Sports World: 05/26/10

Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Live Streaming

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

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8:30 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

The Philadelphia Flyers cap Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace has been wearing to support his hometown team might not be something Boston fans want to see. Especially now. More than a week after the Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers, the Celtics are getting an unwanted trip back to Orlando. They’ll try to close out the Magic again Wednesday night or put a city that knows all too well about such comebacks halfway to their latest installment. Only four times in the history of North American major pro sports leagues has a team won a playoff series after losing the first three games. Of course, that might not mean much to Boston fans. It has happened three times in the NHL—most recently by the Flyers—and once in baseball, when the Boston Red Sox came back to beat the New York Yankees in the 2004 AL championship series. It’s just never been done in the NBA.

Here’s Orlando’s chance to take another step toward history. The Magic have Game 5 and—if necessary—Game 7 on their home floor, meaning if they can shift things back to Boston, a series that was seemingly over would suddenly have new life—and a ton of pressure on the Celtics. Orlando’s overtime win in Game 4 showed the grit of a team that had played all year wanting to redeem its NBA finals loss to the Lakers. The debacle that put them in an 0-3 hole, getting blown out with little resistance, did not. Howard expects the gritty team to show up on Wednesday, but really it’s anybody’s guess. The Celtics, meanwhile, aren’t exactly about to implode. Even with the Magic playing the best they have all series, Boston still had chances to eliminate them. The Celtics never trailed by more than 10 and overcame a night when Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett were far from stellar.

Texas Rangers vs Kansas City Royals Live Streaming

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2:10 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

Vladimir Guerrero is having an outstanding month for the Texas Rangers, and the Kansas City Royals have been his biggest victim. Guerrero and the Rangers look to remain unbeaten against the Royals this season as the teams wrap up a two-game set Wednesday afternoon. An 8-7 win Tuesday night gave AL West-leading Texas a 5-0 record against Kansas City this year, largely the result of averaging 6.8 runs and batting .317 in those meetings. Much of that production has come from Guerrero, who hit two homers and drove in five Tuesday. The eight-time All-Star is batting .444 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in the season series with the Royals. Guerrero’s success against Kansas City has highlighted his outstanding May. Ten of the veteran slugger’s 12 homers have come in 20 games since May 4. He’s batting .366 with 29 RBIs during that stretch.

Hamilton added a solo homer Tuesday, giving him six RBIs against the Royals this season. Hamilton is batting .393 over his last seven contests overall. However, Hamilton is 0 for 5 with three strikeouts against Luke Hochevar, who is scheduled to take the mound Wednesday for the Royals. Hochevar tossed his third career complete game Thursday, surrendering three runs and four hits while striking out seven in a 9-3 win over Cleveland. The right-hander is still seeking his first win at home, as he’s 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA in three starts at Kauffman Stadium. He is 1-0 with a 5.59 ERA in two career starts against the Rangers.Texas will give the ball to Scott Feldman, who continues to fail to live up to his status as the team’s opening-day starter. He’s posted an 8.64 ERA while losing each of his three road starts, and is 1-2 with a 7.40 ERA in his last four outings overall.

Detroit Tigers vs Seattle Mariners Live Streaming

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3:40 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

Milton Bradley’s first two months in Seattle have resembled his final days with several other teams, but the Mariners are hoping his performance Tuesday portends a better future in the Pacific northwest. The embattled outfielder and the last-place Mariners hope to complete a winning homestand with a two-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers, who will again play without Miguel Cabrera on Wednesday afternoon. Bradley, who has worn out his welcome with numerous clubs while wearing five different uniforms in the last four seasons, entered Tuesday’s game batting .222, and has already missed two weeks while undergoing treatment for emotional issues. However, the veteran helped Seattle beat the Tigers 5-3 on Tuesday, posting his third multihit game in six contests since being activated from the restricted list. Bradley hit a two-run home run in the first inning and broke a 3-all tie with an RBI single in the eighth, with both hits coming off Tigers ace Justin Verlander.

