Sports World: 06/16/10

Baltimore Orioles vs San Francisco Giants Live Streaming

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Baltimore Orioles vs San Francisco Giants Live | Baltimore Orioles vs San Francisco Giants | Baltimore Orioles vs San Francisco Giants Streaming | Baltimore vs San Francisco MLB Live Stream | Baltimore Orioles vs San Francisco Giants Live Webcast

3:45 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

Any concerns the San Francisco Giants might have had regarding Tim Lincecum’s recent struggles may no longer be an issue after his last outing. A day after celebrating his 26th birthday, Lincecum tries for a second straight win in the finale of the Giants’ series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. After going 0-2 with a 6.85 ERA over a four-start stretch, Lincecum avoided a third straight home loss Friday, allowing two runs and striking out seven in eight innings of a 6-2 win over Oakland. Winning for the first time in almost a month seems may have taken some pressure off the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner. Facing the lowly Orioles for the first time, the right-hander looks to help the Giants bounce back after their four-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday. Baltimore evened the series with a 4-1 win. Ty Wigginton drove in two runs while Jake Arrieta allowed one run in seven innings to win his second game in as many career starts for the Orioles. Baltimore snapped a six-game interleague losing streak and improved to 2-6 against the NL.

Baltimore has dropped 16 of 19 and last won two in a row May 13-14. The Orioles are 7-26 on the road and have not won a series away from home since Sept. 11-13. Adam Jones homered Tuesday and has batted .342 with eight RBIs in his last 10 games. Jeremy Guthrie looks to avoid losing a career high-tying fourth consecutive start Wednesday. The right-hander allowed four runs in seven innings of a 5-1 defeat to the New York Mets on Friday. Guthrie has posted a 4.43 ERA during his three-game skid. Guthrie is facing San Francisco for the first time. He is 4-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 12 interleague starts. Pablo Sandoval homered Tuesday for the Giants, who were shut down after scoring 27 runs during their win streak. Former Oriole Aubrey Huff is 0 for 5 in this series after going 7 for 15 with three homers and seven RBIs in his previous four games. He is 2 for 3 against Guthrie.

Toronto Blue Jays vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

Toronto Blue Jays vs San Diego Padres Live | Toronto Blue Jays vs San Diego Padres | Toronto Blue Jays vs San Diego Padres Streaming | Toronto vs San Diego MLB Live Stream | Toronto Blue Jays vs San Diego Padres Live Webcast

6:35 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

Although power isn’t one of his strengths, Aaron Cunningham put on quite a hitting display in his first start for the San Diego Padres. Cunningham looks to build on an exceptional outing and help the Padres take two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays in Wednesday’s series finale at Petco Park. San Diego called up Cunningham from Triple-A Portland on Friday after Matt Stairs went on the disabled list. After being used as a pinch hitter in his first two games, Cunningham started in right field Tuesday and became the first player to get a grand slam for his first hit as a Padre, helping lead San Diego to an 8-2 win over the Blue Jays. Despite the impressive outing, hitting home runs might not be a regular occurrence for Cunningham. The 24-year-old, who hit two homers in 55 games over the previous two seasons with Oakland, had four home runs in 53 games for the Beavers this year. Although not to be expected, any home runs from Cunningham would be appreciated by San Diego. The Padres have the sixth-fewest homers in the majors with 48, and other than Adrian Gonzalez, no player on the team has more than seven.

Toronto leads the majors with 101 home runs, but its high-powered offense is suddenly struggling. The Blue Jays have lost seven of nine with the offense hitting only five homers after totaling 96 in their first 57 contests. Jose Bautista is in the middle of this slump, going 2 for 36 with two singles and no RBIs in his last 10 games. Bautista, second in the majors with 18 home runs, was batting .345 with 11 homers and 22 RBIs in his previous 19 contests. Breaking out of this power slump could prove to be difficult against San Diego’s scheduled starter Kevin Correia, who has yielded four homers in 59 innings over his last 11 starts. The Padres have won each of Correia’s last four outings with the right-hander going 1-0 with a 5.95 ERA. Against Seattle on Friday, Correia gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 4-3 win, but he didn’t get a decision. Although he had a shaky performance against the Mariners, Correia has historically pitched well versus the AL, going 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in his last five interleague starts.

