The Bum's July's MLB POD'S-Stats-News

[StarDust Bum]

Around the Horn - Friday

July 11, 2013


NATIONAL LEAGUE


St. Louis at Chicago - 4:05 PM EST (Game 2/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

St. Louis Cardinals Kelly (0-3, 4.15 ERA) 55-35 4-0 L4 Game 2's

Chicago Cubs Villanueva (2-4, 3.63 ERA) 41-49 1-5 L6 home Game 2's

-- Cubs beat Cardinals, 3-0 on Thursday



N.Y. Mets at Pittsburgh - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

New York Mets Hefner (4-6, 3.39 ERA) 40-48 OVER 10-1 L11 overall

Pittsburgh Pirates Morton (1-2, 3.38 ERA) 54-36 UNDER 6-2 L8 home

-- Mets beat Giants, 7-2 on Wednesday
-- Pirates beat Athletics, 5-0 on Wednesday



Washington at Miami - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Washington Nationals Strasburg (5-6, 2.45 ERA) 47-45 5-1 L6 vs. MIA

Miami Marlins Eovaldi (1-0, 2.55 ERA) 33-57 7-3 L10 home

-- Nationals lost to Phillies, 3-1 on Thursday
-- Marlins beat Braves, 6-2 on Wednesday



Cincinnati at Atlanta - 7:30 PM EST (Game 2/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Cincinnati Reds Arroyo (7-7, 3.55 ERA) 51-41 UNDER 6-2 L8 away

Atlanta Braves Medlen (6-8, 3.45 ERA) 53-39 OVER 8-1-1 L10 overall

-- Braves beat Reds, 6-5 on Thursday



Milwaukee at Arizona - 9:40 PM EST (Game 2/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Milwaukee Brewers Gorzelanny (1-2, 2.12 ERA) 37-54 UNDER 5-1 L6 away Game 2's

Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin (10-1, 2.40 ERA) 48-44 2-5 L7 vs. LHP

-- Diamondbacks beat Brewers, 5-3 on Thursday



Colorado at Los Angeles - 10:10 PM EST (Game 2/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Colorado Rockies Nicasio (4-4, 5.31 ERA) 44-49 1-7 L8 away vs. division

Los Angeles Dodgers Kershaw (8-5, 1.89 ERA) 46-45 12-2 L14 vs. division

-- Dodgers beat Rockies, 6-1 on Thursday



San Francisco at San Diego - 10:10 PM EST (Game 2/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

San Francisco Giants Gaudin (2-1, 2.44 ERA) 41-50 1-9 L10 away Game 2's

San Diego Padres O'Sullivan (NR) 41-52 UNDER 6-2 L8 home vs. RHP

-- Giants beat Padres, 4-2 on Thursday



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Texas at Detroit - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Texas Rangers Grimm (7-6, 5.88 ERA) 53-39 7-2 L9 vs. DET

Detroit Tigers Fister (6-5, 4.07 ERA) 50-41 OVER 8-3 L11 overall

-- Rangers lost to Orioles, 3-1 on Thursday
-- Tigers lost to White Sox, 6-3 on Thursday



Minnesota at N.Y. Yankees - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Minnesota Twins Diamond (5-8, 5.52 ERA) 37-52 2-10 L12 away

New York Yankees Kuroda (7-6, 2.77 ERA) 50-42 7-1 L8 vs. MIN

-- Twins lost to Rays, 4-3 on Thursday
-- Yankees beat Royals, 8-4 on Thursday



Kansas City at Cleveland - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Kansas City Royals Chen (3-0, 2.41 ERA) 43-46 7-1 L8 off loss

Cleveland Indians Kluber (6-5, 4.23 ERA) 48-44 UNDER 5-0 L5 home Game 1's

-- Royals lost to Yankees, 8-4 on Thursday
-- Indians beat Blue Jays, 3-1 on Thursday



Toronto at Baltimore - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Toronto Blue Jays Buehrle (5-5, 4.50 ERA) 44-47 6-2 L8 vs. BAL

Baltimore Orioles Tillman (10-3, 3.92 ERA) 51-42 1-6 L7 Game 1's

-- Blue Jays lost to Indians, 3-1 on Thursday
-- Orioles beat Rangers, 3-1 on Thursday



Houston at Tampa Bay - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Houston Astros Cosart (NR) 32-59 0-5 L5 away Game 1's

Tampa Bay Rays Price (3-4, 4.18 ERA) 53-40 9-0 L9 home

-- Astros lost to Cardinals, 5-4 on Wednesday
-- Rays beat Twins, 4-3 on Thursday



Boston at Oakland - 10:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Boston Red Sox Lackey (6-6, 2.80 ERA) 56-37 OVER 8-2 L10 away

Oakland Athletics Parker (6-6, 4.04 ERA) 54-38 9-1 L10 home Game 1's

-- Red Sox beat Mariners, 8-7 on Thursday
-- Athletics lost to Pirates, 5-0 on Wednesday



