Sports World: 05/14/10

Philadelphia Flyers vs Boston Bruins Live Streaming

Friday, May 14, 2010

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7:00 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Now the Boston Bruins know how the Philadelphia Flyers felt the past week. Win or put away the skates for the season. Like the Flyers after they lost the first three games of their Eastern Conference semifinal, the Bruins are determined not to let three straight losses affect them in Friday night’s Game 7. There’s no more leeway for either team anymore. The Bruins showed calmness and spoke confidently after a nearly hour-long practice Thursday. Barely 12 hours earlier, that practice became necessary with the Flyers’ 2-1 win. The Flyers had to scrap just to get into the playoffs. It took a shootout win on the last day of the regular season. They’d hate to let an impressive comeback go to waste but they must play in front of passionate Bruins fans. None of that matters now.

Not Boston’s Game 1 win on a dramatic overtime goal by Marc Savard in his first game after he missed nearly two months with a concussion. Not Philadelphia’s Game 4 win on another overtime goal, this one by Simon Gagne in his first game of the series after sitting out with a toe injury. Not even the other two one-goal victories that could have gone either way. Flyers captain Mike Richards, who scored their first goal in Game 6, doesn’t think they played their best game Wednesday. The Bruins played well for much of Game 6 but their checklist for the finale is long: get off to a better start, put more traffic in front of goalie Michael Leighton, forecheck better, pounce on rebounds and spread out their offense in the attacking zone to minimize blocked shots. Leighton made 30 saves but another 30 shots were blocked before the puck even got to him.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

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2:20 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Runs have been hard to come by for the Cubs and Pirates. With the way Chicago’s Tom Gorzelanny and Pittsburgh’s Brian Burres are pitching, it looks like this trend could continue. After being swept last week in Pittsburgh, the Cubs hope to exact some revenge Friday when they open a three-game home series against a Pirates team trying to avoid losing its fifth in a row. Chicago arrived at PNC Park last week brimming with confidence after scoring 28 runs in winning three straight over Arizona, but the offense was quickly silenced. The Cubs were outscored 18-5 in losing all three games from May 4-6, suffering their first sweep against the Pirates since Aug. 28-30, 2006. Chicago, which is coming off Wednesday’s 4-3 win over Florida, has won two of six since, plating 18 runs in the victories while combining for nine runs in the defeats. Thanks to some solid pitching, the Cubs have excelled when scoring a pedestrian four runs, going 14-4 in such games, but they’re 1-16 when failing to reach that mark.

Chicago’s corner infielders are a big reason for the team’s struggles with first baseman Derrek Lee driving in one run in the last nine games and Aramis Ramirez hitting .158 with three RBIs in the last 10. The two were a combined 3 for 22 in Pittsburgh last week. While the Pirates’ offense showed some signs of life against the Cubs, they’ve totaled 10 runs in losing five of six since. Pittsburgh is coming off an especially dismal showing, managing one run and 10 hits - including only two for extra bases - while getting swept in a three-game series against the Reds. Cincinnati’s Homer Bailey threw a complete game in Wednesday’s 5-0 win over the Pirates one day after Johnny Cueto threw a one-hitter in handing Pittsburgh a 9-0 defeat. This offensive incompetence has been an ongoing problem for the Pirates, who rank 15th out of the 16 NL teams in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Cleveland Indians vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Coming off their first winning series in almost two weeks, the Baltimore Orioles are feeling confident. The Orioles look to match a season high with their third straight victory in the opener of a home series with the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. One day after snapping a three-game skid with a 5-2 win over Seattle, Baltimore rallied for a 6-5 win on Thursday for their first series victory since sweeping Boston from April 30-May 2. Luke Scott’s grand slam highlighted a five-run eighth inning, and Corey Patterson threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth for the final out. The Orioles, who started 1-11, are still last in the AL East but have won five of six at Camden Yards. Though Scott is hitting .213, he’s 6 for 15 with three home runs in his last four games. Patterson is 3 for 9 with a home run in two games since being called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

Jeremy Guthrie tries for his second straight win when he takes the ball for Baltimore. The right-hander allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 7-3 win at Minnesota on Saturday to snap his eight-game losing streak. In Guthrie’s only start versus his former team, the right-hander allowed a run in seven innings of a 6-1 victory on Aug. 13, 2008. He pitched for Cleveland from 2004-06. The Indians had their third-game winning streak snapped with a 6-4 loss at Kansas City on Thursday. Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits including his sixth home run, but Cleveland couldn’t hold an early 3-0 lead against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke. Cabrera is 5 for 9 in his last two games since going 0 for 13 in his previous three. He’s a lifetime .421 hitter with 14 RBIs in 15 games against Baltimore. Cleveland’s Justin Masterson tries a seventh time to win his first game of the year. The right-hander allowed three runs and struck out eight in six innings, but didn’t factor in the decision of a 6-4 loss to Detroit on Saturday.

Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

While the Minnesota Twins expect to be in the postseason, they’re confident the defending World Series champion New York Yankees will be there as well. Facing the Yankees for the first time since getting swept in last season’s AL division series, the AL Central-leading Twins will try to snap an eight-game slide in the Bronx on Friday. Off to their best start since opening 29-12 in 2001, the Twins are looking at this weekend’s three-game set with New York as a barometer for where the team stands through the season’s first six weeks. The Twins, though, are looking for better results in this matchup than in 2009, when they dropped all 10, including three in the postseason. In its first visit to new Yankee Stadium, Minnesota was swept in a four-game set May 15-18. Three of those losses, though, came on walk-off hits. The Twins haven’t won at New York since a 6-2 victory July 4, 2007, and have lost seven straight overall in the regular season to the Yankees.

Francisco Liriano has moved past last season’s career-worst 5-13 record and has been the Twins’ most dominant starter. He is, however, looking to bounce back from a 7-3 loss to Baltimore on Saturday when he surrendered season highs of five runs and 10 hits. Liriano is 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA in two career starts against New York. Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett is also trying to rebound from a tough outing after he was tagged for a career high-tying nine runs and nine hits in Sunday’s 9-3 loss in Boston. Burnett is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two home starts, and the Yankees look for another solid start from him after losing three of four at Detroit. New York had four hits in Thursday’s 6-0 loss to the Tigers and batted just .199 in the final five games of its 3-4 trip. A return to Yankee Stadium could help Derek Jeter, who snapped an 0-for-16 slide Thursday with a first-inning single. Jeter is batting .396 with four homers and 14 RBIs at home.

Boston Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

The Detroit Tigers have won each of their last three home series - all against 2009 playoff teams - and the club has a chance to complete an impressive run against some of the AL’s elite this weekend. The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, are still trying to prove they belong in that category this year, and they’ll begin a challenging portion of their schedule Friday night in Detroit. The Tigers barely missed out on the postseason last year, losing a one-game playoff for the AL Central title at Minnesota. But they went 5-1 against the first-place Twins and the Los Angeles Angels during their last homestand, then opened this one by taking three of four from the New York Yankees. The Red Sox were the other team to make the AL playoffs last year.Starting pitching was a big reason for the Tigers’ success against the Yankees, who hadn’t been shut out all season before being blanked twice in Detroit.

While Detroit’s bullpen leads the AL with a 2.56 ERA, Miguel Cabrera continues to anchor the Tigers’ lineup, extending his hitting streak to 12 with a solo homer and a two-run double Thursday. Cabrera leads the AL in batting average and RBIs. A pair of rookie outfielders have also boosted Detroit, with Brennan Boesch batting .368 with 16 RBIs in his first 16 games in the majors and leadoff man Austin Jackson hitting .345. Max Scherzer hopes to contribute Friday. After posting a 2.63 ERA in his first four outings, he is 0-2 with a 14.54 ERA in his last three starts. Scherzer’s performance Sunday at Cleveland, where he gave up five runs in five innings of a 7-4 loss, was actually his best in that stretch. Boston will also have a 25-year-old right-hander on the mound in Clay Buchholz, who allowed season highs of six runs - five earned - and five walks in five innings of a 14-3 loss to the Yankees on Saturday. Buchholz has been sharper on the road, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He has won his last six outings away from Fenway Park dating back to August, posting a 1.91 ERA.

Texas Rangers vs Toronto Blue Jays Live Streaming

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7:07 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Vernon Wells had a tough series to close out the Toronto Blue Jays’ 10-game road trip. He could be facing the right opponent to bounce back. Wells looks to snap a 0-for-12 slump Friday night when the Blue Jays start a three-game home set against the Texas Rangers. This is the worst three-game stretch of the season for Wells, who went hitless as Toronto lost two of three at Boston. It was a far cry from what the outfielder did in the first series of 2010 as he went 6 for 10 and drove in seven runs to help the Blue Jays take two of three at Texas, putting to rest questions about whether a nagging wrist injury was still a concern. That series also saw Aaron Hill go 1 for 8 in two games before he was placed on the disabled list with a tight right hamstring. He’s mired in a 2-for-28 slump and hitting .181 after he was a late scratch Wednesday in a 3-2 win over the Red Sox. The second baseman had a breakout 2009, batting .285 and finishing eighth in the majors with 195 hits.

