Sports World: 05/11/10

Chicago Blackhawks vs Vancouver Canucks Live Streaming

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

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9:30 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

The Chicago Blackhawks packed for a long road trip, but the Vancouver Canucks would like to send them home early for an unwanted Game 7. The Canucks stayed alive in the Western Conference semifinal series with a 4-1 win in Chicago on Sunday that closed the deficit in the best-of-seven series to 3-2. Now they must now find a way to win Game 6 on Tuesday at home, where the Blackhawks won Games 3 and 4 by a score of 12-6. It was in stark contrast to the regular season, when the Canucks had the NHL’s second-best home record, set a franchise record with 30 wins, and hadn’t lost consecutive games in regulation until last week. It might be time to bring the road style back home. The Blackhawks packed extra clothes for their trip to Vancouver, hoping to end the Canucks’ season in six games for a second straight year and then travel directly to San Jose to start the Western Conference finals later this week.

Being 4-1 on the road in the playoffs has buoyed the Blackhawks’ confidence. But losing two of three at the United Center—and needing a third period comeback to win Game 2—also means they don’t want to host Game 7 on Thursday night. As for why home ice hasn’t been a home advantage in the playoffs—the visitors have won four of five games in this series—both teams agreed it is easier to play a simple style on the road. Vancouver might be forced to keep it simple after losing top defenseman Sami Salo late in the first period of Game 5. Salo was in obvious discomfort after being struck by Duncan Keith’s shot in the groin area. He was taken to a Chicago hospital, and Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said Salo is day-to-day after returning to Vancouver with the team on Monday afternoon. Without Salo, who was averaging almost 21 minutes of ice time in the playoffs, Vigneault said he would turn to Lawrence Nycholat, who spent all season in the AHL. Nycholat hasn’t played an NHL game since March 2009, and has never been in the playoffs.

Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers Live Streaming

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8:00 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

Unable to corral Rajon Rondo so far in the NBA playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers may resort to Plan LeB. LeBron James, it’s your turn. With Rondo coming off an historic 29-point, 18-rebound, 13-assist performance in Game 4, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said Monday he plans to use an assortment of players to try to slow the seemingly unstoppable Celtics point guard and one of them could be James, the league’s two-time MVP and a first-team all-defense selection. That’s been apparent through the first four games of this ping-ponging series, tied 2-2 going into Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 at Quicken Loans Arena. Rondo, no longer viewed as the fourth Celtic behind Boston’s Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, has been destroying the Cavs—particularly Mo Williams and Anthony Parker—with his dribble penetration and playmaking.

Rondo is averaging 21.8 points, 13 assists and 8.3 rebounds, eye-popping, LeBron-like numbers that have forced the Cavs into rethinking, and, perhaps, redesigning their defensive strategy. One obvious option is the switch to James, who has shut down Pierce so far and said Sunday he would be willing to check Rondo. Brown worries that if James is taken off Pierce, Boston’s streaky forward may find his touch after averaging just 11.8 points and shooting only 32 percent through four games. If James indeed gets assigned to Rondo, he’ll join fellow superstars Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, who both have had to check Boston’s tornado-in-tennis shoes guard. Rondo isn’t dreading a one-on-one confrontation with James. He’s a great help defender so he’s definitely going to be helping. He’s a good defender. They did that a couple of years ago when Kobe was checking me in the finals. So, I’m used to bigger guys guarding me the shot and challenging me late because of their wingspan.

Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

The Cincinnati Reds got excellent starting pitching in their series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Johnny Cueto’s recent improvement has them hopeful for an encore. His history against the Pirates suggests that shouldn’t be a problem. Six of Cueto’s 21 career victories have come at Pittsburgh’s expense. He’ll look to increase that total Tuesday night at PNC Park as the Reds try for their fourth straight win. Cincinnati’s rotation went 1-7 with a 6.55 ERA through the team’s first 18 games, getting only five quality starts while falling into the NL Central cellar.
The Reds are now climbing the division standings now thanks to those same once-struggling starters. Cincinnati has received 10 quality starts in its last 14 games, with the rotation going 7-2 with a 3.83 ERA. Bronson Arroyo gave up one run over seven innings Monday in a 2-1 win at Pittsburgh, lifting the Reds to 10-4 since April 25 and within three games of first-place St. Louis.

