 6 1/3 shutout frames. It is his lone victory in his last seven starts.

Unlike the Diamondbacks, the Padres had their bats going on Sunday, as they won a slugfest with the Houston Astros, 18-11. Mike Cameron, Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff all hit two-run homers in the victory.

Brian Giles, Milton Bradley and Josh Bard also helped pace the attack with two RBI each, as the Padres plated 11 runs in the first inning.

Tim Stauffer, starting in place of injured All-Star Chris Young, lasted just 3 2/3 innings in his first start of the season. The right-hander gave up seven runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Doug Brocail (3-1) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win, just San Diego’s third in 10 games.

These two teams 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 5-3 edge in the season series.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (45-58) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (57-48), 10:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Noah Lowry (11-7, 3.40) Los Angeles - Brad Penny (13-1, 2.51)

Having failed to tie Hank Aaron’s all-time home run mark at home, Barry Bonds will now take his act on the road for six games, beginning tonight with the first of three consecutive contests against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.

Bonds hit the 754th homer of his career Friday against Florida, but couldn’t match Aaron in the remaining two games of a seven-game homestand. He went 1- for-4 in the Giants’ 8-5 setback on Sunday.

Ryan Klesko and Guillermo Rodriguez each drove in a pair of runs for the Giants, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Matt Morris (7-7) was handed the loss as he gave up six runs on 13 hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings of play.

Bonds is batting .280 (7-for-25) in his career against tonight’s starter for the Dodgers, Brad Penny, with three homers, four RBI, five walks and one strikeout.

Penny will start for the Dodgers after giving the club a scare last time out. He has won his last eight decisions and three starts in a row, including Thursday at Colorado. The right-hander allowed three runs and five hits versus the Rockies over six innings, but left the game due to an abdominal strain.

He came up to bat in the seventh inning and legged out an infield single to third. Penny, though, pulled up and winced just as he crossed the bag at first, and walked off the field with the trainer.

The righty, whose unbeaten stretch spans his last 12 starts, is 13-1 on the season with a 2.51 earned run average. He bested the Giants in his first start of the 2007 season and then took a no-decision against them on April 26.

Lifetime, Penny is 3-2 in 15 games (14 starts) against the Giants with a 3.59 ERA. He is 6-0 at home this season.

The Dodgers lost to the Rockies on Sunday, 9-6, but still remain a percentage point ahead of Arizona for the top spot in the National League West.

Jeff Kent went 4-for-5 with three RBI and Russell Martin homered and scored three runs for the Dodgers, who have lost four of five. Chad Billingsley (7-1) was tagged for four runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings to suffer his first loss of the season.

Taking the mound for the Giants tonight will be Noah Lowry, who is 6-2 over his last eight starts and has won two straight outings. Lowry has allowed just one run in four of his last six starts, including Wednesday against Atlanta. He scattered seven hits and two walks over eight innings against the Braves to improve to 11-7 with a 3.40 ERA this year.

One of left-hander’s losses during his recent stretch came against the Dodgers on July 15 when he was tagged for five runs (four earned) on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings. He did beat the Dodgers in LA on April 25.

In his career, Lowry is 3-2 in 12 games (10 starts) against the Dodgers with a 3.33 ERA.

The Dodgers own a 6-3 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.

Monday, July 30th (All times eastern)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (52-52) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (39-65), 7:10 P.M. Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Dustin McGowan (7-5, 4.45) Tampa Bay - Andy Sonnanstine (1-6, 5.57)

Dustin McGowan tries to win his third straight start this evening when the Toronto Blue Jays open a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

McGowan was brilliant against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, as he scattered four hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings to run his record to 7-5 on the year, while lowering his earned run average to 4.45.

The 25-year-old righty has yet to record a decision in two outings (one start) against the Rays, but has pitched to a 4.70 ERA in those contests.

Toronto enters this series on a winning note after Shaun Marcum pitched eight solid innings on Sunday to help the Blue Jays salvage the finale of their three-game series with the Chicago White Sox, winning 4-1 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Marcum and his counterpart, Javier Vazquez, allowed a combined three hits through seven innings, but the Blue Jays plated four in the eighth to go on top, and Jermaine Dye’s solo homer in the home half of the inning was not enough for the White Sox.

Marcum (7-4) allowed only two hits and one run in eight innings, fanning eight with no walks. John McDonald went 2-for-3 and scored for the Blue Jays, who have won six of eight. Jeremy Accardo pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, snapped an eight-game losing streak on Sunday, as Dioner Navarro hit a solo home run to break a scoreless game during a five-run seventh inning in the Devil Rays’ 5-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.

B.J. Upton hit a three-run home run and Carlos Pena added two hits with a solo shot for the Devil Rays, who won for only the second time in their last 11 tries.

Scott Kazmir, who started for the Devil Rays, was brilliant in his six innings of work. The southpaw allowed only six hits, while striking out eight and walking one. Gary Glover (4-3) got the win, though, despite surrendering two runs and two hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Getting the call for the Devil Rays this evening will be 24-year-old right- hander Andy Sonnanstine, who is a dismal 1-6 with a 5.57 ERA. Sonnanstine was tagged with the loss in his last start on Wednesday against Baltimore, as he gave up five runs and seven hits in six frames.

Sonnanstine, who did not receive a decision in his only other start against the Jays, has not won since June 10 and Tampa has dropped each of his last eight starts.

On the injury front Tampa could again be without All-Star left fielder Carl Crawford, who has missed the last two games with a sprained right wrist. He is set to undergo an MRI on Monday.

Toronto has won five of its nine matchups with the Devil Rays this season and is 28-18 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Jays have also won in 14 of their last 21 visits to St. Petersburg.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (47-57) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (53-51), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Gil Meche (7-7, 3.76) Minnesota - Scott Baker (4-4, 5.30)

The Kansas City Royals take aim at their fifth straight win this evening when they open a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.

Kansas City completed a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers on Sunday, as Leo Nunez tossed six scoreless innings and David DeJesus drove in three runs to help the Royals to 10-0 win at Kauffman Stadium. Tony Pena ended 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored for the Royals, whose winning streak comes on the heels of a three-game slide.

Nunez (1-0) struck out one and walked one while lowering his earned run average to 0.90 for his two starts this season. Joel Peralta worked the final three innings to pick up his first save of the year and keep the shutout intact.

Hoping to keep the Royals on the winning track tonight will be right-hander Gil Meche, who is 7-7 with a 3.76 ERA. Meche lost for the first time in five decisions on Wednesday against the New York Yankees, as he allowed five runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Meche is 5-1 lifetime against the Twins with a 4.44 ERA in nine starts.

Minnesota, meanwhile, won the final two games of its three-game series with the Cleveland Indians, culminating with a 4-1 win in Sunday’s rubber match at Jacobs Field.

Justin Morneau’s run-scoring double highlighted a three-run eighth inning in the win, while Lew Ford added a home run for the Twins, who had dropped five in a row before winning their last two.

Matt Garza allowed just one run on five hits in six innings of work en route to a no-decision. Garza also had a career-high 11 strikeouts. Dennys Reyes (2-1) earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Heading to the hill tonight for the Twins will be right-hander Scott Baker, who is 4-4 with a 5.30 ERA. Baker was saddled with the loss on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, as he surrendered four runs and six hits in seven innings.

Baker has faced the Royals three times and is 0-2 against them with a 4.26 ERA.

Kansas City has won three of five from the Twins this season, but is just 9-20 in its last 29 visits to Minnesota.

DETROIT TIGERS (60-44) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (49-56), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Jordan Tata (0-0, 0.00) Oakland - Joe Blanton (8-7, 3.69)

The Detroit Tigers will be without one of their top arms when the struggling American League Central leaders begin a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics tonight at McAfee Coliseum.

Kenny Rogers was initially slated to start this evening’s opener for Detroit, but the veteran left-hander had to be placed on the disabled list because of inflammation in his elbow. Rogers’ spot will be filled by Jordan Tata, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo and makes his first major league start tonight.

Tata pitched in eight games as a reliever with the Tigers last season and allowed 11 runs (10 earned) over 14 2/3 total innings of work. The 25-year-old has gone 3-3 with a 3.29 earned run average in 11 starts with Toledo so far in 2007.

Detroit hopes the young right-hander will fare better than its pitchers did this past weekend. The Tigers surrendered 34 total runs in three games against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who completed the series sweep with a 13-4 rout Sunday at Angel Stadium.

Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman (10-3) had his worst performance of the season, as he was pounded for 11 runs (10 earned) on nine hits before exiting after 2 1/3 innings.

Detroit has lost four in a row overall and six of its last seven contests on its current 11-game road trip. The Tigers, who lead the Cleveland Indians by a mere half-game in the AL Central standings, have gone 2-6 thus far on the trek.

The Tigers hope to get back on track against an Oakland club that it swept in four games during last October’s AL Championship Series. The two teams have yet to face one another yet this season.

Detroit won five of the nine regular-season meetings with the Athletics in 2006 and split six games at McAfee Coliseum.

Oakland will be trying to snap a losing streak of its own. After winning the opener of a four-game set at Seattle, the A’s proceeded to drop the next three tests.

The Mariners came through in a slugfest during Sunday’s finale, scoring four times in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out a 14-10 win.

Nick Swisher and Mike Piazza each drove in three runs for Oakland, while Shannon Stewart homered and finished with two RBI. Piazza ended the day with three hits in five at-bats.

A’s closer Huston Street (2-2) received the loss after yielding four runs — two earned — on three hits in just two-thirds of an inning of work. Starter Lenny DiNardo didn’t fare any better, as he was tagged for seven runs and seven hits over the first three innings.

Oakland will send out the struggling Joe Blanton in tonight’s opener. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA over his last four starts and surrendered 10 or more hits in each of those outings.

Blanton received a no decision Wednesday in Anaheim, but was touched for five runs and 11 hits over six innings. He hasn’t won since tossing a complete-game four-hitter to best Toronto on July 3.

The 26-year-old is 2-1 in three career starts against Detroit but has given up 15 earned runs and 28 hits in 16 1/3 innings over those games. Blanton also threw two scoreless frames of relief versus the Tigers in last year’s ALCS. LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (61-42) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (57-46), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Kelvim Escobar (11-4, 2.91) Seattle - Miguel Batista (10-7, 4.48)

The top two teams in the American League West begin a three-game showdown tonight at Seattle’s Safeco Field, where the Mariners will attempt to gain ground on the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Both teams appeared to have turned themselves around from recent slides. The Angels have won four consecutive games after going through a stretch of seven losses in nine contests. Seattle had endured a season-long seven-game losing streak before taking three in a row from division-rival Oakland over the weekend.

The Angels are fresh off an impressive three-game home sweep of AL Central leader Detroit in which they outscored the Tigers by a lopsided 34-13 margin. In Sunday’s finale, Chone Figgins went 3-for-5 with three runs scored to lead a 13-hit attack as Anaheim rolled to a 13-4 victory.

Gary Matthews drove in three runs while Casey Kotchman and Garret Anderson each finished with two RBI for the Angels, who enter this key series with a four-game advantage on the second-place Mariners.

Dustin Moseley, starting in place of the injured Bartolo Colon, worked the first 4 2/3 innings for Los Angeles and allowed four runs on five hits. Chris Bootcheck (3-2) then held Detroit scoreless over the next 2 1/3 frames to pick up the win.

