Sunday Afternoon Preview
By Josh Jacobs
The countdown is on as All-Star weekend heads to Busch Stadium on July 14. But before the two week stretch to the Summer Classic gets underway we have unsettled business to tend to. That would be the last day of interleague play. Minus a two-game special in the evening hours, this tip sheet will focus on several afternoon cross-league contests.
Before we run through the games of interest, let it be known that once again the American League looks to have harnessed its dominance over the NL. Heading into Sunday, a 122-101 performance in the record books is in favor of AL teams this season. Some numbers which have projected the edge include the AL’s 3.92 ERA, a .266 BA and 1096 runs scored as opposed to the NL’s 4.59 ERA, .257 BA and 947. While rudimentary at best without proper explanation, those three statistical categories aforementioned just begin to tell the story of this year’s interleague pairings.
Boston (B. Penny) at Atlanta (T. Hanson) – 1:30 p.m. EDT
Getting an early line published at -115 (bet $115 to make $100), Boston (42-28, +983) has gone 17-6 in its last 23. The Red Sox starting rotation hasn’t been on its best behavior over the course of the season (4.15 ERA on the year), but a 3.79 ERA in the last 10 games is surely signs of improvement. The real area of focus is on a bullpen which has been spectacular. This is a core of players tossing the ball for a 2.99 ERA this season.
Between pitchers Ramon Ramirez at a high, 33.1 innings and Justin Masterson logging in a middle of the road, 23 innings only two relievers are above the 3.50 ERA mark in the pen (not counting Hunter Jones’ 8.00 ERA who hasn’t made an appearance since May 13). But in the last five games, allowing 4.4 runs per game while cashing in on the offensive side for six runs per game, the ‘over’ is 4-1.
Brad Penny (6-2, 4.93) has been impressive in his last three starts despite the 1-0 record. In wins against the Yankees, Marlins and Nationals, Penny surrendered a total of 15 hits and just four runs. His pitch counts have been high after just an average of just 5.4 innings in the last three games but for a slinger who had an ERA of 7.61 back on May 3, to say that Penny has made improvements would be an understatement.
The Braves (34-39, -1122) have seen their ups and downs turn on a dime. After taking back-to-back wins against the Cubs on Monday (2-0) and Yankees the following day (4-0), Atlanta now finds itself in a three-game slump.
Backers will be hoping that right-hander Tommy Hanson (3-0, 3.13) will be able to get the club back on its feet. Hanson has yet to give up an earned run since a win in Baltimore on Jun. 12, tossing two straight shutouts in Cincinnati and against the Yanks Jun. 18 and Jun. 23 congruently. During the daytime, Hanson has been a bit more vulnerable with a 4.50 ERA and three homers allowed (in two starts) versus a 1.64 ERA and zero long balls in 11 innings during the nighttime. A home BAA of .222 has been much stronger then batters stroking Hanson for a .279 BA on the road.
The ‘under’ is 22-11-2 in the last 36 head-to-head meetings.
Florida (A. Miller) at Tampa Bay (D. Price) – 1:38 p.m. EDT
Let’s kick off this summer time Sunday in a Florida rivalry match. The Marlins (38-37, +302) are the only club in the NL East to be in the black regarding money line profits. They ripped off five straight wins in a row before falling to the Rays (40-35, -2) in a 7-3 contest on Friday. Batting .307 and pulling in 5.7 runs per game in the last six games is one indication of working hard from the box. Atop the list of players’ performances includes Hanley Ramirez tearing into the opposition for a .500 BA and 15 RBIs during the six-game stretch.
Florida's southpaw Andrew Miller (2-3, 4.17 ERA) will get the nod to end the week. A seven inning, one hit and one run allowed performance was the best of the season in a 7-6 win over Baltimore on Tuesday. We can even go as far to say that it was Miller’s best start of his career. Righties have had problems touching the lefty, whiffing on pitches for a .235 BA on the season. But in only one start and two game appearances during the day, Miller is 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA. A .286 BA is far from being an impact as say his success versus right-handed hitters.
Miller’s 4-6 record with a 4.23 ERA in career June starts is something to heed but there’s no history of going up against Tampa Bay in years past.