Washington Nationals vs Detroit Tigers Live Streaming

Washington Nationals vs Detroit Tigers Live | Washington Nationals vs Detroit Tigers | Washington Nationals vs Detroit Tigers Streaming | Washington vs Detroit MLB Live Stream | Washington Nationals vs Detroit Tigers Live Webcast

7:05 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

Interleague play certainly seems to bring the best out of Detroit’s Justin Verlander. Lately, it’s done the same for the Tigers as a team. Verlander looks to continue his success against NL opponents while trying to help the Tigers to a sixth consecutive interleague victory and fifth straight win overall Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals. Verlander, who has won 72 career games since breaking into the majors with Detroit in 2005, is 10-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 14 career interleague starts. That includes the right-hander’s last outing Friday, when he gave up two runs and was not bothered by four walks in seven innings of a 6-2 win over Pittsburgh for his second consecutive victory. Facing the Nationals franchise for the first time, Verlander looks to help the Tigers match their longest winning streak of the season after a 7-4 win over Washington in Tuesday’s opener. Magglio Ordonez had four hits and Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer while starting in place of injured rookie outfielder Austin Jackson.

Winners of four in a row over Washington, Detroit is 5-2 in interleague play this season. The Tigers, who swept Pittsburgh over the weekend, have scored 27 runs and hit .306 during their five-game interleague winning streak. They’ve done most of it without Ordonez, who returned Tuesday after missing six games with a strain in his side. Ordonez is 7 for 14 with five RBIs in four interleague games this season, and 17 for 26 with 12 RBIs in seven career games versus the Nationals franchise. He’s 2 for 2 with a home run against Washington probable starter Livan Hernandez, who looks to build on his first victory since May 4. The veteran right-hander was 0-2 with a 3.44 ERA over his previous six starts before he gave up two runs in six innings of a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday. Though Hernandez is 19-17 with a 4.73 ERA in 46 interleague starts, he’s faced the Tigers once and allowed a run in seven innings of an 11-1 win while with Minnesota on May 2, 2008. Ryan Zimmerman went 0 for 3 on Tuesday for the Nationals, who have lost three of four. Though he’s batting .302, Zimmerman is 5 for 26 against AL opponents this season.

New York Mets vs Cleveland Indians Live Streaming

New York Mets vs Cleveland Indians Live | New York Mets vs Cleveland Indians | New York Mets vs Cleveland Indians Streaming | NY Mets vs Cleveland MLB Live Stream | New York Mets vs Cleveland Indians Live Webcast

7:05 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

Less than four weeks ago, a playoff berth for the New York Mets wasn’t looking too promising. After an impressive stretch, however, postseason baseball at Citi Field looks a whole lot more realistic now. Led by David Wright and Jonathon Niese, the surging Mets try to win their sixth in a row and move into first place in the NL East on Wednesday night when they face the Cleveland Indians. New York was last in the East on May 21, seven games out of first, but is a major league-best 16-5 since to pull within one-half game of division-leading Atlanta. The Mets, winners in nine of 10, haven’t been in first since they were 14-10 on May 1.Wright has been instrumental to New York’s run, and came up with another stellar performance in Tuesday’s 7-6 series-opening win. The four-time All-Star third baseman drove in three runs and had three hits - his third three-hit game in the last four - and is batting .363 with four homers, seven doubles and 20 RBIs in the last 21 games. He is also hitting .367 with 18 RBIs in his last 14 games in AL parks.

While Wright is leading the offense, New York’s starting rotation has also been vital to the team’s recent success. The starters have a 2.65 ERA in the last 21 games and Niese is coming off a superb outing. Niese threw a one-hitter for his first career complete game in Thursday’s 3-0 win over San Diego. Making his 18th major league start, the 23-year-old left-hander struck out six, walked none and retired the last 21 batters after Chris Denorfia’s third-inning double. It was the second consecutive strong outing for Niese, who allowed one run and six hits in seven innings of a 6-1 victory over Florida on June 5, his first start off the disabled list. Niese, sidelined May 17 to June 4 with a strained right hamstring, was 0-1 with an 8.76 ERA in his three starts before landing on the DL. This will be Niese’s first career appearance against the Indians. Although Cleveland has lost two in a row, its offense is showing signs of coming around, plating six runs or more in five of its last six. Travis Hafner homered for the fourth time in six games Tuesday after hitting one in his previous 26 contests.