Seattle also put up a wealth of runs in Sunday’s 14-10 triumph over the Athletics. The Mariners scored four times in the bottom of the eighth inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Jose Guillen, to break a 10-10 tie.

Adrian Beltre homered and compiled four RBI for Seattle, while Ben Broussard went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI after replacing Richie Sexson, who was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing with first base umpire Mark Carlson.

Ichiro Suzuki singled in the second inning for his 1,500th career hit, becoming the third-fastest player in major-league history to accomplish the feat. The Mariners star ended 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.

Sean Green (4-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Jarrod Washburn started for Seattle and pitched five innings, allowing five runs — three earned — on five hits while striking out two and walking three.

A pair of double-digit winners will take the mound in tonight’s opener, with the Angels set to send out Kelvim Escobar and the Mariners handing the ball to Miguel Batista.

Escobar owns an outstanding 11-4 record and ranks third in the AL with a 2.91 earned run average so far this season. The hard-throwing righty had won five consecutive decisions before suffering a tough-luck loss last Tuesday to Oakland. Escobar held the A’s to three runs and nine hits in seven innings.

The native Venezuelan is 5-1 with a 4.22 ERA on the road in 2007, but that one setback came at Safeco Field on May 15. Escobar was rocked for eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and lasted a season-low 2 1/3 innings in that matchup.

For his career Escobar is 5-8 with a 5.05 ERA and three saves in 28 lifetime games (15 starts) against Seattle.

Batista looks to rebound after a rough performance in Texas last Wednesday. The veteran righty gave up five runs and eight hits over six innings against the Rangers, although he wound up with a no decision in a 7-6 Seattle loss.

Prior to that outing, Batista went 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA over his last four starts.

The 36-year-old is 3-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 10 career games, including five starts, against the Angels. Batista has faced Anaheim twice already this season and recorded a win and a loss while allowing 10 runs over 11 1/3 total innings.

The Angels have won seven of nine matchups against Seattle so far this season and are 15-4 in the last 19 games played in this series. Los Angeles took two of three games at Safeco Field back in May. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (55-49) AT CHICAGO CUBS (55-48), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Cole Hamels (11-5, 3.63) Chicago - Ted Lilly (11-4, 3.46)

The Chicago Cubs will try to jump into the National League Central lead tonight, when they open a four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies in a battle of streaking teams at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs, labeled as underachievers earlier in the year, were fifth in the NL Central back on June 2 and 7 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee. However, the club has since gone 33-17 — the top record in the majors since June 3 — and now trails the Brewers by only a half-game in the standings.

Milwaukee is idle tonight, so a win by the 55-48 Cubs will move them percentage points ahead of the 57-49 Brewers.

Chicago’s recent run includes 23 wins in its last 32 games, including a 6-0 victory on Sunday in a rubber match with the Reds in Cincinnati.

Carlos Zambrano (14-7) did most of the work in the three-hit shutout, hurling 7 1/3 scoreless frames. He allowed only two hits en route to becoming the NL’s first 14-game winner.

Will Ohman finished the eighth for Chicago and Bob Howry nailed things down with a perfect ninth. Derrek Lee hit a two-run home run for Chicago, while Angel Pagan chipped in a two-run single.

Losses have been rare for both the Cubs and tonight’s starter Ted Lilly as of late. Lilly is currently riding a career-high seven-decision winning streak and has won each of his last six starts.

Lilly, who hasn’t lost since June 5 at Milwaukee, yielded only a run and six hits over seven innings at St. Louis on Wednesday to improve to 11-4 with a 3.46 earned run average on the season. He has allowed one run or fewer in five of his last eight starts.

The left-hander battled the Phillies on May 13 for the first time in his career and earned the win by limiting Philadelphia to one run and three hits over eight frames.

Like the Cubs, the Phillies are trying to close a divisional gap of their own in the NL East. The club has won eight of its last nine games to jump over the Braves and into second place, 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading New York Mets.

Philadelphia, which is 28-21 since June 3, has done it with both its bats and arms as of late. The Phils are averaging 7.3 runs per game over their past 12 contests and their starting pitchers have a solid 2.99 ERA over their last 10 games.

Philadelphia completed a three-game sweep of lowly Pittsburgh yesterday, as starter Kyle Kendrick (5-1) limited the Pirates to just a run on six hits over seven innings of a 5-1 victory.

Ryan Madson, Antonio Alfonseca and Jose Mesa combined for two innings of scoreless relief to finish things off. Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Philadelphia, while Chris Coste knocked in a pair of runs in a pinch-hit appearance.

It was Rollins’ third three-hit game during his current nine-game hitting streak and second straight overall. The shortstop has his season average up to .295 with the tear.

Cole Hamels toes the rubber for the Phillies tonight and will try to perform better than the last time he graced the fields of Wrigley Field. On August 24 of 2006, the left-hander made his first career start at Wrigley and was hammered for five runs and nine hits over just two innings.

He made his second lifetime start against the Cubs on May 11 of this season, and earned the win behind seven innings of two-run ball at Citizens Bank Park.

Hamels will hope the Phillies’ recent offensive explosion carries over again tonight. He was on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss July 19 at San Diego, allowing just the one run on two hits over seven frames, then held the Nationals to two runs over seven innings on Wednesday but didn’t factor in the decision of his team’s 7-5 extra-inning victory.

The former first-round pick is 11-5 with a 3.63 ERA on the season and his 135 strikeouts are good for third in the National League.

The Phillies took two of three over the Cubs when the two squads clashed from May 11-13.

Sunday, July 29th (All times eastern)

Atlanta Braves (54-51) at Arizona Diamondbacks (58-48), 4:40 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Tim Hudson (10-5, 3.24) Arizona - Livan Hernandez (6-6, 4.59)

The Arizona Diamondbacks try and win their ninth straight game this afternoon when they attempt to complete their first-ever three-game sweep at home of the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field.

The D-Backs posted their third straight walk-off win on Saturday, as Conor Jackson’s RBI single in the 10th inning gave Arizona a 4-3 victory. A win today would give Arizona its first nine-game winning streak since a franchise- record 12-game run June 18-30, 2003.

Chris Young worked a leadoff walk in the 10th, and moved up on Orlando Hudson’s sacrifice bunt. Eric Byrnes was then intentionally walked before the Braves brought on reliever Chad Paronto to face Jackson. Paronto, on his 32nd birthday, gave up a single to center on his first pitch, and Young came around to win the game for the D-Backs.

The game-winning hit capped a three-hit, two-RBI game for Jackson, as the Diamondbacks moved into a virtual tie for first place in the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Starter Doug Davis held the Braves to five hits and three runs through seven innings, striking out six and walking three, and reliever Juan Cruz (5-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

John Smoltz held Arizona to seven hits and three runs through seven innings. Tyler Yates (2-3) was responsible for the winning run, and Matt Diaz had a two-run double for the Braves, who have dropped four straight.

Hoping to keep Arizona rolling today will be veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez, who is 6-6 with a 4.59 ERA. Hernandez picked up his first win in 10 starts on Tuesday against Florida, as he allowed a run on seven hits in seven innings.

Hernandez has been atrocious in his career against the Braves, going just 3-14 with a 5.09 ERA in 23 games, 22 of which have been starts.

Atlanta will counter with righty Tim Hudson, who is unbeaten in his last six outings. Hudson, who is 10-5 with a 3.24 ERA, received a no-decision on Tuesday against San Francisco, allowing three runs and six hits in 8 2/3 innings of his team’s 7-5 win.

Hudson has faced the Diamondbacks five times and is a perfect 3-0 against them with a sparkling 1.91 ERA.

The Diamondbacks dominated the season series last year, winning six of seven over Atlanta. However, the Braves’ lone win came in Arizona.

Although the Diamondbacks have never swept the Braves in Arizona, they did pull off a four-game sweep in the teams’ last meeting in Atlanta, from June 1-4, 2006.

Sunday, July 29th (All times eastern)

MINNESOTA TWINS (52-51) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (60-44), 1:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Matt Garza (1-2, 1.33) Cleveland - C.C. Sabathia (13-5, 3.70)

C.C. Sabathia takes aim at his major league leading 14th win of the season today, as the Cleveland Indians wrap up a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Jacobs Field.

With 13 victories on the season, Sabathia is tied with four other pitchers, including teammate Fausto Carmona, for the major league lead. On Tuesday, the left-hander was denied his league best 14th win of the season despite a solid effort in a 1-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox. In that game, the veteran allowed just one earned run and five hits over seven strong innings of work. He struck out seven, but suffered his third loss in his past four starts.

Sabathia has fared well at home this season, posting a 9-3 record with a 3.22 ERA and two complete games in 14 starts.

In his career against the Twins, Sabathia has gone 8-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 22 starts. Earlier this season, Sabathia defeated Minnesota at Jacobs Field, allowing one earned run and five hits over eight innings of a 7-1 victory on May 16th.

Countering for Minnesota will be Matt Garza, who has dropped two straight starts. In his last start a week ago, the 23-year-old right-hander was reached for three earned runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 setback to the Angels. Prior to that outing, Garza had allowed just one unearned run in two starts and one relief appearances since being brought up from the minors on June 29th.

In his only career appearance against the Indians, Garza allowed three earned runs and five hits over five innings of a 3-2 loss last August.

In last night’s contest, Brian Buscher, playing in just his second major league game, drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth as the Twins downed the Indians, 3-2. Jason Tyner hit a home run while Justin Morneau drove in the other run for the Twins, who snapped a season-high five-game losing streak.

Johan Santana was brilliant in the start as he carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but he didn’t factor in the decision as he gave up two runs on four hits with a walk and 12 strikeouts in seven innings.

Pat Neshek (6-1) got the win for pitching a perfect eighth inning. Joe Nathan retired the Indians in order in the ninth to pick up his 21st save of the season.

Travis Hafner hit a two-run home run for the Indians, who had won two of three coming into the game.

Jake Westbrook was just as good as Santana on the mound as he gave up just two runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in seven innings.

Joe Borowski (2-4) got the loss.

Cleveland has won six of seven encounters with the Twins this season. The teams will also face one another four times at the Metrodome from August 3-6.

NEW YORK YANKEES (55-49) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (49-54), 1:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Chien-Ming Wang (11-5, 3.57) Baltimore - Daniel Cabrera (7-10, 5.04)

The Baltimore Orioles try to stretch their winning streak to seven games today, as they conclude a three-game set with the New York Yankees from Camden Yards.

On Saturday, Miguel Tejada went 2-for-4 with four RBI, as Baltimore rolled to a 7-5 win. Nick Markakis drove in a pair of runs while Brian Roberts went 2- for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored for the Orioles, who have won seven of eight.

Brian Burres (5-4) got the win as he gave up just one run on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in six-plus innings of work.

Jorge Posada hit a two-run homer and Hideki Matsui went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored for the Yankees, who have dropped three straight. Alex Rodriguez finished the game 0-for-4 with an error and is still one home run shy of 500 for his career.

Roger Clemens (3-5) got the loss as he gave up four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of work in his 700th start.

Trying to get the Yankees back on track today will be Chien-Ming Wang, who has won four of his last five starts. On Tuesday, the right-hander surrendered four earned runs and seven hits in six innings of a 9-4 triumph over the Kansas City Royals. It was the fifth straight start in which Wang did not allow a homer.