Florida is 4-1 on the ‘over’ in its last five.
The Rays plan on countering Florida’s attack with David Price (1-2, 4.45). Coming off a damaging outing against Philadelphia on Tuesday (10-1), Price was creamed for 10 runs on seven hits in only 4.1 innings. Tampa has been giving its young arm plenty of run support (now at 6.5 runs per starts) but a 4.41 ERA starting ERA coupled with a 1-3 record during the evening hours is tough to offset.
The Rays are a solid 5-1 in their last six (winning by an average score of 6.3 versus 4.2 runs per game).
Tampa Bay enters this contest with a 7-1 record in its last eight interleague home games not to mention a 10-2 run through the Marlins in their last 12 meetings together.
Colorado (A. Cook) at Oakland (V. Mazzaro) – 4:05 p.m. EDT
Sitting as a $1.16 visiting underdog, the Rockies will look for a quality outing from Aaron Cook (7-3, 4.00). Colorado has made some noise in the NL after going 18-3 in its last 21.
Cook’s ERA is high and a 1.33 WHIP could be improved upon. But a 3-0 performance with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP are could signs of improvement in the last three starts. Just don’t let a 3-1 day record fool you. Cook has been slammed for a 5.46 ERA thanks to opponents batting around the lineup for a .365 on base percentage. The average score during Cook’s 31.1 innings of work with sunup have helped the ‘over’ go 5-1 this season. But as an encouraging sign, Cook is 4-0 in his last four starts, giving up 1.5 runs per game.
Oakland (31-41, -821) has had the leg up in recent years as an 8-6 record versus Colorado indicates. But despite the Athletics drowning in interleague play this season (5-11, batting .232) their 123-89 lifetime record versus the NL ranks two games below the leading Yankees (123-87).
A quick look at the A’s starting pitcher Vin Mazzaro (2-2, 2.56) brings up four words; good stuff, no support. The righty did slip up in his last start against San Francisco, allowing four runs in a 4-1 loss. If there’s an angle we can take to the bank it’s the ‘under’ at a perfect 5-0 in all five of Mazzaro’s starts this season.
What you have to like if you intend on backing Colorado is Oakland’s downright damaging .235 BA (.217 versus lefties) and 4.1 runs scored per game.
vegasinsider.com
Primetime Double
By Judd Hall
The latest round of Interleague play comes to a close on Sunday night and not a moment too soon for me. We’re going to get a rare double on Sunday as well. The Yankees and Mets will be closing out their subway series on ESPN. Meanwhile, the Padres and Rangers finish up their set in primetime.
Yankees at Mets – 8:05 p.m. EDT
Let’s be honest. If I were to tell you that your team was going to be 41-32 and four games out of first place in their division, you’d be pleased. That’s not the case for the Yankees when you consider their boisterous fans expect more for a team that shells out more money for its payroll than a South Carolina governor could pay to hush up a certain lady from South America.
You can’t blame the bats completely for the Bombers as they’re sixth in the majors in batting average (.273), second in runs scored (406) and have the most home runs of any club (110). The offense has really come through big over the Yanks’ last three matches as they’re averaging nearly 10 runs a game…All of them victories.
When Chien-Ming Wang (0-6, 11.20 ERA) pitches, however, the Yanks’ offense goes AWOL. Wang has had a rough go of it since returning from some torn right-foot tendons, failing to get past the fifth inning in his first four starts. He’s actually starting to hit his spots on the mound recently, pitching into the fifth in his last two starts and allowing three earned runs in both outings. What has killed Wang in his last two appearances is the fact that the Yankees’ offense has scored two runs.
Most betting shops are expecting Wang to come out on top as the Yanks are listed as $1.35 home faves (risk $135 to win $100) with the total sitting at 10.
The Mets are quickly losing any momentum they had after taking three of four games from St. Louis before this series. New York’s defense was atrocious in the opening game of this subway series, committing three errors that gave up two unearned runs out of the four scored in the second inning. That won’t work with Livan Hernandez (5-2, 4.05 ERA) on the mound for Sunday.
