Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

Friday, July 27th (All times eastern)

NEW YORK YANKEES (54-47) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (47-53), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Andy Pettitte (6-6, 4.12) Baltimore - Jeremy Guthrie (6-3, 2.88)

The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles will finish off one game before starting another when the two American League East rivals get together tonight at Camden Yards.

Before the clubs begin their scheduled three-game series, they will conclude a contest that was suspended on June 28 in the top of the eighth inning. New York scored four times in the eighth to take an 8-6 lead when heavy rain forced the game to be halted before the inning was able to be completed.

The game will be resumed with the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui batting with two out and Derek Jeter, who put New York ahead with a two-run single, on second base.

Alex Rodriguez will have an opportunity to celebrate his 32nd birthday by hitting the 500th home run of his career this evening. Or it could be the Yankee slugger’s 493rd.

The reason for that discrepancy is the suspended game. If Rodriguez, who will bat after Matsui when play resumes, homers in the yet to be completed outing, it will go into the record books as taking place on June 28. Therefore, the seven long balls he has hit since that date will technically be counted as occurring after that one, meaning A-Rod’s official 500th homer will have taken place in Wednesday’s victory at Kansas City.

If Rodriguez connects in the second game, that would count as his 500th home run. Either way, the All-Star third baseman would be the youngest in major league history to reach the milestone, breaking Jimmie Foxx’s mark of 32 years, 338 days.

The Yankees had won six consecutive times prior to Thursday’s 7-0 loss to Kansas City in the finale of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Royals starter Jorge De La Rosa combined with two relievers on a six-hitter.

Melky Cabrera and newly-acquired Jose Molina each had two hits for New York, which trails Boston by 7 1/2 games for first place in the AL East and is 4 1/2 back of Cleveland in the league’s wild card race.

Kei Igawa (2-3) struggled again on the mound for the Yankees, with the Japanese rookie yielding five runs over 5 2/3 innings of work.

Baltimore has also been hot as of late, as the Orioles have won four in a row and completed a three-game home sweep of Tampa Bay with Thursday’s 10-7 triumph. Brandon Fahey finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead Baltimore’s offensive outburst, while Brian Roberts belted a three-run homer in the eighth inning to put things out of reach.

Nick Markakis and Kevin Millar each went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI to help the Orioles post their sixth straight win at Camden Yards. Rob Bell (3-1) took over for an ineffective Steve Trachsel in the fifth inning and earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless frames of relief.

Baltimore, which has taken four of five meetings with the Yankees this season, should get an additional boost to its lineup tonight. Standout shortstop Miguel Tejada, who has been sidelined since June 21 with a broken wrist, is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to the regularly- scheduled game.

Jeremy Guthrie will start the second game for Baltimore and brings a two-start win streak into the matchup. The young right-hander also ranks second among AL pitchers with a 2.88 earned run average at the moment.

Guthrie defeated Seattle with six innings of two-run ball on June 17, then followed up with seven stellar frames in a 2-0 win at Oakland on Sunday. He limited the Athletics to just two hits and three walks while fanning six batters.

The former first-round draft pick has no record and a 2.16 ERA in two career appearances versus the Yankees. He started against New York at Camden Yards on June 26 and allowed two runs on seven hits in a 6 1/3-inning no decision.

Andy Pettitte, who has also won his last two decisions, will take the mound opposite Guthrie. The veteran southpaw was an easy victor over Tampa Bay on Sunday, when he gave up three runs over six innings in New York’s 21-4 shellacking.

Prior to that outing, Pettitte held Toronto to a run and struck out seven in seven innings on July 17 but did not factor in the decision of that game.

Pettitte has dominated Baltimore over the course of his lengthy career, owning a 20-5 record with a 3.72 ERA in 31 lifetime games (29 starts) against the O’s. He faced Guthrie in that June 26 meeting and allowed just two runs over seven innings despite receiving a no decision.

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

MINNESOTA TWINS (51-50) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (59-43), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Boof Bonser (5-6, 4.53) Cleveland - Paul Byrd (8-4, 4.43)

The fading Minnesota Twins will visit Cleveland’s Jacobs Field for a crucial three-game series with the division-rival Indians that begins this evening.

Minnesota has lost four straight games, matching a season high for consecutive defeats, and seven of its last nine contests to fall well back of Detroit and Cleveland in the American League Central standings. The Twins now sit nine games behind the first-place Tigers, who lead the Indians by 1 1/2 games at the moment.

The Twins are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of Toronto which concluded with Wednesday’s embarrassing 13-1 loss at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays broke open a close game with 11 runs in the sixth inning.

Justin Morneau finished 2-for-3 with an RBI single for the Twins, who were outscored by a lopsided 26-5 margin over the three games.

Carlos Silva (8-11) was charged with the first six Toronto runs, five of which were earned, before leaving with one out in the sixth. Relievers Dennys Reyes and Juan Rincon allowed the next six runs and failed to record an out between them during the Blue Jays’ big inning.

Minnesota turns to Boof Bonser tonight in hopes of getting itself back on track. The right-hander has been pitching well as of late despite not having a victory to his credit since June 10.

Bonser is 0-4 in seven starts since that last victory, but the Twins have scored two or less runs in three of those defeats. He pitched well enough to win during his most recent outing, when he held the Angels to two runs and five hits over 7 2/3 innings in a no decision on Saturday.

The 25-year-old did not receive a decision in his lone career start against Cleveland. That came last September at Jacobs Field, and Bonser allowed three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings in that game.

The Indians are in a bit of a rut as well, as the club just dropped three of four matchups at home to AL East-leading Boston. The Red Sox shelled Tribe starter Cliff Lee en route to a 14-9 win in Thursday’s finale.

Lee (5-8) surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits and walked three over four-plus lousy innings of work. It’s the fourth straight time the struggling lefty has allowed six or more runs in a start.

Ryan Garko socked a three-run homer and Franklin Gutierrez had a solo shot for Cleveland, which also received two RBI from both Travis Hafner and Josh Barfield.

Paul Byrd gets the call for the Indians in tonight’s opener and looks to win back-to-back starts for the first time since he strung together four straight victorious outings from May 15-30.

In his most recent mound trip, Byrd held Texas to two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 innings to help Cleveland to an 8-3 win in Arlington.

The veteran righty owns a 7-3 record with a 3.95 earned run average in 13 previous starts against Minnesota and defeated the Twins at home on May 15. He did allow five runs over seven innings but matched a season-best with seven strikeouts.

Cleveland has won all five 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 (62-40) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-63), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Tim Wakefield (11-9, 4.74) Tampa Bay - Jason Hammel (1-0, 5.82)

The Boston Red Sox will attempt to keep swinging a hot bat tonight when the club begins a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

The Red Sox split a pair of 1-0 games with the Cleveland Indians during their recent four-game series before capturing the finale, 14-9, on Thursday. Manny Ramirez led the charge with two homers, four RBI and four runs scored for Boston.

Wily Mo Pena added four hits, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Boston’s sixth win in seven games. The victory upped the Red Sox’s edge in the American League East to 7 1/2 games over the second-place New York Yankees.

Julio Lugo extended his hitting streak to 15 games, while Mike Lowell had three hits with a pair of RBI. In all, every Red Sox starter except Kevin Youkilis had at least one hit, while five different players drove in runs.

Julian Tavarez (6-8) got the win in 2 1/3 frames of relief despite allowing two hits and four runs. Starter Kason Gabbard was charged with four hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

Tim Wakefield will start tonight for the Red Sox, and has been racking up wins despite allowing a good share of runs. Wakefield is 6-2 over his last eight starts despite pitching to a 5.51 earned run average in that span. He has allowed four or more runs in six of those outings, but is also getting 4.9 runs per game over his last eight starts.

The right-hander improved to 11-9 with a 4.74 ERA with a win over the White Sox on Sunday. He allowed four runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings of an 8-5 victory.

Wakefield is the first Red Sox pitcher to earn a decision in at least his first 20 starts since Tom Brewer in 1957.

The knuckleballer will square off against Tampa Bay for the first time this season and for the 34th time in his career (23 starts). He is 16-2 with three saves and a 3.01 ERA against the Devil Rays. Those 16 victories are the most for Wakefield against any one team.

Jason Hammel will make his second start of the season for the Devil Rays tonight. Hammel went 1-0 with a 6.11 ERA through 10 relief appearances before making a start against the Yankees on Saturday. He hurled four innings versus New York, yielding two runs on three hits and three walks in the no-decision.

The right-hander has made two relief appearances against the Red Sox this season, allowing two runs over two total innings, and also lost his lone start against the club in his career.

Tampa Bay dropped the final six games of its seven-game road trip, including a 10-7 setback to Baltimore on Thursday. Carlos Pena and Ty Wigginton each homered in the loss, while B.J. Upton went 2-for-3 to lift his batting average to .340.

However, he was forced to leave the game in the seventh inning with apparent cramps in his back and legs and is listed as day-to-day.

Edwin Jackson (2-10) took the loss after giving up six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

The Devil Rays now return home for nine straight games. The club is 22-28 at Tropicana Field this year compared to a 16-35 road mark.

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 13-15 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 (51-50) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (46-56), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Josh Towers (5-6, 4.97) Chicago - Jon Garland (7-7, 4.15)

The Toronto Blue Jays will try to extend their season-high winning streak to six games when they play the opener of a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Blue Jays used a big sixth inning to down the Twins in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday, plating 11 runs in the sixth inning on the way to a 13-1 victory that completed a sweep.

Gregg Zaun capped the big frame with a three-run homer, while John McDonald, Lyle Overbay and Frank Thomas drove in two runs each.

The 11-run frame tied a club record for most runs in an inning, set on July 20, 1984 at Seattle and last done previously on April 26, 1995 against Oakland.

Young right-hander Jesse Litsch (3-4) allowed one run on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts over seven innings for Toronto.

Josh Towers will start for the Blue Jays and is 3-1 over his last five starts. The right-hander, who could possibly be moved by Toronto before the approaching trade deadline, threw 6 2/3 shutout innings on Saturday in a 1-0 win over Seattle. Towers worked around three hits and two walks to contribute to the shutout and improve to 5-6 on the year with a 4.97 earned run average.

The 30-year-old has faced the White Sox seven times in his career, five of those starts, and is 3-3 with a 5.52 ERA in that span.

Thanks to a day/night doubleheader on Tuesday, the White Sox wrapped up a rare five-game series with the Detroit Tigers, but it was a successful set as their 4-3 victory on Thursday helped them take three of five in the series.

Scott Podsednik went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. After singling off Zach Miner to begin the frame, Podsednik was able to race home when Miner threw the ball away on Josh Fields’ sac bunt.

John Danks scattered six hits and three runs over 6 2/3 innings, but it was Bobby Jenks (3-4) who got the win for tossing the scoreless ninth.

The White Sox will send Jon Garland to the hill tonight hoping the right- hander can rebound from a poor outing last time out. On Sunday at Boston, Garland was hammered for six runs on six hits and five walks over 4 2/3 innings in the loss, falling to 7-7 with a 4.15 ERA this season.

The 27-year-old faces Toronto for the first time this season tonight and is 8-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) lifetime against them.

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 (46-56) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (44-57), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Jamey Wright (3-2, 4.15) Kansas City - Brian Bannister (6-6, 3.68)

Jamey Wright will attempt to get himself under control this evening when the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals kick off a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Wright posted back-to-back wins for Texas before control problems plagued him last time out. He issued six walks and a hit, leading to three runs, in 3 1/3 innings on Saturday in a no-decision against Cleveland.

Wright, who is 3-2 with a 4.15 earned run average, has walked 24 batters in only 34 2/3 innings this year, spanning seven starts. The right-hander has made three career starts against Kansas City and is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in that span.

Wright will be trying to extend the Rangers’ current winning streak, as the club just completed a four-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners. On Wednesday, Ramon Vazquez crushed a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Rangers to a 7-6 victory.

Kenny Lofton went 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI while Michael Young had two hits for the Rangers, who will begin a nine-game road trip tonight.

Texas starter Brandon McCarthy went five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Despite yielding two runs on three hits, Joaquin Benoit (4-3) was credited with the victory.

While the Rangers just ran the table against the Mariners, the Royals used a 7-0 victory on Thursday to avoid getting swept in four games by the New York Yankees.

Alex Gordon went 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs scored, while Tony Pena had a triple, two RBI and a runs scored in the Royals’ second win in six games.

Kansas City starter Jorge De La Rosa (8-10) pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings while scattering six hits. He also struck out five and walked two while Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria kept the Yankees off the board to keep the shutout intact.

Brian Bannister halted a personal two-start losing streak on Sunday at Detroit and will aim for back-to-back wins with tonight’s outing. Bannister limited the high-powered Tigers to just one run and four hits over seven solid innings, moving to 6-6 on the year with a 3.68 ERA.

The right-hander, who had allowed a total of eight runs over his two losses, has never faced Texas before.

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

DETROIT TIGERS (60-41) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (58-42), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Nate Robertson (6-7, 4.63) LA Angels - Jered Weaver (6-5, 3.30)

A pair of struggling division leaders square off tonight as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim open a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium.

The American League West-leading Angels are just 3-7 over their last 10 games, but recorded a 7-6 win over the Oakland Athletics in Wednesday’s finale of a three-game series. Angels reliever Francisco Rodriguez gave up a three-run lead in the ninth inning, but Maicer Izturis came through with an RBI single in the home half for the win.

Rodriguez ended up with the win, while Angels starter John Lackey lasted six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Chone Figgins and Garret Anderson each knocked in a pair of runs for the Angels, who are four games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for AL West supremacy.

Jered Weaver will try to find the win column when he toes the rubber for the Angels tonight.

Weaver is 6-5 with a 3.30 earned run average in 16 starts this season, but is 0-2 despite a 2.07 ERA in his previous four appearances. Weaver has recorded consecutive no decisions after back-to-back losses, including Saturday’s performance against Minnesota at the Metrodome. He gave up two runs in seven innings of a 5-2 loss to the Twins.

The right-hander faced Detroit for the first time in his career on April 23 at Angel Stadium. Weaver was dealt the loss after surrendering seven runs — five earned — in just 1 2/3 innings of a 5-2 decision.

Meanwhile, the AL Central-leading Tigers have lost five of their last eight games, including Thursday’s 4-3 setback to the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in the finale of a five-game series which included a doubleheader because of an earlier rainout.

Detroit relief pitcher Zach Miner had a costly throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning on a sacrifice bunt by Josh Fields, with the miscue allowing Scott Podsednik to come around from first to score the game-winning run. Miner’s throw ended up in right field and Podsednik beat the throw at the plate.

Omar Infante homered for the Tigers, who are clinging to a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the Central. Starter Justin Verlander held the White Sox to three hits and three runs over seven-plus innings, while Miner was saddled with the loss.

Getting the nod for the Tigers tonight is Nate Robertson, who is 6-7 with a 4.63 ERA in 17 starts this season.

Robertson had a personal two-start winning streak come to an end against Kansas City on Sunday, when he gave up five runs — four earned — and 11 hits in six innings of a 5-2 loss at Comerica Park.

The left-hander, who is 2-4 in six road starts this season, owns an 0-3 mark and an 8.13 earned run average in six career starts against the Angels.

Detroit is 3-2 against the Angels this season with a 1-1 mark in Anaheim. The Angels are 20-12 against the Tigers since the start of the 2004 season.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (49-53) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (54-46), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Dallas Braden (1-5, 5.15) Seattle - Felix Hernandez (6-6, 4.02)

The Seattle Mariners turn to their ace pitcher in hopes of snapping a season-high seven-game losing streak tonight, when the reeling club continues a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.

After dropping the final six tests of a seven-game road trek, a return home didn’t do the Mariners any good on Thursday. Oakland claimed the first meeting of this set by a 6-2 count behind seven outstanding innings from All-Star Dan Haren.

Haren (12-3) held Seattle’s sluggish offense to two runs and seven hits while striking out seven to lead the A’s to their third victory in four games.

Nick Swisher paced Oakland offensively with a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in the ninth which broke the game open. Mike Piazza added two hits, including an RBI single, and Mark Ellis had a solo homer for the Athletics.

Jeff Weaver (2-9) threw well in defeat for Seattle, as the right-hander allowed three runs over 7 1/3 innings despite taking the loss.

Adrian Beltre ended 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Mariners, who fell four games back of the first-place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West standings.

Seattle needs a big effort tonight from the talented but inconsistent Felix Hernandez. The young phenom brings a two-start losing streak into this contest and was ineffective when he last took the mound Sunday in Toronto.

In that game Hernandez was tagged for six runs on seven hits while issuing four walks in six innings. The 21-year-old was better in his previous start, when he allowed three runs on eight hits over six frames in a July 17 setback at Baltimore.

Hernandez has dominated the A’s in two appearances this season, however. He struck out a career-best 12 hitters over eight shutout innings at Safeco Field on Opening Day, then again turned in eight scoreless frames to beat Oakland back on July 7.

The Venezuelan is 3-2 with a 2.08 earned run average in six lifetime starts versus the Athletics.

Oakland rookie Dallas Braden will make his first career appearance against Seattle this evening and is coming off an impressive start on Sunday. The left-hander limited Baltimore to one run and four hits over a career-high seven innings, but was stuck with the loss in a 2-0 setback.

Braden has shuffled between Triple-A and the majors this season and is 1-5 with a 5.15 ERA in nine games, including six starts, for Oakland.

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 seven of the 10 matchups thus far.

Oakland has compiled a 16-7 record at Safeco Field since the start of the 2005 campaign.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (42-58) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (52-49), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - John Van Benschoten (0-4, 8.17) Philadelphia - Jamie Moyer (8-8, 5.01)

Aging lefty Jamie Moyer looks for a second straight win since ending a three-start slide when the Philadelphia Phillies host the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening in the opener of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Moyer, who’ll be 45 in November, had dropped consecutive starts to Houston, Colorado and the Los Angeles Dodgers from July 2 to July 16 before rebounding with a 12-4 defeat of San Diego on July 21.

In that win, he allowed eight hits and four runs in 6 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking four.

Moyer is 4-5 in 12 career appearances — 10 starts — against the Pirates with a 5.22 earned run average.

Right-hander John Van Benschoten returns to the Pittsburgh rotation after having his last turn skipped.

The 27-year-old San Diego native has failed to get through the third inning in two straight outings, having given up six hits and nine runs in a 10-8 loss to Colorado on July 16 and seven hits and five runs in 2 2/3 innings while losing to the Chicago Cubs on July 7.

He’s made six starts for the Pirates this season overall, going 0-4 with a pair of no-decisions in 25 1/5 innings.

Van Benschoten has never faced the Phillies in his career. He is 0-1 in two starts on the road in 2007 with a 4.00 ERA.

On Thursday in South Philadelphia, Jesus Flores’ three-run homer in the eighth inning lifted the Washington Nationals over the Phillies, 7-6, to close out a three-game series.

Ryan Howard homered for the Phillies, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. Pat Burrell ended 3-for-4 with two RBI in the loss. All-Star Chase Utley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice. However, Utley was placed on the 15-day disabled list after the game with a broken right hand after being hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. Utley is expected to undergo surgery today to speed up the healing process.

Former first-round draft choice Adam Eaton, looking to reach double-digits in wins for the third time in his career, allowed four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

In New York, Josh Phelps’ two-run homer capped a five-run sixth inning, as the Pirates pounded the Mets, 8-4, to avoid a three-game sweep at Shea Stadium.

Xavier Nady finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and scored a run for Pittsburgh, which had lost 10 of 11 coming into the contest. Nate McLouth went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the win.

Lefty Paul Maholm (7-12), who also picked up the win in his last start on Saturday against Houston, allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk over six-plus innings for Pittsburgh.

This is the first meeting between the two clubs this season after they split six games in 2006. CHICAGO CUBS (53-47) AT CINCINNATI REDS (44-59), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Rich Hill (6-6, 3.58) Cincinnati - Bronson Arroyo (4-11, 4.58)

Right-hander Bronson Arroyo will try to recapture some 2006 magic tonight when the Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a three-game series between National League Central foes at Great American Ball Park.

Arroyo, an All-Star last season while racking up 14 victories, was 4-0 with a 1.01 earned run average against the Cubs over five starts in 2006. The tables have turned this season, however, as the Florida native has dropped both starts against them while allowing 16 hits and six earned runs in 13 2/3 innings.

Lifetime against Chicago, Arroyo is 4-5 in 12 appearances — 10 starts — with a 3.07 ERA.

He’s been up and down lately since ending a skid that had seen him go winless between victories on May 6 and July 5. Over his last four starts, Arroyo’s 2-2 and has allowed 26 hits and 10 earned runs in 26 2/3 innings.

Southpaw Rich Hill dominated the Reds in his lone start against them in 2007. The Boston native allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings of a 7-0 victory on April 14, striking out five and walking four.

Lifetime against Cincinnati, he is 2-2 in five games — four starts — with two complete games and a 4.44 ERA.

His last win came July 16 against San Francisco, when he gave up four hits and two runs in eight innings of a 3-2 win.

On Thursday in St. Louis, Chris Duncan belted a grand slam and Albert Pujols added a three-run homer as the Cardinals routed the Cubs, 11-1, in the finale of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.

Derrek Lee homered and Cliff Floyd had two hits for the Cubs, who have lost three of five.

Chicago starter Jason Marquis (7-6) was tagged for six runs on five hits with four walks and one strikeout over five innings.

In Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. belted career home run No. 588, but Javier Valentin was the hero for Cincinnati with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th that gave the Reds a 6-5 comeback win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Adam Dunn led off the 10th with a double to center, moved up on Edwin Encarnacion’s single to left, and came home when Valentin grounded sharply into right for the win, as the Reds took three of four from the Brewers.

Griffey finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Bobby Livingston started and lasted six innings for the Reds, giving up five hits and three runs with a strikeout and a walk. Jared Burton (2-1) pitched one scoreless inning.

The Reds have bested the Cubs in four of their six meetings this year, including a 2-1 mark at home. The teams split 10 games in Cincinnati last season.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (43-58) AT NEW YORK METS (57-44), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Mike Bacsik (3-6, 4.39) New York - Jorge Sosa (7-5, 4.36)

Slumping right-hander Jorge Sosa will try to wriggle away from a four-losses-in-five-decisions tumble when the New York Mets open a four-game weekend series tonight against the fellow National League East- member Washington Nationals at Shea Stadium.

Sosa, a 30-year-old Dominican, is 1-4 in six starts since opening the season at 6-1. He’s also both his starts since coming off the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring earlier this month.

In his last outing, Sosa gave up eight hits and six runs in four innings of an 8-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Sosa is 2-1 in six games (four starts) against the Nationals, having posted a 4.15 earned run average in 26 innings.

Journeyman lefty Mike Bacsik will pitch for Washington and comes off his best start of the season. He pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings against Colorado, allowing three hits in a 3-0 Nationals win on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Texan is 2-1 with a no decision in his last four starts overall, allowing 23 hits and eight earned runs in 23 1/3 innings during that span.

Bacsik pitched for the Mets for parts of the 2002 and 2003 seasons but will be facing his one-time club for the first time.

On Thursday in Philadelphia, Jesus Flores’ three-run home run in the eighth inning lifted the Nationals over the Phillies, 7-6, to close out a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Felipe Lopez ended 2-for-5 with two RBI and scored a run for the Nationals, who avoided a series sweep. Dmitri Young ended 2-for-4 and drove in a run in the win.

John Lannan made his major league debut for Washington and allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander was ejected in the fifth after hitting both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard with fastballs.

Jon Rauch (6-2) tossed two scoreless frames for the win and Chad Cordero escaped the ninth for his 20th save of the season.

In New York, Josh Phelps’ two-run home run capped a five-run sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates pounded the Mets, 8-4, to avoid a three-game sweep.

Mets starter Oliver Perez (9-7), facing his former team for the first time since being dealt at last year’s trade deadline, allowed five unearned runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and a walk over six innings.

Lastings Milledge and Jose Reyes both homered for the Mets, who had a three- game win streak snapped. Damion Easley ended 2-for-4 and scored a run in the loss.

New York owns a slim 3-2 edge so far in the season series with Washington. The clubs split a weather-shortened two-game set in New York from April 13-14.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (54-47) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (45-57), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Jake Peavy (9-5, 2.47) Houston - Woody Williams (5-11, 5.03)

San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy will try to stop a five- start winless streak when he takes the ball tonight in the second test of a four-game series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Peavy is 0-4 with a 4.06 earned run average in his previous five trips to the mound, including a personal three-game losing streak. The 2007 All-Star was beaten by the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday after allowing four runs and nine hits in six innings.

The right-hander, who was 6-0 in nine starts before the recent slide, has allowed three runs or more in five of his past six trips to the mound.

Peavy, however, is unbeaten (4-0) in seven road starts this season and 5-4 with a 2.44 earned run average in 10 career appearances against Houston.

The Padres fell to two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West after Thursday’s 7-1 setback in the series opener. Brian Giles had two hits and scored a run for the slumping Padres, who have lost six of seven games.

San Diego starter David Wells was tagged for seven runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a season-high four walks in just three innings.

Houston veteran Woody Williams will try to keep his perfect streak against San Diego intact tonight when he toes the rubber tonight.

Williams is 4-0 with a complete game and a 2.25 earned run average in four career starts against the Padres, a team he pitched for over the previous two seasons before joining Houston as a free agent over the winter. He hasn’t faced them since August 31 of the 2004 campaign as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. In that game he allowed three runs in seven innings of a 9-3 victory.