Wang has done a respectable job pitching on the road this season, posting a 5-1 record with a 4.44 ERA in eight starts.

In his career against Baltimore, Wang is 2-1 with a 4.87 ERA in seven appearances, six starts. Earlier this season against the Orioles, Wang allowed six earned runs and nine hits over 6 1/3 innings of work. He did not factor in the decision, as the Yankees posted an 8-7 victory.

Daniel Cabrera gets the starting nod for Baltimore today and he will hope to build off his best outing of the season that took place against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. In that game, the right-hander gave up just one hit over seven scoreless innings of a 3-0 triumph. It was his first win since defeating Arizona back on June 22nd.

In four day starts this season, Cabrera has gone 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA.

Cabrera has made nine lifetime starts versus the Yankees, going 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA during that stretch. Cabrera opposed Wang earlier this season and allowed four earned runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision effort on June 28th.

The Orioles won the first two tests of that late June series with the Bronx Bombers at Camden Yards prior this series. The Yankees went 7-3 in Baltimore last season. BOSTON RED SOX (64-40) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-65), 1:40 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Daisuke Matsuzaka (12-7, 3.79) Tampa Bay - Scott Kazmir (7-7, 4.02)

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will try to bring their eight- game skid to an end today, as they finish a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field.

Last night, Manny Ramirez’s two-run double capped a six-run 12th inning, as the Red Sox downed the Devil Rays, 12-6.

With the score knotted at six, the Sox exploded for six runs in the top of the 12th, with most of the damage coming against reliever Brian Stokes (2-7). Mike Lowell singled and Jason Varitek and Coco Crisp walked to load the bases. Julio Lugo walked in the go-ahead run, as reliever Jae Kuk Ryu tried to prevent further damage.

Kevin Youkilis’ double cleared the bases, however, and David Ortiz walked before Ramirez doubled home two more runs to seal the win as Boston moved nine games ahead of the Yankees for the top spot in the AL East.

Lowell ended 4-for-6 for the Red Sox, who have won three straight and eight of their last nine games. Julio Lugo went 2-for-5 with two RBI and scored twice in the win.

Boston starter Jon Lester went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Kyle Snyder (2-2) scattered one hit over two innings for the win.

Jonny Gomes homered twice for the Devil Rays, while Josh Paul added a home run and Brendan Harris finished 3-for-5 and scored a run in the loss.

Tampa Bay starter James Shields surrendered three runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out seven over five innings.

The Devils Rays will turn to Scott Kazmir today in hope that he can bring their losing ways to an end. The left-hander had a two start win streak snapped on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings of a 3-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He struck out eight and walked three in the setback.

Despite a solid 3.47 ERA at home this season, Kazmir is just 2-3 in 12 starts at Tropicana Field.

Kazmir has fared well against Boston over his career, posting a 5-3 record with a glaring 2.76 ERA in 12 starts. He has been especially good against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field, where he is 2-0 lifetime with a 1.69 ERA in five starts. Kazmir, however, was on the losing end of a 4-1 decision to Boston earlier this month. In that contest, he allowed three earned runs and six hits over six innings of work.

Opposing Kazmir for the second time this month will be Daisuke Matsuzaka, who allowed just four hits over eight scoreless innings of Boston’s 4-1 win over Tampa Bay on July 3rd. It was his first career appearance versus the Devil Rays.

Matsuzaka has won three of his last five starts, including a dominant performance against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. In that contest, the Japanese rookie right-hander held the Indians to just four hits over seven scoreless innings of a 1-0 triumph. With the victory, he improved to 6-4 with a 3.21 ERA in 11 road starts this season.

While Boston has dominated Tampa Bay at home in the series, going 27-5 against them at Fenway since the start of the 2004 season, the club is just 15-15 in St. Petersburg over that same span.

True to form, the Red Sox swept a three-game set against the Devil Rays at home from July 3-5.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (51-52) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (48-56), 2:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Shaun Marcum (6-4, 3.87) Chicago - Javier Vazquez (8-5, 3.71)

The Chicago White Sox seek their first three-game home sweep of the season today when they conclude their series with the Toronto Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox, who own the AL’s third worst home record (24-27), haven’t swept a series on the southside since turning the trick against the Detroit Tigers last August.

On Saturday, Mark Buehrle and Bobby Jenks combined on an eight-hit shutout, and Jerry Owens picked an incredibly opportune time for his first career home run, as the White Sox bested Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays, 2-0.

Halladay (11-5) went the distance for Toronto, taking a shutout of his own into the seventh. The Toronto ace let up 10 hits while fanning seven and walking a pair for the Blue Jays, who dropped their second straight after winning five in a row.

Buehrle (8-6) scattered eight hits over eight innings, striking out six and walking one. Jenks pitched a perfect ninth for his 30th save for the White Sox, who have won five of their last six.

Javier Vazquez will toe the rubber for the White Sox today in an attempt to keep his personal winning streak alive. The veteran right-hander has not lost since June 11th, posting a 5-0 mark with a 2.60 ERA over his last seven starts. On Tuesday, he allowed three earned runs and four hits over eight innings of a 5-3 win against the Tigers.

Vazquez has been especially tough at home this season, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.36 ERA in nine starts. He is holding opponents to just a .209 average at U.S. Cellular Field.

In his career against the Blue Jays, Vazquez is an even 4-4 with a 4.76 ERA in 11 starts. He beat Toronto earlier this season, surrendering just six hits over eight scoreless innings of a 3-0 triumph on June 1st.

Countering for the Blue Jays will be Shaun Marcum, who has won two of his last three starts. On Monday, the right-hander yielded four earned runs and eight hits over six innings of a 6-4 triumph over the Minnesota Twins.

On the road this season, Marcum has posted a 4-2 record with a solid 3.17 ERA in 13 appearance, seven starts.

Marcum made his first career start against Chicago earlier this season, allowing thee earned runs and four hits in just three innings of an eventual 4-3 win by Toronto on June 3rd.

The Blue Jays and White Sox met in Toronto from May 31-June 3, with the Blue Jays winning three of four. Chicago held a slight 5-4 edge in the series last year.

TEXAS RANGERS (46-58) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (46-57), 2:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Kameron Loe (5-8, 5.59) Kansas City - Leo Nunez (0-0, 2.25)

The Kansas City Royals attempt to sweep the Texas Rangers today, as the two teams wrap up a three-game series Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City, which has not swept the Rangers at home since the 2002 season, posted a 6-5 victory over Texas last night to put itself in position for the sweep.

John Buck had three hits and drove in two runs for the Royals, who have won three in a row following a three-game slide. Tony Pena Jr. also had two RBI and Emil Brown finished with three hits and scored twice in the victory.

Odalis Perez (6-9) threw six solid innings for the win, allowing seven hits and three earned runs over that span.

Nelson Cruz smacked a pair of two-run homers and had five RBI for the Rangers, who entered this series with four straight victories.

Kevin Millwood (7-9) was pounded for nine hits and six runs over just 2 2/3 innings.

The Rangers will try to avoid the sweep by sending Kameron Loe to the hill today. The right-hander hasn’t picked up a win over his last four starts, despite a solid outing against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. In that game, he yielded three earned runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings, but did not factor in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory.

Loe has made just one previous start in his career against Kansas City, allowing eight earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings of work last season. He did not receive a decision in that game. Loe also threw a pair of scoreless innings in relief against the Royals in 2005.

Kansas City called up Leo Nunez from Triple-A Omaha to make today’s start in place of Scott Elarton, who was released Wednesday, a day after coming off the disabled list and getting pounded in a 9-4 setback to the New York Yankees.

Nunez made the first start of his major league career on July 17th, surrendering one earned run in four innings of a 9-3 win against Boston. The right-hander was yanked after throwing 74 pitches in that game.

In seven career relief appearances against Texas, Nunez is 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA.

This series marks the first meeting between the Royals and Rangers in 2007. Both clubs split six games last year. OAKLAND ATHLETICS (49-55) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (56-46), 4:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Lenny DiNardo (5-6, 2.41) Seattle - Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 4.05)

The Seattle Mariners shoot for their third win in a row today, as they wrap up a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.

On Saturday, Yuniesky Betancourt hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, as Seattle held on to defeat the A’s, 4-3. Kenji Johjima added a two run homer for the Mariners, who only had four total hits in the game.

Seattle has now won two in a row since losing seven straight.

Horacio Ramirez (6-3) had a solid outing in picking up the win, giving up three runs on six hits with four strikeouts. The left-hander allowed five walks.

Donnie Murphy accounted for the A’s runs with a three-run double and also walked twice.

Chad Gaudin (8-6) was the hard luck loser, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking one over eight innings. It was his first major-league complete game.

Taking the hill for the Oakland today will be Lenny DiNardo, who is in search of his third straight win. On Tuesday, the left-hander limited the Angels to just one earned run and three hits over 6 2/3 innings of a 4-3 triumph. With the win, DiNardo improved to 2-2 with a 2.08 ERA in eight appearances, five starts, on the road.

DiNardo has made four appearances against the Mariners in his career, but he has yet to earn a decision despite a 1.54 ERA over that span. His only career start against Seattle came earlier this month when he gave up just three hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings on July 7th.

Jarrod Washburn will oppose DiNardo today and he is in search of his first victory since winning three in a row from June 23-July 4. The veteran left- hander is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in his last three starts, although he did not pitch that poorly against Texas on Tuesday. In that outing, Washburn allowed three earned runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-3 loss. He did not receive a decision.

In his career against the A’s, Washburn is 8-12 with a 3.87 ERA in 29 starts. He has made two starts versus Oakland this season, posting a 1-0 mark with a 1.20 ERA.

The Athletics dominated last year’s season series with Seattle, taking 17 of the 19 meetings between the divisional foes. The Mariners have had the upper hand this year, though, having won nine of the 12 matchups thus far.

Oakland has compiled a 16-9 record at Safeco Field since the start of the 2005 campaign. DETROIT TIGERS (60-43) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (60-42), 8:09 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Jeremy Bonderman (10-2, 3.69) LA Angels - Dustin Moseley (4-1, 4.06)

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim try to sweep the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium for the first time since the 2004 season, as the two clubs wrap up a three-game set tonight.

On Saturday, Garret Anderson’s three-run homer sparked a seven-run eighth inning as the Angels picked up a 10-3 win. Orlando Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a homer and Reggie Willits finished with three hits and an RBI for the Angels, who have won three in a row and four of six.

Angels starter Joe Saunders went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Scot Shields (3-3) pitched a hitless eighth inning for the win.

Magglio Ordonez homered and Carlos Guillen had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers, who have lost three in a row and five of six.

Tigers starter Andrew Miller yielded two runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in five-plus innings. Jason Grilli (5-3) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs and three hits in two innings of work.

Trying to get Detroit back into the win column will be Jeremy Bonderman, who is coming off a rough outing against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. In that contest, the right-hander was reached for five earned runs and eight hits in seven innings of a 5-3 setback. It was the first road loss of the season for Bonderman, who is now 5-1 with a 4.11 ERA in 10 starts away from home.

In eight career starts against the Angels, Bonderman is 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA. Earlier this season, Bonderman was roughed up by the Angels, allowing a season-high seven runs and 11 hits over six innings of an eventual 9-8, 10- inning loss on April 24th. He, however, responded from that dismal showing by tossing eight scoreless innings in Detroit’s 12-0 victory over the Angels on May 24th.