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The veteran right-hander has been a great pickup for the Mets this year as he’s just eating innings. He’s second only to Johan Santana in innings pitched with 86.2 in 14 starts this year. Hernandez can appreciate Wang’s support woes as he’s lost three straight starts…the last two saw the Mets only cross home plate four times.
The Amazins are 3-2 in Hernandez’s five starts at Citi Field, which isn’t all that great. Bettors should know that he hasn’t had a lot of luck against the pinstripes over his career, going 0-3 with a 6.94 earned run average in six starts.
This has been a high scoring rivalry this year as the ‘over’ is 3-1 in the first four games. Yet you’d be well within reason to expect a low score here since the ‘under’ is 6-2 in the last eight head-to-head meetings that the Mets have hosted.
Padres at Rangers – 8:05 p.m. EDT
It is not a good time to be a Padres fan, let alone betting on them. San Diego has dropped 10 of its last 13 games by a combined score of 84-43.
If there is one thing you can say about the slump is that it takes a total team effort to fail as exquisitely as the Pads have done recently. They’re hitting just .246 with seven four-baggers and 24 runs batted over the last seven days. The Padres’ starting pitching has been just as poor as they average just over four innings per outing and an ERA of 7.21.
San Diego will be hoping for a solid performance as Chad Gaudin (3-6, 5.60 ERA) prepares to toe the slab for Sunday. Gaudin is coming off of his best start of the year, giving up two earned runs on four hits in seven innings of work on June 23. The Padres won that game 9-7 as $1.30 road pup against Seattle.
Gamblers shouldn’t rest easy if Gaudin tosses a gem because the Pads’ shoddy bullpen. San Diego’s ‘pen has gone 2-4 with a 7.10 ERA over the last week. And four of the Padres’ relievers have ERAs of no less than 10.80.
A slumping club is exactly what the Rangers need right now as they’re in a dogfight to stay in front of Los Angeles in the American League West Division. Texas appears to be bouncing back from a 2-7 run by winning three straight tilts.
Texas has been hurting without Josh Hamilton in the lineup this month after he had right abdominal surgery. The Rangers are hitting .217 with 25 RBI and seven homers over the last week. Yet their bats are getting lively with a .283 average during this winning streak.
The Rangers no doubt want to make sure that Matt Harrison (4-5, 6.11 ERA) doesn’t turn into a cooler. Texas has dropped three of Harrison’s last four starts this year, yielding an ERA of 10.88. The ‘under’ has gone 6-2 in Harrison’s past eight starts in 2009.
Despite the lousy run with Harrison, Texas has been installed as a $1.70 home favorite with the total coming in at 11.
The ‘under’ could be a smart play here as it is 5-2 in the last seven contests between these two clubs.
vegasinsider.com
Sunday Night Baseball: Yankees at Mets
By Marc Lawrence
New York Yankees at New York Mets (+118, 10)
The final game of interleague play this season wraps up at Citi Field when the Mets host the Yankees on ESPN Sunday night.
The Pinstripes send troubled Chien-Ming Wang (0-6 11.20 ERA) up against former Yankee Livan Hernandez (5-2 4.05 ERA) in a matchup of two right-handers, each in search of better results.
New digs
Both teams opened new stadiums in 2009, although, their new ball yards have not served either team particularly well.
Prior to the start of this series, each club was 21-14 at home this season. The Yankees have scored an average 5.7 RPG and surrendered an average 5.3 RPG at The New Yankee Stadium this season. Meanwhile, the Mets were averaging 4.7 RPG and allowing 3.9 RPG at Citi Field.
Totals players know the Yankees have been playing to run totals of 11.0 RPG in the Bronx while the Mets have played to an average 8.6 RPG in Flushing.
Footlongs
Prior to the start of this series there was no discernable edge between these two subway rivals.
When the Yankees won two out of three games from the Mets two weeks ago at Yankee Stadium, it evened the series at 10 wins and 10 losses apiece for both teams over the last twenty games.
The Mets had won nine of the last 11 games as a series host, but the Yanks had captured three of the last four games in Flushing.
After facing the Marlins and their young arms in sultry Florida last weekend, the Pinstripes are likely looking forward to the soft serves of Hernandez.