Cueto has had trouble lasting deep into games, but made it six innings - allowing three runs - while throwing a season-high 118 pitches Wednesday in a 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Mets. He survived a 36-pitch third inning that manager Dusty Baker hopes will prove a learning experience. Cueto hasn’t had too much trouble slowing down the Pirates. He’s 6-2 with a 3.88 ERA in nine starts versus Pittsburgh, and has won four straight decisions. The right-hander labored through five innings at PNC Park on April 17, however, walking four and allowing three runs before leaving without a decision in Pittsburgh’s 5-4 win. He’ll need to be particularly careful against Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones. McCutchen is 5 for 11 with two homers against Cueto, while Jones is 5 for 10 with two doubles. The Pirates could need plenty of offensive support with Charlie Morton on the hill, though Morton bounced back in his last start after a dreadful April. He had a 12.57 ERA in five April starts, but held the Cubs to two runs and five hits over six innings Wednesday in a 4-2 win.

Seattle Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

Offensive woes have plagued Seattle and Baltimore for much of the season. While these listless lineups have relegated both clubs to the bottom of their respective divisions, the Mariners’ offense finally showed some signs of life over the weekend. Coming off its highest-scoring game in three weeks, Seattle looks to build on its first win of the month as it opens a three-game series against the Orioles on Tuesday night at Camden Yards. After plating 12 runs and hitting .173 during an eight-game losing streak, the Mariners fired hitting coach Alan Cockrell on Sunday morning. Hours later, Seattle responded to this shakeup by matching a season high with 12 hits in an 8-1 win over Los Angeles. Josh Wilson and Michael Saunders led the way Sunday with back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. It was the first multihomer game for Seattle, which has a major league-worst 12 home runs on the season. The Mariners, who scored their most runs since an 8-2 win over the Orioles on April 19, are also last in the AL in runs and slugging percentage.

Baltimore’s offense hasn’t been performing much better. The Orioles, who were swept in a three-game series in Seattle from April 19-21, are last in the AL in on-base percentage and have scored the majors’ fourth-fewest runs. Baltimore has scored two runs or fewer in five of its last seven games, and is coming off Sunday’s 6-0 loss to Minnesota - the 10th time it’s scored one or no runs. Trying to do this against Seattle’s scheduled starter Cliff Lee likely won’t be easy. Lee, who started the year on the disabled list while recovering from an abdominal strain, looked stellar in his season debut, allowing three hits and striking out eight in seven scoreless innings in a 2-0, 12-inning loss to Texas on April 30. In his second outing against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner gave up two runs through seven innings before yielding three more in the eighth. He ended up allowing 10 hits in an 8-3 loss.

New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

It may be difficult for the New York Yankees to avoid their first three-game losing streak with Javier Vazquez on the mound. The struggling Vazquez makes his first start in 10 days Tuesday night when the Yankees try to end the Detroit Tigers’ six-game home win streak. New York has lost back-to-back games for the third time this year after falling 5-4 in Monday’s opener of this four-game set. Bouncing back behind Vazquez won’t be easy. Acquired from Atlanta in the offseason for his second stint with the Yankees, Vazquez gave up eight runs in his season debut April 9 at Tampa Bay and hasn’t been much better since. He allowed five runs over three-plus innings May 1 and did not get a decision in a 7-6 loss to the White Sox. Manager Joe Girardi decided not to pitch Vazquez this past weekend in what would have been a scheduled start at Boston.

Vazquez threw a pair of side sessions during his time off. The Yankees want him to improve on his lack of control, which has resulted in 15 walks in 23 innings. Vazquez is 2-5 with a 6.09 ERA in seven career starts at Comerica Park. The right-hander has fared well against Tigers slugger Magglio Ordonez, but not versus Miguel Cabrera. New York saw a familiar face contribute to its loss Monday as Johnny Damon homered in his first game against the team that didn’t re-sign him. Damon helped the Yankees win the World Series last year for the first time since 2000 in the final season of his $52 million, four-year contract. He initially wanted a long-term deal at the same average salary, but New York lowered its offers. The Yankees took on a bigger salary when they acquired center fielder Curtis Granderson, currently on the disabled list, from the Tigers.Detroit improved to 10-3 at home - second in the AL to New York’s 10-2 mark - as rookie Brennan Boesch drove in three runs. Boesch has 10 RBIs in five home games.

Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

The Washington Nationals have won three straight against the New York Mets. Beating New York with Scott Olsen on the mound could be more difficult. After flirting with a no-hitter in his last outing, Olsen looks to end a six-game losing streak against the Mets when the Nationals continue a three-game set at Citi Field. Washington improved to 3-1 against New York this season with a 3-2 victory Monday. The Nationals are four games over .500 for the first time since they were 77-73 in their first season in the nation’s capital, which is also the last time they won four straight on the road against the Mets. They started 50-31 and finished with 81 wins that year. Making it four straight over the Mets would probably require a better effort from Olsen than he’s turned in against them in the past. Since his one career win versus New York on May 27, 2007, he’s 0-6 with a 5.22 ERA in the last nine outings. Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is 15 for 39 with five doubles, one triple and one homer against Olsen.

The Nationals left-hander, though, is 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA in his last three outings. He entered Thursday’s game against Atlanta with 13 scoreless innings and did not allow a hit before David Ross’ single with one out in the eighth. Olsen struck out eight for the second time in three starts, and was charged with two runs over 7 1-3 innings. The last two Nationals starters to face New York have not allowed a run. Rookie Luis Atilano allowed five hits in 5 1-3 innings Monday to improve to 3-0. Miguel Batista got his first save after yielding a run in the ninth inning as Washington rested closer Matt Capps, who leads the majors with 13. Tyler Clippard, who had earned wins in pitching in three of the Nationals’ previous four games, was also unavailable.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

Back-to-back wins and a 6-2 start to their homestand could be signs the Boston Red Sox are beginning to turn things around. They’d be in an even bigger hole if not for the Toronto Blue Jays. Boston looks to beat the Blue Jays for the fifth time in as many meetings this season as the teams continue their three-game set Tuesday night at Fenway Park. An 8-12 record within the AL East - including a combined 2-8 mark against division-leading Tampa Bay and second-place New York - is a big reason the Red Sox remain in fourth place. They still trail the Blue Jays by 1 1/2 games, but they’ve won all four meetings with Toronto, earning a three-game road sweep April 26-28 before winning Monday’s series opener 7-6. Boston dropped two of three to the Yankees over the weekend, but an offense that was inconsistent throughout April has begun to find a groove during this homestand.

The Red Sox have averaged more than seven runs while winning six of eight. Six walks in Monday’s second inning helped them improve to 10-4 in their last 14 at Fenway after losing six of their first seven there. Boston’s pitching has remained shaky, with John Lackey struggling Monday as the team’s ERA rose to 5.16 - among the five worst in the majors. The Red Sox hope for an improvement from Daisuke Matsuzaka on Tuesday as the Japanese right-hander makes his third start following a season-opening stint on the disabled list. Matsuzaka has been victimized by one bad inning in each of his first two outings. He allowed six runs in the fifth inning of a 12-9 loss at Baltimore on May 1, but picked up a victory Thursday despite giving up four runs in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels. Matsuzaka recovered to retire 13 of the last 16 batters he faced in Boston’s 11-6 win. Toronto’s Dana Eveland was outstanding through his entire outing Thursday at Chicago, holding the White Sox to two hits in seven innings of Toronto’s 2-0 win.

Florida Marlins vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

The Florida Marlins’ struggling hitters did just enough to win their series opener with the scuffling Chicago Cubs. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco is hoping his teammates will help him next. After receiving zero runs of support in his past two outings, Nolasco will try to help Florida clinch its first road series victory in nearly a month Tuesday night. The Marlins had dropped five of six overall and two of three to open a six-game trip before playing at Wrigley Field for the first time this season Monday night. Florida, batting .210 over its last seven games, didn’t get a hit until the sixth inning but scored all of its runs from there in a 4-2 victory. Chris Coghlan, hitting .353 since moving back to the leadoff spot May 6, had an RBI double in the sixth. Ronny Paulino hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh, when Cody Ross also stole home.

