Sports World: April 2010

Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins Live Streaming

Friday, April 30, 2010

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7:00 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

In the NHL playoffs, celebrations sometimes don’t last much longer than a rookie forward’s shift on the ice. The Montreal Canadiens realized that minutes after upsetting Washington 2-1 in Game 7 of their first-round series Wednesday night, when they learned they’d be playing the Penguins less than 48 hours later. What a reward for upsetting the team that was supposed to win the Stanley Cup: a quick turnaround before playing the team that won the Stanley Cup last season. The Eastern Conference semifinals must begin Friday night because Point Park University’s graduation was previously scheduled for Saturday at Mellon Arena. There’s also a short break before Game 2 on Sunday afternoon in a series that will be played every other day. The Canadiens’ reaction? We weren’t supposed to win the opening round, we won’t be favored to win this round. So drop the puck already.

The latest Washington playoff failure looked all too familiar. The Capitals often spent too much time trying to create offense around the perimeter. Alexander Semin disappeared. Ovechkin grew increasingly frustrated as Halak stopped 131 of 134 shots over the final three games. The Penguins—a confident team that’s won eight playoff series to Washington’s one over the last three seasons—told themselves they can’t do the same thing. While the Penguins were 1-2 while taking as many as six days off before a Game 1 the last two seasons, they don’t expect Montreal’s momentum to be a factor. Fatigue could be, with the Canadiens playing a third high-pressure game in five days. The Penguins last played Saturday. Especially from defensemen Hal Gill and Josh Gorges, who were so effective in blocking shots and controlling Ovechkin. Last season, the 6-foot-7 Gill teamed with Rob Scuderi, now of the Kings, to be Pittsburgh’s shutdown combination, and the Penguins still haven’t developed a comparable duo.

Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks Live Streaming

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7:00 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

Brandon Jennings says he’s too busy for press conferences right now. The Bucks rookie point guard is preparing to try to win Game 6 of Milwaukee’s first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. Jennings’ playful jab was meant for Tyreke Evans after the Sacramento guard won the rookie of the year award on Thursday. Jennings is the only rookie among top candidates in the postseason. Jennings and the Bucks are loose leading the series 3-2. They maintain the pressure is on the Hawks to beat them at the Bradley Center on Friday night after Milwaukee stunned Atlanta 91-87 on the road in Game 5. For the Hawks, it’s been closer to a nightmare. Zaza Pachulia failed to sleep after calling his performance unacceptable in Game 5, when the Hawks squandered a nine-point lead with just over four minutes left and saw their 14-game home winning streak snapped. Pachulia has struggled because Jennings and Luke Ridnour have been taking advantage of Atlanta’s switching on defense to get matched up—or totally mismatched—with the 6-foot-11 center.

The Hawks will be eliminated if they don’t win in Milwaukee, where Josh Smith joked there was nothing to do when they were up 2-0. Atlanta was blown out in Game 3, the team bus was hit by a car before losing Game 4 and the Hawks squandered home-court advantage in Game 5. The Bucks announced early Friday that Game 6 was already sold out in the most anticipated matchup here since Game 6 against Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001. Everything is suddenly against the heavily favored Hawks, who have won just one road postseason game in the last three appearances and are on the brink of elimination after one of the bigger collapses in recent NBA postseason history. The Hawks led by double digits in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night and still had an 82-73 lead with 4:09 to play before the Bucks finished the game on an 18-5 run.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Live Streaming

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9:30 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

One dominating performance by the defending NBA champions wasn’t enough to rattle Scott Brooks and his young Oklahoma City Thunder. After appearing vulnerable during the first four games of their playoff series, the Los Angeles Lakers regained control with a blowout victory in Game 5 that gave them a 3-2 series lead and chased away talk they were a slow, aging bunch. For an Oklahoma City roster made up almost entirely of players who’ve never experienced the postseason before, the threat of elimination is the latest test of the resiliency they have shown all season. Despite the 111-87 loss on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, Brooks and his players have reason for optimism. The Thunder won both of their home games in the series, including their own blowout victory in Game 4. They will return to the Ford Center on Friday night for a chance to force a decisive final game in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Brooks has had two full days to come up with a response to the Lakers’ decision to use Kobe Bryant to defend point guard Russell Westbrook but he said Thursday he’s not ready to reveal it. The move seemed like genius in Game 5, with Westbrook committing eight turnovers as Oklahoma City’s offense faltered. Westbrook didn’t handle it well the first time around but said he’s undaunted by the prospect of facing that type of defense again. Westbrook said he’s beyond the point in his career where he would be rattled by the prospect of going head-to-head against an NBA superstar. While he might have been had those moments last season as a rookie, Westbrook believes that he now plays no differently against Bryant or LeBron James than he would against Mike Conley or Nate Robinson.

Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz Live Streaming

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10:00 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

The Utah Jazz hope their latest trip to Denver is their last for a while. Utah has a chance to knock out the Nuggets on Friday when the Jazz host Game 6 of the Western Conference playoff series. A victory by Denver opens up a lot of possibilities that the Jazz didn’t want to consider after another late night of travel. The Jazz still lead the series 3-2 after the Nuggets’ 116-102 victory at home on Wednesday. It was a discouraging reminder to the Jazz of the many reasons they don’t want to make another flight across the Rocky Mountains for a winner-take-all Game 7, which would be Sunday. The Jazz returned for an afternoon workout mostly shrugging off their performance the night before. Utah had won the last three games in the series and stumbled as the Nuggets regrouped while playing their best game of the series. Carmelo Anthony finally got the help he was asking for as five other Denver players scored in double figures.

The Jazz had room for the off-night, knowing the series was headed back to Utah for Game 6. But the Jazz don’t want the Nuggets to get on any more of a roll and ride the momentum back home for a decisive game. It’s still Utah’s series to clinch, but the Jazz know they have a much better shot at ending it at home if they play better than they did Wednesday. Utah coach Jerry Sloan said his players can’t count on the home court alone. The Nuggets showed the Jazz how dangerous they can be and are easily capable of winning a game in Utah, where the Nuggets went 1-1 during the regular season. The Nuggets’ first win in the series since the opener came after some infighting that went public. Anthony’s pleas that he needed more help and couldn’t beat the Jazz by himself weren’t well received.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

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2:20 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

With Kelly Johnson leading the way, the Arizona Diamondbacks are enjoying their best stretch at the plate this season. Johnson, coming off yet another strong game, leads the Diamondbacks as they try to win three straight for the first time this season Friday night in a matchup with the Chicago Cubs. Arizona has won six of nine following a five-game losing streak. The Diamondbacks have overcome some lackluster pitching over that stretch with stellar performances at the plate, scoring 25 runs en route to winning their last two games. Four different players homered for Arizona as it opened this four-game series with a 13-5 win Thursday. The Diamondbacks are 8-0 when homering at least twice and 0-6 when failing to go deep. Arizona has a major league-best 33 homers.

LaRoche drove in five runs with two homers and a double, and Johnson also connected for Arizona. Johnson has nine home runs, hitting six over his last seven games.Johnson also had three singles to raise his average to .320. It has been an unexpectedly strong start for the second baseman, who hit .224 with eight homers in 303 at-bats last season. Johnson is hitting .371 at Wrigley Field. LaRoche is batting .455 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last six games there. He’s coming off his 13th career multihomer game, and his five RBIs matched a career high. Arizona’s lineup had a big game the last time Rodrigo Lopez took the mound. Lopez is set to start for the first time since surrendering six runs and 10 hits in six innings before the Diamondbacks rallied to beat Philadelphia 8-6 on Sunday. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA in two starts versus the Cubs.

Chicago White Sox vs New York Yankees Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

The New York Yankees eased Andy Pettitte into spring training with hopes the 37-year-old would still be strong for a playoff push. As it turns out, the early rest for the veteran is having an immediate impact. Off to the best start of his 16-year career, Pettitte looks to win his fourth consecutive start Friday night when the Yankees open a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox in the Bronx. Although Pettitte pitched well in last year’s playoffs to help New York win its 27th World Series, the left-hander seemed to tire down the stretch in the regular season. To combat that problem, the Yankees decided to lighten his spring-training work. The left-hander didn’t make his preseason debut until March 17, and totaled 8 1-3 innings pitched in two Grapefruit League games. That strategy seems to be paying dividends. Pettitte has yielded only four runs in 28 innings, and his ERA is his lowest ever through four starts. The two-time All-Star is coming off his best outing, allowing one run, six hits and no walks with a season-best eight strikeouts in eight innings of Saturday’s 7-1 win at Los Angeles.