"All of them are seven feet, throwing hard. It's like we're playing the Knicks." said SS Derek Jeter after facing a set of physically imposing Marlins pitchers.
Under the weather
A flu bug is making its way through the Yankees clubhouse - first keeping Derek Jeter out for Friday's series opener than hitting Johnny Damon Saturday, sidelining both players.
Manager Joe Girardi told the media that at least nine players have come down with a cough and have felt ill recently. Jeter told Girardi he was ready to play Saturday, but the medical staff decided to rest the star shortstop. The news didn't sit well with Jeter, who was available to pinch hit Saturday.
"(The flu) just kind of went around," Girardi said to reporters. "That's what happens when you're in clubhouses and on airplanes together."
Please help me I’m falling
Wang lasted a season-high five innings in his last start at Atlanta Tuesday. He suffered the loss, falling to 0-6 after allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
It was arguably his best outing of the season. He has yet to post an ERA less than 5.40 in any start this season. In fact, Wang lies awake at night realizing he would need to pitch 45 and 2-3 consecutive shutout innings in order to lower his ERA under 5.00 this season.
The troubled starter enjoys hurling on Sundays, though, where he is 13-4 in his 17 career team starts, including 9-1 his last 10 and 7-1 away.
Hernandez pitched seven solid innings against the Cardinals Tuesday, but suffered a 3-0 loss after allowing eight hits and all three runs while walking three and striking out three batters.
He has gone six innings eight times this season and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last 10 starts. Hernandez was rocked for six runs in 5 1-3 innings in a 9-8 loss at Yankees Stadium two weeks ago. He is 1-4 with a 6.44 ERA in his career team starts against the Yankees. He is also 1-5 on Sundays in his last six starts.
The envelope please
While Wang can’t fight his way out of a paper bag, his last start was his best this campaign.
Keep in mind that when Wang injured his foot running the bases in an Interleague game at Houston on June 15 last season, he had posted an 8-2 record after back-to-back 19-win seasons. He missed the rest of the season and hasn't been the same since. But Wang enter Sunday’s contest off his best effort, going five strong innings before exiting for a pinch hitter at Atlanta this week.
Meanwhile, Hernandez has dropped three straight games and is 1-4 with a 6.44 ERA in his career starts against his former mates.
It would be no surprise to see the Mets fall to 3-11 on Sundays.
San Francisco (39-34) at Milwaukee (40-34)
The Brewers look to make it a three-game sweep over San Francisco as they send veteran Jeff Suppan (5-5, 4.65 ERA) to the mound at Miller Park opposite Giants’ rookie Ryan Sadowski, making his first major league start.
Milwaukee took Saturday’s game, 7-6, scoring three times in the bottom of the ninth to get the win as Giants’ reliever Brian Wilson blew his fourth save of the season. Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer in the sixth and drove in the winning run in the ninth to lead the way for the Brewers. Milwaukee has won three of five games with San Francisco this season, nine of the last 11 with the Giants and 16 of the last 19 meetings in Miller Park.
The Brewers are 17-5 at home against teams with winning records, but they are just 4-7 in their last 11 at home, 1-4 on Sundays, 3-5 against the N.L. West and 1-5 in the third game of a series. The Giants are 4-0 on Sundays, 7-2 in the third game of a series and 5-3 overall, but they are on slides of 26-56 on the road against teams with winning records and 11-28 against the N.L. Central.
Sadowski takes the place of Jonathan Sanchez, who has been moved to the bullpen after his 2-8 start to the season. Sadowski, a 26-year-old right-hander, was 5-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 13 starts with Triple-A Fresno this season.
Suppan has struggled at home this season, going 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA. Tuesday he gave up seven runs (four earned) in five innings of a 7-3 loss to the Twins at home. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak the Brewers were on with him on the hill. He faced these Giants back on April 7 and gave up six runs on six hits in four innings of a 10-6 loss in San Francisco. Milwaukee is 9-4 in his last 13 starts, but just 2-5 in his last seven at home and 1-6 in his last seven on Sunday.