Florida’s hitters gave Nolasco an average of nearly 5.8 runs during his 2-0 start but the right-hander hasn’t been as fortunate in back-to-back losses.He didn’t help himself April 30 against Washington, giving up five runs over four innings of a 7-1 defeat. Nolasco pitched better Thursday against San Francisco, allowing three runs over six innings, but his teammates managed only one hit while he was in the game en route to a 6-3 loss. Nolasco will face a Cubs team that’s been outscored 48-26 while dropping six of seven. The majority of those runs came in the lone victory - a 14-7 win at Cincinnati on Friday night. Chicago has a 6.05 staff ERA during its slump. Randy Wells, Tuesday’s scheduled Cubs starter, gave up seven runs in two innings Thursday in Pittsburgh. The 11-1 loss to the Pirates was his first in five decisions dating back to last October.

Oakland Athletics vs Texas Rangers Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

Trevor Cahill’s last start wasn’t nearly as good as Dallas Braden’s, but it was good enough to help the Oakland Athletics as they began a push to reclaim the top spot in the AL West. Cahill can pitch the A’s into a first-place tie with the streaking Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark on Tuesday night. Braden, Cahill’s teammate, threw the 19th perfect game in major league history in a 4-0 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. The victory was Oakland’s fourth in five games, a stretch that followed a 1-6 slide which dropped the A’s out of first. Cahill earned one of those wins, pitching five innings and giving up one run to beat Texas 4-1 on Wednesday. That gave the A’s a victory in the three-game series and improved the right-hander’s record against the Rangers to 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA in five starts.

Cahill will make his second straight start in place of Brett Anderson, who is out with a strained forearm. The A’s took two of three from Tampa Bay as they continued to be led by their pitching staff. Oakland posted a 2.40 ERA in the last five games to pull within one game of Texas. Colby Lewis opposed Cahill last week, and he will try to extend the Rangers’ win streak to a season-high five Tuesday. Lewis gave up three runs in six innings and struck out six Wednesday, giving him 44 strikeouts in 38 2-3 innings versus Oakland. The defeat was one of the few that the Rangers have suffered recently. Texas has won eight of 10 and 13 of 18 since a six-game skid. Lewis will try to cool off Ryan Sweeney, who has provided the offense for the A’s during their hot stretch. He batted .400 with eight RBIs in the previous five contests and went 4 for 12 with a home run and six RBIs in the Rangers series.

Atlanta Braves vs Milwaukee Brewers Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

After rediscovering their stroke at the plate on the second half of their lengthy road trip, the Milwaukee Brewers saw their bats cool off upon returning home. The Atlanta Braves are hoping some rare big hits as they wind down their trip are a sign of things to come. Martin Prado’s grand slam keyed a rout in the opener of a three-game set in Milwaukee, and the Braves could get RBI leader Jason Heyward back as they look to clinch just their second road series of the season. Atlanta came to Miller Park averaging 3.9 runs per game, the third-worst total in the NL, and had scored 3.2 per game in going 2-4 through two-thirds of a nine-game road trip. Prado and Troy Glaus helped lead the Braves to their best road output of the season Monday. Glaus’ solo shot in the sixth was Atlanta’s first homer in five games, and Prado capped the six-run inning with a grand slam en route to an 8-2 victory. Heyward, meanwhile, is expected to return Tuesday, and his production is certainly vital to the Braves’ success. They’re 2-4 when he’s out of the lineup and 1-10 when he starts but fails to record a hit.

The Brewers average an NL-best 5.7 runs, which got a big boost when they averaged 8.5 runs in winning five of six to close a 10-game trip. Casey McGehee’s ninth-inning homer was the only offense Milwaukee got in the opener, and bouncing back Tuesday won’t be easy. Tim Hudson is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two May starts, and though he didn’t factor in a 3-2 loss at Washington on Thursday, he held the Nationals to two solo homers over seven innings. Hudson is 2-1 with a 2.90 ERA in four starts at Miller Park, but he may want to be careful facing Jim Edmonds. The four-time All-Star is 8 for 20 with a homer and five walks in his career versus Hudson. Hudson’s mound opponent certainly doesn’t share his resume, but Dave Bush has been awfully tough on the Braves. He’s 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA in three career starts versus Atlanta, though he hasn’t faced manager Bobby Cox’s club since June 2008. Struggling outfielder Nate McLouth has eight hits in 20 at-bats against Bush, all of which came while he played for Pittsburgh.