Los Angeles at Seattle - 10:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Los Angeles Angels Williams (5-4, 4.16 ERA) 44-46 5-1 L6 vs. SEA

Seattle Mariners Saunders (7-8, 4.51 ERA) 40-52 OVER 11-1 L12 home

-- Angels beat Cubs, 13-2 on Wednesday
-- Mariners lost to Red Sox, 8-7 on Thursday



INTERLEAGUE

Chicago (A) at Philadelphia - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Chicago White Sox Danks (2-6, 4.31 ERA) 37-53 1-7 L8 off win

Philadelphia Phillies Pettibone (5-3, 3.84 ERA) 46-47 4-8 L12 vs. AL

-- White Sox beat Tigers, 6-3 on Thursday
-- Phillies beat Nationals, 3-1 on Thursday

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cardinals (55-35) at Cubs (41-49)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: July 12, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


While the St. Louis Cardinals sit atop the NL Central and the Chicago Cubs find themselves near the bottom, manager Dale Sveum's club isn't to be overlooked.

The Cubs try to keep rolling Friday when they continue a four-game set against the visiting Cardinals, who could be without Matt Holliday.

Fourth-place Chicago (41-49) has won five of six and 16 of 27 after taking Thursday's opener 3-0. Edwin Jackson threw seven strong innings while Anthony Rizzo went 2 for 3 and drove in all the runs.

The Cubs have allowed three runs or fewer in each of their last five wins.

"Hopefully, this is (a sign of) things to come in the second half," said Rizzo, who is 5 for 11 in the last three games and leads the team with 54 RBIs.

Thursday's loss, meanwhile, may have come at a cost for St. Louis (55-35), which saw Holliday exit with a tight right hamstring after grounding out in the fourth.

"I think I'll have a better feel for what it looks like (Friday)," said Holliday, who despite going 0 for 2 is batting .377 with five homers, 10 RBIs and 14 runs in his last 17 games in the series. "And hopefully, it will be day to day and I'll be able to use the (All-Star) break, and it will be all right."

The Cardinals, who lost for the first time in six games, have dropped six of eight on the road.

They will try to bounce back against scheduled starter Carlos Villanueva (2-4, 3.63 ERA), who had pitched out of the bullpen for six weeks before returning to the rotation Sunday in a 4-3, 11-inning win over Pittsburgh. The right-hander allowed one run and three hits but was removed after four innings.

"You always don't dwell too much about (returning to the rotation)," he told MLB's official website. "You've got to get people out whenever you put me in."

Villanueva, who has gone 2-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 14 games - six starts - during the day, is 2-0 with a 4.01 ERA in his last four starts against the Cardinals. He yielded three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings in a 5-4 defeat to St. Louis on May 8.

Holliday is 4 for 13 with two homers against Villanueva, but Yadier Molina is 4 for 21. Molina is hitless in his last 13 at_bats overall.

The Cardinals counter with Joe Kelly (0-3, 4.15), who has mostly been used as a long reliever. The right-hander allowed four runs in six innings Saturday in a 5-4 walkoff win over Miami.

"I felt good. Made a couple bad pitches, especially the homers," said Kelly, who was taken deep twice. "Those pitches, I make those down and they're going to be outs. … I'm not terribly disappointed, but I'm not too happy. I mean, we won. The walkoff was awesome, but I'd like to be a little better next time."

Kelly's only other start this year came in a 10-3 loss to Arizona on June 5, when he allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings.

In his lone start versus Chicago, Kelly permitted three runs in 6 1-3 innings in a 3-2 loss at Wrigley Field last July.

Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano is mired in a 1-for-20 slump against the Cardinals.

St. Louis' Allen Craig is batting .415 with four homers and 19 RBIs in his last 19 games.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cardinals at Cubs
Thu, Jul 11 Final 0 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cardinals at Cubs
Fri, Jul 12 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Cardinals at Cubs
Sat, Jul 13 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 4
Cardinals at Cubs
Sun, Jul 14 - 8:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jays (44-47) at Orioles (51-42)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: July 12, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Stuck in last place in the AL East, manager John Gibbons expressed concern following the Toronto Blue Jays' latest loss.

He knows things aren't about to get any easier with a visit to Camden Yards.

The Blue Jays try to get back on track Friday night when they open a three-game set against Chris Davis and the Baltimore Orioles.

After posting 11 consecutive victories, Toronto (44-47) has lost 11 of 17 to fall three games back under .500. The Blue Jays went 5 for 28 with runners in scoring position while dropping two of three at Cleveland, falling 4-2 in Thursday's finale.

"We didn't hit a home run in the series," said Gibbons, whose team is 12-22 when failing to homer. "When you look at it, when we win, we hit home runs. Our bats have gone cold in the last week. We've had some spurts but overall we're not swinging it real well."