The right-hander, who is 5-11 with a 5.03 ERA in 21 starts this season, has won two of his last four trips to the hill. Williams is coming off his best outing of the season, having pitched eight shutout innings of five-hit ball in a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Houston has won three in a row thanks to last night’s triumph. Carlos Lee, Morgan Ensberg and Craig Biggio all homered to lead the offense, while starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven solid innings. The lefty yielded one run on five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Lance Berkman finished with two hits and two runs scored for the Astros, who are 11 games off the lead in the National League Central standings.

San Diego and Houston are meeting for the first time since both ballclubs split six meetings in 2006. The Astros are 9-6 in the last 15 matchups.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (56-46) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (46-52), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Claudio Vargas (8-2, 4.47) St. Louis - Mike Maroth (0-3, 8.17)

The St. Louis Cardinals have an opportunity to gain some much-needed ground in the National League Central race when the defending world champions host the struggling Milwaukee Brewers for the first of four straight meetings tonight at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis trails the first-place Brewers by eight games in the standings, with the hard-charging Chicago Cubs lurking just two back of Milwaukee heading into this weekend’s play.

The Brewers have seen a once-sizeable lead in the division dwindle by dropping five of seven games to a pair of also-rans recently. After losing two of three at home to San Francisco, Milwaukee won only one time in four encounters with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this week.

Milwaukee had a chance to gain a series split with the Reds on Thursday, but closer Francisco Cordero blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning and gave up another in the 10th as Cincy rallied for a 6-5 triumph.

Cordero (0-3) came on to start the bottom of the ninth with the Brewers up 5-4 and promptly surrendered a double to pinch-hitter Norris Hopper, who scored on Scott Hatteberg’s single to tie the score.

After Milwaukee went down in order in the top of the 10th, Adam Dunn opened the bottom of the frame with a double off Cordero and scored the winning run on Javier Valentin’s base hit.

Ryan Braun and Tony Graffanino each homered and finished with two RBI for the Brewers, with Braun and J.J. Hardy both collecting three hits in a losing cause.

Claudio Vargas will attempt to stop the bleeding for Milwaukee when he takes the mound tonight. The right-hander has been very effective in that role this season, as the Brewers are 14-3 in his 17 starts in 2007.

Vargas has won back-to-back starts and ran his season record to 8-2 when he held San Francisco to three runs and five hits over six innings on Sunday.

The native Dominican has not had good career success versus St. Louis, however. Vargas is just 1-4 with a 7.89 earned run average in seven lifetime games (six starts) against the Cardinals, although he has not faced the club this season.

His counterpart this evening, Mike Maroth, looks to end a string of shoddy performances since joining St. Louis via a trade with Detroit last month. The left-hander is 0-3 with an 8.17 ERA in five starts following the deal and has been hit hard in both of his last two outing.

Maroth gave up eight runs (six earned) and nine hits in five innings during a loss at Philadelphia on July 14, then was rocked for 10 runs and 11 hits in just five frames in a 10-1 setback at Atlanta five days later.

The 29-year-old did face the Brewers while still with Detroit back on June 13 and pitched very well in that game. Maroth limited Milwaukee to a run on nine hits over seven innings but did not factor in the final outcome.

St. Louis began this current seven-game homestand with a pair of losses to the red-hot Cubs before salvaging Thursday’s series finale. Albert Pujols tied a season-high with five RBI and Chris Duncan belted a grand slam to lead the Cardinals to an 11-1 rout.

Pujols socked a three-run homer and added an RBI single, while also knocking in a run by being hit with the bases loaded. Scott Rolen added a solo blast for St. Louis to back seven strong innings from starter Braden Looper.

Looper (8-8) allowed just one run on five hits and also helped himself at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.

Milwaukee has won four of five previous matchups with the Cardinals this season. The teams split a rain-shortened two-game set at Busch Stadium back in April, with the postponed contest rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (57-46) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (51-51), 9:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Brett Tomko (2-7, 5.42) Colorado - Josh Fogg (5-6, 4.84)

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

Los Angeles is 1 1/2 games ahead of the 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 on Friday 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 is 4-2 against the Rockies this season.

Colorado will hand the ball to Josh Fogg tonight and he is 5-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season.

Fogg is 2-0 with a 4.94 ERA over his last four starts, including Sunday’s performance against Washington in which he did not factor in the outcome. He pitched six shutout innings of three-hit ball during a 3-0 loss to the Nationals at RFK Stadium.

The right-hander, who is 4-1 over his past nine trips to the hill, owns a 2-4 mark and a 4.40 earned run average through nine career games (seven starts) against the Dodgers.

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.

FLORIDA MARLINS (48-55) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (43-57), 10:15 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Rick Vanden Hurk (3-2, 6.53) San Francisco - Barry Zito (7-10, 5.00)

The Florida Marlins will take a crack at keeping Barry Bonds homerless when they open a three-game series this evening against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

Bonds hasn’t homered since going deep twice on July 19 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He is 3-for-18 at the plate since pulling within two home runs of tying Hank Aaron’s all-time record of 755. Bonds, who finished 1- for-4 in Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves, owns 26 career home runs against Florida, including nine blasts against the Marlins at home.

Bonds has hit 11 of his 19 home runs this season at AT&T Park, but hasn’t left the yard in a season-high eight straight games at home.

The Giants hope Bonds can lift them to their third straight win in the opener of this series. In Thursday’s victory over the Braves, Dave Roberts was 3-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs while Ray Durham and Omar Vizquel each had an RBI for the Giants, who remain last in the NL West division.

Tim Lincecum started for the Giants and allowed two runs on six hits in six innings of work for the win. Kevin Correia, Jack Taschner, Vinnie Chulk and Brad Hennessey combined for three innings of scoreless relief, with Hennessey earning his eighth save of the season in the process.

Barry Zito will take the hill for the Giants tonight and he is 7-10 with a 5.00 ERA in 20 starts this season. Zito is just 1-5 with a 6.96 earned run average over his last eight outings and was beaten by Milwaukee his last time out on Sunday. He gave up seven runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-5 setback.

The left-hander, who is 3-3 with a 3.75 ERA in eight starts at AT&T Park this season, will make his first career start against the Marlins.

Florida was just swept in four games by the Arizona Diamondbacks and dropped a 7-4 decision on Thursday at Chase Field. Eric Byrnes belted the game-winning three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Marlins reliever Armando Benitez.

Marlins starter Byung-Hyun Kim allowed two runs on one hit with six walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

Josh Willingham collected two hits for the Marlins, who entered the series on a three-game win streak. Alfredo Amezaga, Mike Jacobs and Matt Treanor each knocked in a run.

The Marlins, who are 10 games off the lead in the NL East, will send rookie Rick Vanden Hurk to the mound this evening. Vanden Hurk is 3-2 with a 6.53 ERA in nine games (eight starts) this season and 2-0 over his past three outings. He did not record a decision on Sunday against Cincinnati, yielding two runs in six innings of a 9-3 Florida victory.

Vanden Hurk, a right-hander, will make his first career appearance against Bonds and the Giants. He is 2-0 on the road in his rookie season.

San Francisco and Florida are meeting for the first time since splitting six matchups in 2006.

Thursday, July 26th (All times eastern)

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-62) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (46-53), 12:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - Edwin Jackson (2-9, 6.65) Baltimore - Steve Trachsel (5-7, 5.05)

The Baltimore Orioles aim to continue their mastery of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays this afternoon and try and complete a three-game sweep at Camden Yards.

Baltimore defeated Tampa for the seventh time in eight tries this season on Wednesday, as Erik Bedard allowed just one run in six innings and Corey Patterson homered in the Orioles’ 6-1 win. Patterson finished 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Orioles, who have won three in a row.

Bedard (10-4) gave up six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He leads the American League with 175 strikeouts and is 6-0 in his last seven outings.

Raul Casanova homered and Akinori Iwamura and Brendan Harris had two hits apiece for the Devil Rays, who have lost five in a row and 22 of 27. Tampa Bay has also dropped eight straight and 19 of its last 23 as the road team in this series since the start of the 2005 season.

Andy Sonnanstine (1-6) gave up five runs on seven hits, while walking three and striking out four in six innings. The youngster has lost six in a row since posting his first win in early June.

Heading to the hill today for Baltimore will be right-handed veteran Steve Trachsel, who has lost his last three decisions and has not tasted a victory since defeating the Colorado Rockies back on June 8.

Trachsel suffered the loss in his first start since returning from the disabled list on Saturday against the Oakland Athletics, as he allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings to fall to 5-7, while raising his earned run average to 5.05.

The 36-year-old hurler lost to the Devil Rays earlier in the season and has lost all three starts against them, pitching to a 6.48 ERA in the process.

Tampa will counter with righty Edwin Jackson, who is 2-9 with a 6.65 ERA. Jackson won for only the second time this season on Friday against the New York Yankees, as he scattered four hits over six scoreless innings.

The victory snapped a 14-game road winless streak, as he picked up his first win away from home since defeating San Francisco as a member of the San Francisco Giants back on September 27, 2003.

Jackson will be making his first-ever start against the O’s, but has faced them twice in a relief role without recording a decision.

DETROIT TIGERS (60-40) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (45-56), 2:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Justin Verlander (11-3, 3.40) Chicago - John Danks (6-7, 4.88)

The Detroit Tigers will wrap up the first stretch of their 11-game road trip when they play the final contest of their five-game series with the Chicago White Sox today at U.S. Cellular Field.

After getting swept by the White Sox in a day/night doubleheader on Tuesday, the Tigers responded in a big way with last night’s 13-9 victory. Ryan Raburn paced Detroit’s 19-hit attack with a pair of homers and seven runs batted in, one shy of the franchise mark for RBI in a single game.

Raburn was playing in place of Gary Sheffield, who missed the game due to a sore right shoulder.

Sean Casey had a two-run single for the AL Central-leading Tigers, who hold a 1 1/2-game edge over Cleveland in the standings and are 2-2 on their current road swing.

Jermaine Dye, Josh Fields, Juan Uribe and Andy Gonzalez all homered for Chicago, but it wasn’t enough as the White Sox suffered their fifth defeat in seven games.

The Tigers will hope Justin Verlander can get back on track with today’s start. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year posted two straight wins before allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts in just 5 2/3 frames against the Royals on Saturday. However, he got a no decision in his club’s 10-8 victory.

It was the second straight subpar outing for the right-hander, who scattered four runs and eight hits over seven innings of a win at Seattle on July 15. Verlander has been strong on the road this year, though, having posted a 6-1 mark and 2.87 earned run average in nine outings away from Detroit this year.

Verlander, who is 11-3 with a 3.40 ERA this season, has been hammered by the White Sox in his career, however. He is just 1-4 with a 6.96 ERA in six starts versus Chicago and got a no decision against them on April 22 of this year.

John Danks will counter for the White Sox and is 2-1 over his last three starts, despite pitching to a 7.00 ERA in that span. He lost for the first time in seven starts Saturday at Boston after allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings,

The left-hander, who is 6-7 with a 4.88 ERA on the year, is 0-1 in two career starts versus the Tigers. Both of those losses came in April of this year. He allowed four runs in each outing, including a loss on April 25.

The Tigers and White Sox have split eight games so far this season, with Detroit holding a slim 3-2 edge at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox won 12 of the 19 meetings last year.

BOSTON RED SOX (61-40) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (59-42), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Kason Gabbard (4-0, 2.97) Cleveland - Cliff Lee (5-7, 5.95)

The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians will try to put some runs on the board this evening, when the two clubs wrap their four-game series at Jacobs Field.

Boston took the opener of this set on Monday by a 6-2 score before the pitching took over. On Tuesday, the Red Sox defeated Cleveland 1-0 behind seven shutout innings by Daisuke Matsuzaka, who outdueled C.C. Sabathia. The Cleveland ace failed in his bid to become the majors’ first 14-game winner thanks to the tough-luck loss.

It was then Cleveland’s turn yesterday, as Fausto Carmona (13-4) scattered four hits over eight shutout innings in the Indians’ 1-0 win. The young right- hander fanned six and walked two, moving to 5-0 in July.

Franklin Gutierrez homered for the second-place Indians, while Ryan Garko went 0-for-3 to halt his 17-game winning streak. Cleveland trails Detroit by 1 1/2 games in the American League Central.

Interestingly enough, Carmona’s win prevented Boston’s Josh Beckett from beating Sabathia to the 14-win club. Beckett (13-4) allowed one run and four hits in over eight innings with seven strikeouts.

Coco Crisp, Jason Varitek and Alex Cora collected a hit each for the Red Sox, who saw their five-game win streak halted. David Ortiz, who missed the last five games with a left shoulder strain, returned to the Boston lineup as the designated hitter and finished 1-for-4 with a single.

The setback, coupled with the Yankees’ win over Kansas City, dropped the Red Sox’ lead in the AL East to just 6 1/2 games over New York.

Kason Gabbard aims to continue his surprising success when he toes the rubber tonight for Boston. Gabbard is 4-0 with a 2.97 earned run average through six starts this season and his given up two runs or less in each of his last three outings.

After throwing his first career shutout on July 16 against the Royals, Gabbard followed up with a one-run, seven-inning performance against the White Sox on Saturday to win his second straight start. It marked the fourth straight outing that he had allowed just three hits.

The left-hander has yet to record a decision in two road starts this year and has never faced Cleveland in his career.

Cliff Lee will start for the Indians and has lost each of his last three starts. He has been hammered for 19 runs over that span, a 10.69 ERA, and is now 5-7 with a 5.95 ERA on the season.

Lee has been tagged for seven runs in each of his last two starts, including on Saturday when he was bested by Texas. He allowed eight hits in 6 2/3 frames against the Rangers.

The left-hander is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA in six career starts against Boston. That includes a setback at Fenway on May 28.

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

NEW YORK YANKEES (54-46) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (43-57), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Kei Igawa (2-2, 6.67) Kansas City - Jorge De La Rosa (7-10, 5.61)

The New York Yankees are on a serious roll, while Alex Rodriguez is on the verge of history. Tonight the All-Star third baseman aims for a historic home run as the Bronx Bombers attempt to complete a four-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium.

Rodriguez belted the 499th home run of his career during Wednesday’s 7-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The superstar slugger, who is one day shy of his 32nd birthday, is almost certain to become the youngest player to reach the coveted 500-homer plateau. Jimmie Foxx currently holds the mark at 32 years, 338 days.

The two-run eighth-inning blast was one of three Yankee home runs on the evening. Melky Cabrera hit a two-run shot in the second inning and finished with three RBI, while Hideki Matsui followed Rodriguez’s homer with a solo blast during New York’s four-run eighth.

Robinson Cano added three hits and two runs scored to help the Yankees to their sixth straight win and 13th triumph in their last 16 games. New York has closed within 6 1/2 games of rival Boston for first place in the American League East standings and 4 1/2 back of Cleveland, which holds the lead in the AL wild card race.

The Yanks also received a strong outing out of starting pitcher Mike Mussina (5-7), who limited Kansas City to a run and six hits over the first 5 2/3 innings.

Gil Meche (7-7) was tagged for five runs on nine hits over 7 1/3 innings for the Royals, who fell for the fourth time in five games. David DeJesus and Ross Gload each collected a pair of hits in defeat.

Kansas City hopes for a better mound performance tonight out of Jorge De La Rosa. The left-hander will have to improve on his last two starts, however, if he wants to slow down a Yankee offense that has been in high gear as of late.

De La Rosa was rocked for seven runs and seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings in a no decision at Detroit on Saturday. Six days earlier, he surrendered three runs and issued six walks before being lifted after only 3 1/3 frames in a loss at Cleveland. De La Rosa also served up a total of four home runs over those two appearances.

The Mexican southpaw has won his last two starts at home, however, and brings a 5-4 record with a 5.72 earned run average in 10 Kauffman Stadium outings this season into tonight’s tilt.

De La Rosa has faced New York twice previously, one of which was a start, and is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in seven innings against the Yankees. That victory came at Kauffman Stadium last September, when the 26-year-old spun 5 2/3 shutout innings.

Incidentally, De La Rosa allowed Rodriguez’s 400th career home run while a member of the Milwaukee Brewers on June 8, 2005.

The Yankees will send out the disappointing Kei Igawa for his first career start against the Royals. The Japanese rookie brings an unimpressive 6.67 ERA into tonight’s contest but did pitch fairly well his last time out.

Against Tampa Bay on Saturday, Igawa worked five innings and yielded two runs on seven hits while recording six strikeouts in a no decision. He hasn’t won in six starts, however, since defeating Boston with a superb relief job back on April 28. That time period included an extended stay in the minors so the 28-year-old can work on his mechanics.

New York has won 13 of its last 15 encounters with Kansas City and owns a 5-1 record at Kauffman Stadium over that span.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (48-53) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (54-45), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Dan Haren (11-3, 2.41) Seattle - Jeff Weaver (2-8, 6.19)

The Seattle Mariners are hoping a return home can snap the club out of its recent funk. Tonight the postseason hopefuls start up a 10- game homestand with the first of four straight meetings with the American League West-rival Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.

Seattle comes in on a six-game losing streak, which matches the team’s season- high for consecutive defeats. The Mariners were just swept in a four-game set by the cellar-dwelling Texas Rangers, who completed the whitewash with a 7-6 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday.

The Mariners took a 6-5 edge into the bottom of the eighth inning in last night’s game and had the normally lights-out J.J. Putz on the mound to try to close things out. Putz entered with a runner on second and one out and fanned Gerald Laird to start things off. However, the All-Star closer then served up a two-run homer to Ramon Vazquez that put Texas in front.

It was Putz’s first blown save since September 27 of last season. He had converted 31 straight opportunities prior to last night.

Adrian Beltre had three doubles and four RBI for the slumping Mariners, who trail the first-place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by 3 1/2 games in the AL West standings. Seattle collected 15 hits on the night but stranded 10 baserunners.

Things don’t figure to get any easier for Seattle tonight, as the club will have to face one of the AL’s top pitchers in Dan Haren. The Oakland ace leads the junior circuit with a 2.41 earned run average to go along with an 11-3 record.

However, two of Haren’s 2007 defeats have come at the hands of the Mariners, although he has pitched to a 2.19 ERA in those games. The All-Star hurler allowed four runs (three earned) over 6 1/3 innings in a defeat to Seattle earlier this month and lost on Opening Day at Safeco Field despite yielding four unearned runs and just four hits in his six-inning stint.

Haren is 5-3 with a 2.73 ERA in nine lifetime starts against the Mariners.

The standout right-hander earned his 11th victory of the year on Saturday by holding Baltimore to three runs and striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings.

Seattle counters with the erratic Jeff Weaver, who has appeared to turn his season around after an awful beginning. The right-hander has yielded one run or less in five of his last six starts and posted an outstanding 2.43 ERA over that stretch.

Despite those impressive numbers, Weaver has not recorded a victory in any of his last four outings and has lost back-to-back starts. He suffered a hard- luck defeat Saturday in Toronto even though he gave up only one run and four hits in an eight-inning complete game. Seattle lost 1-0 to the Blue Jays that day.

Weaver matched up against Haren in Oakland on July 6 and held the A’s to a run and four hits before leaving after five innings. He did not record a decision in Seattle’s eventual 7-1 win.

In 11 career games (10 starts) against Oakland, Weaver is 3-3 with a 5.32 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 seven of the nine matchups thus far.

Oakland has compiled a 15-7 record at Safeco Field since the start of the 2005 campaign.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (41-58) AT NEW YORK METS (57-43), 12:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Paul Maholm (6-12, 4.57) New York - Oliver Perez (9-6, 3.00)

Oliver Perez faces his former team for the first time since being dealt at last year’s trade deadline, as the New York Mets try and complete a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh Pirates at Shea Stadium.

Perez was shipped to the Mets along with reliever Roberto Hernandez for outfielder Xavier Nady last July 31 after a disappointing 2006 with the Bucs. After striking out 239 batters in 2004 with the Pirates, Perez struggled and was just 2-10 with a 6.63 earned run average last season before the trade.

The 25-year-old left-hander, though, has been solid in his first full season with the Mets, going 9-6 with a 3.00 earned run average. Perez, who has held batters to just a .211 average, has won his last two starts and defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, as he allowed a run on six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Perez has faced the Pirates twice as a member of the San Diego Padres and is 0-1 against them with a 9.00 ERA.

Pittsburgh will counter with lefty Paul Maholm, who is 6-12 with a 4.57 ERA. Maholm picked up the win in his last start on Saturday against Houston, as he surrendered two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Maholm is 2-1 lifetime against the Mets with a 1.42 ERA in three starts.

In the second game of this set on Wednesday, Tom Glavine picked up career victory No. 299, as New York cruised to a 6-3 win. Paul Lo Duca drove in four runs for the Mets,

Glavine (9-6) allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings for the Mets, who have won five of their last six contests. One more win, and Glavine will join Lefty Grove and Early Wynn at 21st on the all-time list with 300 victories.

Jason Bay hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh, which has lost 10 of 11.

Tom Gorzelanny (9-6) left the game in the third due to left shoulder stiffness. Before exiting he was tagged for six runs on seven hits over 2 1/3 frames.

Elsewhere on the injury front New York centerfielder strained a muscle in his abdomen in batting practice and missed last night’s contest. He said after the game that he would need a miracle to play today.

The Mets are playing the Pirates for the first time this season, but won five of the nine matchups between them in 2006. All five of the Mets’ wins against the Bucs last season came in Flushing.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (55-45) AT CINCINNATI REDS (43-58), 12:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Dave Bush (8-8, 4.83) Cincinnati - Bobby Livingston (2-1, 3.52)

Right-hander Dave Bush will try to get back on the winning side of things today when the Milwaukee Brewers visit Great American Ball Park for game four of a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds.

Bush, a 27-year-old former second-round draft pick, had won five of six decisions before his last outing, which resulted in an 8-0 loss to San Francisco on July 21.

In that defeat, he gave up six hits and three runs in six innings.

Bush is 1-1 in five career starts against the Reds with a 6.67 earned run average in 27 innings.

Lefty Bobby Livingston suffered his first career loss in his last start.

The 24-year-old, a native of St. Louis, allowed eight hits and three runs over six innings in an 11-1 loss to Florida on July 21.

Previously, in three starts with the Reds, he’d gone 2-0 with a no-decision and a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings.

He reached the majors and pitched three times in relief for Seattle in 2006 before coming to Cincinnati. This will be his first start at home.

On Wednesday, Jeff Keppinger knocked in three runs with a double, as the Reds defeated the Brewers, 7-3.

Cincinnati starter Kyle Lohse tossed 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs — one earned — on five hits. Lohse (6-12), who retired 11 batters in a row at one point, struck out two while not issuing a walk.

Ryan Freel, Brandon Phillips and Scott Hatteberg all had two hits and an RBI for the Reds, who won for the second time in their last six games.

Adam Dunn added three hits in the victory and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Jeff Suppan (8-9) started for Milwaukee and was tagged for five runs on 10 hits. He is now winless in his last six starts.

Craig Counsell hit a home run while Kevin Mench had two hits for the Brewers, who have four losses in their last six games.

Cincinnati owns a 3-2 edge in this year’s season series with Milwaukee. The Brewers took 10 of 19 meetings between the clubs in 2006.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (42-58) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (52-48), 1:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - John Lannan (0-0, 0.00) Philadelphia - Adam Eaton (9-6, 5.84)

Former first-round draft choice Adam Eaton looks to reach double-digits in wins for the third time in his career today when the Philadelphia Phillies close out a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

Eaton, who was selected by the Phillies in 1996 but didn’t play in the majors for them until this season, was an 11-game winner for the San Diego Padres in both 2004 and 2005.

He won seven games last season for the Texas Rangers in just 13 starts, then came to Philadelphia as a free agent.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has started against the Nationals four times, posting a 4.56 earned run average in 23 2/3 innings.

Washington will hand the ball to John Lannan, who makes his major league debut this afternoon. The 22-year-old left-hander receives the promotion after putting up outstanding numbers at three different levels in the minors this season.

Lannan, an 11th-round selection by Washington in the 2005 draft, is 12-3 with a 2.36 ERA over 20 appearances (19 starts) with Single-A Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Columbus in 2007. He went 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA in six starts following his promotion to Columbus.

On Wednesday, Ryan Howard hit a towering two-run homer in the bottom of the 14th inning, as the Phillies salvaged a 7-5 win over the Nationals.

The Phillies held a two-run lead in the ninth, but the Nationals got to Antonio Alfonseca for three runs to turn the tables.

Down 4-2 with one out in the ninth, Ryan Church doubled off Alfonseca and Brian Schneider followed with a walk. Pinch-hitter Tony Batista then ripped a double off the wall in right-center field that scored Church.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had seen enough of Alfonseca, but pinch-hitter Jesus Flores greeted Mike Zagurski with a double to right that chased home both the tying and go-ahead runs.

With the Phils down to their final out, Jimmy Rollins lofted a a ball to the left-center gap that should have given Washington the win. However, left- fielder Church and center fielder Ryan Langerhans nearly collided, with Church dropping the ball.

Rollins legged out a triple on the play and shortstop Felipe Lopez couldn’t handle Church’s errant throw cleanly, giving Rollins a chance to score. Lopez collected the ball and his throw home beat Rollins to the plate, but catcher Schneider couldn’t make the catch-and-tag as Philadelphia tied the game to force extra innings.

The scoring went silent from there, until Howard got a hold of one in the 14th. Chase Utley led off with a walk before Howard turned on a Chris Booker (0-1) offering and launched it into the second deck in right field to end the marathon.

Wes Helms knocked in a pair of runs for the Phillies, who have won five straight and will go for the sweep of Washington on Thursday.

Cole Hamels was in line to pick up his 12th win of the season before the Phillies’ bullpen gave it away in the ninth. The lanky southpaw gave up just two runs on six hits through seven innings, striking out six and walking one. Clay Condrey (4-0) picked up the win after tossing three scoreless frames in relief.

Ronnie Belliard went 2-for-7 with a solo home run for the Nationals, who had won four of five before arriving in the City of Brotherly Love.