Dustin Moseley will oppose Bonderman tonight, as he takes the place of Bartolo Colon, who is on the disabled list with right elbow problems. The right-hander has appeared in 31 games out of the bullpen this season, but has not made a start since April 12th. He is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts this season.

Moseley replaced Colon, who left after one inning, on Monday and allowed a season-high five earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings of a 12-6 loss to Oakland. He did not factor in the decision.

In three career relief appearances against Detroit, Moseley is 1-0 thanks to 3 1/3 scoreless innings of work.

Anaheim has won four of the seven meetings with the Tigers this season. The Angels are also 22-12 against the Tigers since the start of the 2004 season. WASHINGTON NATIONALS (45-59) AT NEW YORK METS (58-46), 1:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Billy Traber (2-1, 4.09) New York - John Maine (11-5, 3.04)

John Maine tries for his 12th win of the season this afternoon when the New York Mets wrap up a four-game series with the Washington Nationals at Shea Stadium.

Maine has been a pleasant surprise for the Mets this season and enters today’s finale on the heels of an impressive win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last start on Tuesday. Maine gave up two runs and five hits in seven frames in that one, as he ran his record to 11-5, while lowering his earned run average to 3.04.

The 26-year-old right-hander is 2-1 lifetime against the Nationals with a 4.40 ERA in five starts.

Washington will counter with former Mets’ farmhand Billy Traber, who is 2-1 with a 4.09 ERA. After serving as a reliever for most of the season, Traber made his first start on July 20 and was tagged with the loss to Colorado after allowing two runs (one earned) and three hits in four innings.

The left-hander appeared out of the bullpen on Tuesday, giving up a run and two hits in three innings against Philadelphia.

Traber has faced the Mets four times (one start) and is 1-0 against them with a sparkling 0.79 ERA. In his lone start against them, he held them to one run and four hits in seven innings of a 2-1 victory on August 11.

On Saturday the teams split a day/night doubleheader, as Ryan Langerhans’ RBI single put the Nationals on top in the eighth, and Washington was able to survive a late Mets rally and top New York, 6-5 in the nightcap.

Orlando Hernandez tossed seven solid innings as the Mets edged the Nationals, 3-1, in the opener.

Joel Hanrahan, called up to make his MLB debut for the Nats, allowed four hits and three runs in six innings, fanning seven and walking one. Jon Rauch (7-2) gave up four hits and two runs in only 1 1/3 innings, but was the pitcher of record when the Nationals jumped on top. Chad Cordero pitched the perfect ninth for his 21st save.

Ryan Zimmerman and D’Angelo Jimenez each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run for the Nationals, who have won seven of their last 12. Prior to the game the Nationals announced a two-year contract extension for first baseman Dmitri Young, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI single to celebrate the deal.

Mike Pelfrey started for the Mets, allowing eight hits and three runs with five strikeouts in six innings. Pedro Feliciano (2-2) gave up two hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Carlos Delgado went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI for the Mets, who have dropped three of four.

The Mets continue to play without All-Star centerfielder Carlos Beltran, who missed his fourth straight game with an oblique strain. He will likely miss today’s tilt as well.

New York could also have catcher Paul LoDuca out of the lineup this afternoon. LoDuca suffered a hamstring injury in the second game and is expected to have an MRI on Sunday.

The Mets and Nationals have split eight meetings so far in the season.

CHICAGO CUBS (54-48) AT CINCINNATI REDS (45-60), 1:15 P.M. Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Carlos Zambrano (13-7, 3.65) Cincinnati - Matt Belisle (5-7, 5.28)

Carlos Zambrano tries to become the first 14-game winner in the major leagues’ this afternoon when the Chicago Cubs play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Zambrano’s turnaround has pretty much coincided with the Cubs’ push towards first place in the NL Central. Since falling to 5-5 after a loss to the Atlanta Braves on June 1 in a game that featured a dugout brawl between he and his catcher, Zambrano, who is due to become a free agent at season’s end, has won eight of 10 starts and is pitching to a sparkling 1.56 earned run average in those outings.

The 26-year-old right-hander won his third straight start on Tuesday against St. Louis, as he allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings to run his season record to 13-7, while lowering his ERA to 3.65 - almost two full points lower since the loss to the Braves.

Zambrano has lost twice already to the Reds this season, but owns an 8-7 lifetime mark against them with a 3.39 ERA in 23 games, 19 of which have been starts.

Cincinnati will counter with Matt Belisle, who is 5-7 with a 5.28 ERA. Belisle has not won since May 29 and that trend continued in his last start when he was tagged with the loss against the Milwaukee Brewers, who battered him for four runs and six hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

Belisle is 0-2 in his career against the Cubs with a 5.94 ERA in 12 games (one start).

Chicago gained some ground on the Milwaukee Brewers in the second game of this set on Saturday, as Alfonso Soriano homered twice, drove in five runs and scored three times, as the Cubs took advantage of an early exit by Reds’ starter Aaron Harang to beat Cincinnati, 8-1.

Harang (10-3) worked just one inning, allowing a two-run homer to Derrek Lee before leaving with lower back soreness. He was replaced by left-hander Mike Gosling at the start of the second.

It was a tough blow for the Reds, and for Harang, who was unbeaten since dropping a 5-3 decision to Cleveland on May 20th. He had also been perfect at Great American Ball Park since May 5, and held a 3-0 mark and a 2.45 ERA in his last seven home starts coming in.

Brandon Phillips drove in the lone run for Cincinnati, which had a a three- game winning streak halted.

Jason Kendall finished with two hits and two runs scored, and Cliff Floyd also knocked in a run for Chicago, which put the brakes on a two-game skid and pulled within 1 1/2 games of Milwaukee in the Central. The Brewers dropped both games of their day-night doubleheader to St. Louis on Saturday.

Cubs starter Sean Marshall (5-4) allowed just one run on six hits, walked one and struck out three over six-plus innings to earn his first win in five starts.

The Reds have bested the Cubs in five of their eight meetings this year, including a 3-2 mark at home. The teams split 10 games in Cincinnati last season.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (42-60) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (54-49), 1:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Ian Snell (7-8, 3.62) Philadelphia - Kyle Kendrick (4-1, 4.44)

The Philadelphia Phillies will try and complete a three- game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia won the middle contest of this set on Saturday, as Chris Coste’s three-run home run highlighted a season-high eight-run fifth inning to help the Phillies to a 10-5 win. Coste had a career-high four RBI and Shane Victorino ended 2-for-3 and scored three times for the Phillies, who have won seven of their last eight.

Tadahito Iguchi, acquired from the White Sox on Friday and playing in place of the injured Chase Utley, finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in his Phillies debut.

J.D. Durbin (3-2), who was brilliant against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, allowed five runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts over five frames. The 25-year-old right-hander got his first home win this season while facing the Pirates for the first time.

Reliever Brett Myers, activated from the disabled list Friday, threw a perfect ninth inning in his first appearance since May 23, as the Phillies moved within 3 1/2 games of the Mets for the top spot in the NL East.

Left-hander Shane Youman (2-3), also coming off a solid start in his last trip to the hill, allowed seven runs - six earned - on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts over four-plus frames in his first-ever appearance against the Phils.

Freddy Sanchez homered for the Pirates, who have dropped five of six. Xavier Nady ended 2-for-4 with two RBI in the loss. Jason Bay also had a pair of hits and scored a run.

Getting the call for the Phillies today will be rookie right-hander Kyle Kendrick, who is 4-1 with a 4.44 earned run average. Kendrick, who has never faced the Pirates, received a no-decision in his last start on Tuesday against Washington, as he surrendered three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh will counter with righty Ian Snell, who has lost his last three starts and four of his last five decisions. Snell’s latest loss came against the Mets on Tuesday, as he allowed six runs and 10 hits in four innings to fall to 7-8, while raising his ERA to 3.62.

Snell is 2-1 lifetime against the Phillies with a 4.26 ERA in three starts. He beat them twice last season, though, while pitching to a miniscule 0.64 ERA.

This is the first series between the two clubs this season after they split six games in 2006.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (55-48) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (46-58), 2:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Tim Stauffer (0-0, 0.00) Houston - Jason Jennings (2-6, 4.74)

Tim Stauffer makes his first start of the season this afternoon when the San Diego Padres play the finale of their four-game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Stauffer will be starting in place of the major leagues’ leader in earned run average, Chris Young, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with an oblique strain.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who made one start for the Padres last season, was 5-4 with a 5.34 ERA in 20 games (15 starts) for Triple-A Portland.

Houston will counter with right-hander Jason Jennings, who is just 2-6 with a 4.74 ERA in his initial season with the Astros. Jennings, though, snapped a five-start losing streak in his last outing on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he allowed three runs and three hits in six innings to nail down his first home victory of the season.

Jennings has faced the Padres 21 times and is 9-5 against them with a 4.41 ERA.

In the third game of this set on Saturday, Roy Oswalt continued his dominance of San Diego, allowing just one run and fanning 10 over seven innings to help the Astros to a 3-1 win. Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer, his third long ball in four games for the Astros, who have won four of their last five.

Oswalt (10-6), who scattered just three hits and walked a batter, has faced the Padres ten times (eight starts) in his career and is 7-1 against them. The 29-year-old right-hander, who skipped his last outing due to an upper chest injury, also lowered his earned run average on the season to 3.63.

With his 108th career win (in his 200th career start), Oswalt passed J.R. Richard and moved into a tie for fourth place on the franchise’s all-time wins list.

Greg Maddux (7-8) surrendered five hits, three runs and a pair of walks over six innings for the Padres. The future Hall-of-Famer is now winless in his last six starts dating back to July 3, going 0-4 in that span. His last win came in San Diego’s 4-2 victory over San Francisco on June 27.

Adrian Gonzalez knocked in the lone run for the Padres, who have dropped seven of their last nine games.

Houston also made some off the field news on Saturday, as it acquired infielder Ty WIgginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for reliever Dan Wheeler. Wigginton hit .275 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 98 games for the Devil Rays this season.

San Diego and Houston are playing their first series since both ballclubs split six meetings in 2006. The Astros are 10-7, though, in the last 17 matchups. MILWAUKEE BREWERS (57-48) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (48-53), 2:15 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 2.18) St. Louis - Kip Wells (4-13, 5.57)

The Milwaukee Brewers try and avoid their third straight loss this afternoon when they play the finale of their four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Milwaukee dropped both ends of a day/night doubleheader to the Cards on Saturday.

In the second game of the double-dip, Anthony Reyes held the Brewers to two hits over six solid innings to avoid becoming the first-ever Cardinals pitcher to drop 13 straight decisions, as St. Louis earned the sweep with a 5-2 win.

Reyes (1-10), recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start the game, was 0-10 with a 6.40 ERA in the majors this season. He had dropped 12 straight decisions dating back to last season, matching Bill Kissinger’s franchise record set from 1896-97, and surrendered just two runs with four strikeouts and a walk and Jason Isringhausen a perfect ninth for his 20th save of the season.

David Eckstein went 2-for-5 and scored twice for the Cardinals, who scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Brewers, 7-6, in the opener of the doubleheader. Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen both finished 2- for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the second game.

