Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Live Streaming

Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Live | Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic | Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Streaming | Boston vs Orlando NBA Live Stream | Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Live Webcast

8:30 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

The trick shots that had become a ritual after Orlando Magic practices were gone Monday. So were the usual jokes and playful banter. They were small but telling signs of just how much has changed in the Eastern Conference finals after the Boston Celtics took home-court advantage, shattering the Magic’s playoff invincibility. Orlando will now have to overcome a loss for the first time in more than six weeks when the Magic face the resurgent Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night. There’s plenty on the agenda. The Celtics swarmed Dwight Howard from the opening tip, with four different big men—Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett—all taking turns. Boston bullied its way past the Magic in punishing fashion. Howard was held to 13 points and 12 rebounds on 3-for-10 shooting. But he also had a game-high seven turnovers, some coming at the worst of times. Boston’s scrappy play in the paint, elbows and forearms constantly jabbing, frustrated Howard again.

The ripple effect allowed the Celtics to close out fast on the Magic’s potent 3-point shooters, who went cold—especially early when Boston went ahead by 20—and never allowed to get in rhythm. Orlando shot 41 percent from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc. The Magic, who swept Atlanta and Charlotte in the first two rounds, haven’t lost consecutive home games all season. They’re banking on that streak continuing heading into Game 2, or their hopes of redeeming last year’s NBA finals loss to the Lakers could be crushed. Streaky for parts of the season, the Celtics have only now started to find the defensive prowess that carried them to an NBA title two years ago. They spent the season, hobbled by injuries, dazzling one minute and baffling the next. Boston coach Doc Rivers cautioned his team not to get overly excited Monday, knowing such success hasn’t lasted long. The Celtics haven’t won more than four straight—their current streak—since they won 11 in a row before Christmas.

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Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers Live Streaming

Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers Live | Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers | Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers Streaming | Montreal vs Philadelphia NHL Live Stream | Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers Live Webcast

7:00 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

Jaroslav Halak hit the showers early in another playoff opener. If he rebounds the same way, the Montreal Canadiens will be just fine. The star goalie was pulled from a 6-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers after allowing four goals on 14 shots in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday night. That won’t shatter his confidence, or worry his teammates and coaches. After all, it’s nothing new. Halak got yanked after giving up five goals in a 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh in Game 1 of the second round. He was dominant the rest of the series, and the eighth-seeded Canadiens eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champions in seven games. Halak entered this series with the best save percentage in the playoffs. He was the main reason the Canadiens stunned Presidents’ Trophy winners Washington and the reigning champion Penguins in the first two rounds to go deeper into the playoffs than they have since 1993, when they won the Stanley Cup a record 24th time.

Halak stopped 131 of the final 134 shots he faced against the Capitals in the opening round. After his early exit against the Penguins, Halak allowed just 12 goals in the last six games. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each had one in the series. Halak didn’t get much defensive support against the Flyers. Two of Philadelphia’s goals against him were on the power play and the Canadiens had a difficult time preventing the bigger, tougher Flyers from crowding the front of the net. In the other net, Flyers goalie Michael Leighton was outstanding. Making just his third start of the playoffs, Leighton stopped 28 shots for his first career NHL playoff shutout. Leighton has allowed only four goals on 98 shots in four games since replacing Brian Boucher, who is likely out for the postseason with a knee injury. Leighton, who sat out from March 16 until May 10 because of an ankle injury, will take a shutout streak of 105 minutes, 50 seconds into Game 2. Yet he still feels he has to prove himself every game, and there is no guarantee he’ll have a starting job in Philly next season.

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Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks Live Streaming

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10:00 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

If there’s any team that should know how tenuous a 1-0 series lead can be in the NHL playoffs it’s the Chicago Blackhawks. The team that had to fight back after losing the opener to win the first two rounds finds itself in an unusual spot now, leading the Western Conference final 1-0 over the San Jose Sharks. The Blackhawks, in fact, had lost four straight series openers dating to last season before seizing the home-ice advantage by winning 2-1 in Game 1 at the Shark Tank on Sunday. They came back to win three of those series, only losing last year’s conference final against Detroit. While the Game 1 victory might take some pressure off Chicago heading into Game 2 on Tuesday night, coach Joel Quenneville wants to see the same level of desperation his team had in winning the second game in the previous two series after losing the opener.