With Suppan on the hill, the Brewers have topped the total in four of his last six starts, but they’ve stayed under the total in seven of his last 10 against teams with winning records. As a team, the Brewers are on “over” runs of 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the third game of a series, but the under is 7-2 in games they’ve faced N.L. West competition. It’s been all “unders” for the Giants lately, including 5-2 overall, 4-2 on the road, 4-1 against right-handed starters and 5-2 in the third game of series. In this series, the over is 20-7-2 in the last 29 meetings, including 11-3-2 in the last 16 played at Miller Park.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MILWAUKEE
N.Y. Yankees (42-32) at N.Y. Mets (37-36)
The Yankees will try to make it a clean sweep at Citi Field when they send struggling Chien-Ming Wang (0-6, 11.49 ERA) to the hill against the Mets’ veteran Livan Hernandea (5-2, 4.05).
The Yankees blanked the Mets, 5-0, on Saturday, getting one-hit pitching from A.J. Burnett and two relievers. Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada delivered home runs to lead the offense for the Yankees, who have outscored the Mets 14-1 and outhit them 22-4 in the first two games of this series. The Yankees have won four of five from their crosstown rivals this season and outscored the Mets 29-1 in the last three games and 40-15 in the five games this season.
Joe Girardi’s squad is on several positive runs, including 25-11 as a favorite, 62-30 in the third game of a series and 10-4 as a road favorite. Meanwhile, the Mets are on several slides, including 1-6 in interleague games, 1-5 as an interleague ‘dog, 3-10 on Sundays, 7-19 in the third game of a series and 2-6 in interleague home games.
Wang has been disappointing this season, going 0-4 on the road with an 11.42 ERA and 0-3 in his last three outings with a 7.11 ERA. Tuesday he gave up three runs on six hits in five innings at Atlanta as the Yankees dropped a 4-0 decision. Wang has allowed three runs or more in each of his seven starts this season. Despite his troubles, the Yankees are still 53-21 when Wang starts as a favorite, 47-23 in his last 70 starts overall and 21-7 when he goes as a road favorite.
Hernandez is 2-1 at Citi Field with a 3.34 ERA and he was solid on Tuesday, giving up three runs (two earned) in seven innings to the Cardinals, but getting no support in the 3-0 loss. He’s allowed three runs or less in eight of his last 10 starts for the Mets, but on June 12 he got rocked by the Yankees, giving up six runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 9-8 loss. He’s struggled against the Bronx Bombers in his career, allowing 25 runs in 30 innings of work. The Mets are 0-5 in when he starts as a ‘dog and 1-4 in his last five overall.
With Wang on the hill, the Yankees are on “over” runs of 9-3-1 overall, 5-0 in the third game of a series, 6-2 as a road favorite and 8-3 on Sundays. For the Mets, with Hernandez on the mound, the “under” is on streaks of 5-2 overall and 4-0 when he’s an underdog of up to +150.
As a team, the Yankees are on “over” streaks of 4-2 overall, 4-2 in interleague games and 4-2 against the N.L. East. The Mets are riding “over” streaks of 12-6-3 as an interleague ‘dog, 11-6-1 as a ‘dog overall, 9-5-1 as a home pup. In this rivalry, the under has been the play in five of the last six meetings on the Mets’ home field.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES and OVER
Gametimepicks.com
Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
By Covers.com
Streakers
Carlos Zambrano (Chicago Cubs)
The big right-hander owns a 2.06 ERA in his last five starts, but has only a 1-0 record to show for it.
Zambrano didn't factor in the decision again Tuesday, allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings of a 5-4 loss at Detroit.
Zambrano, however, appeared more concerned with not being included in the lineup due to the AL's use of the designated hitter. He owns a .237 career batting average with 18 homers and 50 RBIs.
"A lot," Zambrano told the Cubs' official Web site of how much it bothered him to not hit. "Not only to be able to hit, but to be able to get going and keep my routine. That's why I took (batting practice). Coming to the American League is boring for me. You feel like you're the DH. You go out there for an inning and come back to the dugout and do nothing."