Chicago White Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates Live Streaming

Chicago White Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates Live | Chicago White Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates | Chicago White Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates Streaming | Chi White Sox vs Pittsburgh MLB Live Stream | Chicago White Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates Live Webcast

7:05 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

The Chicago White Sox rotation has been disappointing this season, but not against the National League. The White Sox look to clinch their third straight series win Wednesday when they continue a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are calling up top prospect Pedro Alvarez. Chicago has won five of six, taking advantage of interleague play to go on a run. The White Sox took two of three from the Cubs over the weekend and defeated the Pirates 6-4 in the series opener Tuesday. Since the start of the 2008 season, the White Sox have the second-best interleague record in the majors at 29-14. Good starting pitching has been a big reason, as Chicago’s starters have gone 22-9 with a 2.99 ERA in those games, including 5-2 with a 3.07 ERA versus the NL this year. The White Sox began last week with the worst ERA in the AL at 4.81, but posted a 2.21 ERA over the past six contests.

John Danks has played his part in the rotation’s recent resurgence, giving up one hit in seven innings of a 3-0 win over Detroit on Thursday. The left-hander is set to make his first start against the Pirates, who are looking end a nine-game losing streak. Pittsburgh has not dropped 10 straight since Aug. 20-31, 2008. The Pirates have scored 27 runs during their skid and will call up Alvarez, a third baseman who was the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft, as they seek an offensive spark. The 23-year-old is hitting .277 with 13 homers, 15 doubles and 53 RBIs at Triple-A Indianapolis. Alvarez and the Pirates will be facing a pitcher who has dominated the NL. Danks went 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA in his last six interleague starts, going 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA on the road. Pittsburgh will hand the ball to Zach Duke, who has lost three straight starts. He gave up three runs in five innings of a 4-2 defeat to Washington on Thursday, allowing two home runs after giving up three in his previous outing against San Francisco.

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees Live Streaming

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees Live | Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees | Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees Streaming | Philadelphia vs NY Yankees MLB Live Stream | Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees Live Webcast

7:05 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

Picking up where they left off last fall, the New York Yankees put on another impressive offensive display against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series in the Bronx. With Alex Rodriguez hoping to return Wednesday night, that domination has a very good chance to continue as the teams that battled for six games in the 2009 World Series head in opposite directions. Rodriguez hopes to be back in the starting lineup - either at third base or as the designated hitter - after he sat out New York’s 8-3 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night - the fourth straight game the star third baseman has missed because of a groin injury. The three-time MVP was hitting .317 in the last 10 games before the injury sidelined him. He went 0 for 8 with six strikeouts in the first two games of the ’09 World Series, but was 5 for 12 with six RBIs over the final four games.

The Yankees haven’t slowed offensively even without Rodriguez, scoring 30 runs over their last four games. On Tuesday, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher homered off Roy Halladay as New York won its ninth in a row at home and scored at least six runs for the fifth straight game against the Phillies. While New York is a season-high 18 games over .500, Philadelphia continues to slump and has dropped into third place in the NL East. The Phillies have lost four of five and 15 of 21, giving up eight or more runs in four of their last six games. The Phillies will try to bounce back when they face A.J. Burnett, who had a forgettable start when he faced them in Game 5, giving up six runs while walking four in two innings of an 8-6 loss in Philadelphia. However, he was dominant in Game 2 at home, allowing one run and striking out nine in seven innings of a 3-1 win.

Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Angels Live Streaming

Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Angels Live | Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Angels | Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Angels Streaming | Milwaukee vs LA Angels MLB Live Stream | Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Angels Live Webcast

7:05 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

The Los Angeles Angels capped one of the most successful road trips in franchise history Sunday. The momentum hasn’t carried into Anaheim. Los Angeles looks to avoid getting swept at home for the first time in nearly three years Wednesday night when it faces a Milwaukee Brewers team that hasn’t swept the Angels in California since 1988. A 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday capped an 11-3 stretch on the road, giving the Angels their highest win total on a road trip in 48 years. Back home for three games before facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field this weekend, Los Angeles has not enjoyed its brief stay at Angel Stadium. The Angels lost 7-1 on Tuesday and have been outscored 19-3 while dropping the first two games to Milwaukee. Joel Pineiro takes the ball for Los Angeles in the series finale, looking to win his third straight start while helping the team avoid a series sweep at home for the first time since June 25-27, 2007, versus Kansas City. Milwaukee, which moved to the NL before the 1998 season, last swept Los Angeles in California from Sept. 19-21, 1988.