Jose Bautista is mired in a 2-for-19 slump and Edwin Encarnacion is 2 for his last 18.

"Those are the guys the team revolves around but two guys can't do it all the time," Gibbons said.

Toronto is now 11 1/2 games behind East-leading Boston, and Gibbons believes his team is in danger of falling out of contention.

"We're right on that edge," he told MLB's official website. "We have to start winning some games. We have three more before the break, but Baltimore has a pretty darn good team, too, and it's in their home park."

While the Blue Jays have taken four straight from the Orioles (51-42), they've dropped nine of 12 in Baltimore since the start of last season.

Manger Buck Showalter's club is coming off its 18th home win in 25 tries, 3-1 over Texas on Thursday. Davis snapped an 0-for-17 skid with his major league-leading 34th homer and Brian Roberts also went deep.

Davis, who drove in his 86th run, has already surpassed his previous career highs of 33 homers and 85 RBIs set last season. His home run total is the highest in baseball before the All-Star break since 2001, when Barry Bonds had 39 and Luis Gonzalez hit 35.

"We know he's talented, but to have 34 and 86 before the break is just crazy," Roberts said of Davis, who is batting .380 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs in his last 26 games versus Toronto. "It's been fun to watch."

The Orioles now turn to Chris Tillman (10-3, 3.92 ERA), whose seven-game winning streak was snapped Saturday in a 5-4 loss at Yankee Stadium. The right-hander yielded five runs and a career worst-tying 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings

Tillman is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in his last three starts versus Toronto. Bautista is 6 for 15 with two homers in their matchups, and Encarnacion is 4 for his last 9.

The Blue Jays counter with Mark Buehrle (5-5, 4.50), who has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last six starts. The left-hander threw seven innings of six-hit ball to beat Minnesota 4-0 last Friday.

Buehrle is 7-5 with a 2.97 ERA in 16 career starts against the Orioles, but he hasn't faced them since 2011. Nick Markakis is 13 for 31 with two homers in their matchups, and Davis and Nolan Reimold are a combined 9 for 18, each taking him deep once.

Blue Jays reliever Steve Delabar will join Bautista, Encarnacion and fellow reliever Brett Cecil at Tuesday's All-Star game after winning the AL final vote. Delabar is 5-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 37 relief appearances.

Bautista is a career .179 hitter at Camden Yards, his lowest average at any AL ballpark.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blue Jays at Orioles
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Blue Jays at Orioles
Sat, Jul 13 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Orioles
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:35PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (53-39) at Tigers (50-41)
Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: July 12, 2013 7:08 PM EDT


The starters in the opener of this three-game series between the Detroit Tigers and visiting Texas Rangers have ERAs of at least 7.00 over their last four outings.

That's good news for sluggers such as Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez of Detroit and Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz of Texas - all of whom are surging.

The Tigers' Doug Fister and the Rangers' Justin Grimm form a matchup of struggling right-handers that figure to be hard-pressed to end their woes Friday night.

Fister (6-5, 4.07 ERA) has gone 0-1 with a 7.66 ERA over his last four outings while Grimm (7-6, 5.88) is 2-1 with a 7.00 mark in that same span.

Fister gave up exactly six runs for the third time in four outings Sunday and walked a season-high three over six innings, although he escaped without a decision in a 9-6 loss at Cleveland.

"I've got to fix that," Fister told the Tigers' official website. "I can't do that. I have to attack guys like I've done in the past."

Grimm allowed four runs over four innings of a 5-4 victory over Houston on Sunday. He has a 9.00 ERA over his last seven outings, surrendering 10 homers in 33 innings.

Fister has gone 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA in eight starts against Texas (53-39). Beltre is 8 for 17 against him and Cruz 8 for 19.

Beltre is batting .451 with six homers and 12 RBIs during a 13-game hitting streak while Cruz is at .340 with two home runs and 10 RBIs over his last 12 contests.

Grimm allowed two runs over 6 2-3 innings to earn a 7-2 victory over Detroit on May 18. His only other start against the Tigers came in his second major league appearance, as he gave up six runs and was chased in the second inning of an 8-2 defeat June 25, 2012.

Cabrera is 3 for 5 against Grimm and Martinez has a double in two at_bats.

Cabrera is hitting .398 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs over his last 25 contests while Martinez is batting .453 during a 13-game streak.

The Rangers took three of four from the Tigers (50-41) from May 16-19. Beltre went 8 for 16, Elvis Andrus was 7 for 16 and Mitch Moreland drove in a team-high six runs. Moreland, though, is 1 for 12 against Fister.

Cruz is hitting .241 with one home run in 14 games against the Tigers since homering six times and driving in 13 runs in the 2011 ALCS.

Cabrera, the first player to reach 30 homers and 90 RBIs before the All-Star break, is 9 for 16 with team highs of three homers and six RBIs in this season series.