Cleveland Indians vs Kansas City Royals Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

It’s been a rough first five weeks for the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals, but both clubs feel they can still salvage their seasons. The Indians look to build on their first win in a week when they open a three-game series Tuesday night against a Royals team trying to avoid extending its season-high losing streak to six games. Cleveland arrives in Kansas City after beating Detroit 7-4 on Sunday to snap a five-game skid. No. 7 hitter Mark Grudzielanek had a season-best three hits and drove in two runs, while No. 8 hitter Andy Marte had three RBIs for the Indians, who won for the third time in 12 games. Cleveland’s problems have stemmed from an ineffective offense. The Indians, 8 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Minnesota, have scored the majors’ third-fewest runs and have the AL’s second-worst slugging percentage. Grady Sizemore, still seeking his first homer of the season, is in the middle of this lackluster offense, hitting .197 with seven RBIs in the last 18 games.

Kansas City’s sluggish offense has also contributed to its recent problems, with the team plating two runs or fewer five times in the last eight games. Jose Guillen, who leads the Royals with eight home runs and 21 RBIs, has done little offensively in the last 13, batting .133 with one homer and three RBIs. Kansas City suffered its fifth straight defeat with Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Texas, falling to a season-worst 10 games below the break-even mark. Although Kansas City has dropped 10 of 13 and is already 10 games back of the Twins, the team insists it’s not worried. Brian Bannister takes the mound for Kansas City in the opener trying to bounce back from his worst outing of the season. After allowing two runs or fewer in four of his first five starts, Bannister was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in three innings of a 9-2 loss to Chicago on Wednesday. The right-hander hopes things go more smoothly with the Indians in town. He’s 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA in eight career starts against Cleveland. The Indians counter with Jake Westbrook, who has been battling tightness and soreness in his back.

Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

Perhaps no team dreaded its visits to the Metrodome over the last two years more than the Chicago White Sox. The Minnesota Twins are hoping Target Field proves to be just as vexing for their AL Central rivals when the clubs play a two-game set there beginning Tuesday night. The White Sox struggled against the Twins on the road the last two years, going 3-15 at the Metrodome. Last year, Chicago went 2-7 in Minneapolis, with its pitching staff posting a 5.18 ERA. While the club has moved outdoors, Minnesota has been just as effective hitting in its new ballpark, averaging 5.2 runs while going 11-5 there en route to the best record in the AL Central. The Twins split a four-game home series with Baltimore over the weekend, winning the last two by a combined 12-1. Nick Blackburn and two relievers combined to hold the Orioles to six hits in a 6-0 win Sunday while Denard Span drove in three runs and recorded his third three-hit game this month.

Joe Mauer returned to the starting lineup for the first time since missing eight games with a deeply bruised left heel. He went 1 for 3 as the designated hitter after striking out as pinch-hitter Saturday. Manager Ron Gardenhire believes Mauer will resume his duties behind the plate Tuesday. The catcher went 3 for 6 with two doubles, one RBI and three walks as the Twins took two of three against the White Sox at Chicago last month. The White Sox’s visit to Minneapolis comes after the team lost three of four to the Blue Jays over the weekend, dropping the finale 9-7 on Sunday after closer Bobby Jenks gave up a three-run homer in the ninth. Jenks, who converted all five of his previous save opportunities, has a 6.75 ERA and has given up 19 hits in 12 innings, prompting manager Ozzie Guillen to say he may explore another option for save situations.