Detroit changed pitchers after the go-ahead hit. During the delay, Bradley left first base and high-fived his teammates in the dugout. The Mariners need all the help they can get offensively, as they remain last in the AL with 158 runs. They’ll try to better support Wednesday’s starter Jason Vargas, who has been limited to three victories during a string of seven consecutive quality starts. The left-hander, who has held opponents to an AL-low .193 batting average, gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings at Toronto on Thursday, but only avoided a loss when Seattle scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3. Vargas will be making his first start against the Tigers, who counter with Washington state native Jeremy Bonderman. Bonderman went 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA in his first four starts at Seattle, but gave up 10 runs - eight earned - in four-plus innings of an 11-3 loss there April 16.

Oakland Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

With their lineup struggling, the Oakland Athletics seem to have little chance at winning these days without an extraordinary pitching performance. Locked in a home run drought and with Coco Crisp likely headed back to the disabled list, the Athletics might not be able to afford another ineffective game from their pitchers as they face the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. After sweeping a three-game set with San Francisco over the weekend, Oakland lost 5-1 to Baltimore on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series. The Athletics were held without a homer for the seventh straight game, the club’s longest such streak since a nine-game rut in 1983. Oakland has been limited to three runs or fewer in five of its last six contests and 10 of 13. To make matters worse, the A’s have had to scratch Crisp the past two games due to a strained chest muscle. The center fielder was out from April 3-May 21 due to a broken left finger.

Outstanding pitching helped the A’s outscore the Giants 10-1. Their string of consecutive shutout innings ended at 23 when Baltimore scored an unearned run in the fourth, and Oakland ended up allowing six walks - its most in 11 games. With Trevor Cahill on the mound, the A’s hope to get back on track against the major league-worst Orioles. Cahill is 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in his last four starts. The right-hander allowed one run in 6 2-3 innings and earned a win in a 6-1 victory over San Francisco on Friday night. Cahill is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in two career starts against Baltimore. The Orioles will counter with Brian Matusz, coming off his worst start of the season. He yielded seven runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings of a 13-7 loss to Texas on Thursday night. The 23-year-old left-hander threw seven shutout innings against Cleveland in his previous effort.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Angels Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

Riding unprecedented power surges, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista and Los Angeles Angels catcher Mike Napoli might need to contribute more homers with a pair of inconsistent starters heading to the mound Wednesday night. Bautista, the major league home run leader, will try to support Brandon Morrow, while Napoli will attempt to give Joel Pineiro a lift in the finale of a three-game set in Anaheim. Bautista hit his eighth homer in 11 games and 15th overall Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough in an 8-3 defeat. Napoli helped put away that victory with his fifth homer in eight contests, a solo shot in the sixth inning. That power could be needed again with Morrow and Pineiro heading to the mound. Morrow is 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA in his last three starts and couldn’t take advantage of his team’s six home runs Friday in Arizona, including one from Bautista. He gave up six runs over four innings in an 8-6 loss.

With 17 1-3 scoreless innings heading into Friday’s start in St. Louis, Pineiro seemed to have gotten past a three-game losing streak during which he posted a 9.98 ERA. The right-hander, though, was tagged for nine runs and nine hits in three innings in a 9-5 loss to his former team. Napoli tried to help Pineiro with a go-ahead two-run homer in a four-run second inning, but the right-hander allowed five runs in his final frame, including a grand slam to Cardinals pitcher Brad Penny. Pineiro hasn’t started against Toronto since a 7-3 win for Seattle on July 24, 2006, and he’s 2-4 with a 4.70 ERA in eight career starts versus the Blue Jays. Morrow lost his only career start against the Angels - also for the Mariners - despite allowing two runs in five innings on Sept. 11, 2008. Napoli has a single and three strikeouts in his career against the right-handed Morrow. Bautista, meanwhile, has doubled twice in nine career meetings with Pineiro.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