The Tigers have dropped five of six at home after losing two of three to the White Sox this week.

The Rangers scored 16 runs in winning the first two games in Baltimore this week before totaling two in dropping the final two of the set.

"To split after winning the first two games is not the way we wanted to go," infielder Ian Kinsler told the Rangers' official website.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Tigers
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 2
Rangers at Tigers
Sat, Jul 13 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Rangers at Tigers
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:08PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Twins (37-52) at Yankees (50-42)
Game: 1
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 12, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Derek Jeter donned his customary pinstripes for the first time in nine months and immediately contributed to a New York Yankees offense that seems rejuvenated after a short slump.

The captain's solid history at the plate against Minnesota may be an indication that will continue as New York seeks a fifth straight victory over the struggling Twins on Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

Jeter fractured his left ankle in Game 1 of the AL championship series against Detroit on Oct. 13. After an arduous rehabilitation process that included a setback in April when he fractured the ankle again, he had an infield single on the first pitch he saw and added an RBI groundout while making his season debut as the designated hitter in Thursday's 8-4 win over Kansas City.

``I was nervous going into the game,' Jeter said.

He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning because of a tight right quadriceps, but that shouldn't keep him out of the lineup Friday.

``Jete thinks he'll be ready to play," manager Joe Girardi said.

Neither Girardi nor Jeter believe the minor injury was from rushing back too quickly.

``I think Derek would run himself out there the next 70 games if it was up to him,' Girardi said. ``I mean, that's just who he is. He expects to play every day. So from that standpoint I think we have to guard against rushing him back too much, and we have to pick days off, and we have to pick DH days.

"In the perfect world, you have a month of spring training, but this has not been a perfect world around here this year.'

The Yankees (50-42) scored eight times for the second straight game after finishing with one run in losing each of their previous three. They'll look to continue their hot hitting with the help of Jeter, who is batting .326, including the postseason, in his career versus Minnesota and .351 in the Bronx.

New York did just fine without him, though, the last time it faced the Twins, scoring 29 runs in a four-game sweep July 1-4. It has won seven of the last eight meetings with Minnesota, which will try to avoid a sixth straight defeat after falling 4-3 to Tampa Bay on Thursday.

The Twins (37-52) were no-hit until the sixth and finished with just four while losing for the 11th time in 12 tries.

"We've still got to put the ball in play better than we did the last couple of days, and that really affected the outcomes of games (during the four-game sweep),' manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Minnesota will try to bounce back against Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (7-6, 2.77 ERA), who has pitched at least seven innings without allowing a run five times. The right-hander gave up three hits in seven scoreless innings before Mariano Rivera allowed a two-run, ninth-inning homer to Adam Jones in a 2-1 loss to Baltimore on Sunday.

It was the second time in those five outings Kuroda lost a potential victory due to a blown save by Rivera.

Kuroda will be opposed by Scott Diamond (5-8, 5.52), who had one of his better outings July 1 when he gave up three runs while striking out five in 6 2-3 innings before Minnesota fell 10-4 to the Yankees.

Things didn't go so well for him Sunday, when he allowed six runs in 4 2-3 innings of an 11-5 loss to Toronto. The left-hander allowed three homers and has given up eight over his last four starts after permitting seven through his first 12.

Diamond is 1-4 with a 7.03 ERA over his last six outings.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Twins at Yankees
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Twins at Yankees
Sat, Jul 13 - 1:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Twins at Yankees
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Royals (43-46) at Indians (48-44)
Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: July 12, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


After getting back on track with a series win, the Cleveland Indians would love to push the Kansas City Royals further behind them in the AL Central.

The Indians go for their fourth win in six games Friday night when they take on the Royals in the opener of a three-game series at Progressive Field.

Following four straight losses and six in eight games, Cleveland (48-44) bounced back with an 4-2 victory over Toronto on Thursday to take two of three in that set.

Rookie Danny Salazar allowed one run and two hits over six innings, lowering the ERA of Cleveland's rotation to 2.05 over the last five games. The Indians' starters had a 9.00 ERA during the team's recent four-game skid.

Corey Kluber (6-5, 4.23 ERA) will try to continue that trend Friday. Since posting a 1.66 ERA while winning three consecutive starts from June 11-22, the right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.61 ERA in his last three.

The best outing of that stretch, though, came Sunday, as Kluber matched a career high with 10 strikeouts and yielded two runs over 6 1-3 innings in a 9-6 win over Detroit.

He'll face the Royals for the third time this season after going 1-0 while giving up six runs and 11 hits over 12 1-3 innings in his previous two starts - both Indians victories.

Alex Gordon became the ninth Royals player to hit two grand slams in a season when he connected off Kluber in Cleveland's 6-5 win in Kansas City on July 2. The left fielder has three hits - two home runs - in nine at_bats in this matchup.