Corey Hart homered for the Brewers, who have lost four of five and saw their lead in the National League Central over the second-place Cubs dwindle to 1 1/2 games. Prince Fielder doubled in the second for the only other Milwaukee hit.

Left-hander Chris Capuano (5-7), who is winless since beating the Washington Nationals back on May 7, allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings for Milwaukee.

Hoping to stop the bleeding today for the Brewers will be 21-year-old righty Yovani Gallardo, who has won his last two starts in impressive fashion in place of the injured Ben Sheets.

Gallardo, who has never faced the Cardinals, topped the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, as he allowed a run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings to run his season record to 3-1, while lowering his ERA to 2.18.

In his five starts this season, though, Gallardo is 3-0 with a 1.97 ERA.

St. Louis will counter with righty Kip Wells, who will try and avoid becoming the first 14-game loser in the majors this season. Wells, who is 4-13 with a 5.57 ERA, was tagged with yet another loss on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, who reached him for three runs (two earned) on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of 4-3 loss.

Wells has lost twice already this season to the Brewers and is 6-8 lifetime against them with a 4.30 ERA in 19 starts. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (57-47) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (52-51), 3:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Chad Billingsley (7-0, 3.38) Colorado - Ubaldo Jimenez (0-0, 3.75)

Chad Billingsley tries to remain unbeaten on the season this afternoon when the Los Angeles Dodgers play the final game of their rain- shortened three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Billingsley enters today’s tilt on the heels of the first complete game of his career on Monday against Houston. Billingsley allowed two runs and five hits in that one, as he ran his record to 7-0, while lowering his ERA to 3.38.

The 23-year-old right-hander will be making his second-ever start against the Rockies and will be looking to record his first decision against them. In three games, though, he has pitched to an 8.00 ERA.

Colorado will counter with a 23-year-old right-hander of its own in Ubaldo Jimenez, who will be making his third start of the season. Jimenez has not recorded a decision in his previous two starts, but has allowed five runs in 12 innings this season.

Jimenez faced the Dodgers one other time in a relief role and gave up two hits in a scoreless inning of work.

In the second game of this set on Saturday, Jeff Francis pitched into the eighth inning, and Colorado used the long ball to cruise to a 6-2 win. Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and Garrett Atkins all homered for the Rockies, who have won two of three.

Francis (11-5) yielded two runs on seven hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five in 7 2/3 innings. The left-hander has won six straight decisions and is unbeaten in his last nine starts. His last loss came on June 8 at Baltimore.

Brett Tomko (2-8) allowed five runs and seven hits, walked four and fanned four over six innings for the Dodgers, who have dropped three of four and are just one percentage point ahead of Arizona for the lead in the NL West.

The Diamondbacks beat Atlanta, 4-3, in extra innings on Saturday.

Jeff Kent finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored, extending his streak of reaching base safely to 37 straight games, the longest in the majors this season.

Despite last night’s loss, the Dodgers are still 4-3 this season against the Rockies and have won 19 of their last 26 overall against the Rockies, including nine of their last 13 in Denver. FLORIDA MARLINS (48-56) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (44-57), 4:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Sergio Mitre (4-5, 3.34) San Francisco - Matt Morris (7-6, 4.16)

Barry Bonds will try and match Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record this afternoon when the San Francisco Giants try and complete a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins at AT&T Park.

One night after pulling within one of Aaron with home run No. 754, Bonds finished 0-for-3 with a walk, but the Giants used a late rally to post a 4-3 victory on Saturday against Florida.

Bonds was on deck in the ninth inning, but Ray Durham singled to the warning track in right field to drive in pinch-runner Fred Lewis with the winning run, capping a two-run frame as the Giants posted their fourth straight win.

If Bonds wants to become the all-time home run king in front of his own fans, he will have to deliver in a big way today, as the Giants head to the road after today’s tilt for six games at Los Angeles and San Diego.

Kevin Gregg (0-4) blew the save last night in the ninth, walking pinch-hitter Dave Roberts and then giving up a pinch-hit double to right field by Mark Sweeney. The speedy Roberts beat the relay throw home with a nifty slide and Lewis came on to run for Sweeney, who got congratulatory pats in the dugout.

Omar Vizquel then put down a sacrifice bunt, moving Lewis to third, and Durham followed with a blast over the head of Jeremy Hermida in right field, all as Bonds stood on deck, ready for another chance for homer No. 755.

Jack Taschner (2-0) struck out two over an inning to get the victory.

Miguel Cabrera belted a two-run homer for Florida, which has lost six in a row.

Hoping to keep Bonds in the park will be right-hander Sergio Mitre, who is 4-5 on the year with a 3.34 ERA. Mitre, who will be making his first-ever start against the Giants, was tagged with the loss after a brutal outing in his last start on Tuesday in Arizona when he was ripped for seven runs and eight hits in three innings.

Mitre has never faced Bonds.

San Francisco will counter with veteran Matt Morris, who is winless in his last seven starts. Morris, who is 7-6 with a 4.16 ERA this season, received a no-decision against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, as he surrendered four runs and eight hits in six innings of a 7-5 loss.

Morris has faced the Marlins 13 times (10 starts) and s 7-4 against them with a 4.23 ERA.

San Francisco and Florida are playing their first series since splitting six matchups in 2006. With a win today, though, the Giants will post their first home sweep of the Marlins since turning the trick from August 14-16, 2001.

ATLANTA BRAVES (54-51) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (58-48), 4:40 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Tim Hudson (10-5, 3.24) Arizona - Livan Hernandez (6-6, 4.59)

The Arizona Diamondbacks try and win their ninth straight game this afternoon when they attempt to complete their first-ever three-game sweep at home of the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field.

The D-Backs posted their third straight walk-off win on Saturday, as Conor Jackson’s RBI single in the 10th inning gave Arizona a 4-3 victory. A win today would give Arizona its first nine-game winning streak since a franchise- record 12-game run June 18-30, 2003.

Chris Young worked a leadoff walk in the 10th, and moved up on Orlando Hudson’s sacrifice bunt. Eric Byrnes was then intentionally walked before the Braves brought on reliever Chad Paronto to face Jackson. Paronto, on his 32nd birthday, gave up a single to center on his first pitch, and Young came around to win the game for the D-Backs.

The game-winning hit capped a three-hit, two-RBI game for Jackson, as the Diamondbacks moved into a virtual tie for first place in the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Starter Doug Davis held the Braves to five hits and three runs through seven innings, striking out six and walking three, and reliever Juan Cruz (5-1) tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

John Smoltz held Arizona to seven hits and three runs through seven innings. Tyler Yates (2-3) was responsible for the winning run, and Matt Diaz had a two-run double for the Braves, who have dropped four straight.

Hoping to keep Arizona rolling today will be veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez, who is 6-6 with a 4.59 ERA. Hernandez picked up his first win in 10 starts on Tuesday against Florida, as he allowed a run on seven hits in seven innings.

Hernandez has been atrocious in his career against the Braves, going just 3-14 with a 5.09 ERA in 23 games, 22 of which have been starts.

Atlanta will counter with righty Tim Hudson, who is unbeaten in his last six outings. Hudson, who is 10-5 with a 3.24 ERA, received a no-decision on Tuesday against San Francisco, allowing three runs and six hits in 8 2/3 innings of his team’s 7-5 win.

Hudson has faced the Diamondbacks five times and is a perfect 3-0 against them with a sparkling 1.91 ERA.

The Diamondbacks dominated the season series last year, winning six of seven over Atlanta. However, the Braves’ lone win came in Arizona.

Although the Diamondbacks have never swept the Braves in Arizona, they did pull off a four-game sweep in the teams’ last meeting in Atlanta, from June 1-4, 2006.

Saturday, July 28th (All times eastern)

Chicago Cubs (53-48) at Cincinnati Reds (45-59), 7:10 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Sean Marshall (4-4, 3.25) Cincinnati - Aaron Harang (10-2, 3.45)

The Chicago Cubs try to put the brakes on a two-game losing streak this evening when they play the second of three games versus the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

The Cubs lost for the fourth time in six chances on Friday, as Edwin Encarnacion singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Reds to a 5-4 win in the series opener.

Bob Howry (5-6) started the inning on the hill for Chicago and allowed a leadoff single to Norris Hopper. Pinch-hitter Juan Castro moved Hopper over with a sacrifice bunt, and Encarnacion followed by ripping a 3-2 pitch to left that allowed Hopper to score standing.

The euphoria came after the Cubs scored a pair of runs off David Weathers (2-3) in the top of the frame. Aramis Ramirez ignited the rally with a single to left, and a base hit by Cliff Floyd put runners at the corners with no outs. Mark DeRosa’s base hit cut it to 4-3, and after Jacque Jones was retired on a fielder’s choice, Jason Kendall’s single to left scored pinch-runner Angel Pagan with the tying run.

It was the fifth blown save for Weathers, who couldn’t hold the lead for starter Bronson Arroyo after the right-hander allowed two runs on four hits, with a walk and five strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings.

Encarnacion also added a solo homer for the Reds, who have won four of their last five games.

DeRosa finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Ryan Theriot had a pair of hits and knocked in a run for the Cubs, who are still a major league-best 31-17 since June 3.

Chicago, which is three games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the NL Central, has not lost three in a row since its season-high six-game slide from May 27-June 2.

Hoping to get the Cubs back in the win column tonight will be lanky left- hander Sean Marshall, who is winless in his last four starts. Marshall suffered the loss on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite a pretty solid effort. He surrendered a run on five hits in six innings of that one, but still fell to 4-4 to go along with a 3.25 ERA in his team’s 3-0 setback.

Marshall has never faced the Reds.

Cincinnati will counter with Aaron Harang, who is 10-2 with a 3.45 ERA. Harang had one of the most impressive outings of his career in his last trip to the hill on Monday against Milwaukee when he allowed a run and seven hits in 10 innings. Harang didn’t get the victory in that one, but Cincinnati won the contest and has now won his last nine starts.

Harang defeated the Cubs earlier in the year and is 6-1 lifetime against them with a 4.23 ERA in 11 starts.

The 29-year-old right-hander, who hasn’t lost at Great American Ball Park since May 5, is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last seven home starts.

The Reds have bested the Cubs in five of their seven meetings this year, including a 3-1 mark at home. The teams split 10 games in Cincinnati last season.

Saturday, July 28th (All times eastern)

DETROIT TIGERS (60-42) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (59-42), 3:55 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Andrew Miller (5-3, 3.78) LA Angels - Joe Saunders (4-0, 2.89)

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gun for their third straight win today, as they continue their three-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium.

On Friday, Chone Figgins went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored and Gary Matthews Jr. finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, as the Angels defeated the Tigers, 11-6, in the series’ opener.

Maicer Izturis drove in three runs for the Angels, who have won two in a row and three of five.

Jered Weaver (7-5) went 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits, while walking one and striking out three.

Placido Polanco tied a career-high for hits, going 5-for-5 with a homer, and Curtis Granderson also homered for the Tigers, who have lost two in a row and four of five.

Nate Robertson (6-8) was tagged for eight runs on 10 hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Trying to get the Tigers back on track today will be rookie Andrew Miller, who is coming off a rough outing against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. In that game, the 22-year-old left-hander was tagged for five earned runs and a career-high 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision.

Miller, who has never faced the Angels before, is an even 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA in five starts away from home this season.