Pettitte pitched well in his only start against the White Sox last season, giving up two runs, five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings, but didn’t receive a decision in a 3-2 loss July 30. The White Sox arrive in New York after defeating Texas 7-5 on Thursday to snap a six-game road losing streak. Avoiding the sweep against the Rangers was an important step for a struggling White Sox team, especially with this series looming. Chicago was outscored 23-5 in losing all three games at Yankee Stadium last season, and is 2-11 in New York since 2006. Paul Konerko once again led the way for the White Sox on Thursday, hitting two homers. Konerko leads the majors with 10 home runs and is 8 for 19 with five homers and eight RBIs in his last six games.

New York Mets vs Philadelphia Phillies Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

It’s much too early to tell if the New York Mets can be legitimate contenders in the NL East. Besides, a potential race with the Philadelphia Phillies might not be decided until the final days of the season. With a strong Mets run rekindling their rivalry with the Phillies, these teams play for first place Friday night in the opener of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park. While Philadelphia easily won the NL East last season en route to its second consecutive NL pennant, New York was decimated by injuries and finished 23 games behind. In each of the previous two seasons, the Phillies overtook the Mets late to win the NL East. Philadelphia clinched the division with one game remaining in 2008, it and needed a victory on the final day of the season to secure it in ’07. Philadelphia may have New York to contend with again this year.

New York had a strong run at the plate in a three-game series with Los Angeles, winning 10-5 on Tuesday night in the finale of a doubleheader and 7-3 the next day. Mets third baseman David Wright got off to a slow start, but is 6 for 10 with four RBIs in his last three games. Wright, though, hit .176 with nine strikeouts in nine games at Philadelphia last season. Jonathon Niese would certainly welcome another productive game from the Mets’ lineup. The left-hander has gotten one or no runs of support in three of his four starts. Niese overcame wildness in his last outing, walking five but giving up one run and striking out six in 5 1-3 innings of a 3-1 victory over Atlanta. This is Niese’s first appearance against the Phillies. Philadelphia will counter with Kyle Kendrick, who gave up five runs, eight hits and four walks in five innings of an 8-6 loss to Arizona on Sunday.

Minnesota Twins vs Cleveland Indians Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

The Cleveland Indians hoped Fausto Carmona’s first three starts were a sign he was primed for a turnaround after two disastrous seasons. His latest outing seemed to be an even better indicator that he’s back. Carmona looks to continue his impressive start when the Indians begin a three-game home set with the first-place Minnesota Twins on Friday night. Carmona finished fourth in the 2007 AL Cy Young Award voting after going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA, but the right-hander struggled with his control in going 13-19 with a 5.89 ERA the past two seasons.He gave up only 12 hits in his first three outings in April but also walked 12 before regaining his command Saturday at Oakland. Carmona allowed seven hits and one run over 7 1-3 walk-free innings in a 6-1 win. Carmona is 22-12 with a 3.78 ERA in the 42 starts where he’s walked two or fewer since 2007.

Any lapses in his control could turn out to cost Carmona against the Twins. He’s 0-4 with a 10.80 ERA in his last five starts versus Minnesota, walking 14.Two of the Twins’ big bats have thrived against Carmona. Jason Kubel is 10 for 26 with two homers, while Joe Mauer has reached base in 11 of 21 plate appearances. Justin Morneau, the majors’ leader with a .495 on-base percentage, hasn’t been as successful against Carmona, and he’s banged up heading into this series. Morneau tweaked his back Tuesday in Detroit and was kept out of the lineup for the series’ final two games. Mauer also got a day off Thursday, but the struggling Kubel and the rest of the lineup couldn’t pick up the slack. The Twins lost their first series after managing four singles in a 3-0 loss.Cleveland returns home from a nine-game road trip that began at Target Field, where it lost two of three. The Indians repeated that feat in Oakland and again dropped two of three in Los Angeles, where the Angels capped the series with a 4-3 victory Wednesday.

Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

A week ago, the Boston Red Sox were trying to turn around a sluggish start to the season. A timely series with the team owning the worst record in baseball provided the spark they needed. The now-surging Red Sox look to continue their dominance of the Baltimore Orioles as they open a three-game series at Camden Yards on Friday night. Boston was six-hit in a 3-0 loss to Texas on April 22, falling to 6-10 for its worst start in 14 years. The Red Sox, though, began to regroup by taking two of three from the Orioles at home last weekend to improve to 25-4 against them since July 11, 2008. They’ve won 10 of 12 at Camden Yards, including eight in a row.
Boston carried the momentum created against Baltimore into the next series by sweeping a three-game series at Toronto, capped by a 2-0 win Wednesday.

John Lackey is trying to put together a strong stretch of his own. The right-hander beat the Orioles on Saturday, allowing three runs and a season-high 10 hits in seven innings of a 7-6 win. The performance was a vast improvement from his previous outing five days prior, when he was pulled after allowing eight runs in 3 1-3 innings of an 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay. Lackey might be in for another solid effort against Baltimore. He’s 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA in eight starts versus the Orioles. The Red Sox’s surge has coincided with the recall of Darnell McDonald from Triple-A Pawtucket on April 20. The center fielder, who was drafted 26th overall by Baltimore in 1997, is hitting .333 with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs to help Boston win seven of nine.

Los Angeles Angels vs Detroit Tigers Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

Back in Detroit for the first time since signing with the Los Angeles Angels, Fernando Rodney says he’s happy with his current role in the bullpen. With Jose Valverde closing out games, the Tigers may not miss Rodney. Boasting the top bullpen in the majors, the Tigers seek their third straight victory both overall and against the Angels when the teams open a weekend series Friday night at Comerica Park. Rodney, who spent his first seven seasons in Detroit, got his chance to be a full-time closer in his 2009 contract year. He took full advantage, converting 37 of 38 opportunities. In the offseason, he bolted the Tigers for Los Angeles - a team with an established veteran closer in Brian Fuentes. Perhaps lured by the Angels’ offer of $11 million over two years, Rodney insists he’s content to serve in any capacity for a three-time reigning division champion and perennial contender.

Rodney spent some time in the closer’s role earlier this month when a back strain sidelined Fuentes. He took full advantage, converting all five save opportunities including two against the Tigers. Opponents are batting .108 against him on the season. Meanwhile, even without Rodney, the bullpen has emerged as Detroit’s biggest strength. Anchored by Valverde - Houston’s former closer and a free-agent acquisition - the Tigers have a major league-best 2.22 relief ERA. Valverde earned his seventh save and lowered his ERA to 0.82 with a scoreless ninth inning Thursday afternoon, helping the Tigers beat Minnesota 3-0 to take two out of three from the AL Central leaders. After Dontrelle Willis threw six innings of four-hit ball in Detroit’s first shutout of the season, the relief corps may need to prepare for heavier work with Rick Porcello on the mound Friday. The second-year right-hander has given up six runs in each of his last two starts and yielded 10 hits in four innings of Sunday’s 8-4 loss at Texas.

Oakland Athletics vs Toronto Blue Jays Live Streaming

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7:07 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

John Buck isn’t known for his hitting, let alone his power. However, becoming the first catcher in almost six years to hit three homers was just what the Toronto Blue Jays needed to snap a season-high five-game losing streak. Buck looks to build on his outburst at the plate Friday night when the Blue Jays attempt to continue their home success against the Oakland Athletics. Buck is a career .233 hitter over six-plus seasons with Kansas City and Toronto. He entered this series batting .155 with one homer and six RBIs in 18 games, and mired in a 2 for 33 slump over 11 contests. He broke out of that slump in a big way Thursday, connecting for homers in his first three at-bats and collecting five RBIs to power a 6-3 win over the Athletics in the opener of this four-game series. Buck became the first catcher to hit three homers in a game since Victor Martinez did it for Cleveland at Seattle on July 16, 2004. He’s also the first Blue Jay to accomplish the feat since Darrin Fletcher on Aug. 27, 2000.