Washington starter Matt Chico lasted just 4 2/3 innings, yielding four runs on six hits.

The Phils have won five of their seven matchups with the Nationals this season, including four of five in Philly. ATLANTA BRAVES (54-48) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (42-57), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Buddy Carlyle (5-2, 4.05) San Francisco - Tim Lincecum (5-2, 3.96)

The San Francisco Giants should have Barry Bonds back in the lineup when they play the finale of their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves tonight at AT&T Park.

Bonds played all 13 innings in the Giants’ setback on Tuesday, so he sat out yesterday’s 2-1 victory that halted a three-game losing streak. Rich Aurilia hit a home run to guide San Francisco to victory, while Noah Lowry won for the fifth time in six decisions

Lowry (11-7) allowed seven hits and a run over eight innings.

Bonds is running out of time to catch Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record in front of the home crowd. He hasn’t homered since smacking a pair of long balls last Thursday against the Cubs and remains two shy of Aaron’s all-time mark of 755.

San Francisco will host Florida for a three-game weekend series before hitting the road for six games. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said it is likely Bonds would play tonight.

For the second straight night, commissioner Bud Selig was in attendance at AT&T Park. Selig is due to remain in San Francisco for the series finale, but won’t be around later this weekend as he’ll travel to Cooperstown, NY for the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Chuck James (8-8) was charged with seven hits and two runs over six frames as the Braves lost for the first time in the series. Andruw Jones singled in Atlanta’s only run as the club fell four games behind the Mets for first place in the National League East.

Buddy Carlyle shoots for his fifth straight winning decision when he takes the mound tonight for Atlanta. Carlyle has now won his last three starts, including a victory over St. Louis on Saturday in which he allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. The win improved the right-hander to 5-2 with a 4.05 earned run average on the season.

Carlyle has never started against the Giants but has made three appearances against them out of the bullpen. He has allowed three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 total innings.

Carlyle has never faced Bonds before in his career.

Rookie Tim Lincecum will make his first career start against Atlanta tonight. The right-hander is 3-0 over his last five appearances and has allowed one run or fewer in four of those outings. He pitched eight shutout innings against Milwaukee on Saturday, scattering four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts to improve to 5-2 with a 3.96 ERA on the season.

He has a outstanding 1.05 ERA over his last five starts and is 2-1 in six home outings this year.

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

SAN DIEGO PADRES (54-46) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (44-57), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - David Wells (5-6, 4.57) Houston - Wandy Rodriguez (6-9, 4.46)

The Houston Astros aim for their third straight win when they open a four-game series tonight versus the San Diego Padres at Minute Maid Park.

Houston just won the last two tests of a three-game home series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, including Wednesday’s 2-1 victory in the series finale. Carlos Lee put the Astros ahead with a solo home run in the seventh inning, while Eric Munson also homered in the win.

Houston starter Matt Albers threw five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Chad Qualls gave up two hits and one run in one inning for the win and Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in eight chances.

The Astros are 12 games off the top spot in the NL Central division.

Wandy Rodriguez will try to snap a two-start losing streak when he takes the hill for Houston this evening. He owns an 11.88 earned run average over his last two outings and was beaten by Pittsburgh on July 21, allowing six runs — four earned — in five innings of a 7-3 setback.

Rodriguez, who is 6-9 with a 4.46 ERA in 19 starts, owns a 5-2 record in nine home starts this season. The left-hander is also 0-2 with a 19.29 ERA in two career games (one start) against San Diego.

San Diego has lost five of six games and suffered a 10-2 setback to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series. Brian Giles went 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Padres, who are one game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the lead in the NL West standings.

Justin Germano started for the Padres last night and suffered the loss after yielding six runs on seven hits through five-plus innings. The right-hander fell to 1-5 over his last seven starts.

Toeing the rubber for the Padres on Thursday will be David Wells, who is 5-6 with a 4.57 earned run average in 19 starts this season. Wells was rocked in his last outing on July 21 against Philadelphia, yielding seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 12-4 loss to the Phillies.

The portly left-hander, who is 2-4 in eight road starts in 2007, is a perfect 2-0 with a 5.71 ERA in three career games (two starts) against Houston.

San Diego and Houston are meeting for the first time since both ballclubs split six meetings in 2006. The Astros are 7-6 in the last 13 matchups.

CHICAGO CUBS (53-46) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (45-52), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Jason Marquis (7-5, 3.92) St. Louis - Braden Looper (7-8, 5.09)

The Chicago Cubs target their first sweep in St. Louis in more than 19 years this evening when they wrap up their three-game set with the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

In the second game of this series on Wednesday, Ted Lilly won his sixth straight start to help Chicago to a 7-1 win. Mike Fontenot and Cliff Floyd both knocked in a pair of runs in a winning effort for the Cubs, who are a major league best 31-15 since June 3 and are just two games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central.

The stretch of success for Lilly (11-4) ties a career high, as he also won a career-best six straight starts from August 25-September 21, 2003 with Oakland. Lilly has also won seven straight decisions, which is a personal best.

The southpaw allowed just one run on six hits over seven innings for the Cubs, who have won five of seven overall and will try for their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since turning the trick from June 10-12, 1988.

Adam Wainwright (9-8) was charged with six runs on nine hits over five frames for St. Louis, which has dropped three of four. Juan Encarnacion provided most of the Cards’ offense, going 4-for-4 with an RBI.

Hoping to keep the Cubs in the win column tonight will be right-hander Jason Marquis, who is 7-5 with a 3.92 ERA. Marquis picked up the win in his last start on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as he allowed a pair of runs on four hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Marquis, who pitched the last three seasons in St. Louis, has defeated the Cards twice already this year and is 3-0 lifetime against them with a 2.08 ERA in five games, three of which were starts.

St. Louis will counter with right-hander Braden Looper, who is coming off a horrific outing in his last start on Saturday against Atlanta. Looper was hammered for seven runs and 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings in that one, as he slipped to 7-8 on the year, while raising his ERA to 5.09.

Looper beat the Cubs earlier in the year and is just 2-2 in his career against them with four saves and a 2.62 ERA in 33 games (one start).

Chicago has won five of its seven matchups with St. Louis this season and is 26-16 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Cubs have also won all four of their meetings in St. Louis this season after losing six of nine there a year ago. They haven’t won five straight there since June 18- August 4, 1983.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (56-46) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (51-50), 9:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Brad Penny (12-1, 2.42) Colorado - Rodrigo Lopez (5-3, 4.46)

All-Star pitcher Brad Penny will try to give the NL West- leading Los Angeles Dodgers a boost when he takes the mound this evening in the opener of a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Penny is unbeaten over his last 11 starts, going 7-0 with a 2.33 earned run average. Penny, whose last loss was on May 18 against the LA Angels of Anaheim, is 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 20 starts this season. He is the first starting pitcher to go 12-1 for the Dodgers since the cub moved to LA in 1958.

The right-hander is one win away from tying Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs for the most wins in the National League. Penny beat the New York Mets on July 21 after allowing four runs — three earned — over 6 1/3 innings of an 8-6 win at Dodger Stadium.

Penny is 11-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 career starts against Colorado, including a 4-1 record and 3.60 earned run average in eight lifetime starts at Coors Field. Penny has won his last six decisions against Colorado and gave up two hits through 6 1/3 scoreless innings of a 3-0 win on April 11 this season.

Los Angeles has lost two straight and five of its last seven games, including Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros in the finale of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. Jeff Kent homered for the Dodgers, who own a one- game lead over San Diego in the division standings. Arizona is only 1 1/2 games off the pace.

Dodgers starter Derek Lowe was lifted after facing one batter in the fifth because of a groin injury. Lowe surrendered one run on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts. D.J. Houlton then pitched two innings of relief to suffer the loss.

Meanwhile, the Rockies have won two of their last three games and recorded a 10-2 victory in Thursday’s series finale against San Diego. Matt Holliday went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and four runs scored to lead the way. Garrett Atkins and Ryan Spilborghs each knocked in three runs for the Rockies, who were coming off four losses in the last six games.

Starter Aaron Cook pitched a complete game and permitted just two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Cook also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.

Colorado, which is 4 1/2 games off the top spot in the NL West, will hand the ball to Rodrigo Lopez tonight. Lopez is 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 13 starts this season, but owns a 1-3 mark in his previous five trips to the mound.

Lopez lost his last start on July 21 against Washington, as he yielded three runs and five hits in six innings of a 3-0 setback. The right-hander, who is 5-0 in seven home starts this season, is 1-1 with a 2.91 earned run average in four career games (three starts) against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles is 3-2 against the Rockies this season and has won 18 of the last 24 matchups in the series.

FLORIDA MARLINS (48-54) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (55-48), 9:40 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Byung-Hyun Kim (5-5, 4.79) Arizona - Micah Owings (5-5, 4.90)

The Arizona Diamondbacks are gaining ground in the NL West standings and will shoot for their sixth straight win this evening in the finale of a four-game series versus the Florida Marlins at Chase Field.

Arizona has won five in a row for the first time since ripping off eight consecutive wins from May 25-June 1 this season. The D’backs recorded a 7-0 victory on Thursday in the third test of this set, as Eric Byrnes went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to lead the way.

Conor Jackson was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for the D-Backs, who are 1 1/2 games off the top spot in the National League West division. Scott Hairston had two hits and drove in two runs, while Stephen Drew and Mark Reynolds each added a pair of hits and an RBI.

Starting pitcher Brandon Webb hurled seven scoreless innings of six-hit ball with eight strikeouts and three walks to win for the first time in his last four starts.

Taking the ball for the Diamondbacks tonight will be rookie Micah Owings, who is 5-5 with a 4.90 ERA in 18 games (16 starts). Owings is winless (0-4) over his last six outings and did not factor in the decision his last time out on July 21 against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed two runs over four innings in a 3-2 triumph over the Cubs.

The right-hander will face Florida for the first time in his career.

Meanwhile, the Marlins will try to avoid a four-game sweep in the desert today after dropping the first three contests of this series. Last night, Florida starter Scott Olsen allowed season-highs of 11 hits and seven runs to suffer the loss in five innings of work. Olsen was pitching for the first time since his arrest in Miami last weekend.

Jeremy Hermida collected a pair of hits for the Marlins, who have lost four straight on the road. Florida is also 10 games off the lead in the National League East standings.

Byung-Hyun Kim gets the nod for the Marlins and he is 5-5 with a 4.79 ERA in 15 games — 12 starts — with Colorado and Florida this season. In 12 games (11 starts) with the Marlins, Kim is 4-3 with a 4.27 earned run average.

The right-hander is 2-1 in his last three starts and defeated Cincinnati the last time out on July 21. He was reached for only one run in seven innings of an 11-1 victory over the Reds.

Kim is 1-1 with a 13.50 ERA in two games against Arizona this season. He is 1-5 with an 8.56 earned run average through eight career games (five starts) versus the Diamondbacks.

Arizona and Florida are meeting for the first time since the Marlins won four of six meetings in 2006. Florida is 12-10 against the Diamondbacks since the 2004 campaign.

Wednesday, July 25th (All times eastern)

MINNESOTA TWINS (51-49) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (50-50), 12:37 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Carlos Silva (8-10, 4.60) Toronto - Jesse Litsch (2-4, 4.54)

Venezuelan right-hander Carlos Silva goes for his second defeat of the Toronto Blue Jays in as many tries this season when the Minnesota Twins visit Rogers Centre for the finale of a three-game series today.

Silva,28, allowed six hits and five runs in seven innings for an 8-5 victory over the Blue Jays on June 28 in Minnesota. The win raised Silva to 2-2 in four starts with a 5.81 earned run average against Toronto.

He’s won his last two outings, defeating Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim while allowing 12 hits and seven earned runs in 13 1/3 innings.

Young right-hander Jesse Litsch has dropped four of five decisions since a winning beginning back on May 15. In his last start, on July 20 against Seattle, he allowed five hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss.

He beat Boston, 2-1, on July 15 at Fenway Park and defeated Baltimore, 2-1, on May 15 against Baltimore in his big-league debut.

The 22-year-old is 1-2 in three starts at home, posting a 6.59 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.

On Tuesday, Dustin McGowan twirled 7 1/3 scoreless innings and Vernon Wells drove in four runs, as the Blue Jays downed the Twins, 7-0. John McDonald added two RBI for the Blue Jays, who have won four in a row — three of them by way of shutout.

The four straight wins matches a season- best.

McGowan (7-5) scattered just four hits while striking out five and walking three. This is the first time he has posted back-to-back wins since early June.

Scott Baker (4-4) yielded four runs on six hits over seven frames for Minnesota, which has lost six of eight.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (48-52) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (57-42), 3:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Joe Blanton (8-7, 3.53) LA Angels - John Lackey (12-6, 3.21)

The Oakland Athletics have an opportunity to record their first three-game sweep at Angel Stadium in nine years when they play the series finale with the rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this afternoon.

Oakland has taken the first two tests of this road set with the American League West-leading Angels following Tuesday’s 4-3 victory. Rookie Travis Buck went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI to lead the A’s offense, while starting pitcher Lenny DiNardo delivered 6 2/3 stellar innings on the mound.

DiNardo (5-6) limited the Angels to one run on just three hits and a walk to win his second consecutive start. Anaheim scored twice off reliever Santiago Casilla in the bottom of the eighth to pull within a run, but Alan Embree retired the game’s final four batters to post his 11th save.

Kelvim Escobar (11-4) allowed three runs on nine hits over the first seven innings for the Angels and suffered his first loss since May 31.

Vladimir Guerrero finished with three hits for slumping Anaheim, which lost for the seventh time in nine games. Despite the defeat, the Angels extended their lead over Seattle, which dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Texas on Tuesday, to 2 1/2 games in the West standings.

Oakland, which won for the third time in four outings, has not swept a three- game series on the road from the Angels since June 3-5, 1998.

Anaheim will send out one of its top arms in an attempt to avert that possibility this afternoon, as All-Star John Lackey is scheduled to take the mound for the home team.

Lackey, however, is coming off a subpar performance in his most recent start. The hard-throwing right-hander was tagged for seven runs (five earned) and 10 hits over five innings in a loss at Minnesota on Friday.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed great career success when facing Oakland, though. In 20 lifetime starts against the A’s, Lackey owns a 10-3 record and a 2.86 earned run average and defeated them in Angel Stadium with seven innings of one-run ball back on April 7.

Oakland will hand the ball today to the struggling Joe Blanton, who is looking to halt a personal three-start losing streak. The right-hander has yielded 32 hits in 19 1/3 innings over that span, while pitching to a lackluster 6.52 ERA.

Blanton was hit hard again on Friday, when he surrendered six runs (five earned) and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-1 home loss to Baltimore.

The former first-round draft pick pitched extremely well in his lone matchup with the Angels this season, however. That came in Anaheim on April 8, when Blanton gave up only one run and five hits over 5 1/3 innings to earn the victory in Oakland’s 2-1 decision.

That was Blanton’s only career win in 11 overall games (eight starts) against the Angels. He is 1-6 with a 3.60 ERA lifetime versus Los Angeles.

Oakland has won six of its eight season meetings with the Angels in 2007 and is 4-2 so far at Angel Stadium this year.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-61) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (45-53), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - Andy Sonnanstine (1-5, 5.37) Baltimore - Erik Bedard (9-4, 3.12)

Erik Bedard tries to run his unbeaten streak to eight starts this evening, when the Baltimore Orioles continue their three-game set with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Camden Yards.

Bedard won for the third time in as many starts on Friday against Oakland, as he allowed just a solo home run over seven innings to run his record to 9-4 this season, while lowering his earned run average to 3.12. He also fanned 11 batters to up his major league-leading strikeout total to 167.

Over his last three starts Bedard has surrendered just one run and six hits in 23 innings. He is 5-0 with a 2.03 ERA in seven starts since losing to Colorado on June 10 and he hasn’t lost to an AL opponent since Oakland defeated him May 25.

Bedard is 8-3 lifetime against the Devil Rays with a 2.96 ERA in 17 games, 16 of which have been starts.

Tampa will counter with 24-year-old right-hander Andy Sonnanstine, who is winless in his last eight starts and just 1-5 on the year with a 5.37 ERA. Sonnanstine dropped his fifth straight decision on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as he gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Sonnanstine has never faced the Orioles.

In the opener of this set on Tuesday, Daniel Cabrera tossed seven innings of one-hit ball as Baltimore rolled to a 3-0 win.

Cabrera (7-10) walked five and struck out three to earn his first victory since June 22. Paul Shuey gave up a leadoff walk in the eighth, but got a double play, and Jamie Walker got three outs to complete the two-hitter and earn his second save of the year for Baltimore, which has won three of four.

Chris Gomez had three hits for the Orioles, who honored Cal Ripken Jr. before the game. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday.

B.J. Upton had both hits for the Devil Rays, who have lost four in a row and 21 of 26.

Scott Kazmir (7-7) went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Baltimore has won six of seven against the Devil Rays this season and is 12-2 in the last 14 matchups. Tampa Bay has also dropped seven straight and 18 of its last 22 at Camden Yards since the start of the 2005 season.

BOSTON RED SOX (61-39) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (58-42), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Josh Beckett (13-3, 3.41) Cleveland - Fausto Carmona (12-4, 3.52)

One pitchers’ duel could be followed by another when the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians play the third of four straight games tonight at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox posted a 1-0 victory over the Indians in Tuesday’s game, as Daisuke Matsuzaka (12-7) scattered four hits over seven shutout innings. The Japanese star struck out five and walked three and did not allow a runner past second base.

Mike Lowell drove in the only run of the game, while Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez had two hits each for the Red Sox, winners of five in a row and owners of a major-league best 61-39 record. Julio Lugo extended his hit streak to 14 games with a double in his final at-bat.

Boston has matched the second-place New York Yankees’ five-game winning streak to maintain their 7 1/2 game lead over the Yanks in the American League East.

David Ortiz did not play for the Red Sox for the fourth straight game due to a strained left shoulder, but could return to the lineup tonight.

Grady Sizemore finished 2-for-4 for the Indians, who have dropped three of four. Ryan Garko extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a double.

Despite the loss, the Indians actually picked up a half-game on the first- place Tigers in the AL Central race after Detroit was swept in a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Indians, who lead the wild card, trail the Tigers by 1 1/2 games.

C.C. Sabathia (13-5) was the hard-luck loser and failed in his bid to become the league’s first 14-game winner. The All-Star lefty allowed just one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in seven innings.

Thanks to Sabathia’s loss, Josh Beckett now has a chance to become the majors’ first 14-game winner this season. He comes into the game with a 13-3 mark and a 3.41 earned run average and picked up his latest victory Friday against the White Sox. The right-hander yielded three runs on four hits and struck out 10 over six innings of a 10-3 victory.

Beckett faced Cleveland on May 29 for the third time in his career and earned the win behind seven frames of two-run ball. He also fanned seven to improve to 1-2 with a 9.18 earned run average all-time against the Indians.

Like Matsuzaka, Beckett will face stiff competition in the form of Fausto Carmona tonight. The right-hander is currently riding a four-game winning streak and improved to 12-4 with a 3.52 ERA on the season behind eight shutout innings Friday versus Texas. Carmona yielded just three hits and three walks while fanning seven batters.

Carmona has allowed just six earned runs over his four victories since getting tagged for eight runs in just one inning of work against Oakland on June 27.

The Dominican has faced Boston twice before out of the bullpen and is 0-2 in that span. Both of those setbacks came last season during Carmona’s short- lived run as the club’s closer following the trade of Bob Wickman to Atlanta.

Carmona blew two saves on back-to-back outings (July 31 and August 2) at Boston, getting tagged for five runs in a total of one inning.

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

NEW YORK YANKEES (53-46) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (43-56), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Mike Mussina (4-7, 4.97) Kansas City - Gil Meche (7-6, 3.63)

The scorching New York Yankees take aim at a sixth consecutive victory as they continue a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

The American League’s hottest team kept up its winning ways on Tuesday, using a balanced offensive attack to post a 9-4 victory over the Royals in game two of this series.

Derek Jeter led the charge with four hits in six at-bats, while Bobby Abreu went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI to help the Bronx Bombers improve to 11-3 since the All-Star break. The latest win moved New York within 4 1/2 games of Cleveland’s lead atop the American League wild card standings.

Jorge Posada also drove in a pair of runs for the Yankees, while Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui each collected two hits and two runs scored in the win.

Offense has propelled New York during its current win streak, as the club has racked up a whopping 63 runs over its last five games. That’s the highest total for the Yankees over a five-game span stretch since they compiled 68 from May 21-25, 1936.

Chien-Ming Wang (11-5) benefited from the Yankees’ latest offensive outburst to record his 11th victory of the season. The right-hander worked the first six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.

Scott Elarton (2-4), activated from the disabled list by Kansas City prior to the game, was shelled for seven runs on six hits over just 1 2/3 innings in his return.

Ross Gload and Alex Gordon each went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Royals, who fell for the third time in four games.

Kansas City will send out ace Gil Meche in an attempt to stop New York’s powerful lineup tonight. The All-Star righty brings a string of four consecutive winning decisions into the contest and hasn’t lost in seven starts since a June 9 setback to Philadelphia.

Meche handcuffed the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers in his most recent start, yielding just two runs and five hits over seven innings in Friday’s 10-2 Royals’ win.

The Louisiana native owns a 3-2 record with a 3.88 earned run average in nine career starts versus New York.

Mike Mussina looks to halt a recent rough stretch when the veteran takes the mound tonight for the Yankees. The 38-year-old has lost four of his last five decisions and was hit hard by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday. Mussina lasted just 4 2/3 innings in that game and surrendered six runs on seven hits en route to the loss.

Mussina is just 1-3 with a 4.46 ERA on the road this season and hasn’t won away from home since defeating Texas on May 3, a span of six starts.

The right-hander has excellent career numbers against Kansas City, however. In 31 starts versus the Royals, Mussina is 15-7 with a 3.02 ERA and four complete games. He is also an impressive 8-2 with a 3.12 in 14 Kauffman Stadium starts.

On the milestone watch, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez remains two home runs shy of 500 for his career. The All-Star slugger was 0-for-4 with a run scored in last night’s game.

New York has won 12 of its last 14 encounters with Kansas City and has a 4-1 record at Kauffman Stadium over that span.

DETROIT TIGERS (59-40) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (45-55), 8:11 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Kenny Rogers (3-2, 3.77) Chicago - Jose Contreras (5-12, 5.76)

Jose Contreras will attempt to extend Chicago’s momentum over Detroit and snap a personal five-game losing streak when the White Sox continue their five-game series with the Tigers tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.

Contreras’ current losing streak has dropped his record to 5-12 with a 5.76 earned run average on the year. He was shelled in his last start Friday at Boston, when he gave up 10 runs on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings of a 10-3 setback. He is pitching to an 8.24 ERA over his skid.

The right-handed Cuban has had success against the Tigers, going 8-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 17 lifetime starts against them.

Kenny Rogers will attempt to halt a personal two-game losing streak with tonight’s start for Detroit. After returning on June 22 from surgery to remove a blood clot in his pitching shoulder and winning his first three starts, Rogers has dropped games to Seattle and Kansas City to fall to 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA.

The left-hander allowed six runs (five earned) for the second straight start Friday against the Royals and also surrendered nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Rogers has faced the White Sox 52 times, 28 as a starter, and is 16-8 with two saves and a 4.03 ERA versus Chicago. He was very good against the Sox last year, going 3-1 with a 0.82 ERA in five starts.

Rogers and Detroit will try to rebound from Tuesday’s doubleheader, when they were swept by the White Sox.

Chicago took the opener, 5-3, behind a three-RBI game by Paul Konerko that included a two-run homer. Javier Vazquez (8-5) won his fifth straight decision, as he gave up just three runs on four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in eight innings of work.

Curtis Granderson hit a solo homer for Detroit in the setback. Jeremy Bonderman (10-2) got the loss after he gave up five runs on eight hits in seven innings of action.

In the nightcap, Jim Thome, who went 3-for-3 in the day’s first game, belted a three-run homer as the White Sox won 8-7.

Scott Podsednik was activated from the 15-day disabled list by the White Sox prior to game one and scored on an error in the eighth inning, as Chicago rallied from a six-run deficit to win.

Rob Mackowiak and Tadahito Iguchi both homered as the White Sox halted a four-game losing streak with the pair of wins. Bobby Jenks saved both games to give him 28 on the season.

Mike Hessman, who drove in the go-ahead run in Detroit’s win on Monday, homered and knocked in two runs for the Tigers, who saw their lead in the American League Central shrink to 1 1/2 games over Cleveland.

Detroit has lost four of its last six games and has lost two of the first three tests of its current 11-game road trip. The Tigers haven’t lost three games in a row since May 30-June 1.

The White Sox now hold a 4-3 edge in the season series and have split four games at U.S. Cellular Field with Detroit so far this year. The White Sox won 12 of the 19 meetings last year.

SEATTLE MARINERS (54-44) AT TEXAS RANGERS (45-56), 8:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Miguel Batista (10-7, 4.32) Texas - Brandon McCarthy (4-7, 5.53)

The suddenly-sputtering Seattle Mariners attempt to avoid matching a season high for consecutive losses in tonight’s finale of a four- game series with the host Texas Rangers.

The Mariners’ losing streak extended to five games after the club was swept in a doubleheader by the last-place Rangers on Tuesday. Texas won both encounters by a single run, posting a 2-1 decision in the opener before coming through with a 4-3 win in the nightcap.

John Rheinecker (1-0) delivered a sharp performance for the Rangers in game one. The left-hander, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma to start the contest, held Seattle to one unearned run and six hits over the first seven innings. Eric Gagne tossed a scoreless ninth to preserve the one-run victory.