Joe Saunders counters for the Angels and he will look to solidify his spot in the starting rotation. The young left-hander has been called upon for emergency starts several times this season and he has fared well, winning four straight decisions and allowing three runs or fewer in five of his starts.

In his last start on Sunday, Saunders held the Minnesota Twins to just two earned runs and six hits over seven innings of a 7-2 victory. It was another solid performance by Saunders, who was just 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA in 14 starts for Triple-A Salt Lake City this season.

Saunders made his first and only career appearance against the Tigers last September, yielding one earned run and five hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. He fanned five, but did not factor in the decision.

Detroit and Anaheim have split six prior meetings this season. The Angels, however, are 21-12 against the Tigers since the start of the 2004 season.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (49-54) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (55-46), 4:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Chad Gaudin (8-5, 3.66) Seattle - Horacio Ramirez (5-3, 6.75)

With their longest losing streak of the season now behind them, the Seattle Mariners will try to continue their run at first place today, as they resume a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.

Last night, Felix Hernandez struck out seven batters over seven solid innings, as the Mariners snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 7-1 victory. Jose Guillen homered for the Mariners, who sit four games back of the Los Angeles Angels for first place in the AL West. Jose Vidro and Ichiro Suzuki both had a pair of hits, scored twice, and drove in a run.

Hernandez (7-6) snapped a two-start losing streak by allowing just one run on seven hits while walking only two.

Nick Swisher homered for the Athletics, who have lost two of their last three. Mark Kotsay ended 2-for-4 in the loss.

Dallas Braden (1-6) allowed seven runs - four earned - on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts over four frames for Oakland.

Chad Gaudin will toe the rubber for the A’s today and he is in desperate need of a solid start. The young right-hander has struggled greatly over his last three starts, going 0-2 with a 9.88 ERA and 17 walks in 13 2/3 innings. On Monday, Gaudin was reached for five earned runs and six hits in just 3 2/3 innings of an eventual 12-6 win over the Angels.

In his career versus the Mariners, Gaudin is 2-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 10 games, three starts. In his only start versus Seattle this season, Gaudin surrendered two earned runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 3-2 triumph on July 5th.

Countering for the Mariners will be Horacio Ramirez, who is coming off one of his worst starts of the season in an 8-7 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday. In that contest, the left-hander was tagged for eight earned runs and 11 hits in just 4 2/3 innings of work.

Ramirez, however, has been dominant at home this season, winning all five of his starts while posting a 2.27 ERA over that period.

Ramirez is 1-0 with a 7.59 ERA in two career starts versus the A’s, but he has not faced them since 2005.

The Athletics dominated last year’s season series with Seattle, taking 17 of the 19 meetings between the divisional foes. The Mariners have had the upper hand this year, though, having won eight of the 11 matchups thus far.

Oakland has compiled a 16-8 record at Safeco Field since the start of the 2005 campaign.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (51-51) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (47-56), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Roy Halladay (11-4, 4.15) Chicago - Mark Buehrle (7-6, 3.23)

In what should be a pitcher’s duel, the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Chicago White Sox in the second tilt of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field tonight.

The Blue Jays will send their ace Roy Halladay to the hill tonight, while the White Sox will counter with their top pitcher, Mark Buehrle. These two pitchers locked horns back on May 31st, with Toronto posting a 2-0 win. Halladay yielded six hits over seven scoreless innings for the win, while Buehrle allowed just two solo homers in a complete game effort.

Halladay appears to be ready for a repeat effort, as he is coming off a dominant outing against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. In that game, the right-hander tossed a three-hit complete game shutout in an 8-0 triumph.

Halladay, who is 2-2 with a 3.08 ERA in seven career starts against the White Sox, has struggled a bit on the road this season, going 4-3 with a 5.25 ERA.

While Halladay appears to be on the rise, the same can’t be said about Buehrle, who was pounded for a season-high seven earned runs and 14 hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 9-6 loss against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. It was the first time since June 5th that the left-hander had allowed more than two earned runs in a game.

In nine career appearances, including eight starts, versus Toronto, Buehrle is an even 2-2 with a 3.52 ERA.

Last night, Juan Uribe’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth put Chicago on top, and it held on for a 4-3 win over Toronto the series opener. Jermaine Dye went 3-for-4 with a solo homer for the White Sox, who have won four out of five.

Jon Garland (8-7) gave up 10 hits, but only three runs in 7 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking one. Bobby Jenks pitched the scoreless ninth for his 29th save.

Reed Johnson went 4-for-5 for the Blue Jays, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.

Josh Towers (5-7) gave up seven hits and four runs with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

The Blue Jays and White Sox met in Toronto from May 31-June 3, with the Blue Jays winning three of four. Chicago held a slight 5-4 edge in the series last year.

NEW YORK YANKEES (55-48) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (48-54), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Roger Clemens (3-4, 3.72) Baltimore - Brian Burres (4-4, 4.33)

Roger Clemens looks to give New York another solid start tonight, as the Yankees continue their series with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Clemens has been sharp for the Yankees this season, although he has just a 3-4 record to show for it. Still, the 24 year veteran has allowed three earned runs or fewer in six of his nine starts this season, while holding batters to just a .239 average.

In his last start on Monday, Clemens held the Kansas City Royals to two earned runs and four hits over seven strong innings of a 9-2 triumph. The right-hander didn’t surrender a single walk in picking up his first win in four road starts this season.

Clemens has fared well in his career versus the Orioles, going 22-13 with a 3.48 ERA in 50 starts. Earlier this season, however, Clemens was reached for four earned runs and seven hits in six innings of a 4-0 loss to Baltimore on June 27th.

Getting the nod for the Orioles tonight will be Brian Burres, who is trying to end a personal two-game slide. The left-hander was last on the hill on July 16th, when he allowed four earned runs and nine hits in six innings of a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

In his career versus the Yankees, Burres is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three relief appearances.

Burres will try to duplicate the efforts of last night’s starter Jeremy Guthrie, who hurled six solid innings in a 4-2 win over New York.

Guthrie (7-3) allowed just two runs on six hits to win his third straight start for the Orioles, who have beaten New York five of seven times this season.

Ramon Hernandez was 3-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs for Baltimore while Jay Gibbons was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Alex Rodriguez, who was celebrating his 32nd birthday, finished 0-for-2 with a run scored and remained stuck on 499 career homers. Rodriguez is vying to become the youngest man in major league history to reach 500 home runs.

Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano each drove in a run for New York.

Andy Pettitte (6-7) was the hard-luck loser for the Yankees, who are now eight games behind Boston in the AL East and five games behind Cleveland in the wild card race. The left-hander surrendered three runs on eight hits in seven innings.

It wasn’t all bad for the Yankees, however. Before the clubs began their regularly scheduled game, they finished a contest that was suspended on June 28 in the top of the eighth inning with the Yankees leading 8-6. New York held on in that one for an 8-7 win when Mariano Rivera nailed things down despite a shaky ninth inning.

The Orioles won the first two tests of that late June series with the Bronx Bombers at Camden Yards prior to last night’s games. The Yankees went 7-3 in Baltimore last season.

MINNESOTA TWINS (51-51) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (60-43), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Johan Santana (11-8, 2.94) Cleveland - Jake Westbrook (1-6, 6.20)

The struggling Minnesota Twins will attempt to snap a season-high five-game losing streak tonight, as they take on the Cleveland Indians in the second contest of a three-game series at Jacobs Field.

On Friday, Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run and a two- run home run as Cleveland pounded Minnesota 10-4. Josh Barfield went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while newly- acquired Kenny Lofton finished 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Indians, who had lost three of four coming into the game.

Paul Byrd (9-4) got the win as he gave up four runs on 10 hits in seven-plus innings of work.

Jason Kubel hit a two-run home run while Justin Morneau went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who have dropped eight of their last 10 outings to fall well back of Detroit and Cleveland in the AL Central standings. The Twins now sit nine games behind the first-place Tigers, who lead the Indians by a 1/2 game at the moment.

Boof Bonser (5-7) dropped his fifth straight decision as he gave up six runs — four earned — on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work, his shortest outing of the season.

The Twins will turn to their ace, Johan Santana, to get them back on track tonight. The dominant left-hander, however, has dropped two straight starts and is coming off his worst outing of the season in a 6-4 loss at Toronto on Monday. In that game, Santana yielded a season-high six earned runs and seven hits in just five innings of work. He surrendered four home runs and struck out just four in the setback.

Santana, who is 7-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 11 road starts this season, is an incredible 41-6 with a 2.16 ERA in 62 second-half starts since the 2003 season.

In his career versus Cleveland, Santana is 7-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 26 appearances, 16 starts. Santana, however, is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against the Indians this season.

Jake Westbrook gets the starting nod for the Indians tonight and he is in search of his first win in more than three months. The right-hander, who missed seven weeks between May and June because of a strained abdominal muscle, hasn’t won since defeating the Baltimore Orioles on April 27th. Since that win, Westbrook has gone 0-4 with a 5.03 ERA in seven starts.

In his last start on Monday, Westbrook was tagged for five earned runs and 10 hits in six innings of a 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The loss dropped him to 1-3 at home, where has posted a 4.42 ERA over seven starts this season.

Westbrook has made 14 lifetime starts against Minnesota, going 6-8 with a 3.65 ERA over that span.

Cleveland has won all six encounters with the Twins this season. The teams will also face one another four times at the Metrodome from August 3-6.

BOSTON RED SOX (63-40) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-64), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Jon Lester (1-0, 3.00) Tampa Bay - James Shields (8-6, 4.44)

The Boston Red Sox will try to send the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to their eighth straight loss tonight, as the two teams resume a three- game series at Tropicana Field.

On Friday, Tim Wakefield allowed one run over six innings and Kevin Youkilis hit a three-run homer as Boston picked up a 7-1 win. Coco Crisp drove in two runs and Manny Ramirez had two hits for the Red Sox, who have won seven of eight.

Wakefield (12-9) surrendered six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.

Tampa Bay starter Jason Hammel (1-1) went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on just one hit and two walks while striking out four.

Akinori Iwamura and BJ Upton had two hits apiece and Dioner Navarro also had two hits with an RBI for the Devil Rays, who have lost seven in a row and 24 of 29.

Tampa Bay will try to end their losing ways by sending James Shields to the hill tonight. The right-hander, however, has struggled greatly of late, going 2-6 with a 7.26 ERA in eight outings since June 15th. On Sunday, Shields put forth the worst effort of his career, yielding 10 earned runs and 10 hits in just 3 1/3 innings of a 21-4 loss to the New York Yankees.

In two career starts versus Boston, Shields is 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA.

Getting the call for the Red Sox will be Jon Lester, who is set to make his second start since returning from a fight with cancer. In his debut on Monday, the young left-hander allowed just two earned runs and five hits over six strong innings of a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. He struck out six and walked three in the triumph.

Lester, who went 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts for the Red Sox last season, has never faced Tampa Bay in his brief career.

While Boston has dominated Tampa Bay at home in the series, going 27-5 against them at Fenway since the start of the 2004 season, the club is just 14-15 in St. Petersburg over that same span.

True to form, the Red Sox swept a three-game set against the Devil Rays at home from July 3-5.

TEXAS RANGERS (46-57) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (45-57), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Kevin Millwood (7-8, 5.56) Kansas City - Odalis Perez (5-9, 5.80)

A couple of teams residing at the bottom of their respective division standings meet up at Kauffman Stadium tonight, as the Texas Rangers do battle with the Kansas City Royals in the second contest of a three-game series.