Buck attributed his success to taking early batting practice with hitting coach Dwayne Murphy watching and pitching coach Bruce Walton throwing. While Buck is trying to build on that performance, Toronto will give the ball to Brandon Morrow. The right-hander labored through six innings Sunday, allowing two runs and three hits with eight strikeouts and six walks on a season-high 108 pitches in a 6-0 loss at Tampa Bay. Morrow is 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in three starts against the A’s. He dominated them the last time he faced them Sept. 30, yielding one hit while fanning nine in eight innings of a 7-0 victory with Seattle. The Blue Jays have won seven of eight against Oakland at Rogers Centre. The A’s have dropped seven of 10 and are trying to halt a five-game road losing streak.

Washington Nationals vs Florida Marlins Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

One respectable month is hardly enough to establish the Washington Nationals as contenders in the NL East. After finishing with the worst record in the majors the last two years, however, the Nationals’ best April since they moved to the nation’s capital would certainly be progress. Washington can achieve that feat with a victory Friday night as the club continues its road trip against the struggling Florida Marlins. The Nationals are ensured of finishing with a winning record for the first time in any month since going 15-12 in September 2007. This is their first winning April since they were 13-11 in their first month in Washington in 2005. The club can better that mark with a third straight win after it took two in a row from Chicago at Wrigley Field. Adam Dunn’s fourth home run was the difference in a 3-2 victory Wednesday.

Washington is playing without All-Star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has not started since April 21 due to a hamstring problem. Pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, meanwhile, remains with Double-A Harrisburg. Despite awaiting the right-hander’s major league debut, the Nationals have received strong pitching. Washington, last in the NL with a 5.00 ERA in 2009, has allowed 12 runs in going 4-2 in the last six games. Craig Stammen contributed a strong outing during that stretch, giving up three runs in seven innings of a 4-3, 13-inning loss to Los Angeles on Saturday. It was the second straight quality start for Stammen since the right-hander allowed seven runs over 1 1-3 innings of a 14-7 defeat at Philadelphia on April 14. Stammen had a 10.29 ERA in two starts against Florida as a rookie last year, and he may be especially careful with star Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who went 4 for 5 with a double and a home run against him.

Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

Sparked by the majors’ most potent offense, the Tampa Bay Rays are off to baseball’s best 22-game start in seven years. Continuing their four-game series with the struggling Kansas City Royals could help the AL East-leading Rays add another victory to their lofty total. Tampa Bay looks to extend its team record for April victories on Friday when it closes out the month at Tropicana Field. Jason Bartlett and Reid Brignac each knocked in three runs, and every starter hit safely as the Rays pounded out a season-high 15 in Thursday’s 11-1 victory. Tampa Bay’s 17-5 record is the best in franchise history and the best 22-game start in the majors since the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees opened 18-4 in 2003. The Royals were 17-5 that season.

The Rays’ first two hitters - Bartlett and Carl Crawford - have been the catalysts for this surge. Bartlett is batting .444 during the winning streak while Crawford is hitting .415 with a .468 on-base percentage in the last 10. He went 4 for 5 on Thursday, a homer shy of the cycle. The Rays, who are batting .347 and outscoring opponents 44-13 during their five-game winning streak, have won 12 of 14 overall against the Royals and 23 of 29 at home. Having Jeff Niemann on the mound could help Tampa Bay improve that mark. The 6-foot-9 right-hander is 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA in two career starts against the Royals. In a 7-1 victory over Kansas City on Aug. 1, Niemann allowed four hits in eight innings of one-run ball.

Houston Astros vs Atlanta Braves Live Streaming

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7:35 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

It’s been hard enough for Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox to observe his team playing so poorly. Now, he’s watching his players get hurt. Coming off their worst trip of seven or more games in 61 years, the Braves look to avoid their first 10-game slide in four seasons Friday when they face the slumping Houston Astros. Atlanta (8-14) returns to Turner Field following an 0-7 trip that ended with Thursday’s 10-4 loss to St. Louis. It is the Braves’ longest winless trip of at least this length since the team was based in Boston and dropped eight in a row in September 1949. In addition to the grind of losing, the Braves lost starter Jair Jurrjens to a strained left hamstring after one inning Thursday, and shortstop Yunel Escobar left the game with a strained left groin muscle. Escobar said through a translator that he could be out for a few games.

It also might be a good thing for Atlanta that Tommy Hanson is getting the ball. The 23-year-old right-hander has the lowest ERA among Braves starters and is looking to build off a solid outing. Hanson had a season-high eight strikeouts and allowed one run in five innings of a rain-shortened, 1-0 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday. Hanson took another hard-luck loss in his only career appearance against the Astros, a 2-1 defeat in Houston on Sept. 9. After pitching eight innings of five-hit ball, Hanson was denied the victory after Miguel Tejada delivered a game-winning, two-run single in the ninth off reliever Rafael Soriano. While Hanson tries to help Atlanta win its first game in 10 days, the Astros are looking to get back on track after losing three straight at home to Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Streaming

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8:15 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols was just given his first day off of the season. Considering the way he’s hit Cincinnati pitching at Busch Stadium, the Reds probably wish the three-time NL MVP had been given a rest in this series instead. Pujols looks to continue to batter Cincinnati pitching and help the Cardinals win their sixth in a row Friday night in the opener of a three-game set between the top two teams in the NL Central. Defending division champion St. Louis defeated Atlanta 10-4 on Thursday, reaching double figures in runs for the first time since an 11-6 opening-day victory at Cincinnati. Pujols had two homers in the season opener, but didn’t play in the finale against the Braves. With the eight-time All-Star out of the lineup, rookie David Freese performed a reasonable impersonation, hitting his first career home run and driving in six runs.

Pujols probably won’t sit again in this series, and that doesn’t bode well for Cincinnati. Pujols, 9 for 15 with a homer, two doubles and three RBIs in his last four games overall, is batting .429 with five home runs, five doubles and 12 RBIs in his last 10 home contests against the Reds. St. Louis is 7-3 in those games. The Cardinals, who have outscored their opponents 27-11 during a five-game winning streak, are trying for six consecutive victories for the first time since Sept. 23-28, 2008. With a revitalized Brad Penny taking the hill for the opener, they seem to have a good chance. A two-time All-Star who’d stumbled to a 17-18 record and 5.37 ERA in 2008 and 2009, Penny is suddenly back at the top of his game, having yielded four runs and three walks over 28 2-3 innings in his four starts. He had his best performance of the year Sunday, scattering eight hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 2-0 win at San Francisco.

Milwaukee Brewers vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

The last time the San Diego Padres finished April atop the NL West, they went on to reach the World Series. They’re already assured of leading the division after the opening month in 2010, and their play at Petco Park is a big reason why. The Padres look to extend their home winning streak to eight Friday night when they face the struggling Milwaukee Brewers. San Diego, which leads the West by 1 1/2 games over second-place San Francisco, will enter May in first place for the first time since 1998. That season, the Padres went 19-7 in April and won the division and their second NL pennant before falling to the New York Yankees in the World Series. While serious playoff talk remains premature, San Diego has fueled its success with an 8-2 record at Petco, tying St. Louis for the best home mark in the NL. They Padres have outscored opponents 34-10 during their current seven-game home winning streak, which includes three shutouts after Thursday’s 9-0 rout of Milwaukee to open this four-game series.

Clayton Richard will take the mound for a fifth chance at his first win of the season. The left-hander didn’t earn a decision Sunday, when he allowed three runs and seven hits with four walks in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati. Richard is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against the Brewers. The win came Aug. 11, when he allowed four runs in six innings of a 13-6 victory in Milwaukee. The Padres have won 13 of 18 home meetings with the Brewers. Milwaukee, which has dropped six of seven overall, will turn to Dave Bush, who is trying to rebound from by far his worst performance of the young season. The right-hander surrendered nine runs and 10 hits, including a career-high four homers, in 3 2-3 innings of a 12-2 home loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Los Angeles Dodgers Live Streaming

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10:10 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

Although Los Angeles is mired in an awful slump, the Dodgers aren’t panicking. This could change, however, if the team can’t generate any offense against Pittsburgh’s Charlie Morton. Trying to avoid their sixth loss in a row, the sputtering Dodgers hope to get things turned around Friday night when they face Morton, who has been knocked around in each of his four outings. Los Angeles led the league in batting average and on-base percentage last season, but it has been a struggle for the two-time defending NL West champions lately. The Dodgers seem to have a good opportunity to end their slump against a Pirates team with a major league-worst 6.84 ERA, but the club came out flat Friday, managing a season-low four hits in a 2-0 loss.