Michael Young snapped a 1-1 tie with a fifth-inning RBI single off Mariners starter Ryan Feierabend (1-4), who allowed two runs on six hits over five- innings for a hard-luck loss.

In the second game, Texas’ Travis Metcalf doubled home Gerald Laird with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 deadlock. Gagne then shut the door in the ninth to register his 16th save of the season.

Metcalf finished 4-for-4 in the nightcap to lead the Rangers to their third win over Seattle in two days.

C.J. Wilson (2-1) picked up the victory with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Kameron Loe, who gave up three runs on seven hits over the first 6 2/3 frames.

Chris Reitsma (0-2) was dealt the loss for the Mariners after surrendering Metcalf’s go-ahead double. Starter Jarrod Washburn gave up three runs over 5 2/3 innings in a no decision.

Seattle, which dropped a season-high six straight games from May 22-28, has not lost much ground in the playoff race despite its recent woes. The club is 2 1/2 games behind the struggling Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for first place in the AL West and is just three behind Cleveland for the league’s wild- card berth.

The Mariners will turn to Miguel Batista tonight in hopes of ending their slide. The veteran righty was on the mound for the team’s last win, as he held Toronto to two runs and five hits while striking out six over 5 2/3 innings in Friday’s 4-2 triumph at Rogers Centre.

Batista is 3-1 with a 2.45 earned run average over his last four starts and leads Seattle with 10 wins this season.

The 36-year-old has also won both of his outings against Texas in 2007, having surrendered just five runs over a combined 13 innings of work in those games. He is 3-3 with a 4.65 ERA in nine lifetime games, including six starts, versus the Rangers.

Texas’ Brandon McCarthy will try to halt a personal three-decision losing streak in tonight’s finale. The young right-hander was last in action on Friday, when he gave up three runs over 5 2/3 innings in a defeat to Cleveland.

McCarthy has not recorded a victory since May 20 and is 0-3 with a 4.10 earned run average in five starts since returning from a short stay on the disabled list in early June.

The 24-year-old is 0-2 with a 12.71 ERA in three career appearances, including one start, against Seattle. That start came on April 15 at Safeco Field, where McCarthy was rocked for six runs on six hits — three of which were home runs — in only two innings.

Seattle owns a 6-4 advantage on the Rangers in the 2007 season series but is just 9-24 in Arlington since the start of the 2004 campaign. Texas has taken three of the four encounters between the division rivals at home this season.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (54-45) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (50-50), 3:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Justin Germano (6-4, 3.77) Colorado - Aaron Cook (6-6, 4.37)

The San Diego Padres are inching closer to NL West supremacy and will wrap up a three-game series against the division-rival Colorado Rockies this afternoon at Coors Field.

San Diego ended a four-game losing streak with Tuesday’s 5-3 victory in the second installment of this series. It also pulled within one game of Los Angeles for the division lead after the Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros last night at Minute Maid Park.

Adrian Gonzalez gave the Padres the lead for good with an RBI single in the eighth inning and Mike Cameron added a three-run homer. All-Star Chris Young started for San Diego and left early with a left oblique strain. Young came out to start the bottom of the third, but after a few warm-up tosses, manager Bud Black decided to cut Young’s night short.

Young, who retired all six Colorado hitters he faced, was replaced by Justin Hampson, who pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball. Heath Bell got the win as he tossed 1 1/3 shutout frames.

Taking the ball for the Padres today will be Justin Germano, who is 6-4 with a 3.77 ERA in 13 starts this season.

Germano is just 1-4 with a 5.50 earned run average over his last six starts, and was handed the loss the previous time out on July 20 against Philadelphia. He was reached for four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-3 setback to the Phillies.

The right-hander, who is 4-1 in seven road starts in 2007, will try for his first-career win against Colorado. Germano is 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA through three lifetime starts against the Rockies.

Colorado has dropped three of its last four games, including Tuesday’s 5-3 loss in front of its home crowd. Ryan Spilborghs knocked in a pair of runs with a pinch-hit double for the Rockies, who are 5 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the division standings.

Aaron Cook gets the call for Colorado this afternoon and is 6-6 with a 4.37 earned run average in 21 starts this season.

Cook is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his previous four trips to the mound, and defeated Washington his last time out on July 20. Cook yielded four hits in seven shutout innings of a 3-1 victory.

The right-hander owns a decent career mark against San Diego, going 7-3 with a complete game and a 2.76 earned run average in 15 lifetime appearances (13 starts).

San Diego is 5-3 against the Rockies this season, including a 3-2 mark at Coors Field. Colorado went 10-9 in last season’s series with the Padres.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (42-57) AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (51-48), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Washington - Matt Chico (4-6, 4.65) Philadelphia - Cole Hamels (11-5, 3.69)

Breakout southpaw Cole Hamels tries to reverse his first 2007 result against the Washington Nationals tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies host them at Citizens Bank Park in game two of a three-game series.

Hamels, a first-round draft pick in 2002, allowed eight hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss to the Nationals on April 26 in Philadelphia. It was his first loss after opening the season with two wins and two no-decisions in four starts.

He’s 11-5 overall, including a 6-2 mark in nine starts at home with a 3.52 earned run average in 61 1/3 innings.

Hamels defeated Houston and St. Louis in consecutive starts on July 4 and 14, then dropped a hard-luck 1-0 verdict to San Diego on July 19 in which he allowed two hits and a run in seven innings.

Lefty Matt Chico goes for his first road win of 2007 against the Phillies.

The 24-year-old Californian is 0-5 in nine road starts, posting a 4.66 ERA in nine starts.

He’s 1-1 with three no-decisions in his last five starts overall, allowing 28 hits and 10 earned runs in 31 innings.

Chico has never faced the Phillies.

On Tuesday, Aaron Rowand went 3-for-4, hit the go- ahead solo home run in the eighth inning, and threw out a runner at the plate for good measure to lead the Phillies to a 4-3 win over the Nationals.

Rowand scored three times for the Phillies, who survived a so-so outing by Kyle Kendrick to win their four straight. Kendrick, who was pulled after 5 2/3 innings, let up five hits and three runs with three walks and a hit batter. Ryan Madson (2-2) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, and Antonio Alfonseca picked up his eighth save.

Brian Schneider’s three-run double provided the offense for the Nationals, who hung in despite losing starter Jason Bergmann after 2 1/3 innings to tightness in his left hamstring. Bergmann allowed four hits and two runs. Luis Ayala (0-2) served up Rowand’s homer to take the loss for Washington, which had won four of five entering the game.

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

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (41-57) AT NEW YORK METS (56-43), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Tom Gorzelanny (9-5, 3.20) New York - Tom Glavine (8-6, 4.51)

Tom Glavine tries to inch closer to magical win No. 300 this evening when the New York Mets continue their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Shea Stadium.

Glavine remained stuck at 298 career victories in his last start on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, despite his team putting up 13 runs. Glavine, though, surrendered six runs and 10 hits in just two innings and did not factor in the decision of his team’s 13-9 win.

The 41-year-old left-hander, who is 8-6 with a 4.51 earned run average this season, is 21-12 in his career against the Pirates with a 3.09 ERA. Over the last two seasons, though, he is 2-0 against them with a sparkling 1.90 ERA.

Pittsburgh will counter with 25-year-old lefty Tom Gorzelanny, who is 9-5 with a 3.20 ERA. Gorzelanny suffered a tough-luck loss in his last start on Friday against the Houston Astros, as he allowed a pair of runs and six hits in seven innings of a 2-1 loss.

Gorzelanny, who is 5-2 away from PNC Park this season, has faced the Mets twice in his career and is 0-1 against them with a 6.75 ERA.

In the opener of this set on Tuesday, John Maine pitched seven strong innings and aided his cause with the first home run of his career to lead New York to an 8-4 victory.

Maine (11-5) allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts for the Mets, who returned home from a 4-3 California road trip and won for the fourth time in their last five games. Lastings Milledge finished 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in the victory.

Jason Bay hit two home runs for the lowly Pirates, who have dropped nine of their last 10 games.

Ian Snell suffered the loss on the mound and allowed six runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts in four innings of work. Snell (7-8) tossed only 63 pitches and surrendered 10 hits in a game for the second time this season.

The Mets are playing the Pirates for the first time this season, but won five of the nine matchups between them in 2006. All five of the Mets’ wins against the Bucs last season came in Flushing.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (56-44) AT CINCINNATI REDS (42-59), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Jeff Suppan (8-8, 4.92) Cincinnati - Kyle Lohse (5-12, 4.71)

Veteran Jeff Suppan looks to stay undefeated in his career against the Cincinnati Reds today when the Milwaukee Brewers visit Great American Ball Park for the third of a four-game series.

Suppan, who’ll be 33 in January, is 2-0 in seven lifetime starts against the Reds, posting a 6.37 earned run average in 41 innings.

The right-hander is winless in his last five starts, going 0-1 with four no- decisions. His last win came June 22 against Kansas City, when he allowed nine hits and five runs in five innings.

He is 3-6 in 11 road starts in 2007 with a 5.56 ERA.

Cincinnati’s Kyle Lohse enters the game on a two-start losing streak. The 28-year-old Californian was racked for eight hits and four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings on July 20 at Florida, dropping a 10-2 decision to the Marlins.

Lohse is 2-3 in seven games - six starts - against the Brewers in his career, with a 6.31 ERA.

On Tuesday, Prince Fielder went 2-for-4 with a triple, a pair of RBI and two runs scored, as the Brewers edged the Reds, 5-3.

Yovani Gallardo started for Milwaukee and pitched 6 2/3 strong innings of one- run ball. Gallardo (3-1) scattered six hits while walking three and striking out two.

Gallardo, Damian Miller and Geoff Jenkins all knocked in a run for the Brewers, who won for the second time in their last five games.

Cincinnati starter Matt Belisle (5-7) lasted just 3 2/3 frames as the right- hander gave up four runs on six hits.

Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Reds, who have four losses over their last five games. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (56-45) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (43-57), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Derek Lowe (8-9, 3.48) Houston - Matt Albers (2-4, 5.76)

Hearts will be heavy from here on out in Houston with Craig Biggio’s intentions of retiring at season’s end. Biggio will lead the Astros this evening in the finale of a three-game series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park.

Biggio held a press conference on Tuesday to announce that he will be hanging up the cleats following the 2007 season. Selected 22nd overall in the first round of the 1987 draft, the seven-time All-Star spent his entire career in an Astros uniform. He is the only player in Major League history to have more than 600 doubles, 250 home runs, 2,700 hits and 400 stolen bases.

The future Hall of Famer is Houston’s all-time leader in hits (3,016), runs (1,827) and games (2,799).

After announcing his plans to retire on Tuesday, Biggio went out and clubbed a grand slam in the sixth inning to lead the Astros to a 7-4 victory in the second test of this series. Biggio finished 2-for-4 and Morgan Ensberg drove in two runs for the Astros, who have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games.

Houston starting pitcher Jason Jennings went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts for the win. Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save.

Matt Albers will make his first start for Houston since late May when he takes the ball this evening.

Albers, who is 2-4 with a 5.76 ERA in 15 games (seven starts) this season, last started on May 23 in a 9-1 loss to San Francisco. Albers was reached for four runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings of work that day. He has made eight relief appearances since then.

The right-hander will face Los Angeles for the first time in his career.

Los Angeles saw its lead in the National League West standings shrink to one game after losing Tuesday’s contest. The Dodgers own a one-game lead over the San Diego Padres, who defeated the Colorado Rockies last night.

Jeff Kent homered and James Loney had two hits for the Dodgers, who have lost four of six. Dodgers starter Mark Hendrickson surrendered three runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out three over five-plus innings. Rudy Seanez suffered the loss in relief, giving up four runs during Houston’s six- run sixth inning that was highlighted by Biggio’s slam.

Derek Lowe gets the nod this evening for the Dodgers and is 8-9 with a 3.48 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) this season.

Lowe is 0-3 with a 4.82 ERA in his last six outings and took the hill in relief on Sunday against the New York Mets. He pitched one scoreless inning of relief, just three days after giving up nine runs — eight earned — against the Mets.

The right-hander, who is 5-5 in 12 road starts in 2007, is 1-2 with a 2.76 earned run average in four career starts against Houston.

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

CHICAGO CUBS (52-46) AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (45-51), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Ted Lilly (10-4, 3.58) St. Louis - Adam Wainwright (9-7, 4.18)

Ted Lilly tries to win his sixth straight start this evening, when the Chicago Cubs resume their three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Lilly, who won a career-best six straight starts from August 25-September 21, 2003 with Oakland, has won his last six decisions and is unbeaten in his previous seven starts after defeating the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. Lilly surrendered three runs and six hits in five innings of that one, as he improved to 10-4 on the season to go along with a 3.58 earned run average.

The 31-year-old left-hander lost to the Cardinals earlier in the season and is 1-1 in his career against them with a 1.29 ERA in two starts.

St. Louis will counter with 25-year-old righty Adam Wainwright, who is 9-7 with a 4.18 ERA. Wainwright won his third straight start on Friday against the Atlanta Braves, as he surrendered a run on six hits in seven innings.

Over his last three starts Wainwright has given up just three runs over 21 frames.

Wainwright has faced the Cubs 11 times (two starts) and is 0-1 with an 8.50 ERA against them.

In the opener of this set on Tuesday, Aramis Ramirez posted four hits with a run batted in while Carlos Zambrano earned his third consecutive victory as the Cubs pulled out a 4-3 win.

Zambrano (13-7), who is now tied for the major league lead in wins, allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings for Chicago, which halted a two-game skid and won for the fourth time in its last six games.

Skip Schumaker hit a two-run triple for the Cardinals, who are now 4-4 over their last eight games and opened a seven-game homestand with the setback.

Kip Wells (4-13) suffered the loss despite a solid outing. Wells was charged with three runs — two earned — on eight hits with two strikeouts and three walks over 6 2/3 frames. He also singled and scored a run in the losing effort.

Chicago has won four of its six matchups with St. Louis this season and is 25-16 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Cubs have also won all three of their meetings in St. Louis this season after losing six of nine there a year ago.

FLORIDA MARLINS (48-53) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (54-48), 9:40 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Scott Olsen (8-7, 4.99) Arizona - Brandon Webb (8-8, 3.38)

Florida Marlins troubled starting pitcher Scott Olsen gets the call tonight, when his ballclub resumes a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Olsen was involved in an altercation with teammate and fellow pitcher Sergio Mitre last week, forcing the Marlins to suspend him for two games. He was then arrested on Saturday in Miami after refusing to pull over and getting into a fight with police. He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, resisting an officer with violence and fleeing and eluding an officer.

The left-hander reportedly kicked police as they tried to arrest him at his house. Olsen, who then had to be restrained by a stun gun and suffered bruises on his forehead, was not disciplined by the team for his latest antics.

Olsen is 8-7 with a 4.99 ERA in 21 starts this season for Florida, which is 7-2 with him on the mound since June 6. Olsen has won two straight starts, including a July 20 performance against Cincinnati in which he yielded two runs in seven innings of a 10-2 triumph at Dolphin Stadium.

Olsen has made only one appearance in his career against Arizona, giving up six runs and nine hits in five innings of a 6-3 defeat on August 12 of the 2006 season.

Florida has dropped the first two games of this four-game set following a three-game winning streak. In last night’s 9-3 loss against Arizona, Dan Uggla homered twice and drove in all three runs for the Marlins, who are nine games off the lead in the NL East. Mitre was battered for seven runs — six earned — and seven hits in just three-plus innings for the loss.

Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb is struggling as of late and owns an 0-3 mark with a 4.90 ERA in his last four starts.

Webb hasn’t won since a May 27 performance against Los Angeles and is 8-8 with a 3.38 ERA in 21 starts this season. In his last outing on July 20 against the Chicago Cubs, Webb was reached for three runs — two earned — on five hits in seven innings of a 6-2 loss.

The right-hander and 2006 NL Cy Young award winner is 2-3 with a 6.28 earned run average through five career starts against Florida.

On Tuesday Orlando Hudson went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI to lead Arizona to its fourth straight win. Eric Byrnes and Miguel Montero both drove in a pair of runs for the Diamondbacks, while starter Livan Hernandez won for the first time in his last 10 starts by scattering seven hits and one run with five strikeouts over seven innings.

Arizona and Florida are meeting for the first time since the Marlins won four of six meetings in 2006. Florida is 12-9 against the Diamondbacks since the 2004 campaign.

ATLANTA BRAVES (54-47) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (41-57), 10:15 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Chuck James (8-7, 3.58) San Francisco - Noah Lowry (10-7, 3.55)

While commissioner Bud Selig has now said he will try to be in attendance as Barry Bonds chases Hank Aaron’s home run record, he may be able to skip tonight’s game. Bonds could be out of the lineup when the San Francisco Giants continue their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park.

On Tuesday, Edgar Renteria hit a two-run double in the 13th inning to lift the Braves past the Giants, 7-5.

Bonds, meanwhile, played the entire game and the extra four frames could prompt the slugging outfielder to take a day off tonight. Bonds celebrated his 43rd birthday by going 1-for-5 with a walk to remain at 753 career homers, two shy of Aaron’s mark.

The left-handed hitter has not homered since blasting a pair on Thursday against the Cubs in Chicago. The Giants still have five straight home games on the schedule before beginning a six-game road trip.

Selig watched Bonds play in the Giants’ three-game series in Milwaukee over the weekend, but did not attend Monday’s series opener in the Bay Area. However, Selig was in attendance last night and said he intends to be at as many games as possible as Bonds chases the record.

The Giants were stymied by Tim Hudson until the ninth inning, when they scored four times with two outs to force extra frames. However, San Francisco faltered in the 13th as Renteria lined a hit to left field to boost Atlanta to its second victory over San Francisco at the halfway point of the four-game series.

Chipper Jones homered and drove in two runs while Renteria had three hits for the Braves, who are three games behind the first-place Mets in the National League East.

Hudson’s final line read three runs, six hits and three walks allowed over 8 2/3 innings. Peter Moylan (4-1) got the win in relief.

Pedro Feliz had two hits, three RBI and scored the game-tying run in the ninth on a Bengie Molina pinch-hit single. Jonathan Sanchez (1-2), though, took the loss in relief for the Giants, who have dropped three in a row and 10 of their last 13.

Noah Lowry will start for the Giants tonight and is 4-1 over his last five outings. He earned the win on Friday at Milwaukee after giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits over six innings, improving to 10-7 with a 3.55 earned run average on the season.

Lowry, who has allowed seven earned runs over his last two starts after giving up just three in his previous three outings, is 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA in three career starts against the Braves.

Chuck James will aim to extend a string of four very good starts when he toes the rubber for Atlanta. James posted back-to-back wins over Florida and the Dodgers before the All-Star break and has since turned in two no decisions, despite allowing only one earned run over 13 innings.

James, who has a 1.09 ERA over his last four starts, threw six shutout innings against Pittsburgh on July 14 and then scattered one run and six hits over seven frames against St. Louis on Friday.

The left-hander is 8-7 with a 3.58 ERA this season and 1-0 in three games (one start) lifetime versus the Giants. James has faced Bonds three times and walked him twice while also hitting him with a pitch.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday, July 23rd (All times eastern)

BOSTON RED SOX (59-39) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (58-40), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Boston - Jon Lester (0-0, 0.00) Cleveland - Jake Westbrook (1-5, 6.07)

The Red Sox are sure to receive an emotional boost in the form of Jon Lester tonight, when Boston begins a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.

Lester is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start tonight for the Red Sox nearly a year after being diagnosed with a treatable form of lymphoma.

The 23-year-old made 15 starts for the Red Sox last season, going 7-2 with a 4.76 earned run average, but baseball took a back seat after his last start on August 23 of 2006. Days later, it was announced that Lester had lymphoma.

The left-hander underwent treatment and was then brought along slowly by Boston, which sent him to Single-A on a rehab assignment to begin the season. He then hit a minor bump in the road on May 2 when he experienced muscle cramping in his left forearm.

After recovering from that injury, Lester was reinstated from the disabled list and optioned to Pawtucket on June 11 and has gone 4-5 with a 3.89 ERA in 14 starts.

Lester, who is replacing the struggling Julian Tavarez in the rotation, faced Cleveland once last year on August 2 and received a no-decision after allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings.

Reliever Joel Pineiro is expected to be designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Lester.

Boston was again without David Ortiz on Sunday for the second straight game, but saw Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell supplement the power loss with a three- run homer each in the club’s 8-5 victory over the White Sox.

Ortiz had an MRI taken on his left shoulder Saturday that revealed no structural damage and is listed as day-to-day. However, he could be sidelined until Wednesday.

Coco Crisp added three hits and Ramirez scored two runs as the Red Sox won three straight over the White Sox after dropping the series opener. Tim Wakefield (11-9) earned the win despite being charged with six hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox have matched the New York Yankees current three-game winning streak to maintain their 7 1/2-game lead for first place in the American League East.

The Indians, meanwhile, won three of four against the Rangers over the weekend, including an 8-3 victory on Sunday. Josh Barfield went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI to pace Cleveland.

Casey Blake also had three hits, including a pair of doubles, for the Indians, who trail Detroit by one game for the top spot in the AL Central and hold a 2 1/2-game edge over Seattle for the wild card spot.

Paul Byrd (8-4) started for Cleveland and pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits.

Jake Westbrook will try again for his first win since returning from the disabled list when he takes the mound for the Indians tonight. Westbrook received a no-decision on May 2 against Toronto before being sidelined for over six weeks due to a left abdominal strain.

He returned on June 24 and has gone 0-3 in five starts since to extend his winless streak to a career-high tying six starts that he set from June 19 through July 15 of 2004.

In his last start on Wednesday against the White Sox, the right-hander took the loss to fall to 1-5 on the year with a 6.07 ERA after yielding four runs on seven hits over six innings of a 5-1 setback.

Westbrook is 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in five career starts against Boston.

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

MINNESOTA TWINS (51-47) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (48-50), 7:07 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota - Johan Santana (11-7, 2.65) Toronto - Shawn Marcum (5-4, 3.73)

Standout left-hander Johan Santana looks to begin another win streak tonight when the Minnesota Twins visit Rogers Centre for the first game of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

A 19-game winner last season, Santana had won five straight starts between June 19 and July 13 before dropping a 3-2 nod to Detroit on July 18. In that start, he allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings.

Santana has faced Toronto nine times in his career, going 2-3 with a 4.15 earned run average in 43 1/3 innings.

Right-hander Shawn Marcum will attempt to snap out of a skid that’s seen him lose two of three starts. The 25-year-old allowed five hits and three runs over six innings in his last outing, but lost a 6-1 decision to the New York Yankees.

He defeated the Boston Red Sox one start earlier, allowing three earned runs and seven hits in six innings.

Marcum has faced the Twins twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings.

On Sunday in Toronto, Roy Halladay pitched a three-hit shutout as the Blue Jays blanked the Seattle Mariners, 8-0, in the finale of a three-game set.

Halladay (11-4) was dominant throughout, needing just two hours, seven minutes to dismiss the Mariners. He struck out three and walked one.

Troy Glaus hit a three-run homer while Gregg Zaun and Aaron Hill also went deep for Toronto, which has won three of its last four contests.

Zaun scored three times, and Alex Rios finished with two RBI.

In Minnesota, Joe Saunders hurled seven solid innings, and Garret Anderson homered as the LA Angels of Anaheim downed Minnesota, 7-2, in the finale of a three-game set at the Metrodome.

Jeff Cirillo and Justin Morneau each had an RBI for the Twins, who have lost four of six.

Matt Garza (1-2) allowed four runs — three earned — on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work en route to the loss.

Minnesota and Toronto are meeting for the first time this year at the Rogers Centre. The teams have clashed seven previous times in 2007 at Minnesota, with the Twins holding a slim 4-3 edge.

NEW YORK YANKEES (51-46) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (43-54), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Roger Clemens (2-4, 3.88) Kansas City - Odalis Perez (5-8, 5.84)

The New York Yankees bring their powerful bats into Kansas City for a four-game series with an improving Royals club that begins this evening at Kauffman Stadium.

After enduring a disappointing 14-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday, New York outscored the lowly Devil Rays by a 45-12 margin to win the final three tests of a four-game weekend set between the clubs at Yankee Stadium. The 49 total runs were the most in club history for a four-game series since the Bronx Bombers scored 57 times against the Philadelphia Athletics from August 11-13, 1939.

The Yankee offense was at its best over the final two contests. New York pounded out 20 hits in a 17-5 shellacking in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Saturday, then followed with a 25-hit, six-homer barrage in Sunday’s 21-4 rout of the Rays.

Alex Rodriguez belted his major league-leading 34th home run of the season and finished with three RBI for the Yankees, while rookie Shelley Duncan clubbed a pair of homers and drove in four runs on the afternoon. New York also received five hits from Hideki Matsui, including a home run, while Robinson Cano went 4-for-6 with a homer and three RBI.

Bobby Abreu also went deep for New York, which has won five straight series and compiled a 14-5 record over that span, and ended 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Andy Pettitte (6-6) was the beneficiary of Sunday’s power surge and won his 12th consecutive decision over Tampa Bay by allowing three runs and striking out eight over the first six innings.

With his two-run blast in the sixth inning, Rodriguez now needs just two long balls to become the youngest player in baseball history to reach the coveted 500-homer milestone.

While the Yankees clearly flexed their offensive muscle over the weekend, the club hasn’t provided the same type of support when Roger Clemens has taken the mound lately.

The 44-year-old, who will start tonight’s opener for New York, received a no decision in his most recent outing despite pitching well enough to win. Clemens held Toronto to one run in six innings of work on Wednesday, but left the game trailing by a 1-0 score. The Yankees later scored six times to emerge victorious.