Neither team has had much success this season with the Rangers bringing up the rear in the AL West and the Royals doing the same in the AL Central.

These two teams met for the first time this season on Friday, a game won by the Royals 6-1.

Mark Grudzielanek had three hits, drove in a run, and scored a run, while Ross Gload went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the win. Billy Butler homered for the Royals, who won their second straight.

Brian Bannister (7-6) scattered four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over seven innings for KC. The rookie right-hander has won his last two starts, scattering eight hits and just one run in 14 innings.

Sammy Sosa homered for Texas, which had a four-game winning streak snapped. He recorded the only run, and was the lone Ranger with two hits.

Jamey Wright (3-3), who posted back-to-back wins for Texas before control problems plagued him the last time out, allowed five runs on 10 hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

Getting the call for the Rangers tonight will be Kevin Millwood, who is 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA in five starts this month. On Monday, the right-hander gave up four earned runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of an 8-7 triumph over the Seattle Mariners.

In his career against the Royals, Millwood is 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA in five starts. He has yet to lose at Kauffman Stadium in his career, posting a 3-0 mark with a 2.25 ERA in three starts.

Odalis Perez will get the nod for the Royals tonight, but that may not be a good thing considering he is 0-5 with a 6.17 ERA over his last eight home starts. Those struggles continued on Monday, when he was reached for four earned runs and eight hits over seven innings of a 9-2 loss to the New York Yankees.

The left-hander has never faced the Rangers in his major league career.

This series marks the first meeting between the Royals and Rangers in 2007. Both clubs split six games last year.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (44-58) AT NEW YORK METS (57-45), 12:10 P.M. & 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Game One: Washington - Tim Redding (1-2, 2.92) New York - Orlando Hernandez (6-4, 3.14)

Game Two: Washington - Joel Hanrahan (0-0.0.00) New York - Mike Pelfrey (0-7, 6.12)

The New York Mets try to get back in the win column today when the play a day/night doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Shea Stadium.

The Mets dropped their second straight game in the opener of this four-game set on Friday, as Mike Bacsik pitched seven strong innings, leading the Nationals to a 6-2 win.

Bacsik (4-6) scattered eight hits and allowed two runs with no strikeouts and one walk. Ryan Church and Austin Kearns each homered for the Nationals, who have won four of six.

Jorge Sosa (7-6) let up a season-high nine hits and five runs in six innings of work.

Moises Alou returned to left field for the Mets. Alou, who had been sidelined since May 17 with a strained left quad, went 1-for-4 with a double and scored a run for New York, which had won five of six before its current slide.

The Mets continued to be without centerfielder Carlos Beltran, who missed his third straight game with a strained abdomen. Beltran will likely miss today’s doubleheader and could be headed to the disabled list.

Orlando Hernandez gets the call for the Mets in the first game. Hernandez, who is 6-4 with a 3.14 earned run average on the season, picked up a no decision on Sunday against Los Angeles, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Hernandez lost to the Nats earlier in the year and is 2-2 lifetime against them with a 3.72 ERA in four starts.

Opposing him will be right-hander Tim Redding, who is 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA. Redding, who is 1-0 lifetime versus the Mets, was impressive against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, but did not get a decision. Redding scattered five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings of his team’s 3-0 win.

Mike Pelfrey will take the hill for the Mets in the nightcap, as he searches for his first win of the season. The right-hander, who is 0-7 with a 6.12 ERA, will be starting for the first time since July 6, when he allowed four runs over six innings in a 4-0 loss at Houston.

Pelfrey, who hasn’t won since July 18, 2006, did not receive a decision in his only career appearance against the Nationals on April 13, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Toeing the rubber for the Nationals tonight will be 26-year-old righty Joel Hanrahan, who will be making his major league debut. Hanrahan, taking the place of the injured Jason Bergmann, was 5-4 with a 3.70 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings for Triple-A Columbus this season.

The Mets and Nationals have split six meetings so far in the season.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (57-46) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (46-53), 1:10 P.M. & 8:10 P.M

Probable Starting Pitchers: Game One: Milwaukee - Manny Parra (0-0, 3.86) St. Louis - Brad Thompson (6-4, 4.93)

Game Two: Milwaukee - Chris Capuano (5-6, 4.64) St. Louis - Anthony Reyes (0-10, 6.40)

The Milwaukee Brewers hope to stay on the winning track this evening when they continue their four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals with a day/night doubleheader at Busch Stadium.

The doubleheader was scheduled to make up for an April 13 rainout.

Milwaukee’s offense got this series off on the right note on Friday, as Corey Hart had three hits, including a homer, and knocked in two runs to lead the Brewers to a 12-2 win.

Bill Hall also had three hits and two RBI, J.J. Hardy drove in two runs and Tony Graffanino knocked in three for the Brewers, who had 19 hits, snapped a two-game skid and widened their lead to three games over the Chicago Cubs atop the NL Central.

Kevin Mench added four hits and scored three times in the win.

Claudio Vargas (9-2) picked up the win and allowed nine hits and two runs in eight innings, while walking one and fanning eight. Scott Linebrink, acquired from the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, threw the final inning for Milwaukee.

Mike Maroth (0-4) was charged with 11 hits and seven runs over four-plus innings to suffer the loss.

Gary Bennett drove in both runs for the Cardinals, losers in three of their last four games overall and five of six to the Brewers this season.

Heading to the hill in game one for the Brewers will be lefty Manny Parra, who will be making his first ever start. Parra has made two relief appearances this season and has pitched to a 3.86 earned run average in those outings.

Opposing the rookie will be righty Brad Thompson, who is 6-4 with a 4.93 ERA. Thompson received a no-decision on Sunday against Atlanta, as he allowed two runs and six hits in six innings of his team’s 7-2 win.

Thompson will be starting against the Brewers for the first time in his career this afternoon, but has faced them 13 times out of the bullpen without recording a decision.

In the nightcap Milwaukee will pin its hopes on left-hander Chris Capuano, who is winless since beating the Washington Nationals back on May 7. Capuano, though, has pitched well in his last two starts, but has nothing to show for it. Against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday Capuano allowed a run on seven hits in eight innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team’s 2-1 loss.

Capuano, who is 5-6 with a 4.64 ERA, is 4-3 lifetime against the Cards with a 5.14 ERA.

St. Louis will recall Anthony Reyes from Triple-A to start the second game. Reyes was 0-10 with a 6.40 ERA before being sent to Memphis. He has dropped 12 straight decisions dating back to last season, matching Bill Kissinger’s franchise record set from 1896-97.

Reyes has faced the Brewers six times (five starts) in his young career and is 2-2 with a 4.94 ERA against them.

ATLANTA BRAVES (54-50) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (57-48), 3:55 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - John Smoltz (10-5, 2.78) Arizona - Doug Davis (7-10, 4.13)

The Arizona Diamondbacks go for their eighth straight win this afternoon when they play the middle contest of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field.

Arizona won in dramatic fashion once again on Friday, as Tony Clark led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a game-winning home run to lift the Diamondbacks to an 8-7 victory.

Clark, who came into the game in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter, went down and golfed a 2-2 pitch from Wilfredo Ledezma (0-2) over the wall in left for his 10th home run of the year. It was the first right-handed home run for the switch hitter this year and also the first home run Ledezma has allowed all season.

Stephen Drew, Eric Byrnes, who won Thursday’s game with a walk-off homer, and Chris Young also homered for the streaking Diamondbacks, who have won eight of 10.

Yusmeiro Petit started on the hill and allowed five runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Edgar Gonzalez (4-2) earned the win with two innings of perfect relief.

The ageless Julio Franco was 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Brian McCann finished 1-for-5 with a two-run double for the Braves, who lost their third straight game.

Doug Davis gets the call for the Diamondbacks today, as he tries to win his third straight decision. Davis picked up the win on Monday against Florida, as he allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings to run his record to 7-10 to go along with a 4.13 ERA.

Davis has made two career starts against the Braves, but had not recorded a decision, despite pitching to a 2.25 ERA in those outings.

Atlanta will counter with 40-year-old right-hander John Smoltz, who is 10-5 with a 2.78 ERA. Smoltz earned the victory on Monday against Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in seven innings.

Smoltz is 2-2 lifetime against the D-Backs with three saves and a 3.46 ERA in 12 games, five of which have been starts.

The Diamondbacks dominated the season series last year, winning six of seven over Atlanta. However, the Braves’ lone win came in Arizona.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (55-47) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (45-58), 3:55 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Greg Maddux (7-7, 4.19) Houston - Roy Oswalt (9-6, 3.80)

Roy Oswalt tries to continue his dominance of the San Diego Padres this afternoon when the Houston Astros play the third game of their four-game series against them at Minute Maid Park.

Oswalt has faced the Padres nine times (seven starts) in his career and is 6-1 against them with a 2.44 earned run average. He did not meet them last season, but was 2-0 with a sparkling 1.80 ERA against them in 2005.

The 29-year-old right-hander, whose last scheduled outing was skipped due to an upper chest injury, is 9-6 this season and is coming off a win in his last start on July 20 in Pittsburgh. Oswalt allowed a run on seven hits in six innings of that one, as he lowered his ERA on the season to 3.80.

San Diego will counter with future Hall-of-Famer Greg Maddux, who is 7-7 with a 4.19 ERA this season. Maddux did not factor in the decision of his team’s 7-5 loss on Monday in Colorado, as he surrendered two runs and five hits in six innings.

Maddux is 26-14 lifetime against the Astros with a 2.77 ERA in 48 games, 47 of which have been starts. However, he is 0-3 in his last three starts against them with a 5.59 ERA.

In the second game of this series on Friday, Jake Peavy tossed seven solid innings, putting the brakes on a five-start winless streak, as San Diego cruised to a 9-4 win. Brian Giles knocked in a season-high three runs, Geoff Blum finished with two RBI and two runs scored, and Milton Bradley added a solo homer for the Padres, who won for just the second time in eight games.

Peavy (10-5) allowed just one run on four hits, with a pair of walks and eight strikeouts. He had been 0-4 with a 4.06 earned run average in his previous five trips to the mound, including a personal three-game losing streak.

Brian Giles knocked in a season-high three runs, Geoff Blum finished with two RBI and two runs scored, and Milton Bradley added a solo homer for the Padres, who won for just the second time in eight games.

Woody Williams (5-12) yielded five runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out four over six innings in the loss.

Carlos Lee had three hits and knocked in a run for the Astros, who had a three-game winning streak halted.

San Diego and Houston are playing their first series since both ballclubs split six meetings in 2006. The Astros are 9-7, though, in the last 16 matchups.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (42-59) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (53-49), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Shane Youman (2-2, 3.24) Philadelphia - J.D. Durbin (2-2, 5.76)

J.D. Durbin tries to build upon the best start of his career this evening when the Philadelphia Phillies play the middle contest of their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.

Durbin was brilliant against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, as he tossed a five-hit shutout to improve to 2-2 this season, while lowering his earned run average to 5.76.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who is still looking for his first home win this season, has never faced the Pirates.