The Pittsburgh Pirates have found themselves on the wrong end of plenty of blowouts this season, but they have the majors’ best record in games decided by two runs or fewer. Ryan Doumit is a big reason why. A day after another late-inning homer from Pittsburgh’s catcher was the difference, Doumit looks to remain hot on the road Wednesday night as the Pirates continue their series against the Cincinnati Reds.Pittsburgh has lost 15 games by at least six runs, the big reason for a run differential that’s 52 higher than the majors’ next-worst team. The Pirates’ play when the score is close, though, has kept them from falling too far below .500. Doumit’s ninth-inning homer broke a 1-all tie Tuesday in Cincinnati, giving Pittsburgh a 2-1 win and a major league-best 15-7 record in games decided by two runs or fewer. Doumit’s heroics have been a big reason for the Pirates’ prowess in close contests. All five of his homers have come in the eighth inning or later, with the past four either tying the score or giving Pittsburgh the lead.

Doumit has been one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters away from home over the past month, batting .413 with three homers and nine RBIs in 12 games. He’s just 1 for 7, however, against Bronson Arroyo, who gets the ball Wednesday for the Reds. Arroyo has won four consecutive decisions while posting a 3.22 ERA, including May 10 in Pittsburgh when he allowed one run over seven innings in a 2-1 victory. He gave up four runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 7-4 win Friday at Cleveland. The lanky right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his last five starts against the Pirates, holding his former team to a .183 average. Arroyo will be opposed by the same pitcher he faced in his win earlier this month at PNC Park, Ross Ohlendorf. Ohlendorf gave up a run and three hits but lasted just four innings in that loss, his first after missing a month with back spasms. He also had four walks, and control issues have continued to plague the right-hander, who has walked 13 in 18 2-3 innings.He gave up six runs, seven hits and three walks over 3 2-3 innings in a 7-0 loss to Atlanta on Friday.

Atlanta Braves vs Florida Marlins Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

Tommy Hanson took the mound as scheduled for his last start despite battling dizziness. He left the game feeling light-headed for an entirely different reason. The Atlanta Braves’ prized right-hander looks to bounce back from the worst outing of his young career Wednesday night as his team continues a three-game set with the host Florida Marlins. Hanson came into his start Thursday at Cincinnati with a 2.88 ERA, but had felt dizzy prior to taking the mound that afternoon. The 23-year-old was 10th in the majors in strikeouts, but didn’t have much of a chance to add to his total. Hanson gave up a career-high eight runs over a career-low 1 2-3 innings. Atlanta ultimately rallied for seven runs in the ninth to win 10-9, but Hanson was hardly celebrating. Perhaps returning to the road will help Hanson. He’s 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA at home, but 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four outings away from Turner Field. Hanson is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a .150 opponent batting average in two starts against Florida. The one Marlins batter who’s had a measure of success versus Hanson is center fielder Cameron Maybin , who’s doubled twice and walked in three plate appearances.

Maybin also has a recent history of success versus Atlanta overall. He homered and had his third straight multi-hit game against the Braves in Monday’s series opener, a 6-4 victory that allowed the Marlins to leapfrog Atlanta for second place in the NL East. Seeking to avoid losing three straight for the first time since a nine-game skid April 21-29, Atlanta will aim to bounce back against Florida’s Nate Robertson. The left-hander, who has yet to make it through six innings in four home starts, took a 4-2 loss Thursday at St. Louis. He gave up four runs, six hits and four walks over six innings. Robertson’s only experience against Florida came in an inning of relief work in 2002, while with Detroit. He’ll get his first look at star rookie Jason Heyward, who had two hits and two RBIs Tuesday in his return from a thumb injury that sidelined him Sunday and had been bothering him for more than a week.