Clemens is 0-1 in three starts since he earned his 350th career victory by defeating Minnesota on July 2, although the future Hall of Famer has posted a 3.26 earned run average during that stretch.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner has dominated the Royals over the course of his brilliant career, having amassed a 24-7 record with a 2.17 ERA in 39 lifetime starts. He has not faced Kansas City since the 2005 season, though.

Clemens will take on a Royals squad that has won four of its last five games and just took two of three matchups on the road from the defending AL champion Detroit Tigers. In Sunday’s rubber match, Brian Bannister delivered seven outstanding innings to lead Kansas City to a 5-2 triumph.

Bannister (6-6) yielded only one run and four hits while recording three strikeouts. The right-hander received offensive support from Mark Grudzielanek, who collected four hits, and Esteban German, who finished 2- for-5 with a solo home run.

Grudzielanek is batting .542 (13-for-24) over his last five games.

The Royals will send out Odalis Perez in the opener and the left-hander will attempt to win back-to-back starts for the first time since April.

Perez wasn’t overly impressive his last time out, as he allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings at Boston on Wednesday, but wound up with the win in a 6-5 Kansas City decision. In his three July starts, the native Dominican has surrendered 13 earned runs and 24 hits over 15 2/3 innings.

The 30-year-old’s only previous start against the Yankees came while he was with Atlanta on July 17, 1999. It wasn’t a memorable occasion, as Perez was rocked for eight runs and eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings to suffer the loss.

Tonight’s game marks the first 2007 meeting between these teams. The Yankees have won 10 of their last 12 encounters with Kansas City and took two of three contests at Kauffman Stadium last September.

DETROIT TIGERS (54-40) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (47-50), 8:11 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Andrew Miller (5-3, 3.18) Chicago - Mark Buehrle (7-5, 2.91)

Two teams will get a very good look at each other over the next couple of days, as the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox begin a rare five-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.

Thanks to a rain out back on April 26, the two teams added an extra game to this original four-game series, as the clubs will play a double-header on Tuesday.

However, Detroit and Chicago will first get reacquainted with one game tonight.

Andrew Miller will start for the Tigers and has alternated wins and losses over his last seven outings. That includes a win over Minnesota on Wednesday, as Miller improved to 5-3 on the season with a 3.18 earned run average after tossing five innings of one-run ball with four hits, four walks and five strikeouts.

The left-hander faced the White Sox once last season in relief, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a Detroit loss on September 19.

The first-place Tigers come into this set on a sour note after dropping two of three to the lowly Kansas City Royals after dropping the rubber match, 5-2, on Sunday.

Nate Robertson (6-7) was battered for 11 hits and five runs — four earned — with five strikeouts and one walk over six-plus innings.

Craig Monroe homered in the loss, while Magglio Ordonez had an RBI double for the Tigers, who begin an 11-game road trip tonight and lead Cleveland by just one game for the top spot in the American League Central.

The White Sox, meanwhile, won the opener of their four-game set with Boston on Thursday, but then dropped the next three games.

On Sunday, Josh Fields had two hits and a pair of RBI in the club’s 8-5 loss. Juan Uribe had three hits, while Rob Mackowiak, Alex Cintron and Jim Thome knocked in a run apiece.

Chicago starter Jon Garland (7-7) was charged with six runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings, fanning three but walking five in the loss.

Mark Buehrle starts for the White Sox tonight. The left-hander is 3-1 over his last five starts and has pitched particularly well over his last three outings, winning twice while throwing to a 1.21 ERA.

He was last in action on Wednesday when he allowed one runs on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings in a win over Cleveland. The victory improved Buehrle to 7-5 on the year with a 2.91 ERA.

The 28-year-old has faced Detroit 21 times in his career (20 starts) and is a solid 11-7 against them with a 2.92 ERA and four complete games that includes a pair of shutouts.

Chicago and Detroit have split four games so far this season, with the Tigers winning the lone meeting at U.S. Cellular Field on April 25. The White Sox won 12 of the 19 meetings last year.

SEATTLE MARINERS (54-41) AT TEXAS RANGERS (42-56), 8:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Horacio Ramirez (5-2, 5.89) Texas - Kevin Millwood (6-8, 5.50)

The Seattle Mariners hope a visit to hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark in Arlington will enable them to cure their recent offensive struggles as they open up a four-game series with fellow American League West member Texas this evening.

Seattle was shut out in each of the final two tests of its three-game weekend series at Toronto, including an 8-0 setback in Sunday’s finale. The Mariners managed just three hits off Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay on the afternoon, just one day after mustering only three hits in a 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

Felix Hernandez (6-6) wasn’t nearly as effective on the mound for Seattle on Sunday, as the young right-hander surrendered six runs over six innings. He struck out seven but issued four walks.

The loss dropped the Mariners two games back of the division-leading Angels in the division standings. Seattle has not dropped three consecutive contests since a six-game slide from June 13-19.

The Mariners will attempt to break out of their funk against a familiar mound opponent tonight. Texas’ Kevin Millwood has faced Seattle three times already this season, compiling a 1-1 record with a 5.29 earned run average in those games.

Millwood, meanwhile, will be trying to extend a string of strong July performances. In four starts this month, the burly right-hander has gone 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA and surrendered two earned runs or less on all of those occasions.

The veteran was a hard-luck loser Wednesday in Oakland. Millwood allowed four runs in six innings against the Athletics, but three of them were unearned and he yielded only three hits on the afternoon.

Horacio Ramirez, who is coming off a successful return from the disabled list, will take the mound tonight for Seattle. The former Atlanta Brave limited Baltimore to two runs and five hits and walked none over seven innings to lead the Mariners to a 4-2 victory on July 16. He had been sidelined for nearly two months due to shoulder tendinitis.

Ramirez made his Seattle debut against the Rangers on April 15 and picked up the victory after allowing five runs, only one of which was earned, over six innings. That was his first career start against Texas.

The left-hander has had his problems on the road this season, however. In four starts away from home, Ramirez is 0-2 with a 13.21 ERA in 15 2/3 total innings.

Texas has lost four of its last five games and is mired at the bottom of the AL West standings, 15 1/2 games behind the Angels. The Rangers came up short again last night, dropping an 8-3 decision to Cleveland in Arlington.

Marlon Byrd went 3-for-5 with a triple to lead Texas offensively. Rangers starter Robinson Tejeda (5-9) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) and issuing five walks in five innings.

Seattle has won six of eight 2007 matchups with the Rangers, all but one of which have been played at Safeco Field. In the only meeting in Texas, the Mariners came away with a 5-4 win on April 23.

The Mariners are just 9-21 in Arlington since 2004, however.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (46-52) AT LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (57-40), 10:05 P.M. Probable Starting Pitchers: Oakland - Chad Gaudin (8-5, 3.39) LA Angels - Bartolo Colon (6-5, 6.38)

A pair of struggling American League West teams start up a three-game series tonight in southern California, where the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim welcome the reeling Oakland Athletics.

Oakland comes in having dropped 11 of its last 13 contests, a stretch that began with a season-long nine-game losing streak from July 6-17. Anaheim hasn’t been much better lately, as the Angels have lost five of their last seven and seen their lead over Seattle atop the division dwindle to two games.

The Angels did pick up a needed win on Sunday, however. Joe Saunders tossed seven strong innings and Garret Anderson ended his club’s lengthy homerless drought to help Los Angeles post a 7-2 victory at Minnesota.

Anderson finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer, the first by an Anaheim player in 14 games. Robb Quinlan and Casey Kotchman each drove in two runs as the Angels averted a three-game sweep at the hands of the Twins.

Saunders (4-0), who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game to take the spot in the rotation previously held by Ervin Santana, allowed just two runs on six hits while walking one and fanning five.

The Angels hope to receive a similar mound performance tonight out of former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon. The right-hander is enduring a five-start winless streak in which he has recorded three losses, two no decisions and a 7.92 earned run average.

Colon is coming off Wednesday’s loss at Tampa Bay, where he was touched for three runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. That outing was a major improvement over his previous start, when the Dominican was rocked for seven runs and seven hits in just two innings July 6 at Yankee Stadium.

The 34-year-old does own a 6-3 record and 3.38 ERA in 13 career starts against Oakland, but has not faced the A’s since September 29, 2005.

Oakland’s recent misery continued on Sunday, as the club was shut down by Jeremy Guthrie and the Baltimore Orioles. The Athletics managed just two hits — both singles — during a 2-0 setback in the rubber match of a three-game series from McAfee Coliseum.

The loss spoiled an outstanding effort from Oakland starter Dallas Braden (1-5), who held Baltimore to one run and four hits over seven quality innings.

The A’s scored just five runs during the three meetings with the Orioles and have averaged a mere 2.4 runs over their rough 13-game stretch.

Oakland pitcher Chad Gaudin has also had his troubles as of late. The converted reliever has surrendered 10 runs and 11 walks over a 10-inning span in back-to-back defeats to Minnesota and Texas.

Gaudin issued six walks in six innings during Tuesday’s 11-4 loss to the Rangers and was charged with five runs on the evening.

Despite those recent struggles, Gaudin has put together a nice season in the Oakland rotation. The 24-year-old is 8-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 20 starts.

Gaudin faced the Angels twice in April and posted a 1-0 record with a 2.13 ERA against Anaheim, yielding just three runs over 12 2/3 innings of work. He is 2-0 with a 3.38 in nine lifetime appearances (two starts) versus tonight’s opponent.

Oakland owns a 4-2 advantage in this year’s season series thus far, with the rivals having split a four-game set at Angel Stadium back in April.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (55-43) AT CINCINNATI REDS (41-58), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Chris Capuano (5-6, 4.96) Cincinnati - Aaron Harang (10-2, 3.63)

Unheralded right-hander Aaron Harang goes for a 12th straight start without a loss tonight, when the Cincinnati Reds open a four- game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.

The 29-year-old, drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1999, is 5-0 with six no- decisions in 11 starts since his last defeat — a 5-3 loss to Cleveland in an interleague game on May 20.

He was hit hard in his last start, allowing 10 hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings while getting a no-decision in the Reds’ 5-4 defeat of Atlanta.

Harang is 4-3 in 11 career starts against the Brewers, posting a 4.98 earned run average in 68 2/3 innings.

Milwaukee lefty Chris Capuano has lost six straight decisions since beginning the season at 5-0.

He pitched well in his last outing on July 18 against Arizona, but got a no- decision after allowing four hits and two runs in seven innings.

Capuano won 18 games for the Brewers in 2005 before falling to 11-12 last season in 34 starts.

He’s 2-3 with a 5.30 ERA in six career starts against the Reds.

On Sunday in Florida, Dan Uggla finished 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and a run-scoring double as Florida bested Cincinnati, 9-3, in the finale of a four- game set at Dolphin Stadium.

Jeff Keppinger was 4-for-5 with a two-run homer for the Reds, who finished an 11-game road swing at 5-6. Adam Dunn was 2-for-5 with an RBI double.

Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo (4-11) pitched well early but couldn’t sustain it. The right-hander surrendered four runs on eight hits in six-plus innings of work to pick up the loss. Arroyo issued four walks and fanned six in the game.

In Milwaukee, Ryan Braun homered and drove in three runs, as the Brewers edged the San Francisco Giants, 7-5, in the finale of a three-game series at Miller Park.

Corey Hart hit a two-run homer and J.J. Hardy knocked in two for Milwaukee, which avoided the sweep. Claudio Vargas (8-2) allowed three runs on five hits over six innings in a winning effort.

These clubs haven’t met since a quick two-game series in Cincinnati, which they split. Milwaukee held a slim 10-9 advantage in the season series last year.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (55-44) AT HOUSTON ASTROS (42-56), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Chad Billingsley (6-0, 3.56) Houston - Chris Sampson (7-6, 4.15)

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been struggling as of late, will try to stay atop the NL West standings when they open a three-game series against the Houston Astros this evening at Minute Maid Park.

The Dodgers are only a game ahead of the San Diego Padres in the division standings, but just lost three of four games to the New York Mets. In Sunday’s 5-4, 10-inning loss at Dodger Stadium, Chip Ambres hit a two-out RBI single in the extra frame to lift the Mets to victory.

Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run homer while Rafael Furcal and James Loney each had an RBI for Los Angeles. Eric Stults started for the Dodgers and allowed two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no decision.

Reliever D.J. Houlton was saddled with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the 10th.

Chad Billingsley gets the call tonight for the Dodgers and is 6-0 with a 3.56 ERA in 29 games (six starts) this season. In his last outing on Wednesday against Philadelphia, Billingsley did not factor in the outcome of a 5-4 victory after yielding four runs in five innings.

The right-hander, who is 4-0 in 16 games (three starts) on the road this season, has never faced Houston in his career.

Houston has alternated wins and losses over its last six games and posted a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sunday’s finale of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Luke Scott singled home the only run of the game in the sixth inning and Astros starter Woody Williams pitched eight innings of five-hit ball for the win. Williams surrendered five hits, struck out three batters and did not issue a walk.

Brad Lidge preserved the shutout with a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Brad Ausmus had two hits for the Astros, who won a road series for the first time since June 8-10 against the Chicago White Sox and concluded a nine-game road trip with a 3-6 record.

Houston, which is 13 games off the lead in the NL Central standings, will hand the ball to Chris Sampson in Monday’s series opener. Sampson is 7-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season and won his last outing on Tuesday against Washington.

Sampson was reached for two runs and six hits over six innings during a 4-2 triumph at RFK Stadium in his last start. The right-hander will pitch against Los Angeles for the first time in his career tonight.

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

SAN DIEGO PADRES (53-44) AT COLORADO ROCKIES (49-49), 9:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Greg Maddux (7-7, 4.17) Colorado - Jeff Francis (10-5, 4.07)

The San Diego Padres will try and stop a three-game slide when they play the first of three contests against the NL West-rival Colorado Rockies tonight at Coors Field.

San Diego just dropped three of four to the Philadelphia Phillies, including Sunday’s 9-0 loss in the series finale. Padres All-Star pitcher Jake Peavy lasted six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits to go along with six strikeouts and two walks.

The Padres, losers of nine of their last 14 games, registered just five hits on the day and sit one game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the lead in the National League West standings.

Toeing the rubber for San Diego this evening will be Greg Maddux, who is 7-7 with a 4.17 earned run average in 20 starts this season. Maddux is winless over his previous four outings (0-3) and did not post a decision on Wednesday against the New York Mets, despite hurling five shutout innings of four-hit ball during an eventual 5-4 San Diego victory.

Maddux, who is 2-3 in 10 road starts this season, is 0-2 with a 5.83 ERA in two starts against Colorado in 2007. In 23 career starts against the Rockies, the righty is 12-7 with a shutout and a 4.25 earned run average.

Colorado has lost two straight games and dropped three of four to the Washington Nationals over the weekend. In Sunday’s 3-0 loss in the series finale, Todd Helton had two hits and starter Josh Fogg pitched six scoreless innings of three-hit ball. Jorge Julio then absorbed the loss for giving up all three Washington runs in the eighth inning.

Trying to keep an unbeaten streak intact tonight will be Rockies starter Jeff Francis, who is 10-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 20 starts this season. He is unbeaten over his past seven outings, having posted a 5-0 record with a 4.60 ERA.

Francis has won back-to-back starts and defeated Pittsburgh the last time out on Wednesday, permitting two runs in seven frames of a 5-3 victory.

The left-hander was beaten by San Diego earlier this season on April 21, when he allowed 13 hits and six runs in a 7-3 setback. In 12 career starts against the Padres, Francis is 4-8 with a 5.75 earned run average.

San Diego is 4-2 against the Rockies this season, including a 2-1 mark at Coors Field. Colorado went 10-9 in last season’s series with the Padres.

FLORIDA MARLINS (48-51) AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (52-48), 9:40 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Dontrelle Willis (7-9, 5.13) Arizona - Doug Davis (6-10, 4.13)

Dontrelle Willis hasn’t won a start in almost two months and will attempt to stop his recent losing streak when he leads the Florida Marlins in tonight’s opener of a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Willis hasn’t won since a May 29 performance against the Chicago Cubs in which he allowed four runs in seven innings of a 9-4 win at Wrigley Field. Since the win at historic Wrigley, Willis has gone 0-6 with a 5.72 earned run average and three no decisions over nine starts — the longest winless streak of his young career.

The last time Willis lost six straight decisions was from April 25-May 29 of the 2006 season.

In his previous outing on Wednesday against St. Louis, Willis was saddled with the loss after permitting six runs and 11 hits over three innings.

The lefty, who is 5-2 in nine road starts this season, owns a 1-3 mark and a 4.32 earned run average in four career starts against Arizona.

Florida just took the last three games of a four-game series with Cincinnati, including Sunday’s 9-3 triumph at Dolphin Stadium. Dan Uggla finished 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and a run scored, while Mike Jacobs also hit a two-run homer for the Marlins, who are 7 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for NL East supremacy.

Miguel Cabrera was 2-for-4 with a two-run single and Josh Willingham finished 4-for-5 and drove in a run for the Marlins.

Rick Vanden Hurk started on the hill for Florida and allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. Renyel Pinto earned the win in relief after hurling a scoreless seventh frame.

Taking the ball for Arizona this evening is Doug Davis, who owns a 6-10 record with a 4.13 ERA in 20 starts this season. Davis, who is 2-4 over his last eight trips to the mound, did not factor in the outcome his last time out Wednesday against Milwaukee.

Davis gave up a pair of runs and three hits in six innings of a 5-2 win over his former club. The left-hander, who is 4-2 in nine home starts, owns an 0-1 mark with a 4.08 ERA in three career starts against Florida.

Arizona has won two straight and recorded a 3-0 triumph over the Chicago Cubs in Sunday’s finale of a three-game series. Starter Yusmeiro Petit pitched six scoreless innings and yielded three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances.

Chris Snyder homered and Conor Jackson had two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who have won two in a row since losing five of six. The D’Backs are 3 1/2 games off the top spot in the National League West standings.

Monday’s showdown between Arizona and Florida is the first since the Marlins won four of six meetings in 2006. Florida is 12-7 against the Diamondbacks since the 2004 campaign.

ATLANTA BRAVES (52-47) AT SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (41-55), 10:15 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - John Smoltz (9-5, 2.88) San Francisco - Matt Cain (3-11, 3.87)

After playing seven straight road games and seeing Barry Bonds draw within two of Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record of 755, the San Francisco Giants begin a possibly historic seven-game homestand with the first of four straight games against the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park.

Bonds blasted a pair of homers on Thursday against the Cubs to give him 753 in his career. The Giants then headed to Milwaukee for three games, but Bonds went 0-for-6 through the first two games before sitting out Sunday’s 7-5 loss.

Barry Zito (7-10) yielded seven runs in 5 1/3 innings of work for the Giants, who have lost eight of 11. Omar Vizquel finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, and Pedro Feliz homered.

Bonds’ chase of Aaron, who played with the Braves from 1954-74, first in Milwaukee and then when the club moved to Atlanta, should resume tonight against a pitcher the left-handed slugger has had success against.

John Smoltz will toe the rubber for Atlanta. Bonds is a career .297 hitter against him with eight homers, 20 walks and 14 strikeouts in 64 at-bats.

Smoltz, meanwhile, is aiming to build off a very good return from the disabled list on Wednesday. He had been sidelined due to right shoulder inflammation and returned to face the Reds, but got a no-decision despite seven shutout innings. He allowed just five hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts, lowering his season earned run average to 2.88 to go along with a 9-5 record.

The right-hander has faced the Giants 45 times in his career, 36 of those starts, and is 11-15 against them with three saves, seven complete games and a 4.19 ERA.

The Braves went 5-5 on a recent 10-game homestand, falling to the Cardinals 7-2 in the finale of that trek on Sunday. The club carried a 2-1 lead into the eight inning, but watched Rafael Soriano allow a game-tying, two-out homer to Albert Pujols.

St. Louis then exploded for five runs in the 10th inning to roll to the win.

Kelly Johnson hit a solo home run for the Braves, while Tyler Yates was saddled with the loss. Second-place Atlanta fell 3 1/2 games behind the Mets for the lead in the National League East.

Jo-Jo Reyes, looking for his first major league win in his third career start, gave up just one run on three hits through 5 1/3 innings, with three strikeouts and four walks.

The Braves will be facing struggling San Francisco starter Matt Cain, who has lost both of his starts following the All-Star break to fall to 3-11 on the season despite a 3.87 ERA. After a loss to the Dodgers on July 13, Cain was hammered for six runs on four hits and five walks in a 12-1 setback to the Cubs on Wednesday.

The right-hander has made just one career start against the Braves, taking a no-decision on April 7, 2006 after allowing four runs over six innings.

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

Florida Marlins (48-51) at Arizona Diamondbacks (52-48), 9:40 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Dontrelle Willis (7-9, 5.13) Arizona - Doug Davis (6-10, 4.13)

Dontrelle Willis hasn’t won a start in almost two months and will attempt to stop his recent losing streak when he leads the Florida Marlins in tonight’s opener of a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Willis hasn’t won since a May 29 performance against the Chicago Cubs in which he allowed four runs in seven innings of a 9-4 win at Wrigley Field. Since the win at historic Wrigley, Willis has gone 0-6 with a 5.72 earned run average and three no decisions over nine starts — the longest winless streak of his young career.

The last time Willis lost six straight decisions was from April 25-May 29 of the 2006 season.

In his previous outing on Wednesday against St. Louis, Willis was saddled with the loss after permitting six runs and 11 hits over three innings.

The lefty, who is 5-2 in nine road starts this season, owns a 1-3 mark and a 4.32 earned run average in four career starts against Arizona.

Florida just took the last three games of a four-game series with Cincinnati, including Sunday’s 9-3 triumph at Dolphin Stadium. Dan Uggla finished 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and a run scored, while Mike Jacobs also hit a two-run homer for the Marlins, who are 7 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for NL East supremacy.

Miguel Cabrera was 2-for-4 with a two-run single and Josh Willingham finished 4-for-5 and drove in a run for the Marlins.

Rick Vanden Hurk started on the hill for Florida and allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. Renyel Pinto earned the win in relief after hurling a scoreless seventh frame.

Taking the ball for Arizona this evening is Doug Davis, who owns a 6-10 record with a 4.13 ERA in 20 starts this season. Davis, who is 2-4 over his last eight trips to the mound, did not factor in the outcome his last time out Wednesday against Milwaukee.

Davis gave up a pair of runs and three hits in six innings of a 5-2 win over his former club. The left-hander, who is 4-2 in nine home starts, owns an 0-1 mark with a 4.08 ERA in three career starts against Florida.

Arizona has won two straight and recorded a 3-0 triumph over the Chicago Cubs in Sunday’s finale of a three-game series. Starter Yusmeiro Petit pitched six scoreless innings and yielded three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances.

Chris Snyder homered and Conor Jackson had two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who have won two in a row since losing five of six. The D’Backs are 3 1/2 games off the top spot in the National League West standings.

Monday’s showdown between Arizona and Florida is the first since the Marlins won four of six meetings in 2006. Florida is 12-7 against the Diamondbacks since the 2004 campaign.

Having snapped a three-game slide on Saturday, the Texas Rangers close out a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Marlon Byrd erupted for five RBI, matching a career-high, as the Rangers brought home an 8-5 victory against Cleveland on Saturday. Michael Young and Mark Teixeira both scored a pair of runs for the home team as well. Designated hitter Sammy Sosa was not around to see the end of the game after being hit in the helmet with a pitch in the third inning.

Rangers starter Jamey Wright made it through just 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs — one earned — on one hit with six walks and one strikeout. Ron Mahay picked up the win, permitting one run, two hits and striking out five in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Cleveland starter Cliff Lee was saddled with the loss as he went 6 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Grady Sizemore posted his 17th home run of the season for the Tribe, plating a pair of runs in the contest, while Ryan Garko picked up a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 15 games as the team had it’s two- game win streak snapped.

A couple of former Phillies head to the mound for their respective teams this evening as Paul Byrd throws for the visiting Indians and Robinson Tejada goes for Texas.

Byrd, who is on his sixth different major league team in his 12th season in the majors, earned a victory against the Rangers in late April, but is still without a victory during the month of July versus any adversary.

On Tuesday the Louisiana State product was tagged for four runs on six hits over six innings of work versus the White Sox. While the Tribe eventually came away with the 6-5 victory, Byrd was left without a decision.

Despite his win earlier in the campaign, Byrd is still just 2-5 with a hefty 7.02 ERA against the Rangers all-time.

Tejada, who broke into the majors with Philadelphia a couple years back, has not logged a win since defeating Milwaukee during interleague action in early June. Most recently the right-hander threw 4 1/3 innings versus Oakland and while his three runs on four hits was somewhat acceptable, his six walks for the second time in the last three games was certainly not.

To this point in the season Tejada, who is getting his first look at Cleveland, has issued 55 bases-on-balls against just 65 strikeouts.

Over the last week of play Garko has been huge for the Tribe, picking up 12 hits, scored eight times and knocking in six runs. As a team Cleveland, which is now two games behind Detroit for first place in the American League Central, is hitting a strong .291 in the last seven games and averaging better than five runs per outing.

The Rangers, last in the AL West while playing 13 games under .500, are hitting a collective .256 over the last week and while Byrd has boosted his RBI total to a team-best eight, he is still batting just .226 during that span.

Prior to Saturday’s loss, the Tribe had won every meeting of the season versus Texas and six straight overall dating back to 2006.

The Atlanta Braves will attempt to wrap their 10-game homestand with a winning record tonight when they conclude a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Turner Field.

Atlanta has taken two of the first three games of this set, including a 14-6 rout on Saturday, to improve to 5-4 on its current residency.

Willie Harris sparked yesterday’s offensive explosion as he became just the second player in Atlanta history to have six hits in a game, matching Felix Millan, who turned the trick in 1970.