Eric Hosmer's only hit in eight at_bats against Kluber left the park, but he's batting .389 with five home runs in his last 13 games overall.

"I'm not really doing anything different right now," Hosmer told the team's official website. "I'm just trying to stay consistent with the work I'm doing."

The Royals (43-46) had a pair of early three-run leads Thursday before losing 8-4 to the Yankees and settling for a split of that four-game series.

Kansas City will try to pull within 2 1/2 games of the second-place Indians by handing the ball to Bruce Chen (3-0, 2.41), who replaces struggling right-hander Luis Mendoza in the rotation. The lefty makes his first start after going 11-14 with a 5.07 ERA in 34 starts for the Royals in 2012.

Chen has pitched well in Cleveland, going 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts since 2010.

Michael Brantley should be happy to see Chen again since he's 9 for 14 lifetime in this matchup. The left fielder is also hitting .396 in his last 12 games against the Royals.

Teammate Asdrubal Cabrera, who hit his seventh homer Thursday, is batting a team-best .370 - including 4 for 7 with runners in scoring position - in this season series.

The teams have split 10 meetings, though Cleveland took two of three at home June 17-19.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Royals at Indians
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Royals at Indians
Sat, Jul 13 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Royals at Indians
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: White Sox (36-53) at Phillies (46-47)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: July 12, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Chicago White Sox have had a miserable season - particularly offensively - but their lineup seemed to find a groove while winning a road series this week.

Chicago will try to continue its hot hitting against a rookie pitcher who's been on a run of his own lately, as Jonathan Pettibone looks to win his third straight start when the Philadelphia Phillies host the White Sox on Friday night.

Chicago is second-to-last in baseball with 336 runs, and its .301 on-base percentage and .384 slugging percentage are also near the bottom.

The last-place White Sox (36-53), though, scored 22 runs while taking two of three from AL Central-leading Detroit, winning 6-3 on Thursday behind Josh Phegley's grand slam. The homer was Phegley's third in five games since making his big league debut.

Chicago hit .358 for the series, bolstered by Alex Rios' 6-for-6 performance in an 11-4 victory Tuesday. Alejandro De Aza was 7 for 14 and scored five runs while Dayan Viciedo drove in five.

The 22 runs were the most Chicago has scored in a series this year.

"You just keep going. It's a good feeling," manager Robin Ventura told the team's official website. "As low as it has been, you can have a series like this and beat a really good team."

Pettibone (5-3, 3.84 ERA) has posted a 2.35 ERA in his last four starts and won the past two, matching a season high with six strikeouts in each. He limited the Braves to one run over 5 1-3 innings of a 7-3 win Sunday.

The right-hander has had mixed results in two interleague starts, posting a 1-1 record and 4.63 ERA.

John Danks (0-2, 4.15) has gone 1-2 in his last three starts despite a 2.53 ERA in that span. Danks, who gave up three runs in seven innings of a 3-1 road loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday, has received six runs of support in the three games.

Danks has gone 7-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 19 career interleague starts, but 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in three such outings this season.

The left-hander takes on a Phillies team that just took three of four at home from Washington, capped by a 3-1 win Thursday. Philadelphia (46-47) is on the verge of being .500 for the first time since it was 31-31 on June 7.

"It's a big win for us," said Kyle Kendrick, who gave up one run in seven innings.

Left-handed hitting Ben Revere, who went 2 for 4 on Thursday and is batting .436 during a nine-game hit streak, has a .455 average against lefties in his last 11 games. He's batting .362 against those pitchers this season.

Delmon Young, 0 for 3 for a second straight game, is batting .372 with two homers and four doubles off Danks.

The status of the White Sox's Alexei Ramirez is uncertain after he left Thursday's game with a cramp in his right leg. Ramirez, who has started all 89 games this season, is 7 for 18 over his last four contests.

"I'm going to wait until tomorrow, but I always come to the park to play," he told the team's official website. "I feel good after I got treatment and stuff like that."


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Phillies
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
White Sox at Phillies
Sat, Jul 13 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Phillies
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:35PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mets (40-48) at Pirates (54-36)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: July 12, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Pittsburgh Pirates' offense finally got in gear to back up another brilliant starting pitching performance.

Getting anything going against Jeremy Hefner could prove to be far more difficult.

The Pirates will try to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two weeks Friday night against a resurgent New York Mets team going for its first five-game road winning streak in nearly two years.

Limited to six runs while losing four straight - and the NL Central lead to St. Louis - Pittsburgh (54-36) pounded out 12 hits in Wednesday's 5-0 victory over AL West-leading Oakland.

The Pirates' 5-for-9 effort with runners in scoring position was a welcome change - the team is batting just .232 in those situations - but Francisco Liriano continued what's been a dominant run of Pittsburgh starts with seven strong innings. The Pirates, owners of the majors' best ERA at 3.09, have had just one starter in the last 25 games give up more than three runs.