There was no sense of satisfaction in the Blackhawks locker room on Monday and there was no sense of panic around the Sharks. Both sides still expect a long series between the top two teams in the Western Conference and they know how easily Game 1 could have swung in the other direction. There was Antti Niemi’s sprawling glove save to rob Ryane Clowe late in the second period to keep the game tied, a faceoff win by Jonathan Toews against Joe Thornton that set up Dustin Byfuglien’s game-winning goal in the third period, and a missed one-timer by Thornton in the closing seconds that could have tied the game. The Sharks outshot the Blackhawks 45-40, drew five power plays to none for Chicago and controlled the play for long stretches of the game. The biggest difference was the play of Niemi, who allowed only a first-period power play goal on a deflected shot against a team with many high-powered offensive players.

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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Philadelphia Phillies Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

The return of Jimmy Rollins after five weeks on the disabled list gives the Philadelphia Phillies yet another weapon in a lineup full of them, and they were clicking on all cylinders in their opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The offense may not need to provide quite as much support Tuesday. Roy Halladay has been nearly untouchable in his first three starts at Citizens Bank Park, and he’ll look to improve to 4-0 at his new home Tuesday when the Phillies try to complete a brief two-game sweep of the Pirates. Chase Utley missed Monday’s opener against Pittsburgh with flu-like symptoms, but Philadelphia welcomed back another All-Star middle infielder in Utley’s absence. Rollins returned for the first time since being put on the DL April 13 with a strained right calf, and he hardly looked rusty. The shortstop had two hits and an RBI, while Ryan Howard’s grand slam and Jayson’s Werth’s three-run shot keyed a 12-2 rout of the Pirates.

When Utley returns, possibly Tuesday, manager Charlie Manuel has some lineup shuffling to do. Shane Victorino has hit .303 in Rollins’ customary lead-off spot, and Rollins hit in Utley’s typical No. 3 spot Monday. The Phillies can tie a season high with their fifth straight victory while depriving Pittsburgh of its first winning road trip of any kind - it’s currently 2-2 - since going 5-2 from Aug. 20-26, 2007. The Pirates face long odds of putting an end to that lengthy drought with Halladay on the hill. The former Cy Young Award winner is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA at home, and Philadelphia has given him 25 runs of support in those outings. He didn’t get as much help Wednesday in his hometown of Colorado, and left without a decision for the first time in his Phillies career. Halladay gave up three runs over 6 1-3 innings in Philadelphia’s 4-3, 10-inning loss at cold and windy Coors Field.

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Kansas City Royals vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

The Kansas City Royals are still looking for their first three-game win streak. Throwing ace Zack Greinke against the light-hitting Baltimore Orioles would appear to give them an excellent chance at accomplishing that. Greinke looks to build on his first win and help the Royals complete a two-game sweep of the lowly Orioles on Tuesday night at Camden Yards. Although it wasn’t his most effective start, Greinke finally received some run support on his way to a 6-4 victory against Cleveland on Friday. He allowed three runs and eight hits over six innings. Greinke has gotten the seventh-lowest run support in the AL and the bullpen has blown leads in three of his starts. The right-hander, though, has also surrendered three runs or more in half of his eight outings. Greinke is 1-2 with a 6.49 ERA in five starts against the Orioles but went 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two outings last season. Kansas City won for the third time in four games under new manager Ned Yost, holding on for a 4-3 victory Monday night. Joakim Soria worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, as the Orioles went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

Billy Butler had his third straight multihit game and drove in two for the Royals, who ended a five-game road losing streak. A victory in this game would give Kansas City successive series wins for the first time this season. Baltimore lost its third straight despite its starters posting a 2.89 ERA during that span. The major league-worst Orioles are 2-23 when scoring fewer than four runs and batting .120 with runners in scoring position during their 27 defeats. One of the few pitchers who’s received less run support than Greinke will be on the mound for Baltimore as Kevin Millwood seeks his first win. The right-hander has gotten a major league-low 2.18 runs per game but has given up a league-high 10 homers - three to Seattle on Thursday. Millwood was in line for another loss after allowing five runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings, but the Orioles rallied for a 6-5 victory. Millwood has pitched at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or fewer in six of eight starts.