Harris went 6-for-6, including two triples, drove in a career-high six runs, and also scored four times for the Braves, who trail the New York Mets by 2 1/2 games for the lead in the National League East.

Chipper Jones added three hits, one a two-run homer, and knocked in four runs for the Braves. The run support was more than enough for starter Buddy Carlyle (5-2), who won his fourth straight decision after allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings.

Braden Looper (7-8) on the other hand, was victimized for seven runs and 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings for St. Louis, which has dropped two of three and fell to 4-5 on a 10-game road trip.

Chris Duncan had three hits, including a two-run homer, and Aaron Miles knocked in two runs in the setback.

Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen (shoulder) missed his fourth straight game due to a shoulder injury, but took batting practice yesterday and could be in the starting lineup tonight.

Brad Thompson earns the starting assignment this evening for the Cardinals. Thompson has jumped around this year as a starter and a reliever, but was on the hill to start St. Louis’ game on Tuesday against Florida. The right- hander walked away with a loss, however, after allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings of a 4-0 loss.

Thompson is 4-3 with a 4.88 earned run average in 11 starts this season and 2-1 with a 5.55 ERA in 18 relief appearances.

The 25-year-old has faced the Braves just once in his career, coming out of the bullpen, and tossed two scoreless innings, yielding one hit in an 8-1 setback on August 6, 2005.

Atlanta’s Jo-Jo Reyes will try again for his first major league win when he makes just his third career start tonight. Reyes earned a no-decision after a three inning debut on July 7 that saw him allow five runs in three innings at San Diego. However, his offense took him off the hook in the 8-5 loss.

He wasn’t so lucky in his home debut against the Reds on Tuesday, as the left- hander was blitzed for four runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 6-5 loss, his first in the big leagues.

This series marks the first 2007 meeting between these teams. Atlanta won four of six matchups with St. Louis last season and is 6-2 in its last seven games against the Cardinals at Turner Field.

Sunday, July 22nd (All times eastern) TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-59) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (50-46), 1:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - James Shields (8-5, 3.91) New York - Andy Pettitte (5-6, 4.10)

Shooting for their third straight victory, the New York Yankees close out a four-game set against division rival Tampa Bay this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

After being crushed in the series opener on Friday night by a score of 14-4, the Bronx Bombers rebounded to take both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday with a 7-3 victory in the opener and then a 17-5 thrashing in the nightcap.

The early game made a winner out of Luis Vizcaino, even though he pitched just one inning of relief behind a strong effort by starter Kei Igawa. Igawa allowed just two runs on seven hits, two of those home runs, over five innings of action. Shelley Duncan, Andy Phillips and Hideki Matsui all knocked in two runs, while Alex Rodriguez crossed the plate twice in the win.

BJ Upton had yet another home run for the Devil Rays and had a total of three hits in the first game, but it wasn’t nearly enough as reliever Jae Kuk Ryu suffered the loss.

Yankee bats made a huge statement in the second game as they generated 20 hits, eight of those being doubles, in the lopsided decision. Rodriguez cranked his 33rd home run of the season, leaving him three shy of 500 for his career, and also knocked in four runs to leave him four shy of 100 RBI for the season.

Johnny Damon had a four-RBI game and Bobby Abreu finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored for New York.

Yankees starter Matt DeSalvo gave up seven hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings. Vizcaino threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his second win of the day.

JP Howell surrendered a career-high 10 hits and career-high seven runs in five innings for the Devil Rays, who had won three of four games heading into action on Saturday. Jonny Gomes went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the visitors.

As someone who has never finished at or below .500 in a single season, Andy Pettitte is having a rough go of it in the Bronx this season, but with a 12-1 career mark against Tampa Bay this might be the perfect matchup for the left-hander this afternoon.

Pettitte, already 1-0 this season versus the Rays, allowed just a single run on seven hits over seven innings on Tuesday against Toronto, yet still failed to factor into what became a 3-2 win for the Bombers. The Louisiana native seemed to be hitting all of his spots in that outing, fanning a season-high seven batters along the way.

As for Tampa Bay, James Shields is just the opposite of Pettitte because he has yet to earn a victory against New York, now 0-3 after losing his first decision of the season to the Yankees.

Shields, who is just a single game over .500 for his career at the moment, picked up his eighth win of the campaign on Tuesday when he permitted just two runs on seven hits over seven innings of work. He walked one and struck out two, which means he’s fanned a total of just four in his last two outings after coming up with a total of 27 in the previous three games.

With their two wins yesterday the Yankees moved to within 7 1/2 games of Boston for first place in the AL East and are now 31-20 at home in 2007 while Tampa Bay wallows in last in the division, a mere 16-31 on the road and 20 games out of contention.

As he has done for much of the season, Rodriguez leads the majors in both home runs (33) and RBI (96) and now has nine runs scored as well over the last eight games.

The Devil Rays, who have won just four times in the last 14 games in the Bronx, have gotten huge production out of Upton in the last seven days, watching him knock out three home runs, plate nine and score nine times himself.

The Yankees now lead the season series 6-5 after yesterday’s double header sweep.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (42-54) AT DETROIT TIGERS (58-37), 1:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Brian Bannister (5-6, 3.87) Detroit - Nate Robertson (6-6, 4.53)

Winners in five of their last six and now two games ahead of Cleveland for first place in the American League Central, the Detroit Tigers close out a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park this afternoon.

The Tigers, who now have the best record in the majors overall, moved to 26-20 at home thanks to a 10-8 victory against Kansas City in 10 innings on Saturday. Brandon Inge played the hero as he blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th to give the club it’s eighth win in 11 tries against the Royals so far this season.

Craig Monroe homered and knocked in four runs for the Tigers, while Placido Polanco, Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez all crossed the plate twice for the winning team.

Chad Durbin earned his seventh win of the season, while Detroit starter Justin Verlander lasted 5 2/3 innings, permitting four earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven, all while letting loose three wild pitches.

Joakim Soria suffered the loss for the visitors, allowing the long ball by Inge in extra innings. KC starter Jorge De La Rosa was touched for seven runs on seven hits, two of them home runs, over 4 1/3 innings.

Tony Pena tallied three hits for the Royals and scored twice, while Emil Brown knocked in two and John Buck cranked out his 16th home run of the campaign in the setback.

Right-hander Brian Bannister gets the call to the hill for the Royals this afternoon in an effort to even his season record which currently stands at 5-6.

The second-year man out of USC suffered his second straight loss on Monday after giving up three home runs and four total runs in six innings against Boston on the road. Bannister, who is 0-1 in his career against Detroit, carries an ERA of just under four into this contest.

As for the Tigers, they have Nate Robertson slated to make the start at home today. The lefty, who is nine games under .500 for his career but 4-3 versus Kansas City all-time, picked up his sixth triumph of the 2007 campaign on Tuesday as he gave up a mere three hits in seven shutout innings against Minnesota on the road in the dome.

The Wichita State product now in his sixth year in the majors, posted five strikeouts versus the Twins and reached the 500 strikeout plateau in the process.

Over the last six games the Tigers have picked up more than their share of victories, despite hitting just .257 as a team. The AL’s leading hitter at .360, Ordonez has knocked in eight of the team’s 31 runs over the last week of action and is now third in the league with 80 RBI overall.

Kansas City’s Billy Butler may not have the season stats similar to Ordonez, but in the last week he certainly gives the Detroit All-Star a run for his money with 10 RBI and four runs scored. Mark Grudzielanek checks in with a total of 10 hits and a team-high eight runs during that stretch for the Royals, now 16 1/2 games out of the race in the AL Central and a mere 12-21 versus the rest of the division.

SEATTLE MARINERS (54-40) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (47-50), 1:07 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Felix Hernandez (6-5, 3.71) Toronto - Roy Halladay (10-4, 4.46)

Shut out for the fourth time this season, the Seattle Mariners try to bounce back this afternoon as they challenge the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game set at the Rogers Centre.

On Saturday the Seattle offense fell silent in a pitchers duel that ended up 1-0 in favor of the Jays.

Josh Towers pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings for the home team, giving up just three hits while striking out four and walking two for the Blue Jays, who have won two of three after a three-game slide.

Toronto’s bullpen closed out the game with 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief, with Jeremy Accardo getting the final two outs in the ninth for his 15th save of the campaign.

Aaron Hill plated the lone run of the game for the Blue Jays with an RBI single in the second inning.

Jeff Weaver was the hard-luck loser, dropping to a dismal 2-8 on the season, after pitching eight solid innings. The right-hander gave up just the one run on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Jose Vidro hit a pair of singles for the Mariners, while Jose Lopez posted a single as well.

Setting up to take the hill for the visiting Mariners this afternoon in the Great White North is right-hander Felix Hernandez. The three-year veteran made it through six innings against the Baltimore Orioles in his most recent outing on Tuesday, giving up three runs on eight hits and three walks, but he was still saddled with the loss in an 8-3 final at home.

As for Toronto, they go with former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, who has been credited with just one win in the last four outings.

On Tuesday the 10-year veteran permitted only a single run on five hits and three walks, while striking out six over seven innings, and still that failed to get him and the Jays over New York in a 3-2 setback.

Halladay entered this season an even 3-3 versus Seattle all-time, but he took the loss in his previous start versus the Mariners, dropping him below .500 against the club.

Over the last week of action Vidro has a team-high eight hits, doing his damage in just five games while Ichiro Suzuki has seven hits and five runs scored in six outings. While he has one of the team’s four home runs in the last week, Adrian Beltre has been anything but a reliable hitter, posting a .125 average in six starts for the Mariners, who are now just a game behind the Angels for first place in the AL West.

As for the Blue Jays, three games under .500 overall and 11 out of first in the AL East, they are hitting a collective .244 over the last seven games even with Alex Rios coming in at a .345 clip with a team-high four runs scored for a squad that has plated a total of only 15 runs in the last week of action.

Seattle, which had won a total of just 10 games against the Jays over the last three seasons combined, has already swept Toronto at Safeco Field and is 4-1 overall in 2007. CHICAGO WHITE SOX (43-53) AT BOSTON RED SOX (58-39), 2:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Jon Garland (7-6, 3.88) Boston - Tim Wakefield (10-9, 4.69)

The Red Sox gun for their third straight win this afternoon as they close out a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park in Boston.

On Saturday the Red Sox scored double-digit runs for the second straight game as they defeated the visitors by a score of 11-2. While the home team certainly had it’s offense tuned up, it was surprise hurler Kason Gabbard who stole much of the headlines as he tossed a three-hitter over seven innings for Boston. Gabbard fanned one and walked another as he allowed just a single run for the Red Sox, now 7 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.

Coco Crisp had another big outing as he went 3-for-4 with five RBI and scored a run for the Red Sox, while Eric Hinske added a pair of hits, two RBI and scored once while David Ortiz was getting an MRI on his left shoulder and is currently listed as day-to-day for the club.

Josh Fields finished up 2-for-4 with an RBI for the White Sox, who lost their second straight outing. Starting pitcher John Danks allowed four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks over six innings.

The ageless Tim Wakefield takes the hill for the home team this afternoon in an attempt to improve upon his weak 5-10 career record versus Chicago.

The 15-year veteran had won three straight decisions before the Kansas City Royals touched him for six runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday. Wakefield fanned just a single batter, but the knuckleballer also kept from walking anyone for the second straight outing and the third time in the last five games.

Wakefield, who is 10 bases-on-balls shy of 1,000 for his career and five strikeouts from 1,750, has a lofty 5.42 ERA in his career versus the White Sox.

As for Chicago, Jon Garland is the man getting the call this time around as he tries to climb over the .500 mark (3-3) against Boston for his career. Garland, who went 18-7 a year ago, has already posted six setbacks in 2007, yet his ERA is below four.

The California native, who is now in his eighth season in the big leagues, last pitched on Tuesday versus Cleveland on the road, permitting a mere three runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. However, the bullpen failed to close the deal in what turned into a 6-5 loss for the Sox.

Over the last seven games Crisp has been credited with a team-high nine RBI, followed by Julio Lugo who has seven, combining for 16 of the team’s 36 runs batted in over the last week. Manny Ramirez has just two RBI during that span, thanks to a pair of home runs, yet has scored six times and is batting .360.

Although he is hitting just .200 in the last week, Paul Konerko has still supplied the White Sox with plenty of scoring punch with three home runs and seven RBI on just five hits. The same goes for Jermaine Dye who also has three long balls and has scored five, while hitting .240 for a team that is now 15 1/2 games out of contention in the AL Central.

Chicago, which has won just three of the last nine games played in Boston, is trailing in the series 14-8 since the start of 2004. LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (56-40) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (51-46), 2:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Joe Saunders (3-0, 2.97) Minnesota - Matt Garza (1-1, 0.00)

Losers of two straight and five of the last six, the LA Angels of Anaheim try to salvage a win as they close out a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome this afternoon.

On Saturday Joe Mauer produced one of the most exciting plays in baseball when he hit an inside-the-park home run that scored three in the bottom of the eighth inning to help give the home team a 5-2 triumph over the Angels.

Jason Bartlett and Torii Hunter also homered for the Twins, who won their second straight outing after falling in three straight to Detroit. Starting pitcher Boof Bonser, who has not earned a victory since the second week of June, allowed two runs on five hits with one strikeout over 7 2/3 innings before Pat Neshek got the final out in the eighth for the win, his fifth in six decisions this season.

Chone Figgins finished up 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run for the visitors, while Garret Anderson and Maicer Izturis both added a pair of hits in the setback.

Jered Weaver, who has not won in more than a month, gave up two runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts over seven innings for LA. Scot Shields was saddled with the loss, his third of the campaign.

Off the field it was announced that catcher Jose Melina was switching teams and coasts as the Angels traded him to the Yankees for pitcher Jeff Kennard.

Matt Garza, who has yet to allow a run this season, makes his way to the mound for the Twins this afternoon. The right-hander out of Fresno State is making just his fourth appearance of the season and his first since dropping a 1-0 decision to Detroit on Tuesday.

Against the Tigers Garza allowed just a single unearned run on three hits over seven innings of action and still that wasn’t enough as the Minnesota offense failed to supply any support.

Garza, who is 4-7 in his career thus far, is facing off against the Angels for the very first time.

Similarly, LA’s Joe Saunders is getting his first-ever look at the Twins lineup as he tries to remain undefeated on the campaign.

The left-hander, who hails from Virginia, has been called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to take the spot in the rotation previously held by Ervin Santana who was optioned to the minors on Wednesday.

Saunders last threw at the major league level against Pittsburgh back on June 22, a game in which he allowed four runs on seven hits and fanned three in six innings of work. His performance was just enough to push him to 3-0 on the season and 10-3 for his career thus far.

The Angels, who have now gone 14 straight games without a home run, are just one game ahead of Seattle in the AL West and are a game below .500 on the road at 25-26. Over the last week the team has averaged barely three runs per game, with Figgins accounting for five runs scored and a batting average of .545, the rest of the club just .248.

As for the Twins, who are five games over .500 this season yet still eight games out of the race for first in the AL Central, they have Justin Morneau accounting for two home runs and six knocked in over the last six games, giving him 81 RBI on the season and keeping him in second place in that department in the AL.

The Angels took two of three meetings with Minnesota out in the Golden State earlier this season.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (43-53) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (46-51), 4:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Jeremy Guthrie (5-3, 3.06) Oakland - Dallas Braden (1-4, 6.07)

Losers of two of their last three, the Baltimore Orioles conclude their West Coast swing this afternoon at McAfee Coliseum as they face off against the Oakland Athletics in the finale of a three-game set.

On Saturday night Oakland was paced by pitching ace Dan Haren who won for the 11th times in as many chances when his team gives him at least two runs of support, claiming a 4-3 triumph at home.

Haren allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings, while Alan Embree posted his 10th save of the season out of the bullpen.

Jack Cust had a pair of hits, one of them a home run for the A’s, while Travis Buck, Mark Ellis and Mark Kotsay each scored in the victory as well.

The O’s were paced by Kevin Millar, who plated two, while Corey Patterson knocked in a run and also scored in the setback. Steve Trachsel suffered the loss, permitting four runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings.

A couple of youngsters battle it out on the hill in this afternoon’s meeting between the clubs as Jeremy Guthrie throws for the Orioles and Dallas Braden takes the ball for the home team.

Guthrie, who played three seasons with the Cleveland Indians but only pitched a total of 37 innings during that stretch, has spent some time coming out of the bullpen this season for Baltimore, but is now in the starting rotation.

On Tuesday the Oregon native snapped a two-game slide as he allowed two runs on six hits over six innings against the Seattle Mariners on the road. With his three strikeouts the right-hander, who is 0-1 in his career versus the A’s, surpassed the 100 strikeout plateau for his career.

On the other side Braden, who spent time at Triple-A Sacramento recently, has dropped four straight decisions since earning his first and only win of the campaign against these same Orioles back on April 24. More recently the lefty gave up four runs on eight hits, while striking out a career-high seven, over six innings of action in a 4-1 setback to Texas on Monday.

Baltimore, which is 14 1/2 games out of contention in the American League East and now 10 games under .500 on the road, is hitting a strong .290 over the last six games, with Patterson and Nick Markakis tied for the team lead during that span with 11 hits and five runs scored.

As for the A’s, 10 1/2 games out in the AL West and still a game under .500 (25-26) in their own stadium, they are hitting a mere .216 in the last week and while Ellis paces the group with seven hits, he has just a single RBI to show for his efforts.

Since going 0-7 overall against Oakland back in 2004, the O’s have won five of eight games played in the bay area in spite of last night’s loss.

CLEVELAND INDIANS (57-40) AT TEXAS RANGERS (42-55), 8:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cleveland - Paul Byrd (7-4, 4.50) Texas - Robinson Tejeda (5-8, 6.68)

Having snapped a three-game slide on Saturday, the Texas Rangers close out a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Marlon Byrd erupted for five RBI, matching a career-high, as the Rangers brought home an 8-5 victory against Cleveland on Saturday. Michael Young and Mark Teixeira both scored a pair of runs for the home team as well. Designated hitter Sammy Sosa was not around to see the end of the game after being hit in the helmet with a pitch in the third inning.

Rangers starter Jamey Wright made it through just 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs — one earned — on one hit with six walks and one strikeout. Ron Mahay picked up the win, permitting one run, two hits and striking out five in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Cleveland starter Cliff Lee was saddled with the loss as he went 6 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Grady Sizemore posted his 17th home run of the season for the Tribe, plating a pair of runs in the contest, while Ryan Garko picked up a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 15 games as the team had it’s two- game win streak snapped.

A couple of former Phillies head to the mound for their respective teams this evening as Paul Byrd throws for the visiting Indians and Robinson Tejada goes for Texas.

Byrd, who is on his sixth different major league team in his 12th season in the majors, earned a victory against the Rangers in late April, but is still without a victory during the month of July versus any adversary.

On Tuesday the Louisiana State product was tagged for four runs on six hits over six innings of work versus the White Sox. While the Tribe eventually came away with the 6-5 victory, Byrd was left without a decision.

Despite his win earlier in the campaign, Byrd is still just 2-5 with a hefty 7.02 ERA against the Rangers all-time.

Tejada, who broke into the majors with Philadelphia a couple years back, has not logged a win since defeating Milwaukee during interleague action in early June. Most recently the right-hander threw 4 1/3 innings versus Oakland and while his three runs on four hits was somewhat acceptable, his six walks for the second time in the last three games was certainly not.

To this point in the season Tejada, who is getting his first look at Cleveland, has issued 55 bases-on-balls against just 65 strikeouts.

Over the last week of play Garko has been huge for the Tribe, picking up 12 hits, scored eight times and knocking in six runs. As a team Cleveland, which is now two games behind Detroit for first place in the American League Central, is hitting a strong .291 in the last seven games and averaging better than five runs per outing.

The Rangers, last in the AL West while playing 13 games under .500, are hitting a collective .256 over the last week and while Byrd has boosted his RBI total to a team-best eight, he is still batting just .226 during that span.

Prior to Saturday’s loss, the Tribe had won every meeting of the season versus Texas and six straight overall dating back to 2006.

CINCINNATI REDS (41-57) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (47-51), 1:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Bronson Arroyo (4-10, 4.51) Florida - Rick Vanden Hurk (3-2, 7.15)

The Cincinnati Reds will conclude their 11-game road trip this afternoon when they also wrap a four-game set with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium.

Bronson Arroyo appears to be righting the ship to his season and will try for his third win in four decisions today for the Reds. Arroyo is 2-1 over his last three outings, including Tuesday when he earned the win behind seven shutout innings in Atlanta. The right-hander allowed just three hits and struck out nine while improving to 4-10 on the year with a 4.51 earned run average.

Arroyo has yet to post a decision while pitching to a 3.48 ERA in four games (one start) lifetime against the Marlins.

Rick Vanden Hurk will attempt to post his third straight victorious decision when he toes the rubber for Florida. Vanden Hurk twirled five scoreless frames in a win over the Cardinals on Tuesday, scattering five hits and three walks while fanning six. The victory improved the right-hander to 3-2 this year while lowering his ERA to 7.15.

Vanden Hurk has never faced the Reds in his career.

On a day filled with off-the-field news, the Marlins won their second game in a row after besting the Reds 11-1 on Saturday.

Hanley Ramirez, Jason Wood and Matt Treanor all homered for Florida, which moved to 5-4 on a 10-game homestand. Byung-Hyun Kim (5-5) got the win as he gave up just one run on five hits in seven innings of work.

The big news for Florida, though, was that pitcher Scott Olsen was reportedly arrested Saturday morning after he did not pull over his car during a traffic stop.

According to the Miami Herald, Olsen was charged with driving under the influence, resisting arrest with violence and fleeing and eluding a police officer.

The incident occurred after the 23-year-old Olsen returned to Florida’s rotation after serving a two-game suspension by the team for insubordination.

The newspaper also reported that Olsen was clocked for speeding and would not pull over his car. After he finally did stop the car at his home in Aventura, the Herald reported that he fought with officers and would not take a breathalyzer test.

Edwin Encarnacion knocked in the lone run while Bobby Livingston (2-1) was tagged with his first career loss for giving up three runs on eight hits in six-plus innings of work for the Reds, who have dropped their past two after a season-high four-game winning streak and are 5-5 on their road trip.

Cincinnati won four of six from the Marlins last season and has won seven of its last 12 in South Beach.

COLORADO ROCKIES (49-48) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (41-56), 1:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Josh Fogg (5-6, 5.15) Washington - Tim Redding (1-2, 4.00)

The Colorado Rockies will try to end their road trip on a positive note when they play the final contest of a four-game series this afternoon with the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium.

The Rockies have lost two of three so far against the Nationals, including a 3-0 blanking in game three on Saturday, and are 5-4 on a 10-game swing.

Mike Bacsik combined with three Washington relievers on a three-hitter in the shutout. Bacsik (3-6) went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and walking three.

Luis Ayala, Saul Rivera and Chad Cordero combined for 2 1/3 hitless frames of relief, with Cordero posting his 18th save of the season.

Felipe Lopez homered and Tony Batista drove in two runs for the Nationals, who have won three of four.

Colorado starter Rodrigo Lopez (5-3) allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in six-plus frames. Willy Taveras, Jamey Carroll and Yorvit Torrealba accounted for the three hits for the Rockies.

Josh Fogg will take the hill for Colorado in search of his third straight victory. Fogg, who hasn’t lost since June 24 at Toronto, defeated the Mets on July 4 before posting a winning decision on Tuesday at Pittsburgh behind seven innings of two-run, five-hit ball.

Fogg, who also struck out five batters, improved to 5-6 on the season with a 5.15 earned run average. The right-hander has made seven career starts against the Washington franchise and is 1-3 versus them with a 3.61 ERA.

Tim Redding is set to make his fourth start of the season for the Nationals and is 1-2 on the year with a 4.00 ERA. He took the loss last time out when he gave up three runs and seven hits over seven innings of a 4-2 loss to Houston on Tuesday.

The right-hander is without a decision in two games (one start) in his career against the Rockies though he has yielded just one run in a span of 7 1/3 innings.

Colorado won all eight meetings between the teams during the 2006 campaign. The Rockies also won four encounters at RFK Stadium over that span. HOUSTON ASTROS (41-56) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (41-55), 1:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Woody Williams (4-11, 5.37) Pittsburgh - Shane Youman (2-1, 4.24)

The Houston Astros conclude a nine-game road trip this afternoon when they play the rubber match of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

On Saturday, Jason Bay and Adam LaRoche both drove in two runs, as the Pirates downed the Astros, 7-3.

Freddy Sanchez homered and scored three times for the Pirates, who ended a season-high seven-game losing streak, having been swept in three games at Atlanta and then in three games at home against Colorado before losing the first game of this series.

Paul Maholm (6-12) allowed two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks over 6 2/3 innings to get the win.

Mike Lamb homered for the Astros, who have split their last four games, but fell to 2-6 on their road swing. Eric Bruntlett finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the loss.

Southpaw Wandy Rodriguez (6-9) gave up six runs — four earned — on seven hits with six strikeouts and a walk over five-plus frames.

Woody Williams toes the rubber for Houston today just 1-8 in 12 road starts this season. That includes a setback in Washington for Williams last time out on Monday. The right-hander yielded four runs on six hits over six innings in the loss to fall to 4-11 with a 5.37 earned run average on the season.

Williams, though, is 7-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 15 lifetime starts against the Pirates, but lost to the club at PNC Park on April 24.

Youngster Shane Youman is set for his fourth start of the year for the Pirates. Youman posted wins in his first two outings before suffering the loss against Colorado on Tuesday, as the left-hander allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits over five innings.

He faced Houston for the first and only time of his career on September 27 of 2006, throwing two scoreless innings.