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

Poor production is suddenly becoming a concern for the Philadelphia Phillies and their talent-laden lineup. Fortunately for Joe Blanton, he has never needed much support when facing the New York Mets. After being shut out for the second time in three games, the Phillies hope Blanton can continue his success against the Mets on Wednesday night in New York. Though it has one of the majors’ top lineups, NL East-leading Philadelphia has been held to three runs or fewer in five of its last seven games. The Phillies have lost three straight, including a 5-0 loss to Boston on Saturday night in which Daisuke Matsuzaka nearly threw a no-hitter. Three days later, Philadelphia stranded 13 runners as it lost 8-0 in the opener of a three-game series with division rival New York. Phillies leadoff hitter Shane Victorino is 2 for 22 over his last six games, dropping his average from .274 to .253, and slugger Ryan Howard was 2 for 12 in four contests before collecting two hits against New York.

But the Phillies have also had their share of problems on the mound during their skid, posting a 6.58 ERA despite surrendering one home run. Blanton has had a tough start to the season, but he’s 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts versus the Mets despite getting a total of eight runs of support over 28 1-3 innings. Blanton did not receive a decision in his best start of the year Thursday, surrendering three runs in seven innings of a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander entered the game with a 5.49 ERA in three outings after spending the first month of the season on the disabled list. He’s facing a Mets lineup that is hitting its stride, scoring 19 runs during a three-game winning streak. Still, New York remains in last place, four games behind Philadelphia. The Mets are coming off one of their best all-around performances this season, once again getting strong performances from Jason Bay and Jose Reyes.

New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

The New York Yankees have only one win in their last six games, but they’ll have the opportunity to pick up two victories Wednesday. After New York’s first game at Target Field was suspended due to rain, the Yankees and Minnesota Twins will pick up their series opener in the sixth inning before continuing the three-game set with a full game in the evening. Although the Twins were rained out May 7 against Baltimore, Tuesday marked the first time there was a mid-game delay at their new stadium, which opened this year after the team spent 28 seasons playing inside the Metrodome. The game was suspended because it was still scoreless when it was stopped after five innings. The bullpens will have to take over after New York’s A.J. Burnett and Minnesota’s Scott Baker each allowed three hits.

The Yankees were especially in need of strong starting pitching after their staff posted a 5.54 ERA while the team dropped five of its last six. Manager Joe Girardi may have preferred to keep playing. The Twins have also been scuffling, dropping four of six overall, but they’re 14-7 at home and they maintain a 1 1/2-game lead on second-place Detroit in the AL Central. They’re hoping to harness some momentum from their last game against New York, a 6-3 win at Yankee Stadium on May 16 that was punctuated by Jason Kubel’s go-ahead grand slam off Mariano Rivera. Prior to that game, the Twins had lost 12 straight to New York, including a three-game sweep in last year’s AL division series. The Yankees have won their last four in Minneapolis. After the completion of the suspended game, both teams will look for bounce-back efforts from left-handers as Francisco Liriano and Andy Pettitte square off.

Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

To turn the tables on the Tampa Bay Rays and complete the first sweep of the majors’ best team in 2010, the Boston Red Sox may have to finally find a way to solve Matt Garza. The right-hander has dominated Boston lately, but the Red Sox will be seeking a season-best fifth straight victory to complete an impressive road trip Wednesday night. The Rays outscored Boston 24-9 while winning four in a row at Fenway Park from April 16-19, but the roles have been squarely reversed this week.The Red Sox cruised to a 6-1 win Monday, then limited Tampa Bay to one hit in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory. They’ve won seven of eight overall despite navigating a difficult stretch of their schedule against the Yankees and first-place teams Minnesota, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. David Ortiz was among the Boston players off to a slow start, but he had a two-run double Tuesday and is batting .400 with five homers and 14 RBIs in his last 10 games.