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Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

The Boston Red Sox have slipped back under .500 thanks to another particularly painful loss to the New York Yankees. Josh Beckett hopes he can provide some help for Boston’s beleaguered staff. The slumping right-hander will try to snap Boston’s eight-game skid in the Bronx as he pitches for the first time in 11 days Tuesday night, forming an opening-night rematch with New York’s CC Sabathia. The Red Sox are 2-5 against the arch-rival Yankees this season, and Monday’s loss - their third straight overall - may have been the most disheartening. Boston used five home runs to overcome a 6-1 deficit and take a 9-7 lead into the ninth inning, but closer Jonathan Papelbon allowed a tying two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez before Marcus Thames’ two-run shot gave New York an 11-9 win.

While they’re second in the AL to the Yankees in runs, the Red Sox had entered the season with hopes that their rotation would be among the best in the majors. Instead, Boston starters have a 5.16 ERA that ranks near the bottom of the league, and the team is already 8 1/2 games behind first-place Tampa Bay. Beckett has been dealing with back spasms since his most recent start May 7, when he allowed nine runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 10-3 loss to the Yankees. He struck out six and allowed one hit through the first three innings, but lost his command while allowing three runs in the fourth and six in the sixth. Even before his injury, the Red Sox had pushed back Beckett’s next start due to his ineffectiveness. He has a 10.48 ERA in his last four starts and a 12.60 ERA in two outings against New York. Boston managed to beat the Yankees 9-7 on opening night April 4, when Sabathia also struggled, giving up five runs in 5 1-3 innings at Fenway Park.

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New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

Jeff Wilpon didn’t arrive in Atlanta to place blame for the New York Mets’ struggles. There is, however, a clear culprit when Johan Santana starts against the Atlanta Braves: dismal performances at the plate. Another outstanding outing from Santana could help the Mets win their second straight since getting a visit from their chief operating officer, but they need to find a way to support their ace as they face the Braves on Tuesday night. With New York mired in a five-game losing streak, Wilpon met with manager Jerry Manuel, general manager Omar Minaya and assistant general manager John Ricco prior to the opener of this two-game set. The Mets went on to win for the second time in nine games, beating the Braves 3-2 on Monday night. New York moved out of last place in the NL East, a half-game ahead of Atlanta. Mike Pelfrey gave the Mets a lift with 7 2-3 strong innings, becoming the team’s first starting pitcher to win a game this month.

Pelfrey didn’t get any breathing room, with New York going 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Santana is all too familiar with poor production from New York’s lineup when facing Atlanta. Since joining the Mets in 2008, Santana is 1-4 in seven starts against the Braves despite posting a 2.05 ERA. He has gotten two runs or fewer to work with in each of those outings. At Atlanta, the left-hander is 1-2 with a 1.71 ERA in three starts. Santana was sharp in his last outing, striking out five in seven scoreless innings of a 2-1 loss to Florida on Thursday night. He went 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA in his previous two games. Atlanta is giving Kris Medlen his second career start due to Jair Jurrjen’s hamstring injury. In his first start, the right-hander surrendered one run and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings of a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on May 8. Medlen has made four relief appearances versus the Mets, striking out six in 6 1-3 scoreless innings.

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Colorado Rockies vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

Despite his team’s slow start, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry gave manager Lou Piniella a vote of confidence before a two-game home series with the Colorado Rockies.For one night at least, that confidence appeared well-placed. After taking the series opener in dramatic fashion, the Cubs will aim for a third straight win overall and help starter Carlos Silva improve to 5-0 on Tuesday night against the Rockies. Chicago made the playoffs in each of Piniella’s first two years, but didn’t seriously contend in 2009, finishing 83-78. The Cubs’ subsequent 17-22 start in the final year of Piniella’s contract prompted speculation he could be fired before the end of this season. Hendry responded Monday by saying he hadn’t “given any thought to replacing Lou Piniella,” and that he was “absolutely, completely confident” in his manager and coaching staff. The Cubs won back-to-back games for only the fourth time this season when Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Matt Belisle in the 11th inning Monday night to clinch a 4-2 win. It was the first home run since April 15 for Ramirez, who is batting .175.