That happened the last time Charlie Morton (1-2, 3.38 ERA) took the ball.

Making his fifth start since coming off the DL following right elbow surgery, the right-hander made it through six innings for the first time but surrendered a pair of two-run homers in Saturday's 4-1 road loss to the Cubs.

"What I need to do and what I do well usually is keep the ball in the park and I didn't do that,' said Morton, who hadn't allowed a homer in his first four starts.

Morton, 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA in two home starts against New York, will face a Mets team that's eyeing a season high-tying fifth consecutive victory after finishing off a three-game sweep with Wednesday's 7-2 win at San Francisco.

Marlon Byrd homered for the second straight game, Daniel Murphy and John Buck each drove in a pair while All-Star third baseman David Wright extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

The Mets (40-48) are averaging 6.8 runs while winning five of six on their trip. Their last five-game road winning streak was July 25-29, 2011.

Hefner (4-6, 3.39) could help New York equal that run considering the way he's been dealing. After going 0-5 with a 4.50 ERA in his first seven starts, Hefner has a major league-best 1.64 ERA since June 4.

He's yielded one earned run in six of seven starts during that stretch.

"We made a mechanical adjustment a couple months ago, toward the end of May," Hefner told the Mets' official website after striking out a career high-tying eight and throwing seven innings of one-run ball in Sunday's 2-1 win over Milwaukee. "I have a little more deceptiveness, and the velocity's gone up a little bit. Playing great defense and we're scoring runs."

Hefner didn't need much support in his only previous outing against Pittsburgh, going seven innings in a 6-0 home win Sept. 26.

The Mets were outscored 21-7 by the visiting Pirates while losing the last three of a four-game series in May.

Third baseman Pedro Alvarez, 6 for 11 with a homer and four RBIs in those contests, is batting .343 with three home runs and seven RBIs as Pittsburgh has dropped six of nine since ending June on a nine-game winning streak. Alvarez, among the NL home run leaders with 23, was initially left off the Home Run Derby roster by Wright, the league's captain, but was selected Thursday to replace Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez.

Fellow All-Star Andrew McCutchen, who's batting .406 this month, drove in half of the Pirates' eight runs as they dropped two of three in the Mets' last visit May 21-23, 2012.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mets at Pirates
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Mets at Pirates
Sat, Jul 13 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Mets at Pirates
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:35PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Nationals (47-45) at Marlins (33-57)
Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: July 12, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Stephen Strasburg earned the win over the weekend despite delivering a lackluster performance.

While Strasburg has experienced a few hiccups against the Miami Marlins over his career, he has mostly had their number.

Strasburg and the visiting Washington Nationals look to continue their recent success against the Marlins in the opener of a three-game set Friday night.

Strasburg (5-6, 2.45 ERA) had gone 3-1 with a 1.41 ERA over an eight-start stretch before yielding four runs in six innings against San Diego on Sunday. The Nationals (47-45), though, backed him with a career-high 11 runs of support in an 11-7 victory.

"He was battling," manager Davey Johnson said of Strasburg, who struck out a season high-tying nine. "I thought he threw good. Sometimes he fights himself ... seems like the last couple of weeks he's been snake bit."

The right-hander has received fewer than three runs of support in 12 of 17 starts.

"It's good to put runs up there on the board for Stras," said left fielder Bryce Harper, batting .373 with six homers, nine RBIs and 11 runs in his last 12 games against the Marlins.

Strasburg threw seven innings of three-hit ball to beat Miami 2-0 on opening day, improving to 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 10 career meetings. While he has allowed 18 runs over 12 1-3 innings in three of those outings, Strasburg has posted a 0.21 ERA in the others.

Strasburg has had difficulty against slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who is 6 for 16 with a homer and four doubles in their matchups.

Owner of the NL's worst record, Miami (33-57) had been limited to 12 runs during a five-game losing streak before beating Atlanta 6-2 on Wednesday. Placido Polanco had three hits and a season-high three RBIs while Stanton, who entered the game in a 3-for-26 slump, went 1 for 2 with a two-run double and career high-tying three walks.

"That's a great sign," manager Mike Redmond said of Stanton. "He's such a big presence in that lineup. You can see how in situations they start pitching around him, but when he stays in the zone and handles the pitches he knows he's capable of handling, he can dominate a game."

Stanton went 14 for 32 with five homers, four doubles and 12 RBIs in his final eight games against the Nationals in 2012, but he is 1 for 9 in three this year. The Marlins have hit .204 and scored 13 runs while dropping five of six in the series.

Miami gives the ball to Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 2.55), who goes for his fifth quality start in as many tries since coming off the disabled list. The right-hander allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings Saturday in a 5-4 loss at St. Louis.

Set to make his first appearance versus Washington, Eovaldi will need to be careful against Jayson Werth, who is 14 for 26 with two homers during an eight-game hitting streak.