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

It was a quick turnaround for a Pirates team that lost 13 of the 16 games they played against the Astros last season. That included seven losses in 10 home games in 2006. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (41-54) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (54-43), 2:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Barry Zito (7-9, 4.67) Milwaukee - Claudio Vargas (7-2, 4.47)

The Milwaukee Brewers will get one last look at Barry Bonds at home this season when they try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants this afternoon at Miller Park.

The Brewers came into this series having won seven straight against the Giants, including a three-game sweep at Miller Park from June 18-20. Now it’s the Giants’ turn however, as they will attempt to sweep the Brew Crew in Milwaukee for the first time since September 14-16, 2004.

Today’s game will also mark Bonds’ last chance to move closer to Hank Aaron’s all-time home run mark in the city where Aaron spent most of his career. Bonds remained two homers shy of matching Aaron’s record of 755 after going 0-for-2 in Saturday’s 8-0 win.

Aaron, of course, played from 1954-65 with the Braves while they were in Milwaukee and then in 1975-76 with the Brewers.

Pedro Feliz homered for the Giants, who have won three of their last five games, while Ray Durham went 2-for-5 with three RBI in the win.

Tim Lincecum (5-2) extended his stretch of impressive outings by limiting the Brewers to four hits with eight strikeouts and a walk over eight shutout innings.

Craig Counsell went 1-for-3 for the Brewers, who have lost three of four and are now just 5-4 on their current 10-game homestand that concludes today. Dave Bush (8-8) allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts over six innings in the loss.

The Brewers, who once enjoyed a very comfortable lead in the National League Central, have seen their edge for first place shrink to 2 1/2 games over the second-place Chicago Cubs.

Claudio Vargas will try to right the ship and shoot for his second win following the All-Star break for the Brewers. The right-hander improved to an impressive 7-2 on the season with a 4.47 earned run average after a victory over Arizona on Tuesday that saw him limit the Diamondbacks to two runs and five hits over five innings.

Vargas is 4-2 with a 5.67 ERA in 12 career outings (nine starts) versus the Giants. He opposed the Giants’ Barry Zito on June 20 of this year and recorded the win, a feat he hopes to mimic today.

Zito will aim to continue his historic second-half success with today’s start for the Giants. Zito was last in action on Tuesday against the Cubs, and earned the win after giving up just two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts. The victory improved his mark to 7-9 on the year while lowering his ERA to 4.67.

In his career, the left-hander is 60-27 in the second half of the season with a 3.26 ERA. His 60 victories are the most by any player following the All-Star break since 2000.

Zito, who was 0-4 with a 7.42 ERA in six starts before Tuesday’s win, is 1-1 in two lifetime starts against Milwaukee. That includes the setback at Miller Park on June 20 of this season.

While there is always a chance Bonds could sit out today’s game, he is 3-for-7 lifetime against Vargas with no homers, four walks and two strikeouts.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (51-48) AT CHICAGO CUBS (51-45), 2:20 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Yusmeiro Petit (1-2, 3.22) Chicago - Sean Marshall (4-3, 3.43)

Sean Marshall will square off against the Arizona Diamondbacks for the first time in his career this afternoon when the Chicago Cubs wrap a three-game set with Arizona at Wrigley Field.

Marshall is also winless in his last three starts overall this season. After taking a loss against Milwaukee on June 30, the left-hander has turned in two straight outings of two-run ball, but has gotten a no-decision each time. That includes a six-inning performance against the Giants on Tuesday.

Marshall is 4-3 on the year with a 3.43 earned run average.

Yusmeiro Petit will make his fifth start of the season today for Arizona and is coming off a loss last time out on Tuesday. Versus Milwaukee, the young right-hander limited the Brewers to three runs (two earned) on eight hits over five frames, but it wasn’t enough in the 3-2 setback.

Petit, who is 1-2 on the season with a 3.22 ERA, faced Chicago once in relief while with Florida last season and pitched a hitless frame against them.

After dropping the series opener on Friday, the Diamondbacks rebounded with a 3-2 victory on Saturday, as Stephen Drew hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to pace his team to victory.

Orlando Hudson went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Chris Young scored twice for the Diamondbacks, who had lost five of six before the win and are 4 1/2 games off the pace in the National League West.

Arizona starter Micah Owings lasted just four innings after giving up two runs on four hits. Juan Cruz (4-1) took over for Owings and pitched three no-hit innings to earn up the win. Jose Valverde worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to pick up his 29th save of the season.

Angel Pagan hit a two-run triple for the Cubs, who had a three-game winning streak halted while losing for just the second time on a 10-game homestand (7-2).

The second-place club remains 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for first in the NL Central.

Rich Hill pitched six innings, yielding two runs — one earned — on six hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Bob Howry (5-5) allowed Drew’s homer to take the loss.

Arizona has had recent success against Chicago. It won four of six against the Cubs in 2006, and is 14-7 against them since the start of the 2004 season.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (49-48) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (53-43), 4:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - J.D. Durbin (1-2, 9.00) San Diego - Jake Peavy (9-4, 2.30)

Jake Peavy will try for his first win in over a month when his San Diego Padres conclude a four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon at Petco Park.

Peavy’s last victory came on June 19 against Baltimore, and the right-hander has gone 0-3 in four starts since. Peavy dropped two of his three starts prior to the All-Star game — allowing three runs in each of the two setbacks — before falling to 9-4 on the year with a defeat at the hands of the Mets on Tuesday.

Against New York, the right-hander was again tagged for three runs on six hits over six innings of a 7-0 loss, lifting his earned run average to 2.30 that is still second best in the majors.

Peavy, who is also tops in the National League with 130 strikeouts, is 2-1 in four career starts against the Phillies with a 2.60 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings.

The All-Star starter will hope to fair better than David Wells, who was tagged for seven runs on seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings of the Padres’ 12-4 setback to the Phillies on Saturday.

Milton Bradley hit a two-run homer as San Diego lost its second straight game and fell one game behind the Dodgers, who downed the Mets yesterday, for first place in the National League West.

Ryan Howard went 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBI in Philadelphia’s rout. Wes Helms, Greg Dobbs and Carlos Ruiz each had two RBI for the Phillies, who have won two straight after losing their previous two.

Jamie Moyer (8-8) snapped a personal three-game losing streak as he gave up four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.

The third-place Phillies currently trail the Mets by five games for the top spot in the NL East.

Hoping for another offensive explosion, J.D. Durbin will take the hill today for the Phillies coming off his first career victory. That win came on Tuesday when Durbin tossed six innings of one-run ball, working around six hits and two walks in a 15-3 rout of the Dodgers.

Durbin is playing with his fourth team this year — he was released by Minnesota, Arizona and Boston — and will make just his fourth big league start this afternoon and third with the Phillies.

The right-hander is 1-2 on the season with a 9.00 ERA. That includes a one- game stint with the Diamondbacks in which he allowed seven runs in just two- thirds of an inning back on April 4.

San Diego and Philadelphia are meeting for the first time with this series since the Padres won four of six games during the 2006 campaign. The Phillies, though, are 15-6 in their last 21 matchups with San Diego.

NEW YORK METS (54-43) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (55-43), 4:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Orlando Hernandez (6-4, 2.96) Los Angeles - Eric Stults (0-1, 5.06)

The Los Angeles Dodgers will try for a series split with the New York Mets, and maintain their new lead in the National League West, when the two clubs wrap their four-game series this afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Thanks in part to recent struggles by San Diego that includes a current two- game losing streak, the Dodgers jumped over the Padres and into first place in the NL West by a game courtesy of an 8-6 victory over the Mets on Saturday.

Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer as part of a five-run fourth inning and Juan Pierre added two hits and a pair of RBI to extend his hitting streak to 14 games for the Dodgers, who had dropped the first two games of this series.

Brad Penny (12-1) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs — three earned — on six hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts. With the win, he became the first starting pitcher to open a season 12-1 for the Dodgers since the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1958.

Jorge Sosa (7-5) gave up six runs and eight hits over four innings for New York, which had won three of four coming in. However, the loss, coupled with Atlanta’s win over St. Louis, cut the Mets’ lead to just 2 1/2 games for the top spot in the NL East over the Braves.

Carlos Beltran and David Wright both contributed two-run home runs. It was Beltran’s third straight game with a homer.

Los Angeles’ Eric Stults will get the starting nod today for the first time this season and for just the third time in his career. The left-hander has made four relief appearances with the Dodgers this year, going 0-1 with a 5.06 earned run average in that span. He was last in action on Tuesday when he tossed three innings against the Phillies, allowing four runs on eight hits.

Stults’ first career start came against the Mets last year and he picked up his lone career win when he threw six frames of one-run ball on September 10, 2006.

Mark Hendrickson was originally slated to start this contest for LA, but threw two innings of relief in this series on Thursday and had his next start pushed back to Tuesday.

The Mets will send Orlando Hernandez to the hill this afternoon, and the hurler is coming off two straight wins that upped his record to 6-4 on the season with a shining 2.96 ERA.

Hernandez posted a win over Cincinnati on July 12 behind six innings of two- run ball before topping the Padres on the road Tuesday. The right-hander tossed seven shutout innings against San Diego, scattering two hits and a pair of walks in the victory.

“El Duque” faced the Dodgers on June 11 and took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned). He is 1-2 lifetime against them with a 5.64 ERA.

The Dodgers swept a three-game series against New York this season from June 11-13 at Chavez Ravine. The Mets went 4-3 against LA in the 2006 series and swept Los Angeles in three games during last October’s NL playoffs.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (44-50) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (52-46), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Brad Thompson (6-4, 5.06) Atlanta - Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1, 8.68)

The Atlanta Braves will attempt to wrap their 10-game homestand with a winning record tonight when they conclude a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Turner Field.

Atlanta has taken two of the first three games of this set, including a 14-6 rout on Saturday, to improve to 5-4 on its current residency.

Willie Harris sparked yesterday’s offensive explosion as he became just the second player in Atlanta history to have six hits in a game, matching Felix Millan, who turned the trick in 1970.

Harris went 6-for-6, including two triples, drove in a career-high six runs, and also scored four times for the Braves, who trail the New York Mets by 2 1/2 games for the lead in the National League East.

Chipper Jones added three hits, one a two-run homer, and knocked in four runs for the Braves. The run support was more than enough for starter Buddy Carlyle (5-2), who won his fourth straight decision after allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings.

Braden Looper (7-8) on the other hand, was victimized for seven runs and 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings for St. Louis, which has dropped two of three and fell to 4-5 on a 10-game road trip.

Chris Duncan had three hits, including a two-run homer, and Aaron Miles knocked in two runs in the setback.

Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen (shoulder) missed his fourth straight game due to a shoulder injury, but took batting practice yesterday and could be in the starting lineup tonight.

Brad Thompson earns the starting assignment this evening for the Cardinals. Thompson has jumped around this year as a starter and a reliever, but was on the hill to start St. Louis’ game on Tuesday against Florida. The right- hander walked away with a loss, however, after allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings of a 4-0 loss.

Thompson is 4-3 with a 4.88 earned run average in 11 starts this season and 2-1 with a 5.55 ERA in 18 relief appearances.

The 25-year-old has faced the Braves just once in his career, coming out of the bullpen, and tossed two scoreless innings, yielding one hit in an 8-1 setback on August 6, 2005.

Atlanta’s Jo-Jo Reyes will try again for his first major league win when he makes just his third career start tonight. Reyes earned a no-decision after a three inning debut on July 7 that saw him allow five runs in three innings at San Diego. However, his offense took him off the hook in the 8-5 loss.

He wasn’t so lucky in his home debut against the Reds on Tuesday, as the left- hander was blitzed for four runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 6-5 loss, his first in the big leagues.

This series marks the first 2007 meeting between these teams. Atlanta won four of six matchups with St. Louis last season and is 6-2 in its last seven games against the Cardinals at Turner Field.

Saturday, July 21st (All times eastern)

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (38-57) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (48-46), 1:05 & 7:05 P.M.(DH)

Probable Starting Pitchers: Game 1: Tampa Bay - Jason Hammel (1-0, 6.11) New York - Kei Igawa (2-2, 6.97)

Game 2: Tampa Bay - J.P. Howell (1-3, 6.62) New York - Matt DeSalvo (1-3, 5.87)

Already 18 1/2 games out of contention in the American League East and just 10-17 versus division foes, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays try to follow up their impressive effort on Friday as they play two versus the New York Yankees in the Bronx on Saturday.

The stars aligned for the Devil Rays on Friday night as they thrashed New York in a 14-4 decision in the opener of a four-game set. Dioner Navarro punched his first career grand slam and B.J. Upton posted his first career multi-homer game in the lopsided decision.

Even more impressive was the fact that Tampa Bay starting pitcher Edwin Jackson picked the Yankees to record his first road win in nearly four seasons. Jackson shut out the Yankees over six innings, giving up only four hits and walking four, while striking out four for the visitors. The victory was just the second of the season overall for Jackson, who last won on the road in September of 2003.

While Jackson was showing signs of life for the visitors, Mike Mussina was continuing to struggle as he suffered his seventh loss, against just four wins this season. Mussina was touched for six runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. The meeting was supposed to work in favor of Mussina, who entered the game a perfect 7-0 versus the Rays in Yankee Stadium, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Andy Phillips each had a pair of hits for New York, while Bobby Abreu offset those efforts with three strikeouts in five at- bats. Johnny Damon snapped the longest hitless drought of his career (0- for-20) with a single, while Hideki Matsui had his hitting streak snapped at 14 games.

Heading out to the hill for the Devil Rays in the first game of today’s doubleheader will be youngster Jason Hammel, who began his career with six straight losses before earning his first-ever victory at the major league level earlier this season versus Arizona.

Unfortunately, that win in relief is still the lone victory in his career at this point as he gets ready to start his first game of 2007. Last weekend he faced the Yankees for the second time in three days, retiring just a single batter before heading to the dugout.

The Treasure Valley Community College product has thrown a total of just 61 2/3 innings in his major league career, resulting in a lofty 7.30 ERA.

The second game of the day will see left-hander J.P. Howell take the hill for the Rays, getting the call up from Triple-A Durham. Howell, now in his third year of major league experience, last threw at this level on July 5 versus Boston at Fenway Park, where he was battered for six runs in a mere 2/3 innings of action.

Howell as a career mark of 1-0 versus the Yankees but is still just 5-11 overall.

Left-hander Kei Igawa stands to see action today for the Yankees, yet another youngster who is in his first year of major league play. Igawa, who turned 28 just over a week ago, has not won a game since the end of April. Since then he has appeared in five contests, the most recent being a 6-4 victory over Toronto on Monday. In that game the lefty surrendered three runs on seven hits, two of which were home runs, and walked four while striking out seven in five innings of work.

In his only other appearance against Tampa Bay this season, Igawa was touched for seven runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings back in April.

Later in the day, rookie hurler Matt DeSalvo gets his first-ever look at the Devil Rays in the second game trying to improve upon his 1-3 record.

DeSalvo, a 26-year old from the Keystone State, last pitched in the majors back on May 28 versus Toronto on the road, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings.

Over the last seven games Alex Rodriguez, who leads the AL in both home runs (32) and RBI (92), has knocked in five and scored five times, but is hitting a mere .185 during that span for the Yankees. Abreu is tied for the team-lead with seven knocked in over the last week, despite hitting a paltry .167 for the club, currently eight games behind Boston for first place in the division.

Over the last six games Upton has 11 hits and eight runs scored for Tampa Bay, both team highs, while Carlos Pena has knocked in 11 on just eight hits, six of which have gone for extra bases.

In the three previous seasons the Yankees have gone 20-8 against Tampa Bay at home, posting a perfect 10-0 mark in 2004, but this season NY has already dropped two of three meetings to the Devil Rays in the Bronx and are just 4-5 versus today’s visitors overall.

SEATTLE MARINERS (54-39) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (46-50), 1:07 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Seattle - Jeff Weaver (2-7, 6.82) Toronto - Josh Towers (4-6, 5.40)

As one of the hottest teams in baseball, the Seattle Mariners continue their quest for the top spot in the American League West as they contend with the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game set from the Rogers Centre.

On Friday Adrian Beltre connected on a two-run home run for the visitors as the Mariners captured a 4-2 win, marking the team’s eighth in the last 11 outings. With the victory, and a loss by the Angels, Seattle pulled to within a game of first place in the division.

Jose Guillen and Raul Ibanez each drove in a run for the Mariners, while J.J. Putz locked up the triumph with his 29th save of the campaign, his 31st straight dating back to last season. Putz, who put Miguel Batista in the win column for the 10th time this season, ran his scoreless innings streak to 22 in the process as well.

Batista permitted just two runs on five hits and struck out six over 5 2/3 innings of work, while Toronto starter Jesse Litsch managed to make it through only 4 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits and walking four.

Alex Rios accounted for three hits for the Blue Jays and scored one of the team’s two runs on the night, with Frank Thomas coming up with the other.

Now in his ninth season in the majors, Jeff Weaver tries to dig himself out of a huge hole as he takes the mound for the Mariners this afternoon in Toronto.

Weaver has won just twice in 2007, leaving him 20 games under .500 (88-108) for his career as he prepares to face the Blue Jays for the second time this season. The right-hander allowed a total of 10 hits for the fourth time in 2007 on Sunday as the Mariners bowed to Detroit in an 11-7 decision at home. Weaver was tagged for seven earned runs after giving up just seven earned runs in the previous six starts combined.

For his career Weaver has less than impressive stats versus Toronto, posting a 5-9 record with a 5.33 ERA in 16 appearances over the years.

As for the Jays, they are giving the ball to Josh Towers, who hopes to improve upon his 4-1 career mark against Seattle.

A seven-year veteran who broke into the majors with Baltimore, Towers has already doubled his number of wins from a season ago when he finished 2-10. The right-hander enters this contest with a 4-6 mark on the campaign after giving up six runs on nine hits, three of which were home runs, in a loss to the Yankees on Monday in the Bronx.

After playing under .500 against the Blue Jays each of the three previous seasons, Seattle seems to have found the answer in 2007 with four wins in as many chances against the Canadian club.

While Beltre had a big hit for the Mariners in last night’s contest, he is still hitting a mere .136 in the last six games for the club. During that span Ichiro Suzuki has a total of seven hits and has scored five times.

Troy Glaus has been pounding the ball for the Jays, a team that is 11 games out of first in the AL East, coming up with three home runs and seven RBI for the club in the last seven outings. With Aaron Hill accounting for 11 hits and five knocked in, the pair have combined for the majority of the team’s 17 RBI in the last week.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX (43-52) AT BOSTON RED SOX (57-39), 3:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - John Danks (6-6, 4.81) Boston - Kason Gabbard (3-0, 3.38)

Still with the largest cushion of any American League division leader heading into play on Saturday, the Boston Red Sox shoot for their second straight victory as they contend with the Chicago White Sox in the third game of a four-game set from Fenway Park this afternoon.

On Friday the Red Sox snapped a brief three-game slide by posting a lopsided 10-3 decision against Chicago, pushing the club’s lead in the AL East back to eight games over the enigmatic New York Yankees.

Josh Beckett picked up his 13th win of the season, tied for the most in the majors, for the Red Sox, fanning 10 over six innings. Julio Lugo had three hits for the home team, including a grand slam, while Coco Crisp cleared the bases with a triple.

But all the news was not great for the Red Sox as slugger David Ortiz exited the contest with a sore shoulder, a condition that might keep him out of Saturday’s meeting.

Chicago starter Jose Contreras was once again on the short end of a decision, losing for the 12th time this season. Contreras was touched for all 10 runs on 10 hits and three walks, while striking out just two over 7 1/3 innings of work. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the White Sox.

A couple of youngsters hit the mound in this game for both teams as the White Sox go with John Danks and Boston offers up Kason Gabbard.

Danks, a rookie from Texas, has won two straight starts, with Chicago claiming victory in his last four appearances overall. On Monday the lefty gave up five runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings against Cleveland, but with his club scoring 11 runs in his second straight start, Danks managed to grab the victory.

As for Gabbard, who is already 1-0 in his career versus Chicago, he remained undefeated in 2007 after throwing an impressive three-hit shutout versus Kansas City on Monday at home. The left-hander fanned a season-high eight batters and walked only one in the contest.

Over the last seven games both Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye have connected on three home runs, with the former knocking in a team-high nine during that span. Jerry Owens leads the White Sox with eight runs scored in the last week as well. Chicago, which will host division-leading Detroit for five straight beginning on Monday, is a dismal 19-25 at home and already 14 1/2 games out of contention at this point in the season.

Of the team’s four triples over the last seven games, Crisp has every single one of them for the Red Sox, and yet he has scored a total of just five runs as a result. The team as a whole is batting .302 during that span, with Lugo coming up with a stellar 13 hits in 27 at-bats.

This is the first series of the season between these teams, but Boston is 13-8 in the matchup since the start of the 2004 campaign. The White Sox have also struggled in Beantown, where they have won just three times in their last eight visits.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (42-53) AT DETROIT TIGERS (57-37), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Kansas City - Jorge De La Rosa (7-10, 5.25) Detroit - Justin Verlander (11-3, 3.26)

Best meets the worst in the American League Central this evening as the Detroit Tigers play host to the Kansas City Royals in the second of a three-game set from Comerica Park.

On Friday night the Tigers were beaten and battered by Kansas City in what became a 10-2 decision in the series opener, yet Detroit is still in first place in the division by a game and the Royals are dead last, 15 1/2 games out of contention.

Billy Butler ended up 4-for-5 with four RBI for the visitors, while Mark Grudzielanek also added four hits and scored four times for the Royals, who have won 13 of their last 20 games.

Gil Meche picked up his seventh win of the campaign as he tossed seven strong innings, yielding two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

On the other side, Detroit starter Kenny Rogers was touched for six runs, five of them earned, in 6 1/3 innings of work. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Tigers, who are a game ahead of Cleveland in the standings and have managed to go 20 games over .500 despite having a mediocre record of 25-20 at home.

Gary Sheffield homered for the host club, while the league’s leading hitter, Magglio Ordonez (.359) posted one hit and an RBI in four trips to the plate.

All-Star hurler Justin Verlander takes the mound for the hometown Tigers in tonight’s contest, aiming for his third straight victory. The right-hander out of Old Dominion allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings on Sunday versus Seattle, marking his sixth win in the last seven starts.

The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year is already 2-0 this season against Kansas City and an impressive 5-0 versus the club in his two years in the majors, carrying a minuscule 1.58 ERA in six starts.

As for the Royals, they are going to hand the ball to Jorge De La Rosa, who has won only seven of his 17 decisions this season, with one of those triumphs coming at the expense of Detroit.

The left-hander, now in his fourth major league season, faced off against the Cleveland Indians on the road last weekend, giving up a pair of home runs and a total of three runs on just two hits and an unsightly six bases-on-balls in a mere 3 1/3 innings of work. De La Rosa left the game with a bruised left thumb but still figures to be back in action tonight nonetheless.

Ordonez, who is third in the AL in RBI with 80, has plated a total of eight over the last six games for the Tigers, while Curtis Granderson is hitting at a .409 clip with seven runs over that span as well.

Over the last six games Butler has emerged as a real threat for the Royals, knocking in 11 and scoring four times thanks to four doubles. Grudzielanek has just three knocked in over the last six games, but he has crossed the plate himself nine times for Kansas City.

Detroit has dominated this series since the start of last season, winning 22 of the 28 matchups. However, five of Kansas City’s wins in that time have come in the Motor City. LA ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (56-39) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (50-46), 7:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - Jered Weaver (6-5, 3.36) Minnesota - Boof Bonser (5-6, 4.68)

Now just a game in front in the American League West, the LA Angels of Anaheim try to bounce back tonight as they challenge the Minnesota Twins in the second game of a three-game set at the Metrodome.

The Angels, who are ahead of the surging Seattle Mariners in the division by just a single game entering the weekend, have lost four of the last five outings following a 7-5 setback in the series opener last night.

Justin Morneau homered and drove in three runs and Jason Kubel finished 3- for-3 with a two-run triple for the Twins as they snapped a three-game slide with the triumph. The duo picked up the offensive slack for the club after Michael Cuddyer was placed on the 15-day DL with a sprained right thumb prior to the contest.

Carlos Silva picked up the win for the home team as he allowed four earned runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings, while Joe Nathan logged his 19th save of the campaign as well.

LA starter John Lackey made it through only five innings, permitting seven runs, five earned, on 10 hits, while fanning three. Mike Napoli finished with three hits and Chone Figgins scored twice for the visitors, who again failed to hit a home run for the 13th straight game, the club’s longest drought in more than three decades.

Following up an impressive rookie season in 2006 in which he went 11-2 for the Angels, Jered Weaver heads out to the mound for LA tonight in search of his seventh win of the campaign.

Weaver, a product of Long Beach State, has not won in more than a month and failed to earn a decision in his most recent outing on Sunday when he allowed two unearned runs on four hits versus Texas at home. Striking out six and walking two over seven innings, Weaver’s Angels bowed in a 5-4 decision.

In his only previous appearance this season versus Minnesota, the right-hander got plenty of run support in a 16-3 drubbing of the Twins at home. In that game Weaver permitted just a single run on five hits over seven innings of action. That victory marked the only decision of his brief two-year career against Minnesota.

As for the Twins, they have Boof Bonser slated to oppose Weaver on the hill. Bonser, a right-hander from Florida, is also in his second year in the majors and has not earned a victory since the second week of June. More recently Bonser threw 6 1/3 innings versus Oakland on Sunday, giving up three runs on five hits and a trio of walks, but he failed to factor into the 4-3 win for his team.

Morneau, who has two home runs and six RBI over the last six games for the Twins, is now second in the AL in both home runs (26) and RBI (81) for a team that is eight games out of contention in the AL Central behind both Detroit and Cleveland.