The outcome was very nearly different after Chicago’s beleaguered bullpen failed to hold a one-run lead. John Grabow gave up two walks and a single to three of the first four batters he faced in the eighth. Closer Carlos Marmol replaced Grabow, but issued another free pass to Miguel Olivo to tie the game. Silva will get the ball seeking to build on a strong outing. After giving up nine runs in his previous two outings, the right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings of a 4-3 home win against Florida last Wednesday. Acquired from Seattle in the offseason Milton Bradley trade, Silva hasn’t won his first five decisions in a season since 2004 with Minnesota, and has never started against the Rockies.

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Los Angeles Angels vs Texas Rangers Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

If there were any lingering questions about C.J. Wilson’s second stint as a major league starter, they’re quickly disappearing. Wilson’s transition from Texas’ bullpen to the unlikely star of the rotation couldn’t be going much better, and he’ll try to lower one of baseball’s best ERAs as the Rangers look to complete a two-game sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night. Wilson failed as a starter upon arriving in the majors in 2005, but the left-hander was solid out of the bullpen the past few years with the Rangers. Now, he’s one of the biggest reasons Texas has a two-game edge on Oakland atop the NL West. Wilson has allowed one run or fewer in five of his seven starts, including the past three.

The Rangers have won Wilson’s last five starts, posting a 2-1, 12-inning victory against the Athletics on Thursday. Wilson gave up one run and four hits over seven innings, and extended his streak without allowing a homer to a team-record 69 1-3 innings. It was also his seventh consecutive quality start to begin a season, something no other Ranger has done. Wilson had three saves and a 0.79 ERA in 12 appearances against the Angels from 2008-09. He doesn’t have to worry about facing Vladimir Guerrero anymore, and the Rangers are certainly thankful for that. The eight-time All-Star, who leads Texas with 31 RBIs, had two hits Monday in his first game against his former team since he wasn’t re-signed.The Angels have dropped nine of 11 on the road and are 3-7 in Arlington since the beginning of last season.

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Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Streaming

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8:15 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

Some lineup shuffling from manager Tony La Russa appeared to get the St. Louis Cardinals back on track. Then again, maybe it was simply a visit from the Washington Nationals that did the trick. The Cardinals seek to continue their home dominance of the Nationals and complete a two-game sweep Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Attempting to jump-start a club that had dropped nine of 12 and fallen out of the NL Central lead for the first time since July 30, La Russa flip-flopped sluggers Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in the lineup prior to Monday’s series opener, batting Holliday third and dropping Pujols into the cleanup spot. The manager said he made the move to help Holliday - batting .299 entering the series but with only four homers and 14 RBIs - although Pujols had also been playing below his usual MVP-caliber standards with a .255 average and one home run in May.

The Cardinals should also be glad he’s there. While the lineup switch failed to energize Holliday, who went 0 for 3 with a walk, Pujols went 3 for 3 with a walk and two runs Monday to help St. Louis win 6-2 - its seventh consecutive home victory over the Nationals since the start of 2008. The Cardinals own a 12-2 overall edge versus Washington in that same span. One of the early season’s most pleasant surprises, the Nationals have now totaled eight runs while losing a season-high four straight. Another defeat Tuesday would drop them to .500 for the first time since April 26, when they were 10-10. Though St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter produced his longest outing of the season in his last start, he’ll be trying to bounce back from his first loss when he takes the mound Tuesday. The right-hander lasted eight innings against Houston on Thursday, but yielded all the runs in the Cardinals’ 4-1 defeat.

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San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

The San Francisco Giants continue to have major problems scoring at Petco Park. They haven’t scored at all against Mat Latos. After pitching a one-hit shutout against the Giants in his last start, Latos will be looking for a similar result as the Padres try to improve to 8-0 in the season series against San Francisco on Tuesday night. The Giants totaled 22 runs while going 2-7 in San Diego last year, and they’ve managed only five runs in their first four games there this season. In fact, their offense has been punchless against the Padres anywhere in 2010. San Francisco has scored two runs or fewer in each of its seven losses to San Diego, a big reason the surprising Padres lead the Giants by 1 1/2 games atop the NL West. Both times Latos has faced the Giants, San Diego has won 1-0. He pitched seven innings at home on April 20, then capped the Padres’ three-game sweep in San Francisco with his first career complete game Thursday.