The Brewers, who have 12 hits in each of the first two games of the series, face Pineiro in an Angels jersey for the first time. Last season with St. Louis, the veteran right-hander was 2-0 with a 3.43 ERA in three starts versus Milwaukee. Pineiro looks to build off his second complete-game victory of the season, Friday’s 10-1 win over Dodgers. He matched a season high with seven strikeouts and allowed five hits. Milwaukee closes out the first half of its six-game trip with Chris Narveson on the mound. Making his first career interleague start, the left-hander gave up two runs and six hits in Friday’s 6-2 win over Texas. Narveson was 1-3 with a 6.59 ERA over his previous five starts, but he struck out the side in the first inning to help him get his first victory in more than three weeks.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Live Streaming

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Live | Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds | Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Streaming | LA Dodgers vs Cincinnati MLB Live Stream | Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Live Webcast

7:10 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

A lengthy homestand couldn’t have ended much worse for the Los Angeles Dodgers. An impressive victory to open their road trip may have gotten them back on track. Los Angeles looks to continue its strong play on the road when it tries to win its series against the struggling Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. The Dodgers won eight of their first 10 on a season-high 13-game homestand, but were swept in three games by the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. The Dodgers scored eight runs in the series. They bounced back offensively Monday, pounding out a season high-tying 19 hits in a 12-0 win over the Reds. Rafael Furcal drove in two runs and matched a career high with five hits, James Loney had four hits and two RBIs and Manny Ramirez went 3 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs. Furcal was the star of the game,” said manager Joe Torre, whose team has won 10 of 13 on the road. Los Angeles is averaging 10.0 runs while hitting .373 with six homers in four games at Great American Ball Park this season.

The Reds have not been nearly as proficient at the plate recently, striking out 12 times in each of their last two games and totaling three runs. Tuesday’s shutout was Cincinnati’s most lopsided loss since a 13-0 defeat to St. Louis on Oct. 1. The Reds will look to rebound against Clayton Kershaw. The left-hander is coming off a season-high 10-strikeout effort in a 4-3 victory over St. Louis on Wednesday. Kershaw, who leads the NL with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, struck out six of his first 10 batters before allowing a three-run shot to Ryan Ludwick. It was the first homer against him in 43 innings. Kershaw, 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in his last seven outings, makes his second start versus the Reds. He struck out 11 and threw seven innings of four-hit ball in a 3-2, 12-inning win at Cincinnati on Aug. 30.

Texas Rangers vs Florida Marlins Live Streaming

Texas Rangers vs Florida Marlins Live | Texas Rangers vs Florida Marlins | Texas Rangers vs Florida Marlins Streaming | Texas vs Florida MLB Live Stream | Texas Rangers vs Florida Marlins Live Webcast

7:10 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

After losing the opener of their current nine-game interleague road trip, the Texas Rangers have quickly turned things around. The AL West-leading Rangers try for a fourth consecutive victory when they continue their series with the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night. Former Marlins catcher Matt Treanor delivered a pinch-hit, two-run triple in the ninth inning to help Texas rally for a 3-2 win over Florida in Tuesday’s opener. The Rangers have won three in a row since losing 6-2 in the opener of the trip at Milwaukee on Friday - their only defeat in their last seven games. Texas also has won five of seven on the road in June, where it was 8-15 before this month. Vladimir Guerrero singled Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, while Josh Hamilton added two hits and an RBI to extend his to a career-high 11 games. Hamilton, 17 for 40 with 18 RBIs during that span, is batting .380 during a 13-game interleague hitting streak.