A return to the lineup against Texas could cure his woes. Since Hill went 0 for 4 against the Rangers on July 29, 2005, he’s hitting .373 during a 16-game hitting streak against them at home. Hill is 1 for 7 with three strikeouts against Texas starter Rich Harden, who is 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA over four straight victories for the Rangers. Harden gave up two runs over five innings Saturday and did not get a decision in a 3-2 win over Kansas City. Toronto and Baltimore are the only AL teams Harden has never beaten. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 4.54 ERA in seven career starts against the Blue Jays, going 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA in two outings in his native Canada. The Rangers expect to get a major addition to their lineup this weekend after Vladimir Guerrero’s RBI single in the 12th inning Thursday gave them a 2-1 win over Oakland and capped a 6-1 homestand.

Seattle Mariners vs Tampa Bay Rays Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Led by one of baseball’s strongest rotations, the Tampa Bay Rays boast the best record in the major leagues. The Seattle Mariners, plagued by lack of offense, discovered just how overwhelming that starting pitching staff is a week ago. Returning home after an impressive road trip that included a sweep of Seattle, Wade Davis looks to lead the Rays to their third consecutive win when they face the Mariners on Friday night. Despite having Oakland’s Dallas Braden pitch a perfect game against them Sunday, the Rays went 6-3 on a West Coast trip. Tampa Bay completed the trek with a 4-3 victory over the Angels on Wednesday, taking a series in Anaheim for the first time since May 1999. Tampa Bay opened the trip by taking three straight at Safeco Field from May 4-6, limiting the Mariners to five runs and a .184 average. Seattle is last in the league with 114 runs and a .334 slugging percentage.

Tampa Bay had no trouble offensively in the series, scoring 21 runs. Evan Longoria led the way with a homer and four RBIs, while Crawford went 6 for 13 with a home run, two doubles and four runs. Those two finished the trip on a strong note. Longoria went 5 for 15 with six RBIs in the last three games and Crawford was 5 for 10 with two runs in the last two. Maddon will give the ball to Davis, who has been a key part of a Tampa Bay rotation that tops the AL with a 2.78 ERA, in the series opener. Davis is coming off his first loss since his season debut, allowing three runs in five innings of a 4-2 defeat to the A’s on Saturday. The right-hander was 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA in his previous four outings. In his only career start against the Mariners on Sept. 23, Davis gave up four runs and struck out six in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 win, but didn’t receive a decision. Seattle counters with Doug Fister, who ranks third in the majors in ERA and has walked six in 42 innings. He made his big league debut against the Rays on Aug. 8, throwing a scoreless inning of relief during Seattle’s 10-4 loss.

St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

The St. Louis Cardinals are searching for answers after being swept at home by the NL’s worst team. At the same time, they’ve allowed the red-hot Cincinnati Reds to set their sights on being the NL Central’s best club. The Reds would leapfrog St. Louis and take over first place if they can extend their winning streak to a season-high six on Friday night, when the Cardinals open an intriguing three-game set in Cincinnati. After winning at Philadelphia on May 3, the Cardinals had a five-game lead in the division they won by a comfortable 7 1/2-game margin last year. St. Louis, however, has seen that advantage all but vanish while losing seven of 10, including three straight to visiting Houston this week. Meanwhile, the Reds have won five in a row and 12 of 16, holding Pittsburgh without a run for the final 19 innings of their three-game sweep.

Johnny Cueto pitched a one-hitter in a 9-0 win Tuesday before Homer Bailey tossed a four-hitter during Wednesday’s 5-0 triumph, with neither right-hander issuing a walk. Cincinnati pitchers have allowed a total of six runs during the club’s winning streak. Aaron Harang will take his turn Friday, with Cincinnati’s opening-day starter hoping to post a fourth straight quality start. He’s 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last three outings, striking out a season-high nine in 6 2-3 innings of a 14-2 win over the Cubs on Saturday. Harang, however, has lost three straight starts to the Cardinals, including two this year. St. Louis took two of three at Cincinnati from April 5-8, and again at home from April 30-May 2. The Cardinals will need to do it again to preserve their hold on first place, and they’ll have to play better than they did against the Astros. After making five errors in the first two games of the series, their powerful lineup was held at or below one run for the fourth time in 10 games during Thursday’s 4-1 defeat.