The 22-year-old right-hander took a perfect game into the sixth inning, but settled for the one-hitter after Eli Whiteside’s infield single. Latos, who said “everything came together,” did not walk a batter and struck out six. He had been nearly as good in his previous outing, allowing two hits in eight innings of a 7-0 win at Houston on May 7. The 6-foot-7 Latos was originally signed by scout Joe Bochy, the older brother of the Giants manager. Bruce Bochy managed the Padres from 1995-2006. Sanchez will oppose Latos for the third time after holding the Padres to one run and three hits in eight innings Thursday. He also was a tough-luck loser to Latos last month, giving up one hit and one run in seven innings at San Diego. Most visitors to Petco Park have had little margin for error. The Padres’ team ERA, a major league-leading 2.60 overall, is 2.10 at home, where opponents are batting .205. Still, San Diego needed to snap a four-game home skid Monday, doing so behind Adrian Gonzalez’s eighth home run, a strong start from Clayton Richard and Heath Bell’s 11th save.

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Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

After being let go at the end of spring training, Jack Cust is now giving the Oakland Athletics a much-needed boost. Cust and the A’s look to build some momentum following a breakthrough game at the plate as they conclude a two-game set with the visiting Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. Poor offensive production was Oakland’s biggest problem during a five-game losing streak, as it scored five runs and was shut out twice. Oakland ended its slump in the opener of a seven-game homestand, matching a season high with 15 hits and scoring its most runs in 19 games in an 8-4 win over Seattle on Monday night. The A’s have been trying to get by without second baseman Mark Ellis and center fielder Coco Crisp. Oakland promoted Cust from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, and he has started in left field in every game since then, providing some vigor at the plate.

Cust went 2 for 4 and scored twice Monday, making him 4 for 10 since being recalled. Cust hit 84 homers and drove in 229 runs over his first three seasons with Oakland, but he was also one of majors’ easiest hitters to strike out. Cust struck out 197 times in 2008 and 185 times last year. He was re-signed by Oakland in January but designated for assignment April 4 and outrighted to Sacramento three days later. Cust has struck out three times since being called up, but the A’s desperately need some power in the lineup as they sit 12th in the AL with 25 homers. Ben Sheets, set to take the mound for Oakland, certainly could have used a little more run support in his last outing. He allowed one run and three hits while striking out eight in six innings of a 2-1, 12-inning loss to Texas on Thursday. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA at home, where he made his first career start against the Mariners on April 5. He didn’t receive a decision after surrendering three runs in five innings of a 5-3 loss.

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Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers Live Streaming

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10:10 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

Losing the best hitter in the majors might hurt most teams, but the absence of Andre Ethier hasn’t affected the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers so far. The performance of their pitchers has been a big reason why. Hiroki Kuroda will be next in line to try to help the Dodgers to their longest win streak in nearly four years Tuesday night when they face the struggling Houston Astros. Ethier, who was hitting .392 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs in his first 33 games, fractured the bone at end of his right pinkie during batting practice before Saturday’s 4-3 win in San Diego. The team is expected to decide soon whether the outfielder will go on the disabled list. Manager Joe Torre said he’d like to see Ethier try to swing a bat first. Fortunately for Los Angeles, it hasn’t missed Ethier too much as its staff has allowed two runs during his absence, including a 6-2 win in Monday night’s opener of the two-game series. John Ely allowed both runs over seven innings while striking out a career-high eight, and the Dodgers’ bullpen did the rest, lowering the team’s ERA to 1.75 during its eight-game win streak.

The Dodgers haven’t won nine straight since an 11-game run July 28-Aug. 8, 2006. Los Angeles’ relievers have allowed two earned runs, nine hits and five walks over their last 20 innings. Kuroda will try to keep that momentum going with his sixth quality start in eight outings this season. The right-hander allowed three runs over 7 1-3 innings in a 6-3 win Wednesday in Arizona, where he took a line drive off the head Aug. 15. After putting those fears behind him, Kuroda will try to improve on his 1-0 record and 1.93 ERA in three career starts against Houston. He yielded three runs and seven hits over five innings versus the Astros last season at Dodger Stadium but did not receive a decision during a 4-3 comeback victory July 19. This time, he’ll face a Houston team that’s averaged 2.6 runs and hit .216 while dropping 15 of 20. The Astros, losers of four straight, are last in the majors in batting average and runs. They’ve given Bud Norris just 10 runs in his first seven starts, but the right-hander snapped a personal three-game skid Thursday by allowing one run through eight innings in a 4-1 victory over St. Louis.

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