Houston Astros vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Streaming

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8:15 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

The St. Louis Cardinals have not homered in more than a week, but that didn’t stop them from winning their last series. Brad Penny will take whatever offensive help he can get as he looks to continue his outstanding pitching. Penny tries for a seventh consecutive quality start as the Cardinals look to extend their home dominance over the punchless Houston Astros on Tuesday night. St. Louis hit 31 homers in its first 26 games, but has not gone deep during a 2-4 stretch. It’s the club’s longest home run drought since an eight-game stretch from April 19-26, 2008.With power lacking, the Cardinals used a barrage of hits to take two of three from Pittsburgh, piling up 11 hits in an 11-4 victory Sunday. They had 13 in a 4-3 victory Friday. Penny won’t be picky about how his team scores Tuesday. The right-hander has received 10 runs of support in his six starts.

He pitched six innings and allowed three runs in each of his last two outings, but lost both. The Cardinals totaled two runs for him in those games - the most recent a 4-0 loss at Philadelphia on Wednesday. Manager Tony La Russa is happy that Penny has been giving his team a chance to win. Penny was superb in his last start against the Astros on April 14, yielding an unearned run and three hits in seven innings of a 2-1 home win. The Cardinals took two of three in that series and have won 15 of the last 20 meetings with Houston at Busch Stadium. The Astros own the worst record in the NL, baseball’s lowest batting average at .225 and the worst run total with 85 - 17 fewer than Seattle. The Astros have hit .206 while dropping 11 of 13, but erased a three-run, sixth-inning deficit in a 4-3 win over San Diego on Sunday. Hunter Pence’s double scored Lance Berkman in the 11th inning.

Philadelphia Phillies vs Colorado Rockies Live Streaming

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8:40 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

Roy Halladay is well established as one of baseball’s best pitchers, but after spending 12 years without a trip to the postseason in Toronto, he’s hoping he can change that with the Philadelphia Phillies. While October is a long way off, he can cross another first off his list Tuesday night. Halladay’s 295th career start will be his first in his hometown of Denver, where he’ll look to become the majors’ first pitcher to seven wins as the Phillies and Rockies continue a three-game set.Halladay didn’t sniff the postseason with the Blue Jays, but Philadelphia acquired him to have an ace to turn to in the playoffs. If he keeps pitching as well as he has in his first seven NL starts, the Phillies figure to have a great chance of making it to a third consecutive World Series. Halladay followed up a three-hit shutout of the Mets on May 1 by holding St. Louis to two runs - one earned - over seven innings Thursday, striking out nine in a 7-2 win. Though manager Charlie Manuel almost removed Halladay following an Albert Pujols RBI single in the seventh, Halladay wanted to stay, and he got Matt Holliday to ground out.

Halladay faced the Rockies once in Toronto, tossing a two-hit shutout June 7, 2002, but he’s never pitched at Coors Field after growing up in Arvada, just northwest of Denver. One current Rockies player has had a fair amount of success against the former Cy Young Award winner. Jason Giambi is a .314 hitter in 70 career at-bats versus Halladay, and only Boston’s David Ortiz has homered more times than Giambi has against him. Perhaps that will earn him another start at first base Tuesday, particularly considering Giambi had three hits and three RBIs Monday after starting the season 2 for 22. Giambi’s performance, though, wasn’t enough for Colorado to keep pace with the Phillies’ offense in the opener. Carlos Ruiz homered and his fourth hit broke a ninth-inning tie, while Ross Gload’s three-run shot gave Philadelphia some insurance in a 9-5 victory.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks Live Streaming

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9:40 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

With help from Phoenix native Andre Ethier, the Los Angeles Dodgers are thriving against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Getting hits off Dan Haren may prove a tougher test. Haren will try to help Arizona avoid a season high-tying fifth straight loss by earning his fourth consecutive win Tuesday night at Chase Field against Los Angeles as these NL West rivals continue a three-game set. The Dodgers have scored 29 runs and batted .335 while winning three of four matchups against Arizona this season. Ethier has played a big part, hitting .455 with a homer and six RBIs. He went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs to help Los Angeles earn a 7-3 victory in Monday night’s series opener. The performance boosted Ethier’s major league-leading average to .393 and moved him into the major-league RBI lead with 34. Despite having only one homer in his last seven games, Ethier is tied for the NL lead with 10 in 2010.