Pittsburgh will counter with left-hander Shane Youman, who is also coming off a solid start in his last trip to the hill. However, unlike Durbin, Youman was tagged with the loss for his effort on Sunday against Houston. Youman allowed a run on four hits in eight innings of that one, but still fell to 2-2 to go along with a 3.24 ERA.

Youman will be making his first-ever appearance against the Phils tonight.

In its first game without All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, Philadelphia prevailed, as lefty Jamie Moyer won his second straight start in the Phillies’ 8-1 rain-shortened win.

The game was called after seven innings due to the weather.

Moyer (9-8), who had dropped consecutive starts to Houston, Colorado and the Los Angeles Dodgers from July 2-16 before rebounding with a 12-4 defeat of San Diego on July 21, gave up one unearned run on six hits with four strikeouts over seven innings.

Pat Burrell homered and knocked in three runs for the Phillies, who have won six of their last seven. Michael Bourn, playing for the injured Aaron Rowand, who hurt his left shoulder playing tag with children, finished 4-for-4 and scored twice in the win.

Right-hander John Van Benschoten (0-5), returning to the Pittsburgh rotation after having his last turn skipped, gave up seven runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings.

Ronny Paulino went 3-for-3 with an RBI for the Pirates, who have dropped four of five and are at the bottom of the National League.

Utley, meanwhile, had successful surgery on Friday to repair a broken bone in his right hand. Utley, hit by a pitch from Washington’s John Lannan on Thursday, had a pin inserted into his hand during a 20-minute procedure and could miss up to four weeks.

To help ease the loss of Utley, the team acquired second baseman Tadahito Iguchi from the Chicago White Sox on Friday for a minor league pitcher.

This is the first series between the two clubs this season after they split six games in 2006.

CHICAGO CUBS (53-48) AT CINCINNATI REDS (45-59), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Sean Marshall (4-4, 3.25) Cincinnati - Aaron Harang (10-2, 3.45)

The Chicago Cubs try to put the brakes on a two-game losing streak this evening when they play the second of three games versus the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

The Cubs lost for the fourth time in six chances on Friday, as Edwin Encarnacion singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Reds to a 5-4 win in the series opener.

Bob Howry (5-6) started the inning on the hill for Chicago and allowed a leadoff single to Norris Hopper. Pinch-hitter Juan Castro moved Hopper over with a sacrifice bunt, and Encarnacion followed by ripping a 3-2 pitch to left that allowed Hopper to score standing.

The euphoria came after the Cubs scored a pair of runs off David Weathers (2-3) in the top of the frame. Aramis Ramirez ignited the rally with a single to left, and a base hit by Cliff Floyd put runners at the corners with no outs. Mark DeRosa’s base hit cut it to 4-3, and after Jacque Jones was retired on a fielder’s choice, Jason Kendall’s single to left scored pinch-runner Angel Pagan with the tying run.

It was the fifth blown save for Weathers, who couldn’t hold the lead for starter Bronson Arroyo after the right-hander allowed two runs on four hits, with a walk and five strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings.

Encarnacion also added a solo homer for the Reds, who have won four of their last five games.

DeRosa finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Ryan Theriot had a pair of hits and knocked in a run for the Cubs, who are still a major league-best 31-17 since June 3.

Chicago, which is three games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the NL Central, has not lost three in a row since its season-high six-game slide from May 27-June 2.

Hoping to get the Cubs back in the win column tonight will be lanky left- hander Sean Marshall, who is winless in his last four starts. Marshall suffered the loss on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite a pretty solid effort. He surrendered a run on five hits in six innings of that one, but still fell to 4-4 to go along with a 3.25 ERA in his team’s 3-0 setback.

Marshall has never faced the Reds.

Cincinnati will counter with Aaron Harang, who is 10-2 with a 3.45 ERA. Harang had one of the most impressive outings of his career in his last trip to the hill on Monday against Milwaukee when he allowed a run and seven hits in 10 innings. Harang didn’t get the victory in that one, but Cincinnati won the contest and has now won his last nine starts.

Harang defeated the Cubs earlier in the year and is 6-1 lifetime against them with a 4.23 ERA in 11 starts.

The 29-year-old right-hander, who hasn’t lost at Great American Ball Park since May 5, is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last seven home starts.

The Reds have bested the Cubs in five of their seven meetings this year, including a 3-1 mark at home. The teams split 10 games in Cincinnati last season.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (57-46) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (51-51), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Brett Tomko (2-7, 5.42) Colorado - Jeff Francis (10-5, 4.22)

The National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers will try to gain some more breathing room in the standings when they resume what is now a three-game series with the division-rival Colorado Rockies tonight at Coors Field.

This series was slated to be a four-game set, but Friday’s contest was postponed due to rain.

Los Angeles is one game ahead of the surging Arizona Diamondbacks in the division race and recorded a 5-4 win over the Rockies in Thursday’s series opener. All-Star pitcher Brad Penny lasted six innings, but left in the seventh with an abdominal strain. He yielded three runs on five hits before suffering the injury while beating out an infield single.

Penny is now unbeaten over his last 12 starts, going 8-0 over that span. He joins Josh Beckett of Boston, Fausto Carmona and C.C. Sabathia of Cleveland and Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs, for the major league lead with 13 wins.

Takashi Saito pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 26th save.

Rafael Furcal hit a two-run homer and Nomar Garciaparra drove in a pair of runs for the Dodgers, who won for just the third time in eight games.

Taking the ball for LA this evening will be Brett Tomko, who is 2-7 with a 5.42 ERA in 28 games (10 starts) this season. Tomko is 1-0 over his past two starts and did not record a decision his last time out on July 20 against the New York Mets. Tomko was reached for just one unearned run in six innings of a 4-1 loss at Chavez Ravine.

The right-hander will try to improve on his lifetime record against the Rockies, as he is 6-8 with a complete game and a 3.85 earned run average in 24 career games (18 starts).

Tomko faced Colorado on April 10 and failed to record a decision in the 2-1 triumph at Dodger Stadium. He tossed six shutout innings of one-hit ball with a season-best nine strikeouts.

Colorado has dropped four of its last six games to fall 5 1/2 games off the top spot in the NL West. In last night’s loss to the Dodgers, starting pitcher Rodrigo Lopez gave up five hits and three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings for the loss. Lopez was taken out in the seventh with tightness in his right forearm.

Brad Hawpe went 2-for-4 with three RBI for Colorado, who left eight runners stranded and lost for the 19th time in their last 25 games against the Dodgers. Los Angeles, which has also won nine of its last 12 in Denver, is 4-2 against the Rockies this season.

Colorado will hand the ball to Jeff Francis, who is 10-5 this season and unbeaten in his last eight starts. Francis, who is pitching to a 4.22 ERA this season, received a no-decision in his last start on Monday against San Diego, as he allowed five runs and 10 hit sin six innings of his team’s 7-5 win.

Francis is 2-1 lifetime against the Dodgers with a 2.89 ER in six starts.

FLORIDA MARLINS (48-56) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (44-57), 9:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Dontrelle Willis (7-10, 5.15) San Francisco - Matt Cain (3-12, 4.02)

Barry Bonds will try and match Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record this evening when the San Francisco Giants play the second game of their three-game series with the Florida Marlins at AT&T Park.

Bonds connected for home run No. 754 of his career in the first inning of a 12-10 San Francisco victory on Friday. The seven-time NL MVP struck a 2-1 pitch from Rick Vanden Hurk over the wall in left-center field to give the Giants an early lead in what turned out to be a wild slugfest.

It was Bonds’ first homer since he hit two on July 19 in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was also his first in San Francisco, where just about all of his milestone home runs have occurred, since he hit No. 750 back on June 29.

Bonds, who now has 20 home runs on the season, didn’t have an official at-bat the rest of the night, walking in the third, fifth and sixth when the Giants scored six times to go in front for good. Bonds also came back from an 0-2 count to Taylor Tankersley to walk in the eighth.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig wasn’t at AT&T Park as he prepares for Sunday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, NY. Instead, MLB president and chief operation officer Bob DuPuy was there to witness Bonds’ blast.

Ray Durham and Pedro Feliz both homered and drove in three runs, as the Giants won their third straight, but remained in last place in the NL West, 12 games behind the first place Los Angeles Dodgers, who San Francisco will visit after this series.

Vinnie Chulk (4-2) threw two-thirds of an inning to get the win, while Renyel Pinto (2-4) was hammered for three hits and four runs in the sixth inning uprising and absorbed the defeat.

Hanley Ramirez homered and had four RBI for Florida, which has lost five in a row. Cody Ross also homered for the Marlins.

Hoping to keep Bonds in the ballpark this evening will be 25-year-old left- hander Dontrelle Willis, who has lost his seven decisions. Willis’ most recent setback came on Monday against Arizona, as he surrendered four runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings to fall to 7-10 on the year, while raising his earned run average to 5.15.

Willis, whose last win came back on May 29, is 1-3 lifetime against the Giants with a 5.91 ERA in six games.

Bonds is 1-for-3 with four walks lifetime against Willis.

San Francisco will counter with a struggling young hurler of its own in 22- year-old righty Matt Cain, who is 3-12 with a 4.02 ERA. Cain dropped his third straight start on Monday against Atlanta, as he allowed four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Cain has never faced the Giants.

San Francisco and Florida are playing their first series since splitting six matchups in 2006.

Friday, July 27th (All times eastern)

Atlanta Braves (54-49) at Arizona Diamondbacks (56-48), 9:40 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1, 6.14) Arizona - Yusmeiro Petit (2-2, 2.54)

The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to move one step closer to matching their season high winning streak when they open a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves tonight at Chase Field.

Arizona has ripped off six straight wins to get back in the race in the National League West. That run, coupled with the struggles by Los Angeles and San Diego, has the Diamondbacks in second place in the standings, 1 1/2 games behind the Dodgers.

The D-backs won a season-high eight straight games from May 24-June 1.

Arizona completed a four-game sweep of the Marlins on Thursday, as Eric Byrnes’ two-out, three-run homer in the ninth inning lifted the club to a 7-4 victory.

Tony Pena (5-2) threw two innings of scoreless relief to earn the win for rookie starter Micah Owings, who was tagged for six hits and four runs over three innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Owings also hit a two-run homer to help his cause.

Conor Jackson added a two-run shot in the win.

Yusmeiro Petit starts for the Diamondbacks tonight and is coming off his best outing of the season. The young right-hander tossed six shutout innings on Sunday at the Cubs, scattering three hits without a walk and five strikeouts. The victory improved Petit to 2-2 with a 2.54 earned run average this season.

Petit faced the Braves in relief while with Florida last year and threw three scoreless frames.

Jo-Jo Reyes will toe the rubber for the fourth time in his career tonight for Atlanta and is still in search of that treasured first career win. After going 0-1 over his first two starts and allowing nine total runs in that span, Reyes pitched well enough to win on Sunday against the Cardinals, but came away with a no-decision.

The left-hander limited the Cardinals to one runs on three hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings, but it wasn’t enough in his club’s 7-2 loss. The Braves are now 0-3 on the season when Reyes starts.

Atlanta enters Friday’s contest having lost two in a row, including a 4-2 setback on Thursday to San Francisco.

Jeff Francoeur was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer for the Braves, who remained four games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East. Buddy Carlyle (5-3) surrendered four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings to pick up the loss.

The Diamondbacks dominated the season series last year, winning six of seven over Atlanta. However, the Braves’ lone win came in Arizona.