New York Mets vs Florida Marlins Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

The struggling Florida Marlins needed a wild pitch to score the game-winning run in the opener of their six-game homestand. A matchup with Oliver Perez may give them even more opportunities to take advantage of wildness. Patience at the plate may serve the Marlins well as they face Perez and the New York Mets on Friday night in the second of a four-game series. On Thursday, Cody Ross scored from third base on a ninth-inning wild pitch by Fernando Nieve to give the Marlins a 2-1 victory. Florida has won three of four despite batting .214 and averaging 3.0 runs. It also was Florida’s first win in four games at home, where it has been held to three runs or fewer in three straight contests. The Marlins have plated 28 runs in their last nine games. Dan Uggla is expected to be back in Florida’s lineup Friday after sitting out against ace Johan Santana. The two-time All-Star second baseman is batting .219 in 76 games versus New York. Uggla, who is second on the club with six homers, is expected to bring additional power to the lineup. A sharp eye at the plate, though, may benefit the Marlins most against Perez.

Perez continues to be plagued by control problems, walking a season-high seven and hitting a batter while giving up four runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 6-5 loss to San Francisco on Sunday. The left-hander has walked a team-high 25 in 30 innings. Though Perez is winless in seven starts since Aug. 18, he will stay in the rotation according to manager Jerry Manuel. However, Perez has enjoyed some success against the Marlins in Florida, posting a 4-0 record with a 2.25 ERA in his last six games. He’s also walked only 15 in 36 innings over that stretch. New York couldn’t take advantage of a strong start from Santana and lost for the fourth time in five games. The Mets have the fewest road wins in the majors with four in 13 contests, and are averaging 3.6 runs and batting .208 away from home.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Atlanta Braves Live Streaming

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7:35 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

A sudden offensive burst has the Atlanta Braves gaining confidence, and a three-game series against one of the worst staffs in baseball may keep them rolling. The Braves look to continue their hot hitting Friday night when they face the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field. Atlanta hit .307 with five homers and outscored Milwaukee 28-7 in three games this week. The Braves collected 28 hits - half for extra bases - in the final two games, completing the sweep with Wednesday’s 9-2 win. Despite the surge, the Braves are 14th in the NL with a .239 average. Atlanta could be in for another strong offensive display against the last-place Diamondbacks, whose 5.72 ERA is only better than Pittsburgh’s 5.80. Arizona’s bullpen is the worst in baseball with a 7.37 ERA. Braves first baseman Troy Glaus is on a tear this month, hitting .386 with two homers - both against the Brewers - and 14 RBIs during Atlanta’s 7-4 run. He had a .194 average with two homers and nine RBIs in the previous 23 games after being limited to 14 games with St. Louis last year while recovering from shoulder surgery.

The Braves expect to get Chipper Jones back in the lineup after a sore groin forced him to miss two of four games. The third baseman had a pinch-hit RBI double Wednesday but is hitting .239. If Jones is unable to play, Brooks Conrad would be the likely replacement again after he had four hits with a double, two homers and five RBIs in the last two games. Kenshin Kawakami, tied with the Pirates’ Charlie Morton for the most losses in baseball, hopes to benefit from the Braves’ sudden success at the plate. The right-hander allowed five runs and seven hits with a career high-tying three homers in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-3 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday. Kawakami lost his only start against Arizona on May 16, 2009, giving up three runs in five innings of a 12-0 home defeat. The Braves won four of seven from the Diamondbacks last year. Arizona begins a five-game road trip after Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to Los Angeles capped an 0-6 homestand, during which it batted .195 and was outscored 52-15. The Diamondbacks haven’t dropped seven in a row since Aug. 16-22.

Philadelphia Phillies vs Milwaukee Brewers Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Philadelphia Phillies starter Jamie Moyer continues to amaze with his consistency. That has not been the case for the Milwaukee Brewers. Moyer looks to build on one of the best starts of his 24-year career when the Phillies try to extend the Brewers’ struggles at Miller Park on Friday night. Moyer was scheduled to start the nightcap of a doubleheader at Colorado on Wednesday, but that contest was postponed due to rain and snow. Philadelphia decided to keep its rotation intact, giving Moyer his first start in a week in the opener of this series.Moyer, 47, became the oldest player in major league history to throw a shutout his last time out, pitching a two-hitter in a 7-0 win over Atlanta last Friday. The left-hander earned his 262nd victory.

