Tuesday's streaking starting pitchers
By JASON LOGAN
Streaking
Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians (22-2, 2.41 ERA)
The AL Cy Young favorite hasn’t dropped a decision since the Dark Knight hit movie theatres. Lee is 11-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his last 13 starts and could record win No. 23 in Fenway Tuesday – where he is 1-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three career starts in Boston.
The southpaw hasn’t faced the Red Sox this year, but has a 2-3 career mark against them.
Rich Harden, Chicago Cubs (10-2, 2.03 ERA)
The Cubbies have clinched the NL Central but don’t expect them to slow down heading into October. Harden is one of the strongest arms behind their success. The Canuck right-hander is 5-1 in his last 10 trips to the hill and has only allowed five earned runs over the past six games.
Chicago has won in each of Harden’s previous eight starts and is 2-0 versus the Mets this season. Harden has never faced New York in his six-year career.
Slumping
Jeff Karstens, Pittsburgh Pirates (2-6, 4.37 ERA)
Karstens has been the touch of death for bettors wanting to back the Bucs. The right-handed pitcher has lost six straight appearances with all but one of those coming at home.
Karstens takes the bump in Milwaukee Tuesday. He allowed three runs in just over six innings during his last start against the Brewers and carries a 6.52 ERA during this skid into Tuesday’s matchup.
Shairon Martis, Washington Nationals (0-3, 6.23 ERA)
The Nats’ fresh-faced hurler was smacked for six earned runs in just three innings versus the Mets in his last start. Martis’ previous two appearances were more respectable but still earned losses for the righty.
Martis is having trouble getting the reigns on his fastball and now faces the National League’s second-best home run hitting team.
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Tuesday, September 23
Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins (8:10 p.m. EDT). The top two teams in the AL Central begin a three-game series. Javier Vazquez (12-14, 4.32) will open for the White Sox against Minnesota's Scott Baker (9-4, 3.69).
STARS
Monday
- Jason Marquis, Cubs, became the second pitcher to hit a grand slam against the Mets this season, and the Cubs clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs with a 9-5 victory.
- Pat Burrell, Phillies, hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning and Philadelphia beat Atlanta 6-2 to move 2 1/2 games ahead of New York in the NL East.
- Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks, fell a triple shy of hitting for the cycle against the Cardinals for the second time in three weeks in Arizona's 4-2 win over St. Louis.
- Ervin Santana, Angels, struck out nine and allowed five hits in eight innings and Los Angeles beat Seattle 2-1.
ROTATION
The Cubs adjusted their pitching rotation this week to prepare for the first round of the playoffs. The NL Central champions pushed Rich Harden back a couple of days to Thursday and bumped Ted Lilly to the weekend series at Milwaukee. That means Chicago's top four starters, Carlos Zambrano, Harden, Ryan Dempster and Lilly, each will get one tuneup start before the regular season ends. Manager Lou Piniella wouldn't commit to a starter for Game 1 of the division series Oct. 1 at Wrigley Field, at least partly because Chicago's opponent hasn't been determined yet.
RE-CYCLING
Three weeks after hitting for the cycle against Cardinals right-hander Joe Pineiro, Stephen Drew came within a triple of another against Todd Wellemeyer and drove in two runs in Arizona's 4-2 win over St. Louis. Drew is 10-for-18 against the Cardinals with two homers and three RBIs, including a fourth-inning RBI double that put the Diamondbacks ahead 2-1 and his 20th homer in the sixth for a 3-1 lead.
SLAMMED
Jason Marquis became the second pitcher to hit a grand slam against the Mets this season, and the Cubs clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs with a 9-5 victory that damaged New York's postseason chances. Marquis connected off Niese in a six-run fourth, snapping a 2-all tie with his fifth career homer and second this season. Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez also cracked a grand slam at Shea Stadium this year, on June 23 off Johan Santana.
ANOTHER SAVE
Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 61st save in 68 chances and the Angels beat the Mariners 2-1. Rodriguez set the major league record for saves in a season on Sept. 13, surpassing Bobby Thigpen's mark of 57 from 1990.
ECK RETURNS
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa applauded and exchanged salutes with 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein while the Diamondbacks' second baseman was getting a lengthy ovation before his first at-bat in the second inning. La Russa stepped near the front steps of the dugout, making it easy for Eckstein to see him. Eckstein said he was saluting everyone in the dugout. "I wanted to make sure I thanked them, from me and my family," Eckstein said.
NO HITS ALLOWED
Orioles starter Brian Bass pitched 4 2-3 innings of hitless ball but was taken out after walking three straight batters in the fifth inning. His pitching line was rather unique: 4 2-3 innings, two runs, no hits and four walks. Bass retired the first 11 batters before Pena drew a fourth-inning walk. In the fifth, Bass walked Gabe Gross with two outs, then threw a wild pitch before issuing an intentional walk to Hinske. After Bass walked Bartlett on a 3-2 pitch, manager Dave Trembley brought in Randor Bierd.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Indians closer Jensen Lewis struck out Jed Lowrie with runners on second and third in the ninth inning, preserving the Indians' 4-3 win over the Red Sox, who wasted chances in three of the last four innings. They lost a run when a ball hit an umpire, missing a three-run homer when Kevin Youkilis' drive hit the left-field wall a few feet from the top and stranding two runners in the ninth when Lewis earned his 12th save in 13 chances.
PEN MIGHTIER
Brad Ziegler gave up a rare run, a home run to Hank Blalock in the ninth inning but the Athletics beat the Rangers 4-3 in 11 innings. Ziegler came into the game with a microscopic 0.78 ERA in his first 45 appearances. Meanwhile, teammate Joey Devine pitched a scoreless eighth for his 23rd consecutive appearance (22 2-3 innings) without allowing an earned run. His ERA is 0.60.
SPEAKING
"It has nothing to do with being tight. It has nothing to do with last year. It has to do with we're struggling. We need to just look at the big picture. There's no need to panic. Everything we want to accomplish is right out there for our grabbing and right out there in front of us." - Mets third baseman David Wright after New York dropped its third straight, 9-5 to the Cubs.