Tommy Hunter is one person the Rangers appear ready to rely on once again. After opening the season on the disabled list with an oblique strain, Hunter looks to remain perfect as he makes his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The right-hander, who turns 24 next month, threw a complete game in a 6-1 win over Tampa Bay in his season debut June 5. Then he allowed three runs in six innings of a 12-3 win over Seattle on Thursday. Hunter allowed two runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 2-0 loss to San Diego in his only interleague appearance June 28. He’ll be opposed by Anibal Sanchez, who will go for his sixth win in seven starts while facing the Rangers for the first time. Sanchez, a right-hander, allowed four runs in seven innings of a 14-9 win at Tampa Bay on Friday to improve to 5-1 with a 2.72 ERA since May 13. With that victory, Sanchez improved to 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in interleague action. Hanley Ramirez’s two-run homer in the sixth inning Tuesday gave Florida a 2-1 lead, but the Marlins could not hold on and fell for the sixth time in nine games.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Boston Red Sox Live Streaming

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Boston Red Sox Live | Arizona Diamondbacks vs Boston Red Sox | Arizona Diamondbacks vs Boston Red Sox Streaming | Arizona vs Boston MLB Live Stream | Arizona Diamondbacks vs Boston Red Sox Live Webcast

7:10 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

The Boston Red Sox haven’t climbed into playoff contention thanks to any particularly long winning streak. They’re simply consistently winning more than they lose. The Red Sox look to clinch their 10th consecutive non-losing series overall and eighth in interleague play when they continue their three-game home set with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. David Ortiz hit his 13th homer of the season and first since June 2, while Dustin Pedroia had two hits and three runs as Boston took the series opener 6-3 on Tuesday, continuing its return to contention after its record stood at 19-20 on May 17. The Red Sox haven’t won more than five consecutive games all season, but they’ve taken six series and tied the other three during their resurgence. That’s allowed them to creep from 8 1/2 games out May 17 to within four games of AL East co-leaders New York and Tampa Bay. Their 19-8 record in that span is the AL’s best. Boston is 17-8 when Ortiz drives in at least one run.

In a rotation that includes high-salaried veterans Josh Beckett, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka, relative youngsters Buchholz and Jon Lester have emerged as the most consistent starters. After Buchholz earned his sixth win in seven starts in the series opener, Lester will look to bounce back from a subpar outing and win his eighth straight decision Wednesday. The left-hander had gone 7-0 with a 1.41 ERA over his previous eight starts, but gave up six runs in six innings Thursday, not getting a decision in an 8-7 loss at Cleveland. The six earned runs equaled the total from his previous five outings combined. Lester has never faced the Diamondbacks, but is 6-1 with a 2.77 ERA in 11 starts versus NL opponents. Arizona will counter with Rodrigo Lopez, whose one-time mastery of the Red Sox is a fading memory. As a promising young right-hander for Baltimore, Lopez was 8-2 with a 3.69 ERA in his first 15 appearances versus Boston. Since then, he has gone 0-5 with an 8.77 ERA in six appearances against the Red Sox, four of them starts.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves Live Streaming

Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves Live | Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves | Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves Streaming | Tampa Bay vs Atlanta MLB Live Stream | Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves Live Webcast

7:10 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

While Chipper Jones seems to be considering retiring at the end of the season, the Atlanta Braves’ immediate concern is bouncing back from a rare home loss and holding on to their slim lead in the NL East. Jones and the Braves will try to avoid back-to-back losses at Turner Field for the first time since April when they continue a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. In a series between division leaders - the Rays are tied with the Yankees in the AL East - Tampa Bay defeated Atlanta 10-4 on Tuesday, snapping the Braves’ nine-game home winning streak. While David Price became the AL’s first 10-game winner, the outcome was overshadowed by the news that Jones, who has been with Atlanta since 1993, is considering retirement. Jones hit his fourth home run in the eighth inning Tuesday and also had a double in the third, but he’s still only hitting .233 and has been limited recently by a finger injury. Before batting practice Tuesday, the 38-year-old third baseman met with team president John Schuerholz, general manager Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox.