Zambrano is 5-2 with a 4.39 ERA in 12 games - 10 starts - versus the White Sox. The three-time All-Star didn't get the decision in his last start against them on June 18, allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings of a 6-5 win.
Tommy Hanson (Atlanta Braves)
Hanson pitched 5 1-3 innings in a 4-0 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday, extending his scoreless innings streak to 14. Despite delivering another strong performance, the 22-year-old right-hander was disappointed that he walked five Yankees.
"I was pumped up to throw against those guys and stuff like that, but really with the walks, it's something I've never experienced before," Hanson said. "I know what I'm doing wrong, and I've just got to correct it and slow myself down."
While Hanson was hard on himself, Braves catcher Brian McCann had nothing but good things to say about the rookie.
"If he walks a couple of guys here and there, he's got the stuff to get out of it. He never lost his composure. He never does. I haven't seen it in the four or five starts he's had. Hasn't lost his composure once. He's a special, special player."
The Braves have dropped four straight since Hanson's last start, and have totaled one run and 12 hits in the first two games of this series. They didn't get a runner past second base until the eighth inning Saturday.
John Lannan (Washington Nationals)
Washington will counter with John Lannan, the lone non-rookie in its rotation - and a major bright spot lately. The 24-year-old left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.82 ERA in his last four starts, although he did not get a victory after allowing three runs in 6 1-3 innings of the Nationals' 11-3 loss to Boston on Tuesday.
"He threw 109 pitches," Nationals manager Manny Acta told his team's official Web site. "We have to take care of this kid."
This will be the first start for Lannan (4-5, 3.44) against Baltimore this year after he went 1-1 in the Beltway Series last season. He pitched 7 1-3 strong innings in the Nationals' 2-1 win at Camden Yards on May 18, 2008.
Slumping
David Price (Tampa Bay Rays)
Possibly the only thing keeping the Tampa Bay Rays from a fifth straight victory is another rough outing from David Price.
The prized rookie looks to avoid a third straight loss while trying to help the Rays conclude an already successful homestand with a sweep of the Florida Marlins on Sunday.
The lone setback on the homestand came when Price (1-2, 4.45 ERA) allowed six first-inning runs in a 10-1 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday in the worst of his seven career starts.
The No. 1 overall pick by the Rays in 2007, Price allowed 10 runs - five earned - and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings.
"That's the best I've felt all year," Price told the Rays' official Web site. "I thought my stuff was the best, and I got hit around. It's a tough way to go out, putting up six in the first. That's ridiculous."
Price, who earned the save in Game 7 of the AL championship series last season, might be giving Tampa Bay's coaching staff a reason to be concerned. He's allowed 15 runs - 10 earned - and 17 hits in 11 1-3 innings over his last two starts.
The left-hander, who turns 24 in August, will face the Marlins for the first time.
Garrett Olson (Seattle Mariners)
Left-hander Garrett Olson (2-2, 4.95 ERA) will make consecutive starts for the third time this season but will try to bounce back from his worst outing of the season. Olson, who has never faced the Dodgers, gave up six runs over 5 1-3 innings and took the loss in Tuesday night's 9-7 loss to visiting San Diego.
He is 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA in six starts this season, and has no record and a 2.70 ERA in seven relief appearances.
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Sunday, June 28
N.Y. Yankees at N.Y. Mets (8:05 EDT). The Subway Series rivals face each other for the last time in the regular season, with Chien-Ming Wang (0-6) going for the Yankees against the Mets' Livan Hernandez (5-2).
STARS
Saturday
-J.A. Happ, Phillies, threw a five-hit shutout, leading Philadelphia past the Blue Jays 10-0 in his first career complete game.
-Albert Pujols, Cardinals, lined two-run homers in his first two at-bats in a 5-3 win over Minnesota.
-Tim Wakefield, Red Sox, pitched six scoreless innings to beat Atlanta 1-0. He tied Roger Clemens for the most career starts by a Boston pitcher.
-A.J. Burnett, Yankees, struck out a season-high 10 in seven innings and combined with two relievers on a one-hitter, beating the Mets 5-0.
-Mike Napoli, Angels, hit a tiebreaking 428-foot home run off the batter's eye in center field in the ninth inning, lifting Los Angeles over Arizona 2-1.