While Werth went 2 for 4 on Thursday, the Nationals were limited to five hits in a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia. Hitting a major league-worst .216 on the road, Washington has dropped 17 of 26 away from home.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Nationals at Marlins
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Nationals at Marlins
Sat, Jul 13 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Nationals at Marlins
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Astros (32-59) at Rays (53-40)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: July 12, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Tampa Bay Rays are capitalizing on a favorable portion of their schedule.

Giving the ball to David Price could help them continue their winning ways.

The left-hander goes for his third consecutive victory - and second over the major league-worst Houston Astros - since returning from the disabled list when the Rays go for their first nine-game winning streak in nine seasons Friday night.

Tampa Bay has won 12 of 13 to move a season-best 13 games over .500. Its last 11 games have come against the AL's three worst teams - Houston (32-59), Chicago and Minnesota.

The Rays (53-40) have a chance for their longest undefeated stretch since a franchise-record 12-game surge June 9-22, 2004. They're averaging 5.2 runs in the last 13 games, with their starters posting a 2.13 ERA.

"It's simple, age-tested formula," manager Joe Maddon said after Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Twins. "We pitched well, we caught it and got some clutch hits. There's a lot of belief within the group."

That confidence is even higher with Price (3-4, 4.18 ERA) winning both of his starts after missing nearly seven weeks with a triceps strain. The reigning AL Cy Young winner needed just 98 pitches to throw a complete game in Sunday's 3-1 victory over the White Sox.

"I felt better five days ago," Price told the Rays' official website, referring to an 8-0 victory at Houston on July 2 when he struck out a season-high 10 in seven innings. "My fastball location was still there. If I can have command of that pitch, I feel like I can be successful at this level."

Standing in the way of the Rays' 10th consecutive home win is an Astros team that's dropped 15 of 21, including three of four at home to Tampa Bay from July 1-4.

Houston continues its eight-game trip with Jarred Cosart slated to make his major league debut. The right-hander, acquired from Philadelphia in the 2011 Hunter Pence deal, was 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

"I don't know much about the Rays, but I know (All-Star catcher Jason) Castro is great with scouting reports and (pitching coach Doug Brocail) and those guys will help me do what I need to do," Cosart told MLB's official website.

Cosart can't expect much support with the Astros hitting .209 and averaging 3.4 runs during a 2-10 stretch. Jose Altuve, the team's leading hitter at .284, is batting .213 over those 12 games, while Chris Carter, Brandon Barnes, Matt Dominguez and Castro are hitting a combined .174 with 46 strikeouts.

However, Brett Wallace is batting .417 with two homers and six RBIs over the last six games after setting a career high with four hits in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to St. Louis.

He matched Carter with team highs of two homers and four RBIs against Tampa Bay earlier this month.

"(Wallace is) staying on the ball and hitting with a lot of confidence right now," manager Bo Porter said.

So is Rays designated hitter Luke Scott, who's batting .458 with two homers during a seven-game hitting streak.

Desmond Jennings had eight hits in the series in Houston and drove in a career high-tying four runs July 2 to back up Price, who improved to 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Astros - both in Houston.

The Astros took two of three in their only series visiting the Rays from June 20-22, 2008.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Astros at Rays
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Astros at Rays
Sat, Jul 13 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Astros at Rays
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Reds (51-41) at Braves (53-39)
Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: July 12, 2013 7:30 PM EDT


As Freddie Freeman continues to show why he's headed to the All-Star game, another of Atlanta's talented young players is again faced with missing time due to his health.

While Freeman looks to stay hot, Jason Heyward will sit Friday night when the Braves face the visiting Cincinnati Reds.

Hours after Freeman held off Los Angeles rookie phenom Yasiel Puig to win the fan voting for the final spot on NL All-Star roster, the first baseman had three hits and four RBIs in a 6-5 win over Cincinnati (51-41) on Thursday.

"He's riding high,' Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "The All-Star selection, he has everything going for him right now. It's probably a pleasure and a joy to be Freddie Freeman right now.'

Among the major league leaders with 60 RBIs, Freeman has batted .351 with 12 RBIs in his last 15 contests for the NL East-leading Braves (53-39). He's 7 for 16 with seven RBIs in four games versus Cincinnati after going 1 for 15 in his previous four.

Heyward singled in two at_bats in the series opener but left when he strained his hamstring sliding into third base. Struggling with a .227 average, seven homers and 21 RBIs, Heyward is expected to be re-evaluated Friday.

"No pop. Just pain,' said Heyward, who missed 22 games earlier this season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

Winners of four of six, the Braves hand the ball Kris Medlen (6-8, 3.45 ERA). The right-hander posted a 2.50 ERA while going 5-1 in six previous starts before allowing a career-high seven runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 7-3 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday.