Ortiz, however, is 3 for 22 with nine strikeouts against Garza, who ranks second in the AL in ERA. The Red Sox aren’t surprised - the right-hander is 6-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his last 11 starts against Boston, including two wins during the 2008 AL championship series. Garza has never lost to the Red Sox at home, and his dominance continued in Boston on April 18, when he gave up four hits in eight scoreless innings of a 7-1 win. He also was sharp Friday at Houston, pitching an eight-inning complete game in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 loss. That same night, Boston’s John Lackey continued to struggle, walking a season-high five and allowing four runs in five innings of a 5-1 loss at Philadelphia.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella hasn’t indicated who will move out of the rotation when Carlos Zambrano completes his conversion from reliever back to starter next week. One likely candidate is Tom Gorzelanny. Gorzelanny has one more opportunity to sway his manager, but could have a difficult task in trying to outpitch red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley on Wednesday night. Zambrano, who got sent to the bullpen last month after a rocky start to the season, is set to return to the rotation. Piniella said Tuesday that Zambrano will start one of three games in Pittsburgh next week for the Cubs. His return means one current starter will likely head to the bullpen. Gorzelanny and Randy Wells appear the most likely candidates. Gorzelanny was excellent last Wednesday in Philadelphia, limiting the Phillies to three hits over 6 2-3 scoreless innings, though the left-hander departed the Cubs’ 4-1 win early after taking a line drive off the ring finger on his pitching hand.

The right-hander has posted a 1.37 ERA while winning his last three starts. He allowed one run and four hits in Friday’s 4-1 home win over Detroit. Billingsley is 1-3 with a 3.54 ERA in six appearances - four starts - against the Cubs. The lone win came in relief May 27, 2007. The losses haven’t been all his fault, as the Dodgers failed to score more than two runs for him in any of them. Billingsley was instrumental in Los Angeles’ recent 12-1 stretch, but the Dodgers have now dropped their last two including a 3-0 defeat in Tuesday’s series opener. Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee went 3 for 3 with a homer and drove in all his team’s runs. It may be difficult for him to maintain his momentum Wednesday. Lee is 1 for 12 against Billingsley, though the one hit was a homer. Lee’s next home run will be the 300th of his career. Teammate Alfonso Soriano also has 299. Winners of seven of nine overall and six of their last eight home games against the Dodgers, the Cubs are seeking their second four-game win streak in the second half of May. They’re also going for their haven’t fifth consecutive home victory.

Houston Astros vs Milwaukee Brewers Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

No matter what his future holds, Roy Oswalt will do his best to help the Houston Astros win as long as he’s still part of the team. Making his first start since asking to be traded, the veteran right-hander looks to prevent his first five-game losing streak as the visiting Astros try to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. Oswalt has one of the lowest ERA’s in the NL, but the 2.07 average runs of support the Astros give him is the lowest in the majors. Houston has totaled six runs in his six losses. With the Astros owning the worst record in the NL, Oswalt communicated to owner Drayton McLane through his agent that dealing him might benefit both parties if the team is unable to turn things around. However, the last time Houston lost 30 of its first 45 was in 2005 when it reached the World Series. Oswalt, whose contract expires after next season, isn’t sure this team can do the same and believes he has a two-year window to contribute to a World Series contender.

In the meantime, the three-time All-Star won’t change his approach as he tries to help the Astros avoid a fifth straight loss at Miller Park, where Milwaukee snapped an eight-game home losing streak with a 6-1 victory in Tuesday’s series opener. Oswalt allowed three runs and struck out eight in six innings of a 4-0 loss to Colorado on Thursday. That game started the current five-game stretch in which the Astros have totaled 11 runs. Their 133 runs are the fewest in the majors. Former Brewer Carlos Lee went 0 for 4 to drop his average to .192. The veteran left fielder is 2 for 19 in his last five games, and 5 for 30 in his last eight at Miller Park. After Milwaukee’s Randy Wolf held them to four hits over seven scoreless innings, the Astros hope for a better effort against scheduled starter Chris Narveson.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies Live Streaming

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8:40 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

The Colorado Rockies are looking to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games. They certainly have the right person on the mound to help them accomplish that feat. Ubaldo Jimenez can make history while looking to become the majors’ first nine-game winner as the Rockies continue their home series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. An NL Cy Young Award candidate, Jimenez leads the majors in wins and ERA. He continued his dominance by allowing one hit before leg cramps forced him out after seven innings of a 4-0 win at Houston on Thursday. The effort left Jimenez as the second major league starter in the past 90 years to begin a season with nine starts of six or more innings while giving up three or fewer runs. Now, he has a chance to tie St. Louis’ Bob Tewksbury, who went 10 starts in 1992.