Ethier is 11 for 30 with two homers against Haren, but the Dodgers have batted .198 as a team in five starts against the Arizona right-hander since the beginning of last season. Haren allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings April 15 at Dodger Stadium, but the Diamondbacks came up short in a 6-5 loss in 10 innings. That defeat launched Arizona’s previous five-game slide, which ended April 20 when Haren defeated St. Louis. Haren pitched his first complete game of the season Thursday night, striking out nine and allowing seven hits in a 6-3 win at Houston. While Haren will try to add to his recent success, Dodgers rookie John Ely will take a third crack at his first major league win. After struggling in his debut, Ely allowed one run over 6 2-3 innings, did not walk a batter and struck out seven Thursday against Milwaukee. However, closer Jonathan Broxton allowed the Brewers to score the tying runs in the ninth before Ethier hit a grand slam to give Los Angeles a 7-3 victory.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Angels Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

The Tampa Bay Rays’ offense has been one of the best in the majors throughout most of the club’s scorching start, but their quiet bats are the main reason for their first three-game losing streak of 2010. One of the Rays’ old friends won’t be looking to help them out of their slump. Scott Kazmir faces his former teammates for the first time since Tampa Bay traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in August, and the struggling left-hander hopes he can use the occasion to turn around his dismal start. The Rays led the majors in runs as recently as Friday, but they were held to five hits in Saturday’s 5-2 loss at Oakland before falling victim to Dallas Braden’s perfect game in a 4-0 defeat Sunday. Tampa Bay mounted a late rally Monday in Anaheim, scoring three runs in the ninth, but they lost 5-4 in 11 innings on Juan Rivera’s game-ending sacrifice fly.

The three losses have all come on the road after Tampa Bay won 13 of its first 14 away from home. The Rays, who still have the best record in the majors, have lost 14 of 15 at Angel Stadium since the start of 2006. Facing Kazmir, however, will be a new experience. The southpaw broke into the majors with Tampa Bay in 2004, and he remains the franchise’s all-time leader in wins and strikeouts. He went 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA in 2008, helping the Rays win their first AL pennant, but problems with his slider were the main reason for his career-worst 5.92 ERA in 20 starts for Tampa Bay last year. Kazmir called it a “surprise” when the team sent him to Los Angeles in a waiver deal on Aug. 28 in exchange for infielder Sean Rodriguez and two minor leaguers. Similar struggles with the slider have again plagued Kazmir during his shaky 2010. He has walked at least four in each of his last three starts, issuing five free passes while allowing seven runs in 4 1-3 innings of an 11-6 loss at Boston on Thursday.

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10:15 pm EDT Tue May 11, 2010

With a home sweep of San Francisco three weeks ago, the San Diego Padres vaulted past the Giants and into first place in the NL West. Behind the unbeaten Barry Zito, San Francisco hopes to reclaim the top spot and exact some revenge when the teams open a three-game set Tuesday night at AT&T Park. The Giants arrived at Petco Park on April 19 tied for the NL’s best record, two games ahead of the Padres. After three straight losses in which it scored four times and went 1 for 23 with runners in scoring position, San Francisco departed in second place. San Diego still holds the top spot, but the Giants are in position to reclaim it Tuesday. Zito is a big reason why. Off to the best start of his career, Zito has won five straight decisions for the first time since a six-game winning streak from May 17-June 16, 2006. The only start this season in which Zito did not receive a decision came April 18, when he allowed one run in 7 1-3 innings of a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles.

The left-hander has limited opponents to a .182 average, second-lowest in the league. He yielded one run in seven innings of a 3-2 win over Florida on Wednesday. Zito will take whatever help he can get against San Diego, which has given him plenty of problems lately. The three-time All-Star has gone 0-4 with a 5.63 ERA in his last seven matchups with the Padres. San Diego’s Wade LeBlanc is also enjoying an outstanding start to 2010. Called up to start in place of the injured Chris Young on April 18, LeBlanc has quickly emerged as one of the top pitchers in the Padres’ rotation, with San Diego winning all four of his outings. The left-hander gave up two runs in six innings of a 3-2 victory over Colorado last Tuesday but didn’t receive a decision. LeBlanc entered this season with four wins in 13 starts - half of the victories coming against the Giants. He posted a 1.29 ERA in those two wins.

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