Jones didn’t say directly whether he’ll retire at the end of this season, but indicated that all that’s left is to work out details of the remainder of his contract. While Jones had one of his better games of the season, it wasn’t enough to help the Braves, who stranded 14 and saw their lead in the East cut to one-half game over the surging Mets. Atlanta is 5-6 since a nine-game winning streak May 26-June 3. Tampa Bay also had some issues with clutch hitting in the win, leaving 10 men on and going 4 for 16 with runners in scoring position. Maddon’s club has a difficult assignment Wednesday against Tommy Hanson, who looks to win his fourth straight decision and continue his dominant run in interleague play. Hanson threw a career-high 121 pitches over 5 1-3 innings of a 11-7 win over Arizona on Thursday. He did not receive a decision, giving up two runs and striking out a season high-tying 10, but the Braves improved to 10-3 in his starts. The second-year right-hander is making his first start against the Rays. He is 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA in interleague play - with all three starts coming against the AL East.

Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Live | Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs | Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Streaming | Oakland vs Chi Cubs MLB Live Stream | Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Live Webcast

8:05 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

The losses are mounting for the Chicago Cubs and manager Lou Piniella seems to be losing faith. The sputtering Cubs look to avoid losing for the 11th time in 15 games Wednesday night when they continue a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics at Wrigley Field. Piniella has made several adjustments since the start of the year to give Chicago an edge - shuffling his batting order around and moving staff ace Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen and back to the rotation - but nothing seems to be working. In Tuesday’s 9-5 series-opening loss to the A’s, sloppy defense led to the Cubs’ demise, as the team committed a season-high four errors. Three-time Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee was responsible for back-to-back errors in a four-run fourth and rookie right fielder Tyler Colvin added two more in a three-run seventh. Piniella didn’t speak with his normal enthusiasm in the press conference after Tuesday’s embarrassing performance, and seemed to be at a loss for words.

The Cubs are in danger of falling nine games below .500 for the first time since they were 22-31 on June 2, 2007. Despite that disappointing record, Chicago managed to rally and win the NL Central. The Cubs are 7 1/2 games out of first this year, and need to quickly get things turned around to have any chance of making the playoffs.The A’s are also in the midst of a little funk, but they’re still in the thick of the race in the AL West, sitting four games back of first-place Texas. Oakland, 5-9 this month, hasn’t won consecutive games since reeling off four in a row May 26-29. Rajai Davis and Kevin Kouzmanoff each had three hits Tuesday for the A’s, who totaled eight runs while getting swept in a three-games series in San Francisco over the weekend. Kouzmanoff, batting .458 with three homers and 11 RBIs during a career-high 15-game hitting streak, looks to extend his run against scheduled starter Ryan Dempster. Dempster allowed three runs, five hits and five walks in 5 1-3 innings of Thursday’s 5-4, 10-inning loss in Milwaukee. The Cubs dropped to 2-7 with Dempster on the mound since April 28, but it hasn’t entirely been the right-hander’s fault, as the offense has backed him with three runs or fewer seven times.

Colorado Rockies vs Minnesota Twins Live Streaming

Colorado Rockies vs Minnesota Twins Live | Colorado Rockies vs Minnesota Twins | Colorado Rockies vs Minnesota Twins Streaming | Colorado vs Minnesota MLB Live Stream | Colorado Rockies vs Minnesota Twins Live Webcast

8:10 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

The Minnesota Twins struggled to hit the ball over the weekend, but fared much better in their last game. Minnesota looks to win its second straight over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday when this interleague series continues at Target Field. After totaling five runs and 11 hits in a pair of losses against Atlanta, the AL Central-leading Twins rebounded Tuesday with a 9-3 win over the Rockies. Minnesota’s bottom third of the order, Delmon Young, Danny Valencia and Nick Punto, went 7 for 10 with three runs and three RBIs to comprise half of the Twins’ 14 hits. The outburst came despite the fact that Minnesota’s best two hitters, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, went a combined 1 for 9. Morneau, hitting a team-high .344, is 0 for 11 in his last three games. Young has been helping out a lot lately. He had three hits Tuesday and is batting .410 with three homers and 14 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.

The Twins, tied with Detroit for the best interleague record in the majors since the beginning of 2006, give the ball to Scott Baker, who will look to bounce back from a poor outing in Thursday’s 9-8 loss to Kansas City. The right-hander went five innings, allowing five runs and eight hits, including a pair of homers when he was ahead in the count. Five of the 11 home runs allowed by Baker this season have come with two strikes. Baker has never faced Colorado. The Rockies counter with rookie Jhoulys Chacin, who has lost three consecutive starts and is 1-5 with a 5.88 ERA in his last six outings after a promising start to the season. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out eight in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to Houston, but surrendered five runs over six innings. After missing the Rockies’ previous two games with a strained right groin muscle, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit a solo homer in his first at-bat Tuesday. He is batting .333 with three solo shots in five interleague games this season.

Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Live Streaming

Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Live | Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals | Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Streaming | Houston vs Kansas City MLB Live Stream | Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Live Webcast

8:10 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

The Houston Astros have had a rough time in interleague play in part because they played their first two series against the teams with the best records in baseball. A matchup with the Kansas City Royals wasn’t the reprieve Houston was hoping for. Following their most productive day at the plate in nearly three years, the Royals go for their fifth win in six games Wednesday night when they face Roy Oswalt and an Astros team that’s dropped six straight against the AL. Houston won its interleague opener 2-1 over Tampa Bay on May 21, but it’s lost six in a row since by a combined 51-26 score. The first five losses during the skid came against the Rays and the New York Yankees, who are tied for the best record in the majors at 41-23. Visiting Kansas City seemed like it might be a welcome change for Houston, but the Royals won the series opener 15-7 on Tuesday night, recording their highest run total since July 3, 2007.

Second baseman Mike Aviles went 4 for 5 with a career-high four RBIs and three runs scored as the Royals matched their season high with 20 hits. Kansas City scored seven runs in the fifth inning after it had two out, keyed by Yuniesky Betancourt’s bases-loaded double. The Astros will try to bounce back behind Oswalt. The right-hander rebounded from his worst start of the season by holding Colorado to two runs and four hits and matching his season high with nine strikeouts in seven innings of a 5-4 win at Coors Field on Thursday. Oswalt, who has won back-to-back starts just once this season from April 17-23, is 3-1 with a 1.24 ERA in four road starts. He’s also 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two career games against the Royals. He held them to one run while striking out eight in six innings last June, but the Astros fell 4-3 in 11 innings. Despite Oswalt’s success against his team, Kansas City catcher Jason Kendall is a career .391 hitter against the three-time All-Star.

Seattle Mariners vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Streaming

Seattle Mariners vs St. Louis Cardinals Live | Seattle Mariners vs St. Louis Cardinals | Seattle Mariners vs St. Louis Cardinals Streaming | Seattle vs St. Louis MLB Live Stream | Seattle Mariners vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Webcast

8:15 pm EDT Wed Jun 16, 2010

The Seattle Mariners started their 10-game road trip in impressive fashion. The rest of it hasn’t gone nearly as well. Among baseball’s most disappointing teams, the Mariners look to avoid being swept in a three-game series for the fifth time this season Wednesday night when they close the trip against the St. Louis Cardinals. Expected to contend in the AL West after adding Chone Figgins, Milton Bradley and Cliff Lee in the offseason, the Mariners instead find themselves entrenched in last place with one of the majors’ worst records. Seattle, which plays its 20th game in as many days Wednesday, opened its trip June 7 with a 4-2 victory over division-leading Texas before dropping five straight. That skid ended Sunday against San Diego but the Mariners have lost the first two games of this series, falling to 9-24 on the road. Bradley hit his third home run in five games and Ryan Langerhans also went deep for Seattle in Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss. The two-homer game was a rarity for the Mariners, who rank last in the majors in home runs.

Colby Rasmus homered for the second straight day - his 13th - and Albert Pujols added his 15th for St. Louis, 5-0 all-time at home against Seattle. Pujols is 6 for 10 with five RBIs in his last three games, snapping a 1 for 18 skid that had dropped him below .300. He is batting a major league-best .352 with 37 homers and 117 RBIs in 483 interleague at-bats. Rasmus is also swinging a hot bat, batting .410 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 11 games this month. Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki is batting .419 during a 19-game interleague hitting streak, the longest such active streak in the majors. He’ll try to extend his run against impressive Cardinals rookie Jaime Garcia, who looks to win his fourth consecutive decision. The left-hander was far from sharp Friday, but overcame five walks to limit Arizona to one run and four hits in five innings of a 5-2 victory. Garcia’s ERA is the third-lowest by a rookie through his first 12 starts since divisional play began in 1969.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Back to TOP