Los Angeles has now been shut out three times during a five-game slide, batting .177 while going 4 for 40 with runners in scoring position in those games. The Dodgers lost for the 14th time Friday, a mark they didn’t reach last season until May 22 - their 43rd contest. Despite all these struggles, the Dodgers again appear to have a good chance at getting their offense back on track in this four-game series. Morton has the major’s worst ERA and opponent batting average for any pitcher with at least 11 innings. He has yielded at least five runs in each of his four starts, and has only made it out of the fourth inning once. Against Houston on Sunday, the right-hander allowed five runs and five hits in three innings of a 10-3 loss. Although Morton is scuffling, Pittsburgh is planning on sticking with him.

Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners Live Streaming

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10:10 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

With Cliff Lee finally set to make his Seattle debut, Friday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers was supposed to be all about the Mariners’ new left-handed co-ace. Lee, however, won’t be the only potential impact player in the AL West to make his first appearance of 2010 at Safeco Field. Standout second baseman Ian Kinsler will make his return to Texas’ lineup in hopes of spoiling the former Cy Young Award winner’s party, as each promising club tries to close its mediocre April with a victory. The Mariners created perhaps the most intimidating pairing of pitchers in the majors when they acquired Lee from the Phillies in the offseason to go along with emerging star Felix Hernandez, but the southpaw has spent the last several weeks recovering from a strained abdomen.

Lee, who went 14-13 with a 3.22 ERA with Cleveland and Philadelphia last year after winning the 2008 AL Cy Young Award with the Indians, may have expedited his return by undergoing experimental platelet-rich plasma injections on his injury. Lee will be on a pitch count of around 100, a fact that may affect the Rangers’ approach against him. He has a 7.09 ERA in eight starts versus Texas, his highest against any AL opponent. It will certainly help Texas having Kinsler in the lineup after he started the season on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle. Kinsler is 7 for 13 against Lee. Kinsler hit a career-low .253 last year but had career highs with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases, and the Rangers hope his presence in the middle of their lineup will solidify an offense that is without injured slugger Nelson Cruz.

Colorado Rockies vs San Francisco Giants Live Streaming

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10:15 pm EDT Fri Apr 30, 2010

Having put together the best April of his career, San Francisco Giants left-hander Barry Zito is finally living up to his contract. Zito looks to continue his outstanding start and turn in another dominant performance against the Colorado Rockies on Friday night at AT&T Park. Zito is finally pitching to his Cy Young Award-winning form, which led the Giants to ink him to a $126 million deal after the 2006 season. He came into this year with a 4.82 ERA prior to May 1, but has turned in the best first month of his career through four outings. Zito, who went 31-43 with a 4.30 ERA in his first 98 starts with the Giants, had his best performance yet his last time out. He held St. Louis to three singles over eight innings while striking out 10 - tying his high with San Francisco - in a 2-0 victory Saturday.

He is certainly making it difficult on opposing hitters, holding opponents to a .161 average - lowest in the NL. There’s plenty of reason to believe Zito can continue his roll in a matchup with Colorado. He’s 4-2 against the Rockies in 11 career starts with a 1.98 ERA - easily his best against any opponent - and went 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA in the last four matchups, winning the last two. Colorado scored 23 runs in the past two games, but after a 12-1 victory over Arizona on Tuesday, it couldn’t close the series with a win. The Rockies rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the first inning to take an 11-6 lead, but lost 12-11 in 10 innings. Tulowitzki, hitting .400 over his last 10 games, is 5 for 29 with eight strikeouts against Zito.

Detroit Red Wings vs San Jose Sharks Live Streaming

Thursday, April 29, 2010

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9:00 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

When the San Jose Sharks hired former Detroit assistant Todd McLellan as their head coach two years ago, they were looking to duplicate some of the postseason success the Red Wings had enjoyed. Now they get to find out if the imitation is as good as the original when the two teams meet in a Western Conference second-round series beginning Thursday night in San Jose. McLellan brought over many of the philosophies he learned in Detroit under coach Mike Babcock, most notably a strong emphasis on puck possession. The one thing the Sharks haven’t been able to emulate is Detroit’s postseason success. The Sharks have not made it past the second round in their past four trips to the postseason, including a second-round loss to the Red Wings in 2007.A playoff rematch has seemed inevitable because of how much talent both teams have. But early exits the past two seasons by San Jose have delayed that.

Despite being the two best teams in the NHL since the start of the 2005-06 season, the 2007 series is the only postseason meeting in that span. The Red Wings were knocked out in the first round by Edmonton in 2006, the Sharks fell in the second round to Dallas in 2008 with the Red Wings waiting in the Western Conference finals and San Jose lost in the first round last season despite having the best record in the NHL. Now they meet again in a rematch of the 2007 series that still leaves a bitter taste for many San Jose followers. The Sharks had a 2-1 series lead and a one-goal lead in the final minute at home in Game 4. But with Dominik Hasek pulled for an extra skater and Patrick Marleau looking for an empty-net goal, Robert Lang scored the equalizer with 33.1 seconds left in regulation. Mathieu Schneider scored in overtime to tie the series and the Red Wings won the final two games 4-1 and 2-0 to advance to the Western Conference finals.

Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs Live Streaming

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8:00 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

Known for nailing a motivational quote from a 19th-century social reformer to the locker room wall, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich passed on giving his players a derivative, rah-rah speech about finishing off Dallas. San Antonio was back home Wednesday after an uninspired showing in Game 5 in which the Mavericks crushed them 103-81 to fight off elimination. It was the most lopsided game in an otherwise thrilling series of wild point swings, tough words and hard fouls among the Texas rivals. It also might have swung the momentum back to the Mavs. Heading into Game 6 on Thursday night in San Antonio, the Mavs abruptly went from moribund to more like the No. 2 seed favored in this series all along. If they can finally cash in on being the NBA’s best road team, they’ll send it back home for a Game 7.

The Spurs are still in control, and with history on their side. Only eight teams in NBA history have rallied from a 3-1 deficit, though Mavs coach Rick Carlisle and forward Shawn Marion helped pull off the feat most recently. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have also made good on their last four chances to finish off a playoff opponent at home. The last time San Antonio let a team survive elimination at the AT&T Center was 2006—against the Mavericks. It was a Game 7 in the memorable West semifinals, in which the Spurs couldn’t finish rallying from a 3-1 deficit on their home court. Four years and massive roster overhauls later, there’s little to take or glean from that series, other than perhaps a reminder.

Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers Live Streaming

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10:30 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

A blast-right-by-them style has served the Suns well against the Trail Blazers. And tempo will likely be a deciding factor on Thursday night when Phoenix visits Portland with a 3-2 advantage and a chance to advance to the next round of the playoffs. When the Blazers have had success, they have been able to slow the Suns down and go to a half-court defense. The player who seems to have found the most success imposing his will has been Amare Stoudemire, who has averaged 20.2 points over the course of the series with gritty—and what Portland fans would call nasty—play. Matchup problems with Stoudemire have befuddled the Blazers as much as his toughness. The more the team focuses on him, the more it opens up someone else. In Game 3, which the Suns won 108-89 at the Rose Garden, Jason Richardson was the beneficiary and had 42 points, including eight 3-pointers. Richardson is averaging 22.6 points in the series.

While the Blazers have home court for Thursday’s game, Portland coach Nate McMillan is counting on the intangibles to force a Game 7. Namely, the Blazers have faced their share of obstacles this season and far exceeded expectations. Case in point, the Blazers have already stretched the series much further than most expected. Portland had two major strikes against it: they were facing one of the league’s hottest second-half teams, and they were doing it without their captain. All-star guard Brandon Roy missed the final two games of the regular season with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Although he claimed he could play on it, he had arthroscopic surgery two days before the opening game against the Suns and was ruled out of the series. Roy unexpectedly returned eight days after the procedure, and it was generally agreed that the emotional boost he provided—and the surprise to the Suns—helped carry the Blazers to a 96-87 victory in Game 4.