-Felipe Paulino, Astros, struck out a career-high nine and allowed three hits and one run in an 8-1 win over Detroit.
-Delwyn Young, Pirates, homered and drove in a career-high four runs to lead Pittsburgh to its fourth straight win, 6-2 over Kansas City.
-Kevin Correia, Padres, struck out a career-high nine in seven innings, leading San Diego past Texas 7-3.
-Felix Hernandez, Mariners, scattered four hits over eight innings and struck out nine in Seattle's 5-1 win over the Dodgers.
STATS
Atlanta's Javier Vazquez (5-7) struck out eight to claim the NL strikeouts lead from San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (125-124), but lost to Boston 1-0 on Saturday night. ... The Angels improved their major league-best record in interleague play to 13-4 with a 2-1 victory at Arizona. ... The Tigers have hit at least one home run in 11 straight games, their longest streak since August 2000. ... Baltimore rookie Nolan Reimold hit a three-run homer in the Orioles' 6-3 win, giving him nine homers in 39 games. ... The Yankees outscored the Mets 14-1 and outhit them 22-4 in the first two games of their weekend series.
MILESTONE
Tim Wakefield (10-3) made his 382nd start for Boston on Saturday, tying him with Roger Clemens for the most by a Red Sox pitcher. The 42-year-old knuckleballer pitched six scoreless innings to beat the Braves and become the AL's third 10-game winner.
SINGLE BLEMISH
Alex Cora got the Mets' only hit in a 5-0 loss to the Yankees on Saturday night, lining a clean single to center on an 0-1 pitch from A.J. Burnett leading off the sixth. He had been 0 for 21 with eight strikeouts against Burnett.
DEALING INDIANS
The Indians traded infielder Mark DeRosa to St. Louis on Saturday night for reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later. DeRosa, who the Indians acquired from the Cubs in a trade last offseason, was hitting .270 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs.
BIG BLAST
Jayson Werth homered twice in the Phillies' 10-0 win at Toronto on Saturday, including the 14th upper-deck shot in the 20-year history of Rogers Centre, formerly SkyDome. Toronto's Vernon Wells was the last player to reach the upper tier, on Sept. 16, 2004.
STORMING BACK
Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer in the sixth and then knocked in the winning run as the Brewers rallied with three runs in the ninth for a wild 7-6 win over the Giants on Saturday night. The Giants had snapped a 4-4 tie in the top of the inning on sacrifice flies by Bengie Molina and Edgar Renteria off Trevor Hoffman (1-1).
ROLLING ROCKIES
Colorado is 19-3 since June 4, and also improved to 21-7 since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager. The Rockies hit four homers, including the 100th of Brad Hawpe's career, in an 11-9 win at Oakland on Saturday night.
BACK IN BUSINESS
Bruce Chen made his first major league appearance in more than two years, allowing four runs and seven hits in Kansas City's 6-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday night. It was Chen's first game since April 20, 2007, and first start since Aug. 4, 2006, after having Tommy John surgery on his elbow two years ago. ... Felipe Paulino (2-4) came off the disabled list for Houston and struck out a career-high nine to lead the Astros past Detroit 8-1. ... Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, an All-Star last season, allowed two runs and four hits in five innings in his first start in over a month while working on pitching mechanics. He had a no-decision in the Rays' 3-2 win over Florida.
COMING UP SHORT
Brett Carroll homered in Florida's 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay on Saturday night, but the Marlins went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. The Rays are 1 for 16 in those situations while dropping the first two games of the weekend Citrus Series.
BELTRE'S BAD NEWS
Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre informed the Mariners that he'll undergo surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles to have bone spurs removed from his troublesome left shoulder, which was operated on in September for the same reason. He's expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
SPEAKING
"I got a little nervous when I saw A.J. and Thome in full sprint. Thome in full sprint doesn't happen much, and he was moving pretty fast.'' - White Sox rookie Gordon Beckham, who was mobbed by teammates, including A.J. Pierzynski and Jim Thome, after he singled in the winning run with two outs in the ninth to beat the Cubs 8-7 on Saturday.