Moyer is 9-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 18 starts against Milwaukee, and his teams have gone 9-1 in his last 10 starts versus the Brewers. He’ll face a Milwaukee team among the NL leaders with a .272 batting average and 5.5 runs per game. The Brewers, though, scored seven times while getting swept in three games by Atlanta, which won the series finale 9-2 on Wednesday. Milwaukee is one of four teams since 1900 to have scored 17 or more runs three times, and get shut out three times, within a 30-game stretch. Braun missed the last two games after getting hit on the elbow by a pitch, but is expected to return Friday. He has batted .415 with three home runs and eight RBIs in nine career home games against the Phillies and is 6 for 10 with two homers versus Moyer. With a league-worst 4-11 home record, the Brewers could use that kind of production against the two-time defending NL champs.

Chicago White Sox vs Kansas City Royals Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

The Kansas City Royals’ longest losing stretch of the season is over. So too is Trey Hillman’s tenure as manager. A day after snapping a seven-game skid and firing Hillman, Ned Yost will guide the Royals in Friday night’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Moments after Kansas City beat Cleveland 6-4 on Thursday for its first win since May 4, the team fired Hillman after going 152-207 since he was named manager before the 2008 season. The latest victory by the last-place Royals was their second in 11 games and improved their home mark to an AL-worst 5-10. Their 140 runs rank near the bottom of the majors. General manager Dayton Moore began discussions with Hillman about the decision after a 4-0 loss to the Indians on Wednesday night and made the move after another talk less than 12 hours later.

Yost, who was hired by the Royals in January as a special adviser, returns to managing after going 457-502 with Milwaukee from 2003-08. He was fired late in the season with the Brewers in the playoff race. Yost will try to guide the Royals to consecutive victories for the first time since April 30-May 1. Alberto Callaspo hit a three-run homer Thursday for Kansas City, which broke out after scoring two runs in its previous two games. Callaspo is batting .304 this season, and is 5 for 13 against the White Sox in 2010. Gil Meche opens the Yost era trying a seventh time for his first win. He allowed three runs but walked seven in eight innings of a 3-2 loss at Texas on Saturday. The right-hander, who allowed five runs in five innings of a 5-1 loss at Chicago on May 3, is 8-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 18 starts versus the White Sox, who took two of three from the visiting Royals last week.

Washington Nationals vs Colorado Rockies Live Streaming

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9:10 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

At this stage in Livan Hernandez’s 15-year career, perhaps even he is surprised to be part of such a compelling pitching matchup. In a contest featuring starters with the top two ERAs in the major leagues, Hernandez and the Washington Nationals match up with Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies for the second time this season Friday night. Washington didn’t need effective pitching in the opener of this four-game series, winning 14-6 on Thursday in a game that was called after eight innings due to rain. Runs, however, may be at a premium in this contest. Hernandez had a forgettable 2009, finishing with eight starts for Washington after being released by the New York Mets. He had an ERA above 5.00 for the second straight season. Still, the Nationals gave the right-hander a minor league contract in February. Hernandez wasn’t called up until April 11, but has taken full advantage of his opportunity, becoming a steady veteran influence on a young rotation. Hernandez’s ERA is second only to that of Jimenez. They were teammates briefly with Colorado in 2008.

Hernandez didn’t earn a win Sunday despite another outstanding start in which he gave up one run in seven innings of a 3-2 victory over Florida. He has not surrendered more than two runs in any of his six starts, and opponents are batting .187 against him. The only loss Hernandez suffered this year was against Colorado on April 22, when he allowed two runs in eight innings of a 2-0 defeat, and fell to 7-10 with a 4.25 ERA in 26 career starts against the Rockies. Jimenez struck out five in 7 1-3 innings to earn a win in that contest, five days after throwing the first no-hitter in Rockies history. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in five starts versus the Nationals. Jimenez failed in his attempt to become the first Rockies pitcher to start 7-0. He allowed one run and two hits in seven innings as Colorado was defeated 2-0 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jimenez has tossed 48 1-3 innings without allowing a home run, and didn’t face sluggers Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham in last month’s contest. Zimmerman sat out due to a hamstring injury and Willingham was rested.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Jon Garland is just one of the many San Diego Padres starters who appear capable of throwing a no-hitter. The Los Angeles Dodgers certainly know just how much of an asset he can be to a rotation. The Padres, who came close to getting a perfect game in their last contest, hope Garland can win his fifth straight start Friday night as he faces the Dodgers for the first time since leaving as a free agent in the offseason. San Diego leads the majors with a 2.61 ERA, helping it take a 3 1/2-game lead in the NL West over San Francisco. The Padres swept a key three-game series with the Giants this week, winning the finale 1-0 on Thursday behind an exceptional performance from Mat Latos. The right-hander threw a one-hitter with no walks, allowing a sixth-inning infield single that deflected off him, and drove in the lone run. All five San Diego starters have an ERA below 4.00. The Padres concluded a 5-1 trip and are now opening a five-game stretch at home, where they have a 2.01 ERA.