Chicago White Sox vs Texas Rangers Live Streaming

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2:05pm ETD

Thursday

April 29, 2010

Live Telecast : MLB TV

Cincinnati Reds vs Houston Astros Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

Roy Oswalt got a first-hand look at what was left of his hometown after a tornado ripped through it. Facing the Cincinnati Reds could help the Houston Astros ace continue to move past the devastation that was left behind. Oswalt looks to continue his dominance of the Reds while helping the Astros come away with a victory in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday night. Oswalt returned to his hometown of Weir, Miss. to witness the destruction left by Saturday’s twister. His mother hid in a closet while his father was away on a hunting trip in Missouri, and the closet was the only part of Oswalt’s childhood home that remained. Oswalt said he found pieces of his 2005 NL championship series MVP trophy strewn about the woods, and he was able to salvage some jerseys from his rookie season in 2001. He also claims the incident will not be a distraction.

The right-hander will take the mound looking to help the Astros avoid being swept after they fell 6-4 Wednesday. Oswalt has dominated the Reds throughout his career, going 23-1 with a 2.58 ERA in 32 games, including 12-0 with a 2.26 ERA in 16 meetings in Houston. He won eight consecutive starts with a 2.39 ERA against the Reds from August 2006 to September 2008, but had no record with a 3.38 ERA in four starts versus them last year. Oswalt enters this matchup coming off consecutive winning outings in which he’s allowed three runs and nine hits in 14 innings. While Oswalt has enjoyed success for the most part against Cincinnati, Houston has dropped 11 of the last 12 meetings and six of seven at Minute Maid Park.

New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

The New York Yankees have a few players that have been in a bit of a slump during a recent losing stretch, but two of them played a big part in their last victory. The Yankees try to close a nine-game road trip with a winning record Thursday night when they complete a three-game series against the lowly Baltimore Orioles. New York won for only the second time in six games Wednesday, defeating Baltimore 8-3. Nick Swisher had his second straight three-hit game and Jeter, who entered in a 2-for-16 slide and went 0 for 5 on Tuesday, drove in two runs, beginning the night with a leadoff double to tie Don Mattingly for third place on the Yankees’ career list.New York led 6-0 going into the bottom of the third, providing more than enough support for CC Sabathia, who went 7 2-3 innings. Besides Jeter, the struggling Nick Johnson also contributed, recording only his second hit in the last 10 games to raise his batting average to .074 during that stretch.

The Yankees have split the first two games of this series after opening this trip with a 3-3 record against Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels. The Orioles failed in a bid for their third straight win. They were 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position while Jeremy Guthrie failed to make it out of the fifth. Nick Markakis had three hits, including his first home run, while Miguel Tejada had a pair of hits, including a double. Tejada is 8 for 21 since returning from a strained groin that kept him sidelined four days. The major league-worst Orioles have lost seven of their last nine at home against the Yankees, who are hitting .304 with 19 homers in those contests. Robinson Cano homered Wednesday and is 14 for 28 with five RBIs in the last seven games. The Yankees will try to continue their success at Baltimore when they close the series with A.J. Burnett on the mound. Burnett gave up four runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-4 loss to the Angels on Friday. All four runs came in the first three innings. New York had won his previous three starts.

Milwaukee Brewers vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

During 15-plus seasons with the San Diego Padres, seeing Trevor Hoffman coming in to close was not a good sign for most opposing teams. Hoffman has been far from intimidating at the beginning of his second year with the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoffman may get the chance to try to end his recent struggles in Thursday night’s opener of a four-game series with the Padres, who are seeking a seventh straight home win.After being acquired from Florida midway through the 1993 season, Hoffman became one of the game’s best closers and collected 552 of his 594 saves with San Diego. He recorded at least 40 in nine seasons and converted 53 of 54 opportunities in 1998. He’s now blown more saves this week than he did that season. Hoffman gave up his first career grand slam to Pittsburgh’s Ryan Doumit as part of a five-run meltdown in Tuesday’s 7-3 loss, and Doumit hit a tying solo homer off him in the ninth Wednesday as Milwaukee went on to lose 6-5 in 14.

He’s recorded a major league-worst four blown saves in his last seven appearances. Hoffman, though, converted his only attempt during his three scoreless innings against his former team last season. The Brewers finished a 1-5 homestand, but have a chance to win five straight on the road for the first time since a franchise record-tying, nine-game run from July 18-Aug. 2, 2008. Milwaukee would seem to have the right starter to accomplish that feat as Doug Davis is 7-1 with a 2.42 ERA in his last 10 starts against the Padres, and 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last four in San Diego. After posting an 11.25 ERA in his first three starts, the left-hander also allowed a season-low two runs over 6 1-3 innings Saturday against Chicago but was on the wrong end of a 5-1 defeat.

Oakland Athletics vs Toronto Blue Jays Live Streaming

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7:07 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

Justin Duchscherer is putting a slew of injuries behind him in impressive fashion. His teammates are providing some help, too. The right-hander looks to win a third consecutive decision Thursday night when the Oakland Athletics open a four-game road set against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays. Duchscherer missed all of 2009 recovering from right elbow surgery after hip and various arm injuries hampered him over the previous five years. He appears to be fully recovered while emerging as the A’s ace, ranking among the AL leaders in ERA as each of his four starts have resulted in Oakland victories. Duchscherer has also put together a stretch of 19 consecutive innings over three starts without allowing an earned run.The A’s defense helped him continue that run Friday, converting five double plays - one shy of the team record - in a 10-0 win over Cleveland. Duchscherer labored at times while giving up five hits with a season-high four walks in six innings.

Duchscherer is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in 11 games - one start - against the Blue Jays. However, he hasn’t faced them since that lone start on Aug. 7, 2008, when he allowed four runs in five innings while not getting a decision in a 6-4 loss at Toronto. That defeat for the A’s is part of a 1-6 stretch at Rogers Centre, while they’ve dropped 12 of 15 overall to the Blue Jays. Oakland could use another strong effort from Duchscherer after falling 10-3 to red-hot Tampa Bay on Wednesday, getting swept in the two-game set. The A’s could also benefit from better production at the plate. They stranded 18 in the two losses to the Rays, including an 0-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position Wednesday, prompting manager Bob Geren to call a team meeting.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Los Angeles Dodgers Live Streaming

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10:10 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

After one of the worst seven-game stretches in major league history, the Pittsburgh Pirates finally have at least some room for optimism. The Los Angeles Dodgers are finding it much more difficult to be positive these days. The Dodgers come home from an ugly nine-game road trip having dropped four straight, and they’ll hope to pass their misery back to the Pirates when the teams begin a four-game set Thursday night. Los Angeles dropped two of three at Pittsburgh to start the season, and was 6-6 heading into a nine-game road trip that began April 20 in Cincinnati. The Dodgers limped home from the trip losers of seven of nine and without the middle-of-the-order presence of the injured Manny Ramirez. Los Angeles was held to five hits Wednesday afternoon as the New York Mets extended the Dodgers’ skid with a 7-3 win.
Los Angeles is hitting .192 in six games since Ramirez has gone on the disabled list with a calf strain.

General manager Ned Colletti, who was highly critical of the team in a radio interview Tuesday, had a private five-minute postgame conversation Wednesday with outfielder Matt Kemp, whose defense and baserunning Colletti questioned. All but six of Los Angeles’ 21 games have been played on the road, but they’ll play 10 straight at home beginning against the Pirates, who have been outscored 33-10 in losing five straight at Los Angeles. That margin seems minuscule compared to the one Pittsburgh suffered through during its seven-game skid April 20-26. The Pirates were outscored 72-12 - the worst seven-game margin in more than a century - that included their 22nd loss in a row at Milwaukee on Monday, 17-3. Pittsburgh rallied from a ninth-inning deficit to end the streak Tuesday, getting a solo homer from Ronny Cedeno and a grand slam from Ryan Doumit in a 7-3 victory. On the cusp of defeat again Wednesday, Doumit tied the score 4-4 in the ninth with a solo shot and the Pirates left town with a 6-5, 14-inning win.