Jimenez, who cited Houston’s humid conditions as the reason for his cramping, appears healthy and looks to help Colorado continue its surge. The Rockies won the final two games at Kansas City before beating Arizona 3-2 on Monday to start a stretch of 12 straight games against NL West opponents. Jimenez improved to 3-2 with a 2.47 ERA in nine starts against Arizona after he allowed two hits in six scoreless innings of a 12-1 home win over the Diamondbacks on April 27. The right-hander has yielded one run and seven hits while striking out 14 in 13 innings over his last two starts against the Diamondbacks. Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe each homered while Todd Helton added three hits Tuesday for the Rockies, who evened the season series with Arizona after dropping two of three to the Diamondbacks last month at Coors Field. Helton, 12 for 30 in his last nine games, is a lifetime .342 hitter against Arizona at Coors.

St. Louis Cardinals vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

Albert Pujols appeared to break out of his slump in the Cardinals’ series opener against the San Diego Padres, but little else went right offensively for St. Louis. With the NL’s top two pitching staffs opposing each other, runs could be scarce again Wednesday night when standout rookie Jaime Garcia looks to help the Cardinals bounce back and prevent the West-leading Padres from a fourth straight victory. With San Diego owning a 2.92 ERA and St. Louis right behind, runs figured to be at a premium this week in spacious Petco Park with the Cardinals visiting for three games. That was certainly the case in Tuesday’s opener. Pujols broke out of a 3-for-20 slump with three hits, but Jerry Hairston’s second-inning homer gave San Diego all the offense it needed to win 1-0. Adam Wainwright was the tough-luck loser for the Cardinals after striking out 12 over seven innings.

Garcia will seek a better fate than Wainwright as he looks to become the first Cardinals starter in five games to win. The 23-year-old left-hander has the second-lowest ERA in the majors to go with a .203 opponent batting average, taking his place alongside Wainwright and Chris Carpenter in one of baseball’s top rotations. Garcia had some control issues last Wednesday against Florida, walking four, but still pitched five scoreless innings before a rough night from the bullpen led to a 5-1 loss. Garcia’s lone major league start prior to this season came July 20, 2008, at home against San Diego. He allowed three runs over five innings, but didn’t get a decision in the Cardinals’ 9-5 win. Jon Garland shut St. Louis down for seven innings Tuesday, but a similarly lengthy outing from Kevin Correia seems unlikely Wednesday for San Diego. Correia has lasted between five and six innings in all eight starts, and he’s lost three in a row.

Washington Nationals vs San Francisco Giants Live Streaming

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10:15 pm EDT Wed May 26, 2010

After snapping their longest skid of the season, the San Francisco Giants hope ace Tim Lincecum can help the team begin a streak in the positive direction. The two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner looks to bounce back from his worst outing of the season as the Giants try for a second consecutive victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. After allowing no more than three runs in any of his first eight starts this season, Lincecum gave up five and five walks in a season-low five innings of an 8-7 loss at Arizona on Thursday. Though the right-hander struck out six to raise his major league-leading total to 75, Lincecum has walked 10 in his last two games.

Lincecum looks to rebound against the Nationals, a team he’s 1-0 with a 1.77 ERA against in three outings. San Francisco snapped its five-game skid by beating Washington for the 12th time in 14 meetings, 4-2 on Tuesday. Freddy Sanchez drove in two runs while Todd Wellemeyer pitched six solid innings and scored the go-ahead run as the Giants snapped a 24-inning scoreless drought. San Francisco scored one run while being swept in a three-game set across the Bay in Oakland over the weekend. However, Tuesday’s win didn’t produce all good news for the Giants. In his third game since coming off the disabled list with a groin strain, San Francisco’s Edgar Renteria had two hits Tuesday, but tweaked his right hamstring on a sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning and will have an MRI on Wednesday.

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