Garland is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in three starts at Petco Park and has posted a 0.67 ERA in winning his last four outings overall. The veteran right-hander gave up two hits in seven scoreless innings of a 2-1 win over Houston on Saturday night. Garland pitched well in six starts for the Dodgers after being acquired from Arizona in August, going 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA to help them win the NL West. He is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles. The Dodgers are giving a spot start to Ramon Ortiz, who has made 14 appearances out of the bullpen. This is the right-hander’s first start since May 26, 2007, with Minnesota, and he spent 2008 in Japan and 2009 in Triple-A. Ortiz is 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in three starts against the Padres. Los Angeles has a 2.00 ERA in winning a season-high four straight. The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep in Arizona with a 6-3 win Wednesday night.

Oakland Athletics vs Los Angeles Angels Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

Less than a week after making history, Oakland’s Dallas Braden is focused on his next challenge. Braden takes the mound for the first time since pitching the club’s first perfect game in 42 years as the Athletics open a road series with the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Pitching on Mother’s Day with his grandmother present, Braden threw 109 pitches in a 4-0 home win over Tampa Bay to record the 19th perfect game in major league history and first since Chicago’s Mark Buehrle stymied the Rays on July 23. Braden’s no-hitter was the sixth in Oakland history, and first perfect game since Hall of Famer Jim “Catfish” Hunter tossed one May 8, 1968. Despite etching a place in baseball history, the 26-year-old left-hander hopes that’s not the end of his success. The last five pitchers to throw a perfect game are 2-2 with a 4.85 ERA in their next start.

Braden is 2-3 with a 4.64 ERA in six starts against the Angels, but earned a victory after giving up three runs in six innings of a 9-4 win on April 11 in Anaheim. Braden will look to help the A’s avoid a third straight loss when they return to Anaheim after taking two of three from the Angels last month. Oakland scored 22 runs in that set, but managed two total in losing its last two games at Texas. The A’s had just seven hits in a 2-1, 12-inning loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Jake Fox had three hits and Kevin Kouzmanoff added two in the finale. Kouzmanoff is hitting .333 in his last 10 games, and is 4 for 12 with a homer versus the Angels this season. Oakland has a chance to get its offense going again while facing Joe Saunders on Friday. The Angels left-hander allowed four runs in six innings in the loss to Braden and Athletics last month, and is 9-4 with a 4.13 ERA against Oakland.

Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants Live Streaming

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10:15 pm EDT Fri May 14, 2010

The San Francisco Giants are looking to get untracked on offense after a dismal series. While scoring runs has been a problem all season for the Houston Astros, they are starting to break out. The Giants look to end a four-game home skid Friday night when they open a three-game set against the Astros, who are trying to win their fifth straight. San Francisco scored four runs in getting swept in three games by San Diego this week, losing 1-0 in the series finale Thursday. The Giants batted .183 and struck out 15 times against the NL West-leading Padres. No team in the majors has scored fewer runs than Houston’s 104. The Astros, however, have put together their best four-game stretch during this win streak with 23 runs after completing a three-game sweep at St. Louis with a 4-1 win Thursday. Slugger Lance Berkman is 7 for 14 with two homers and five runs over the last four games, raising his average from .175 to .239.

Berkman’s presence in the lineup should be a boost since he was out due to left knee surgery when San Francisco swept three games at Houston to open the season. The Astros batted .196 and scored six runs in that series. Closer Matt Lindstrom never got a chance to save a game against the Giants in April, and he may not be available Friday after saving all three wins against the Cardinals. The Astros will be facing a different Giants lineup since Edgar Renteria is on the disabled list with a groin strain. Renteria went 8 for 11 in last month’s series. Several San Francisco hitters are struggling. RBI leader Juan Uribe is 4 for 26 in his last eight games while Pablo Sandoval is 5 for 48 over his last 11. That could be good news for Houston right-hander Felipe Paulino, who is making his third career start against the Giants after going 0-2 with an 18.47 ERA in two last year. Sandoval went 2 for 4 with a homer in those games.

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