Kansas City Royals vs Tampa Bay Rays Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Thu Apr 29, 2010

A poor April ultimately led to Tampa Bay missing the postseason in 2009, one year after reaching the World Series for the first time. The Rays are poised not to let that happen again. After setting a club record for victories in April, the Rays look for a fifth consecutive win Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home series with the Kansas City Royals. Tampa Bay went 9-14 last April, and couldn’t overcome that hole to return to the postseason. Determined to avoid another poor start, the Rays’ 16-5 mark this season is the best in the majors. They set a franchise high for wins in April with their 13th in 15 games, 10-3 over Oakland on Wednesday to sweep the brief two-game set. With two days left this month, Tampa Bay has a good chance to pad that record win total with Kansas City visiting. The Royals went 1-9 against the Rays in 2009, and are 2-9 at Tropicana Field over the last two seasons.Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria each homered and drove in two runs Wednesday for the Rays, who lead the majors with 131 runs.

Longoria is 9 for 20 on Tampa Bay’s current 4-1 homestand. Looking to bounce back from his first loss, Matt Garza takes the ball for the Rays. After giving up three runs over 24 innings in his first three starts, Garza allowed five and four walks in five innings of a 6-5 loss to Toronto on Friday. The right-hander also hopes to reverse his fortunes against Kansas City. Garza is 0-4 with a 4.21 ERA in six starts versus the Royals, who’ve lost two in a row after losing 6-5 to Seattle on Wednesday. Jason Kendall and Mitch Maier each had two hits as Kansas City rallied from a four-run deficit to tie the game before its bullpen allowed a run in the eighth inning. Royals relievers are 3-7 with a 6.44 ERA this season. They had a 7.57 ERA versus the Rays in 2009.

Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Live Streaming

Monday, April 26, 2010

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7:00 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

Thomas Vanek just has to tell his coach he’s ready and he’ll be back in the Buffalo Sabres lineup. Marc Savard must convince doctors and Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien that he is OK to play. At least Savard knows he’ll have another chance to get back on the ice, even if he misses Monday night’s game. Two of the top offensive players in the best-of-seven series hope to return for Game 6, when Buffalo will face elimination in Boston. The Bruins lead the series 3-2. Savard, the Bruins’ top playmaker, has been out since sustaining a Grade 2 concussion on March 7. Vanek, the Sabres’ leading goal scorer, hasn’t played since injuring his left ankle in the first period of the second game of the series. Vanek’s competitive juices might have brought him back earlier, but the left winger said Sunday his ankle is still sore. That didn’t prevent him from getting in some work on the power play.

Vanek had 28 goals and 25 assists in the regular season and kept going in the playoffs. He scored the first goal in Buffalo’s 2-1 win in the series opener and assisted on the first goal of Boston’s 5-3 win in Game 2, despite playing just 4 minutes, 22 seconds. Savard hasn’t played since absorbing a blindside hit from Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke seven weeks ago. The center skated with his teammates for the first time on Sunday and is scheduled for a neuro-psych test on Monday. One issue for Julien is Savard’s conditioning. Another is that the forwards hasn’t received medical clearance to play. The Sabres are coming off a 4-1 win at home on Friday night. If they make it two in a row, they’ll be back in Buffalo for the deciding game of the series on Wednesday night. Lose and the season is over. Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller, who has had a solid series, said his approach doesn’t change.

Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens Live Streaming

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7:00 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

The Montreal Canadiens might face more pressure at home with their season on the line than they did in staving off elimination in Washington. With two days off before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round series on Monday night, the high expectations of Canadiens’ fans were felt in the team’s dressing room. The Canadiens have already lost twice at home to the Capitals in this series, but they stayed alive with a road win in Game 5. Montreal will need to knock off the Presidents’ Trophy winners at the Bell Centre to force a deciding Game 7 back in Washington. The Capitals lead the series 3-2. Montreal is 6-13 at home in the playoffs since its current streak of sellouts began in 2003. Happiness in hockey-mad Montreal has been in short supply since the Canadiens’ last Stanley Cup parade was held in 1993. Though everyone wearing the home team’s red, white and blue was quite pleased midway through the first period of Game 3.

The Canadiens’ fans were flying high again when their team took a 2-1 lead in the second period of Game 4. Washington short-circuited the energy in the building with a short-handed goal for the second game in a row in the final seconds of the middle period. Alex Ovechkin scored the go-ahead goal in the third, sending the Capitals to a 6-3 win. Montreal’s home playoff losing streak stands at six. The Capitals practiced in Arlington, Va. for the second day in a row Sunday before they flew to Montreal. Washington is seeking a quick start that could take the revved-up fans out of the game. Capitals defenseman Tom Poti believes a strong start Monday would be a great sign.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Nashville Predators Live Streaming

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9:00 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

The Nashville Predators are being optimistic, just as they have all season in their improbable run to the playoffs. Yes, they blew the chance to go up 3-2 in their opening-round series with the Chicago Blackhawks along with the opportunity to return home to clinch a trip to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time in the franchise’s history. Worse, it all happened with 13.6 seconds left. Nashville blew a 4-3 lead while on the power play in the final seconds of regulation, then lost 5-4 in overtime Saturday. The Predators really have been close to this position a few times already this season. The closest to this gut-wrenching loss came March 11 in San Jose. There they blew a 4-2 lead and lost 8-5 after giving up six goals in the third period. Nashville rebounded with a 1-0 win at Anaheim the next night.Goaltender Pekka Rinne said this latest loss was almost devastating. Coaches held a quick meeting at the airport after returning to town trying to help the Predators make a clean break with that loss and start gearing up for Game 6 on Monday night.

Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa avoided a suspension from the NHL for his hit on Hamhuis and will be in the lineup for Game 6. NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell conducted a hearing with Hossa on Sunday and decided that no further penalty would be assessed. Hossa was spared, in part, because he is not a repeat offender. Hossa shoved Hamhuis from behind into the boards Saturday and drew a major penalty late in regulation that carried into overtime. Hossa returned to the ice and scored the winning goal on his first shift back, giving Chicago a 5-4 victory and a 3-2 series lead. Hamhuis said Sunday that he is sore from the hit, but expects to play in Game 6 at Nashville on Monday night. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said earlier on Sunday that he was hopeful that the five-minute major was severe enough.

Orlando Magic vs Charlotte Bobcats Live Streaming

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8:00 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

Dwight Howard was the last player off the practice court Sunday, then went straight to the locker room for a personalized film session. The featured attraction for the Orlando center: A collage of his elbows and shoves that have put him in permanent foul trouble in the Magic’s first-round playoff series against Charlotte. The good news for the four-time All-Star is the Magic have been able to overcome his long stretches strapped to the bench, and Vince Carter’s shooting slump, to be on the verge of a sweep of the Bobcats ahead of Game 4 on Monday night. No NBA team has blown a 3-0 series lead, and the Magic are a win away from the second round despite Howard playing just 82 of 144 minutes and Carter going 0 of 12 from 3-point range. Raymond Felton and the Bobcats know about that. Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson has taken over the scoring load, dominating Felton in what’s been the series’ biggest mismatch.

Nelson is averaging 25.7 points and has just three turnovers in nearly 109 minutes. He had 32 points and no turnovers on Saturday, when Orlando closed on an 11-6 run after Howard fouled out in a 90-86 victory. The finish on Saturday in the 6-year-old Bobcats’ first home playoff game had coach Larry Brown still steaming a day later. After the NBA’s premier shot blocker fouled out, four of Charlotte’s final six shots were 3-point attempts, including Stephen Jackson’s miss with Charlotte trailing 85-84 with under 30 seconds left. All-Star Gerald Wallace, the teams’ best at driving to the basket, didn’t take a shot in the fourth quarter.

Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks Live Streaming

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8:30 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings doesn’t exactly lack self-confidence, so he knows cockiness when he sees it. And the rookie guard thinks the Atlanta Hawks came into Game 3 in Milwaukee expecting to blow out the Bucks. Instead, Milwaukee gave its heavily favored first-round playoff rivals something to think about: a 107-89 drubbing Saturday that cut Atlanta’s series lead to 2-1. The Bucks now have a chance to even the series at home in Monday’s Game 4 before heading back to Atlanta. Fueled by a raucous home crowd, the Bucks used hot shooting and good defense to take a commanding 36-19 lead in the first quarter. The Hawks never really recovered. Hawks players expected the Bucks to come out with extra energy at home, but only to a point.