Despite being second in the American League in hitting this season with a mark of .283 over 95 games, the Angels are second-to-last in home runs with a mere 64, dragging the team’s slugging down to .408. Although he does not appear among the league leaders at the moment, Figgins is hitting .317 for the club this season, while Vladimir Guerrero is at .326 with 14 home runs and 78 RBI.

The Angels took two of three from the Twins earlier in the season and are 17-12 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.

CLEVELAND INDIANS (57-39) AT TEXAS RANGERS (41-55), 8:35 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cleveland - Cliff Lee (5-6, 5.67) Texas - Jamey Wright (3-2, 4.31)

Slowly creeping up on the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central, the Cleveland Indians shoot for their third straight victory tonight as they take on the Texas Rangers in the third of a four-game set at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

On Friday the Tribe got a strong outing from starter Fausto Carmona, who extended his personal winning streak to four games as the visitors picked up the 3-2 victory in the Lone Star State.

Carmona gave up just three hits over eight scoreless innings as Cleveland defeated the Rangers for the sixth consecutive time. Although Joe Borowski surrendered a pair of runs in his only inning of work, he still managed to post his 28th save of the campaign.

Travis Hafner knocked in a pair as he homered for the visitors and Victor Martinez scored once following one of his three doubles.

As for the Rangers, who were playing without Michael Young while he was attending the funeral of his wife’s grandmother, Desi Relaford and Mark Teixeira scored the only runs for the squad, now 15 1/2 games out of contention in the AL West. Brandon McCarthy, who has not won since May, made it through 5 2/3 innings and permitted three runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out four.

Cleveland hurler Cliff Lee tries to even his season record at 6-6 when he takes the hill for the Tribe in tonight’s contest. Lee, a left-hander out of Arkansas, lost his second straight outing on Monday when he gave up seven runs on nine hits and walked three in 5 1/3 innings versus the Chicago White Sox at home.

This will be the first start of the season for Lee against Texas, a team that he has a 3-1 record against in his career, despite carrying a lofty 5.64 ERA over those appearances.

As for the Rangers, they are going with Jamey Wright, who currently stands five strikeouts shy of 800 for his career. Wright, who has almost as many walks over the years with 741, is 0-1 all-time versus Cleveland and is a less- than-spectacular 30 games under .500 (70-100) for his career.

The 12-year veteran last took the hill on Monday when he went seven innings against Oakland on the road, holding the host team scoreless while surrendering a mere four hits and three walks in a 4-1 victory.

Young, who leads the Rangers with 112 hits and is second with 54 RBI, should be back in the lineup for tonight’s meeting. The team could certainly use his leadership considering they are hitting a collective .255 with just two home runs over the last seven games.

As for the Indians, now just a game behind the Tigers in the division, Ryan Garko has been a huge spark for the squad of late with three home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored in the last seven outings. Not to be overlooked is Hafner who has two long balls and seven knocked in during that stretch as well.

The Indians have won six in a row against the Rangers, including wins in all four meetings so far this year.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (43-52) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (45-51), 9:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Baltimore - Steve Trachsel (5-6, 4.95) Oakland - Dan Haren (10-3, 2.33)

A couple of teams fighting for respectability within their own divisions battle it out tonight in the second of a three-game set from McAfee Coliseum, as the Oakland Athletics take on the Baltimore Orioles.

Baltimore, which will host East Division foes Tampa Bay and New York next week, got an outstanding effort from hurler Erik Bedard on Friday night as the major league leader in strikeouts fanned 11 batters en route to a 6-1 win for the visitors to the West Coast.

Bedard, who has 167 strikeouts in 2007, posted his fifth straight road win on Friday as he held the A’s to just a single hit over seven innings of action. As far as the Baltimore offense was concerned, every batter had at least one hit, with Ramon Hernandez coming up with a pair. Brian Roberts plated two on the night.

The lone run for the A’s came on a home run by Mark Ellis, while Mike Piazza and Bobby Crosby both struck out three times in the outing. Oakland starter Joe Blanton made it through 5 2/3 innings, permitting five earned runs on 10 hits, while striking out three in the setback.

The A’s have now lost 10 of their last 11 outings, while Baltimore has won two of three contests and five of the last seven overall.

Carrying the majority of the weight for the Oakland starting staff this season has been Dan Haren, who takes the hill for the A’s tonight at home.

The right-hander, who is already 2-0 with a scant 1.29 ERA versus the Orioles this season and 3-2 for his career, last pitched on Sunday against Minnesota on the road. Despite giving up a mere two runs on seven hits over six innings of work, Haren failed to factor into the decision in what became a 4-3 setback for the A’s.

After losing only four of his first 16 appearances of the season, Oakland has dropped three of the last four and yet Haren still leads the AL in ERA at 2.33 this season.

While the A’s hang their hopes on the 26-year old California native, Baltimore is opting for the more experienced Steve Trachsel, now in his 15th year in the majors.

The righty is returning from the 15-day DL and a rehab assignment, which means this is his first action with the O’s since the end of June. Trachsel was lit up in his last major league start on June 29 versus the Angels, surrendering five runs on nine hits in just 1 2/3 innings. The Orioles have lost four straight Trachsel starts and five of the last six for a hurler who is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in his career versus the A’s.

Baltimore, which has taken three straight from the A’s and has now evened the season series at three games apiece, is 13 1/2 games out of contention in the AL East and is a mere 21-30 on the road. Oakland, which is two games below .500 at home (24-26), is 11 1/2 games out of first in the AL West at the moment as well.

Roberts continues to lead the O’s in batting at a .316 clip and is first with 61 runs scored, but the team continues to have issues with Melvin Mora (12 home runs, 41 RBI) on the disabled list with a sprained right foot. At the moment Shannon Stewart is the only regular on the A’s roster hitting above .271, coming in at .304 for a team that is hitting a collective .250 through 96 games. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (50-48) AT CHICAGO CUBS (51-44), 1:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Micah Owings (5-5, 4.92) Chicago - Rich Hill (6-6, 3.70)

Lefty Rich Hill can put a little more distance between himself and a recent tailspin today when the Chicago Cubs host the Arizona Diamondbacks in game two of a three-game weekend set at Wrigley Field.

Hill, a 27-year-old from Boston, allowed four hits and two runs over eight innings in his last start, defeating San Francisco, 3-2, on July 16.

The victory snapped a five-start drought for the former second-round draft choice, who had gone 0-2 with three no-decisions heading toward the All-Star break.

Hill has made three lifetime starts against Arizona, going 1-1 with a 5.00 earned run average.

Rookie right-hander Micah Owings goes for the Diamondbacks in search of his first win since June 20. The 24-year-old has gone 0-4 with a no-decision in his last five starts since a 7-4 defeat of Tampa Bay had lifted his record to 5-1.

In his last outing, on July 16, he gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings, losing a 4-3 decision to Milwaukee.

On Friday, Aramis Ramirez drove in the tying run and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and later added a three-run homer as the red-hot Cubs defeated the struggling Diamondbacks, 6-2.

Jacque Jones drove in a pair of runs for the Cubs, who have won three straight and continue to put pressure on the NL Central-leading Brewers, now trailing Milwaukee by 2 1/2 games. Mike Fontenot had two hits, scored three runs and stole two bases for Chicago, which has won seven of eight on its 10-game homestand.

Jason Marquis (7-5) started for the Cubs and picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits over 7 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked one to pick up his second win in three starts. He combined with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry on the four-hitter.

Chris Young hit a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped two straight and five of six on the road.

Arizona starting pitcher Brandon Webb (8-8) was solid, but still suffered his third straight loss over his last four starts. The right-hander allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits, striking out four and walking one over seven innings.

Arizona has had recent success against Chicago. It won four of six against the Cubs in 2006, and is 13-7 against them since the start of the 2004 season. COLORADO ROCKIES (49-47) AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS (40-56), 3:55 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Rodrigo Lopez (5-2, 4.46) Washington - Mike Bacsik (2-6, 4.87)

Mexican veteran Rodrigo Lopez goes for a third straight strong start today when the Colorado Rockies visit RFK Stadium in the third of a four-game series with the Washington Nationals.

Lopez, who’ll be 32 in December, defeated Philadelphia with five innings of three-run ball on July 7, then got a tough-luck no-decision against Milwaukee seven days later after allowing just one hit and one run in seven innings.

The Brewers won the game, 2-1.

A 15-game winner for Baltimore in 2005, Lopez is winless away from home this year with the Rockies, going 0-2 in five starts away from Coors Field.

He’s 1-1 in two career starts against the Nationals with a 5.11 earned run average.

Mike Bacsik makes his 12th start of the season for Washington and faces the Rockies for the first time.

The 29-year-old Texan has gone winless in two outings since a 3-2 defeat of Pittsburgh on July 1. He got a no-decision in Washington’s 4-3 defeat of Houston on July 16 and dropped a 6-2 decision to Milwaukee on July 6.

He’s 0-3 at RFK Stadium this year, posting a 5.06 ERA in six starts.

On Friday, Aaron Cook tossed seven scoreless innings, and Todd Helton drove in two runs as the Rockies beat the Nationals, 3-1.

Cook (6-6) had a strong outing, yielding just four hits, walking three and fanning eight to earn his first win in three starts.

Willy Taveras had two hits and scored a pair of runs for Colorado, which dropped the opener in the series but has won four of its last five games overall. Ryan Spilborghs also added a pair of hits.

Billy Traber (2-1) allowed two runs — one earned — on three hits over four innings in his first start of the season in a replacement role for the Nationals.

The left-hander, a former first-round pick of the New York Mets, had made 23 appearances in relief this season, but was filling in for journeyman starter Jason Simontacchi, who was placed on the disabled list before the game with right elbow tendinitis.

Ryan Zimmerman knocked in the lone run for Washington, which had a modest two- game winning streak halted.

Colorado won all eight meetings between the teams during the 2006 campaign. The Rockies also won four encounters at RFK Stadium over that span.

NEW YORK METS (54-42) AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS (54-43), 3:55 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York - Jorge Sosa (7-4, 3.84) Los Angeles - Brad Penny (11-1, 2.33)

Brad Penny will try for his 12th win of the season this afternoon when the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their four-game series with the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium.

Penny has been outstanding so far this year, posting an 11-1 mark, and is tied with Oakland’s Dan Haren for the third best earned run average in the majors at 2.33.

The right-hander is 6-0 over 10 starts since his lone loss of the season on May 18 against the Angels. He has allowed one run or fewer in eight of those outings, including Monday against the Phillies in which Penny posted a win behind seven frames of four-hit, one-run ball with eight strikeouts.

It was a good sign for Penny, who was hammered for six runs in four innings of a no-decision on July 5 against Atlanta.

Penny, who is just 4-10 with a 5.82 ERA in 17 career starts against New York, is trying to avoid a second-half letdown that ruined his season last year. He went 10-2 before the All-Star break in 2006, but went just 6-7 in the second half with a 6.25 ERA.

Jorge Sosa will start this afternoon for the Mets coming off a tough-luck loss at San Diego. Against the Padres on Monday, Sosa allowed only two runs on five hits over six innings, but got little run support in New York’s 5-1 loss. The defeat dropped Sosa to 7-4 on the year with a 3.84 ERA.

The right-hander, who is 1-3 over his last five outings, has made six lifetime appearances against the Dodgers, with two of those being starts. In that span, he is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA after allowing 10 runs over 16 total innings. Sosa started against the Dodgers on June 13 and took the loss after yielding six runs over 5 2/3 frames.

Sosa will try to secure a series win for the Mets, who captured the second game of this set on Friday, 4-1, after outslugging the Dodgers 13-9 on Thursday.

Carlos Beltran homered for the second straight game and David Wright had an RBI for the Mets, who have won five of seven and have stretched their lead over the Braves to 3 1/2 games for the top spot in the National League East.

Oliver Perez (9-6) threw 7 1/3 strong innings, allowing six hits and a run with eight strikeouts. Billy Wagner threw the final inning for his 21st save.

New York, though, lost the reliable Jose Valentin, as the second baseman fractured his right tibia after fouling a ball off his leg in the fourth innings.

Nomar Garciaparra homered for the Dodgers, just his third long ball of the season, while Juan Pierre extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the first inning. He also stole his 40th base of the season.

Brett Tomko gave up five hits and an unearned run over six innings in the start. Roberto Hernandez (0-1) allowed two hits and three runs — two earned — in the eighth inning, as the Dodgers lost for the third time in four games and still trail the first-place Padres by just a percentage point in the NL West.

The Dodgers swept a three-game series against New York this season from June 11-13 at Chavez Ravine. The Mets went 4-3 against LA in the 2006 series and swept Los Angeles in three games during last October’s NL playoffs. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (40-54) AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS (54-42), 3:55 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Tim Lincecum (4-2, 4.37) Milwaukee - Dave Bush (8-7, 4.84)

With the MLB commissioner looking on, Barry Bonds will again try to inch closer to Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record this afternoon when the San Francisco Giants play the middle portion of their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

One day removed from a two-homer performance against the Cubs on Thursday that gave Bonds 753 career long balls, just two shy of equaling Aaron’s mark, the slugger went 0-for-4 in his team’s series-opening 8-4 victory yesterday.

Also of note was the attendance of commissioner Bud Selig, who plans to attend the rest of the series in his hometown of Milwaukee. Whether or not Selig should or will be there when Bonds breaks Aaron’s record has been a running subplot all season.

Not only is Milwaukee the home of Selig, but it is also where Aaron played from 1954-65 with the Milwaukee Braves and then in 1975-76 with the Brewers. Coincidentally, Aaron blasted the 755th homer of his career on July 20, 1976 in Milwaukee.

There is a chance that Bonds will not be in the starting lineup due to today’s 3:55 p.m. (et) start time. The two teams squared off in a night contest yesterday and Bonds recently sat out the first three games of a four-game set with the Cubs to rest his legs.

Should he start though, Bonds will face a pitcher in Dave Bush who he is just 1-for-6 against lifetime with two strikeouts and no homers.

If Bonds doesn’t play, the Giants will hope his teammates can pick up him like they did in the series opener on Friday. Guillermo Rodriguez knocked in three runs in yesterday’s victory, while Dave Roberts had three hits and an RBI.

Noah Lowry (10-7) allowed four runs — three earned — in six innings of work to take the win, just the Giants second in nine games.

Jeff Suppan started for Milwaukee and yielded three runs over five innings for the Brewers, who have lost two of three. Carlos Villanueva (6-2) coughed up a Milwaukee lead late in the game to take the loss.

J.J. Hardy had two RBI as the Brewers fell to 5-3 on a 10-game homestand, but more importantly, have seen their lead in the National League Central dip to just 2 1/2 games over the second-place Cubs.

Bush toes the rubber for Milwaukee and is 5-1 over his last six starts. He is coming off consecutive victories, besting Washington behind seven innings of one-run ball on July 6 before downing Arizona on Monday. Against the Diamondbacks, Bush scattered three runs on three homers and five hits over six innings, improving to 8-7 on the year with a 4.84 earned run average.

The right-hander is 1-1 in three games (two starts) lifetime versus the Giants with a 3.71 ERA. All three of those outings came last year.

Tim Lincecum will try to extend his stretch of impressive outings when he starts for the Giants. The rookie hurler posted back-to-back wins on July 1 and 7, allowing just three runs over 13 total innings, and then received a no- decision in his first start after the All-Star break on July 16 versus Chicago.

Against the Cubs, Lincecum allowed only one run and two hits, but also walked five over 6 1/3 innings of his club’s 3-2 setback. He struck out eight on the day, however, and is 4-2 with a 4.37 ERA this year.

The 23-year-old right-hander faced Milwaukee for the first time in his career on June 19 and was roughed up for six runs over four innings in the loss.

The Brewers had won seven straight — all at home — versus the Giants until yesterday’s loss. That included a three-game sweep this year in Milwaukee from June 18-20.

CINCINNATI REDS (41-56) AT FLORIDA MARLINS (46-51), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Bobby Livingston (2-0, 3.18) Florida - Byung-Hyun Kim (4-5, 5.18)

Young left-hander Bobby Livingston goes for his third win of the season, and of his brief big-league career, tonight when the Cincinnati Reds visit Dolphin Stadium for game three of a four-game series with the host Florida Marlins.

Livingston, a 24-year-old who was drafted by Seattle in the fourth round in 2001, has strung together victories in each of his last two spot starts with the injury-plagued Reds.

He defeated Colorado, 4-2, with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball on June 1, then returned on July 16 and defeated the Atlanta Braves, 10-3, after allowing eight hits and two runs in five innings.

Livingston reached the majors with Seattle in 2006, making three relief appearances and posting an 18.00 earned run average. His first start for the Reds this season came in a 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 13, during which he allowed 10 hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings and got a no- decision.

Korean veteran Byung-Hyun Kim goes for the Marlins in his first career start against the Reds.

Kim, who’s made all but one of his 11 appearances this season as a starter, dropped a 5-3 decision to St. Louis on July 16 after allowing eight hits and five runs in six innings. He’d beaten San Diego one start prior, allowing three hits and two runs in 6 1/3 innings on July 5.

The 28-year-old has pitched in relief against Cincinnati 12 times, recording five saves and a 1.46 ERA in 12 1/3 innings.

On Friday, Dan Uggla went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI as the Marlins pounded the Reds, 10-2.

Scott Olsen (8-7), who had served a two-game suspension laid down by Marlins general manager Fredi Gonzalez for insubordination and conduct detrimental to the team, got the win as he gave up just two runs on four hits in seven innings.

The penalty stemmed from an incident occurring after Olsen argued with the manager when he was lifted from his last start, a 5-3 defeat of Washington on July 15.

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run home run and drove in three runs, Miguel Olivo added a two-run homer and Hanley Ramirez had three hits and drove in a pair for the Marlins, who had lost three of four.

Jeff Conine and Brandon Phillips each hit homers while Kyle Lohse (5-12) got pounded for seven runs — four earned — on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Reds, who had a season-high four-game winning streak stopped.

Cincinnati won four of six from the Marlins last season and is 11-9 against them since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Reds have also won seven of their last 11 in South Beach.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (44-49) AT ATLANTA BRAVES (51-46), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Braden Looper (7-7, 4.60) Atlanta - Buddy Carlyle (4-2, 4.00)

Albert Pujols is getting hot and will try to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a victory tonight when the club plays the third game of its four-game set with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

Pujols homered for the fifth time in eight games following the All-Star break with a solo shot in Friday’s 4-2 win over the Braves, giving him 21 on the season. He has driven in seven runs during the stretch and lifted his batting average to .319 on the season.

Juan Encarnacion drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of yesterday’s victory, plating Pujols with a single, as the Cardinals won for the fourth time in six games and improved to 4-4 on their current 10-game road trip.

Adam Wainwright (9-7) allowed one run on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, while Jason Isringhausen worked out of a ninth-inning jam to earn his 19th save in 21 chances.

Scott Rolen, though, missed his third straight game due to a left shoulder injury and is listed as day-to-day.

The Cardinals will send Braden Looper to the hill tonight, and the right- hander is coming off a win at Florida on Monday. Looper limited the Marlins to two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings to move his mark to 7-7 on the year with a 4.60 earned run average.

The victory halted a six-start losing streak (0-4) for Looper.

A former closer, Looper has never started against the Braves but has faced them 53 times out of the bullpen. In that span, he is 4-2 with eight saves and a 4.07 ERA.

Buddy Carlyle aims for his third straight winning decision when he toes the rubber for Atlanta. The 29-year-old twirled eight solid innings in a victory over San Diego on July 6 before besting Pittsburgh on Sunday behind eight innings of one-run, four-hit ball. Carlyle is 4-2 with a 4.00 ERA, and is undefeated over his last four outings (3-0).

The right-hander has made just one career appearance against the Cardinals, facing them in relief back on September 26, 2000. He threw a shutout inning, walking one and striking out a batter.

Carlyle will hope to get the Braves of their current skid, as the club has dropped four of its last five games. Chipper Jones went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Edgar Renteria also had a pair of hits in Atlanta’s setback on Friday.

Rafael Soriano (2-2) absorbed the loss, allowing a pair of runs on four hits in the eighth. Starter Chuck James tossed seven frames, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The defeat moved the Braves to 4-4 on their current 10-game homestand and has the second-place squad 3 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top spot in the National League East.

This series marks the first 2007 meeting between these teams. Atlanta won four of six matchups with St. Louis last season and is 5-2 in its last seven games against the Cardinals at Turner Field.

HOUSTON ASTROS (41-55) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (40-55), 7:15 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Wandy Rodriguez (6-8, 4.33) Pittsburgh - Paul Maholm (5-12, 4.68)

Southpaw Wandy Rodriguez will try to get back on a winning track tonight when the Houston Astros visit PNC Park in game two of a three- game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A 28-year-old Dominican, Rodriguez had won consecutive starts on July 1 and July 6, allowing a combined seven hits over 16 scoreless innings in defeating Colorado and the New York Mets.

The string ended on July 15, however, when he was racked for nine hits and seven runs — including three home runs — in just 3 1/3 innings of a 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

He is 2-2 in five lifetime starts against the Pirates with a 4.20 earned run average in 30 innings.

Former first-round draft pick Paul Maholm will be looking for consistency upon taking the mound for Pittsburgh.

The Mississippi State alumnus has followed a win with a loss three times since June 15, when he defeated the Chicago White Sox, 4-2, with seven strong innings. He lost to Seattle five days later, then beat Florida, lost to Washington, beat the Cubs and lost to Atlanta.

Maholm faced Houston in his fourth start of the season in April 24, tossing nine innings of scoreless three-hit ball in Pittsburgh’s 3-0 victory. The win was his first of the season overall and leveled his record against the Astros to 2-2 in five starts with a 4.55 ERA in 29 2/3 innings.

On Friday, Carlos Lee’s first-inning, two-run homer proved enough for Houston to edge Pittsburgh, 2-1, and prevent the struggling Pirates from getting their seventh straight win versus the Astros this year.

Chris Burke finished 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Astros, who have won two of three. Mark Loretta and Morgan Ensberg both added a pair of hits in the win.

Astros starting pitcher Roy Oswalt (9-6) left in the seventh inning with a chest injury. After he gave up a leadoff double to Ronny Paulino, Oswalt complained of chest discomfort to manager Phil Garner and a trainer. Oswalt had been performing well from the mound prior to the exit, and allowed one run on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Adam LaRoche and Paulino both had a pair of hits for the Pirates, who lost their seventh straight after coming into this series having been swept in three games at Atlanta and then in three games at home against Colorado.

Tom Gorzelanny (9-5), shooting for his fourth straight winning decision, allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts over seven innings for the Bucs.

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

It was a quick turnaround for a Pirates team that lost 13 of the 16 games they played against the Astros last season. That included seven losses in 10 home games in 2006. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (48-48) AT SAN DIEGO PADRES (53-42), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Jamie Moyer (7-8, 4.99) San Diego - David Wells (5-5, 4.15)

A battle between 44-year-old left-handers is on tap for tonight as Jamie Moyer and the Philadelphia Phillies play the third of four straight games against David Wells and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

The matchup of ageless wonders will be the second-oldest combined pitching matchup in league history, as Moyer and Wells sport a combined age of 88 years and 307 days.

That falls short of a June 8, 1987 meeting between Phil Niekro and Don Sutton, who were a combined age of 90 years and 135 days when they clashed.

Tonight’s game will also mark the fifth time this season that Moyer has faced a pitcher over the age of 40. He has squared off against Randy Johnson (43) and Tom Glavine (41) twice each.

Moyer will attempt to halt a three-game losing streak tonight that includes a horrendous outing on Monday. Moyer was blitzed for 10 runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 10-3 setback against the Dodgers. The defeat moved his record to 7-8 on the season while ballooning his earned run average to 4.99.

The longtime American League hurler has faced the Padres 13 times in his career and is 5-5 with a 4.35 ERA. He beat San Diego in his only start against them last year.

Wells, meanwhile, will put a personal four-game undefeated streak on the line with tonight’s start. He is 2-0 over that span and defeated the New York Mets on Monday after limiting New York to one run and seven hits over six innings. The victory pushed the left-hander’s record to 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA.

Currently appealing a seven-game suspension, Wells has made four career starts against the Phillies and is 2-1 against them with a 4.33 ERA.

Never shy of emotion himself, Wells will be pitching in front of an emotional Petco crowd, as the Padres are slated to hold a pregame ceremony to dedicate a statue of Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gwynn. Gwynn will be inducted into the Hall on July 29 along with Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr.

Gwynn spent 20 seasons with the Padres, who are honoring the 15-time All-Star all weekend with a variety of in-stadium giveaways. In that span, the outfielder tied a National League record with eight batting titles, matching Honus Wagner’s mark.

Just the 17th player in league history to spend an entire career of 20-or-more seasons with one club, Gwynn, also known as “Mr. Padre”, retired with a career batting average of .338 with 3,141 hits in 2,440 games.

The Padres could have used Gwynn on Friday, as the Phillies posted a 7-3 victory to even this series at one game apiece.

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard each went 2-for-4 in the victory, with Utley launching a two-run homer and Howard driving in a run of his own. It was just Philadelphia’s second win in six games, but moved them back to .500 at 48-48.

Adam Eaton (9-6), making his first start against his former team, gave up just two runs on seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. He spent his first six seasons in San Diego before playing with Texas last year and then joining the Phils through free agency.

Adrian Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs for the Padres, who had won four of five coming into the contest. San Diego currently leads the National League West by just a percentage point over second-place Los Angeles.

Justin Germano (6-4) got the loss as he was charged with four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Catcher Josh Bard will be eligible to return from his two-game suspension tonight. Bard’s suspension came after he made contact with an umpire back on May 31 in Pittsburgh.

San Diego and Philadelphia are meeting for the first time with this series since the Padres won four of six games during the 2006 campaign. The Phillies, though, are 14-6 in their last 20 matchups with San Diego.