Hawks coach Mike Woodson said his team needs to learn how to deal with adversity, especially on the road. It was a continuation of recent road woes for the Hawks, who were 19-22 on the road in the regular season and have only one road win in the playoffs going back to the 2007-08 season. From a defensive perspective, Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles said he didn’t really recognize the team that was beaten thoroughly in the first two games of the series. He saw something more familiar from his players in Game 3. The Bucks probably can’t be expected to play defense as consistently as they did in the regular season. Not with their last line of defense, center Andrew Bogut, sidelined for the rest of the season because of injuries. But after allowing the Hawks to shoot 50.6 percent from the floor through the first two games, Milwaukee held the Hawks to 39.1 percent shooting Saturday.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns Live Streaming

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10:30 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

Maybe it was all the emotion pumped into the Portland Trail Blazers by the surprise return of Brandon Roy. Perhaps it was the inexplicable failure of the Suns to stick with their highly successful aggressive style. Regardless, the Suns face a pressure-packed Game 5 at home Monday night with their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series knotted at two games apiece after the Blazers’ 96-87 victory in Portland on Saturday. Phoenix had taken a 2-1 lead with a pair of blowout, high-scoring victories. But Roy came back a week after arthroscopic knee surgery and Portland played at its preferred pace, just as it had in winning Game 1 in Phoenix.Roy wants his team to realize that the next game is just as important, perhaps even more, as the last one.

Roy said Sunday he felt no swelling or pain in the knee, but probably would come off the bench again on Monday, with Jerryd Bayless getting the start. A solemn Amare Stoudemire said after practice in Phoenix he’s been in enough playoff games to know how precarious the Suns’ position is. A Phoenix loss would give the Blazers a chance to wrap up the series at home in Game 6. With due respect to Roy, who did make a huge 3-pointer late in the game, the Suns were pointing elsewhere for reasons they lost Game 4: a slow pace, missed open shots, and Portland’s offensive rebounds. The Suns’ failure to push the tempo left coach Alvin Gentry shaking his head. The coach wouldn’t single out point guard Steve Nash to blame for the tempo breakdown.

San Diego Padres vs Florida Marlins Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

The San Diego Padres’ bid to keep the longest winning streak in the majors intact came up short in their final at-bat. They’ll try to get a new streak started Monday night when they open a three-game series at the Florida Marlins. San Diego had won eight in a row before Jerry Hairston Jr. flied out to center with a runner on third, recording the final out of a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati on Sunday. The Padres remain the unlikely leaders in the NL West, holding a one-game advantage on San Francisco. Adrian Gonzalez is providing a power surge for San Diego, hitting a home run in each of the last four games to move one shy of his career-high five-game homer streak, set last May 10-15. The All-Star first baseman has six total hits and eight RBIs in his last four games. He’s been outstanding on the road, where he’s hit five of his team-high six homers while posting a .333 average. That could continue at Florida, where Gonzalez is 7 for 17 with two solo homers in his last five games.

For the series opener, San Diego will give the ball to Matt Latos, who’s coming off his first win in eight months. The 22-year-old right-hander was superb Tuesday, yielding four hits in seven innings of a 1-0 win over San Francisco. The victory ended Latos’ losing streak at five decisions over seven starts since Aug. 8.That stretch included a 6-4 loss at Florida on Aug. 30, when Latos surrendered five runs in 3 1-3 innings. The Padres won just two of six against the Marlins last season, but both victories came at Sun Life Stadium. Florida is looking to avoid a season-high three-game slide after falling 8-4 at Colorado on Sunday, and an improved performance from Josh Johnson could be just what the team needs.The right-hander is trying to recapture his success from last year when he emerged as the Marlins’ ace, posting career highs in wins, strikeouts and innings.

Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

After a forgettable homestand put them in an early hole in the AL East, the Boston Red Sox may be happy to head back on the road. They’ll have Josh Beckett on the mound to begin a six-game trip Monday night with the first of three in Toronto, where Boston’s Marco Scutaro will face his former Blue Jays teammates for the first time since signing with the Red Sox in December. Boston began a string of 10 games at Fenway Park with four straight losses to Tampa Bay and finished the 4-6 homestand on a sour note with Sunday’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to lowly Baltimore.Scutaro made the final out and finished 0 for 5. The shortstop, who spent the last two seasons with the Blue Jays and had a career year in 2009, is off to a mediocre start with his new club, batting .254.

Some late heroics were the only reason Boston’s homestand wasn’t even worse. All four of the team’s wins came by one run; the Red Sox beat Texas twice in their last at-bat, then stranded the potential tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning of two wins over the Orioles. The Red Sox’s sluggish start, marked by problems at the plate and in the field, already has them six games behind the division-leading Rays and 4 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees. Their bullpen, which gave up 11 runs in 8 2-3 innings against Baltimore, cost them Sunday’s game. Boston blew a late lead and allowed three runs in the top of the 10th before a final rally fell short. Beckett hopes he can bounce back from a poor outing and give the Red Sox’s relievers a rest. The right-hander allowed seven runs and walked five in seven innings of Boston’s 8-7, 12-inning win over Texas on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Mets Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

The New York Mets got a little help from the weather in order to complete their first sweep of 2010. They might need a better offensive showing if they’re going to help Oliver Perez get his first victory of the season. The Mets look to extend their season-high winning streak to five games Monday night when they open a three-game set against the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers. New York is above .500 for the first time since opening day after beating Atlanta 1-0 on Sunday as heavy rain halted the contest in the sixth inning and secured its first series sweep. The Mets are now searching for a fifth consecutive victory for the first time since July 25-30. Outstanding pitching has been key over the last four games, as the staff owns a 1.41 ERA during the stretch to compensate for an offense hitting .239 with one homer.

Perez is hoping the Mets break out offensively after providing him with five total runs of support in losing all three of his starts. The left-hander fell victim to the struggling offense again in Wednesday’s 9-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He labored through 97 pitches in five innings while allowing three runs while the bats produced one run of help. Perez is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers. He engineered the Mets’ only win in six meetings against them last year, allowing two runs and four hits with seven walks in five innings of a 5-4 victory on July 8 at Citi Field. The Mets are winning despite a slumping David Wright. They’ve won six of eight while the All-Star third baseman has hit .154 with four RBIs. A series with Los Angeles could spur Wright. He has a .425 average with four homers and 35 RBIs in 39 meetings.

Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

Thoracic outlet syndrome shortened the 2009 season for both Detroit’s Jeremy Bonderman and Texas’ Matt Harrison, but each pitcher has been promising at times this month. The two recovering starters will square off Monday night as the Tigers try to finish their 11-game road trip by salvaging a split of a four-game set with the Rangers. Complications from thoracic outlet surgery limited Bonderman to a combined 13 starts in 2008 and 2009, while Harrison had an operation to correct a similar shoulder problem after 11 outings last year. Both were ready in time for the start of this season, and Bonderman has been solid in two of his three starts despite his poor overall ERA.

The right-hander allowed one hit and one run in five innings of a 4-2 win over Cleveland on April 10, then rebounded from an ugly outing against Seattle with six strong innings during Detroit’s 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.
The Tigers could certainly use another good start after their bullpen was forced to work 10 innings in the last two games. Right-hander Rick Porcello struggled in Sunday’s 8-4 loss as Detroit’s AL-worst starting rotation ERA grew to 5.83. Detroit, which is 4-6 on its longest road trip of the season, won 8-4 on Saturday after opening the series with a 5-4 defeat Friday night. Texas third baseman Michael Young posed the biggest problem for the Tigers on Sunday, going 3 for 4 with five RBIs. The veteran could be in store for another strong game Monday, considering he is 7 for 18 with two homers against Bonderman.

Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

With their performances over the last five games, the Chicago Cubs have appeared to put their struggles at the plate behind them. However, a lot of teams are having trouble scoring against the Washington Nationals. The Cubs will try to keep their offense going Monday night against the surprising Nationals as the teams begin a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Chicago batted an major league-worst .197 in its first six games, then totaled six runs during four consecutive losses April 17-20. The Cubs have come on since that slide, winning four of five while outscoring opponents 36-12 and batting .340 with seven home runs. Four of those homers came in Sunday’s 12-2 rout of Milwaukee to complete a three-game road sweep. Kosuke Fukudome and Tyler Colvin both finished a triple shy of the cycle, and Ryan Theriot matched a career high with five hits.

Scoring may be easier said than done against a Nationals team that has a 2.02 ERA in its last five games and completed a 6-4 homestand with Sunday’s 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scott Olsen earned the win, while Tyler Clippard and Matt Capps shut the Dodgers down over the final two innings. Closer Capps and setup man Clippard each have an ERA under one, heading a bullpen that’s allowed one run and eight hits over its last 15 innings. The Nationals had an NL-worst 5.00 ERA in 2009, and a 6.29 ERA through the first 14 games this season.

Seattle Mariners vs Kansas City Royals Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

In need of a stopper, the Seattle Mariners are sending Felix Hernandez to the mound at an ideal time. Following a disappointing series, the Mariners hope their ace can give them yet another strong effort as they open a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. Seattle was swept for the first time this season, losing three games to Chicago over the weekend. The Mariners ran into a hot pitcher in John Danks on Sunday, falling 3-2. Seattle had won seven of eight entering that series. Hernandez was the starter in the last game the Mariners won, and it was his best performance of the season. He pitched a complete game, striking out six in a 4-1 win over Baltimore on Wednesday night. The only run he allowed was unearned.

Hernandez has won nine straight decisions and posted a franchise-record 17 straight quality starts. In 29 1-3 innings this season, he has allowed one home run while striking out 24. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA in five starts versus the Royals. Seattle’s lineup needs a bounce-back game as it tries to give Hernandez some support. Wakamatsu hopes to have left fielder Milton Bradley and shortstop Jack Wilson back to help. Bradley has missed four straight games with a strained calf, and Wilson has sat out the last two due to a thumb injury. One of the few bright spots at the plate for the Mariners was Franklin Gutierrez, who has homered in two straight games. The center fielder has 12 RBIs after setting a career high with 70 last season, his first with Seattle. Gutierrez is 8 for 13 against Kyle Davies, who will open this series for Kansas City. Davies is coming off the worst of his three starts this season, giving up four runs in six innings of a 4-3 loss to Toronto on Tuesday night.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

A poor weekend performance proved the Milwaukee Brewers can sometimes be vulnerable at the plate. The Pittsburgh Pirates, though, might not be entirely convinced. With their lineup suddenly struggling, the Brewers host the Pirates on Monday night in the teams’ first matchup since playing one of the most lopsided contests in major league history.Milwaukee opened a six-game homestand with a lackluster series against Chicago, scoring four runs while getting swept in a three-game series. In the finale Sunday, the Brewers went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position in a 12-2 defeat. The Cubs had the type of production at the plate that the Brewers were becoming accustomed to. In its previous series, Milwaukee outscored Pittsburgh 36-1, and the 35-run difference tied for the third largest in modern major league history in a three-game series.

The finale was particularly embarrassing for the Pirates. Milwaukee had 25 hits and beat Pittsburgh 20-0, dealing the Pirates the most-lopsided defeat in their 124-year history. It was the fifth-highest margin of defeat in a shutout in league history. The Brewers tied the club mark for largest victory and set a record for their biggest shutout win. Brewers slugger Ryan Braun homered, doubled, singled and drove in five runs. The two-time All-Star, though, went 1 for 11 versus the Cubs. Braun has two homers and eight RBIs in his last three games against the Pirates. He’s 5 for 12 with two homers against Zach Duke, who is opening this series for Pittsburgh. Duke struggled against the Brewers on Wednesday night, surrendering seven runs and walking four in five innings of an 8-0 loss.

Atlanta Braves vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Streaming

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8:15 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

The St. Louis Cardinals’ starting pitching has been outstanding this season. Kyle Lohse has been the exception. With the struggling Atlanta Braves in town for four games beginning Monday, Lohse could have a good chance of earning his first victory of the season. Brad Penny’s 7 2-3 innings of eight-hit ball in Sunday’s 2-0 victory at San Francisco dropped the ERA for the Cardinals’ starters to major league-best 2.61. While Penny, Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia all have ERA’s of 3.60 or lower for NL Central-leading St. Louis, Lohse is 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA. The right-hander will try to bounce back from his worst start of the season, Tuesday’s 9-7 loss at Arizona. Lohse did not receive a decision, but surrendered season highs of seven runs, eight hits and four walks while throwing 77 pitches in three-plus innings.

Lohse might not even need to make top quality pitches Monday, given the way Atlanta is struggling at the plate. The Braves are batting .218 and averaging 1.2 runs during a five-game losing streak. They have no home runs and have struck out 37 times during the skid. After hitting .298 with four homers and 16 RBIs in the first 13 games, highly-touted rookie Jason Heyward is 1 for 14 with no RBIs and six strikeouts during the slide, dropping his average to .246. Hitting hasn’t been the only problem for the Braves, who have committed eight errors in their last four games. Chipper Jones’ throwing error - his third of the weekend - led to the only run in Sunday’s 1-0, rain-shortened loss at the New York Mets.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies Live Streaming

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8:40 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

In their first series at home following the death of Keli McGregor, the Colorado Rockies paid tribute to their late team president with a pair of wins. Still with heavy hearts following Sunday’s Coors Field memorial service for McGregor, the Rockies will try to match a season-high three-game winning streak Monday when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks. McGregor, who joined the Rockies in 1993 and was named team president in 2001, was found unconscious in a Salt Lake City hotel room Tuesday morning and later pronounced dead. Sunday’s series finale against Florida was pushed back two hours for a ceremony honoring McGregor’s life. Winning would be one way to honor the former Colorado State tight end, whose No. 88 jersey will likely remain a fixture in the Rockies’ dugout.

Led by Seth Smith’s two homers, Colorado won 8-4 on Sunday and took two of three from the Marlins. The Rockies have opened the season with three straight series wins at Coors Field for the first time since 2003, when they won their first four. Colorado, which has won four in a row at home against Arizona, gives the ball to Jason Hammel, who is off to a rough start after winning a career-high 10 games in 2009. After getting tagged for eight runs in 1 2/3 innings of a 9-5 loss at Atlanta on April 16, the right-hander did not receive a decision in Wednesday’s 6-4 loss to Washington. He went seven innings, surrendering four runs and eight hits, and opponents are batting .355 against him. The Diamondbacks counter with Dan Haren, who was more effective hitting than pitching in his last start.

Cleveland Indians vs Los Angeles Angels Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Mon Apr 26, 2010

After a pair of comeback victories over the weekend, the Los Angeles Angels appear headed in the right direction. To keep that momentum going, they’ll try to take advantage of a team that’s going the wrong way. The Angels conclude their 10-game homestand with a three-game series beginning Monday night against the struggling Cleveland Indians. Los Angeles won a season-high five straight earlier this month, including the first two of this homestand. After two straight losses to Detroit, the Angels took two of three over the weekend to hand the reigning World Series champion Yankees their first series loss of 2010. The Angels trailed by two runs or more in both victories. They spotted the Yankees a 3-0 lead in the second inning Sunday, but scored five times in the next two frames and went ahead on No. 9 hitter Brandon Wood’s two-run double in the fourth.

Cleveland isn’t hitting much at all. The Indians have been shut out three times in five games, including an 11-0 loss Sunday in Oakland. Hitting a major league-worst .223 overall, Cleveland has been outscored 34-15 while losing four of six. The prospects for an offensive revival don’t seem strong Monday against Angels starter Jered Weaver, who has given up three runs or fewer in all four of his starts. The right-hander was in line for a victory Wednesday after allowing two runs over seven innings against Detroit, but the Angels’ bullpen failed to hold a one-run lead en route to a 4-3 defeat. Weaver is 2-1 with a 4.17 ERA in eight career starts against the Indians, with the most recent the most impressive. He notched his second career shutout Aug. 19 at Cleveland, scattering seven hits and one walk while striking out three.

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