He has the same 3-4 record at home and away, but has a 2.83 ERA at Turner Field compared to 4.04 on the road.

Medlen gave up two runs in seven innings and didn't get a decision in a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati on May 7.

The Reds' Bronson Arroyo (7-7, 3.55) has a much bigger disparity between home and away starts, going 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 12 starts at Great American Ball Park and 1-5 with a 5.70 ERA in six on the road. He's allowed 12 runs and three homers over 9 2-3 innings while dropping his last two away from home.

Arroyo's past two starts came at home, as he posted a 3.00 ERA while splitting those decisions. The right-hander gave up three runs on two homers in six innings of a 3-1 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

He's 0-1 with a 5.91 ERA in his last four starts against Atlanta. Arroyo yielded four runs in five innings of a 7-4 loss to the Braves on May 6.

Brandon Phillips had two hits with two RBIs and Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting streak to nine games with two more Thursday for Cincinnati, loser of four of five overall and six of eight at Turner Field.

Choo has batted .405 in his last nine and is 1 for 3 with a homer off Medlen.

Atlanta's Justin Upton is 8 for 17 with five doubles and six RBIs in his past four games, and 6 for his last 13 versus Arroyo.


---------------------------------------------------------


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Reds at Braves
Thu, Jul 11 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Reds at Braves
Fri, Jul 12 - 7:30PM EDT

GAME 3
Reds at Braves
Sat, Jul 13 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Reds at Braves
Sun, Jul 14 - 1:35PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Brewers (37-54) at Diamondbacks (48-44)
Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: July 12, 2013 9:40 PM EDT


After finally recording his 10th win, Patrick Corbin can focus solely on trying to help the Arizona Diamondbacks remain atop the NL West.

The All-Star left-hander looks to lead the Diamondbacks to a fifth consecutive victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Corbin (10-1, 2.40 ERA) went 9-0 with a 2.06 ERA in his first 11 starts and 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA over the next six. He allowed a home run and two other hits while striking out 10 in eight innings of a 6-1 win over Colorado on Sunday.

He joins Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Brandon Webb as the only Arizona pitchers with at least 10 wins prior to the All-Star break.

"He deserved it a long time ago,' Arizona catcher Miguel Montero said. "He should be 15-0, to be honest.

"I'm pretty sure there's a lot of weight off his shoulders to get that 10th win."

Corbin is now focused on trying to help the Diamondbacks (48-44) build on Thursday's 5-3 comeback win over Milwaukee.

"Look, I'm trying to win every game I go out there," he said. "I got No. 10 (Sunday) and I'll aim for No. 11 the next time I go out there."

In his only start against the Brewers on April 6, Corbin gave up two runs in six innings of a 9-2 road victory.

He won't have to worry about facing Milwaukee star Ryan Braun, who will miss at least two more games after being placed on bereavement leave for a family medical issue.

"There's a chance he will miss the whole series," manager Ron Roenicke told the Brewers' official website.

It's the latest setback for the former NL MVP, who played one game after coming off the disabled list Tuesday following missing a month with a thumb injury. He's also dealing with the distraction of possibly facing a suspension for allegedly failing to cooperate with MLB's investigation of the Biogenesis case.

Without Braun on Thursday, Milwaukee (37-54) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on home runs by Jonathan Lucroy and All-Star Carlos Gomez, but Arizona rallied to snap a three-game slide. Arizona's Martin Prado had two hits, including the tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth.

"What it really comes down to his they got a big hit and we didn't," said Roenicke, whose team has been outscored 25-13 while going 0-4 against the Diamondbacks in 2013.

Prado has batted .350 with 10 RBIs in his last 15 games.

Milwaukee's Norichika Aoki has batted .415 in nine games this month, while Gomez's solo shot is his only hit in the last 20 at_bats.

Tom Gorzelanny (1-2, 2.12) makes his second straight start after allowing two unearned runs and striking out eight without a walk in a 2-1 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday. The left-hander, who filled in to give Wily Peralta extra time to heal a strained left hamstring, has split his two spot starts this season while yielding one earned run in 10 innings.

"Obviously (starting is) something I've done most of my career and I enjoy it, but I'm here to do whatever they need me to do," he said. "Start again or go back to the bullpen, I'm happy with whatever.'

Gorzelanny has gone 3-1 with a 4.63 ERA in six starts against the Diamondbacks, last facing them in 2010.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Thu, Jul 11 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Fri, Jul 12 - 9:40PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Sat, Jul 13 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Sun, Jul 14 - 4:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Red Sox (57-37) at Athletics (54-38)
Game: 1
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: July 12, 2013 10:05 PM EDT


After a disappointing start, John Lackey feels like he's throwing the ball as well as any time during his successful career.

The right-hander hopes for another strong start while trying to help the Boston Red Sox avoid a seventh consecutive road loss to the Oakland Athletics in a matchup of division leaders Friday night.

Returning from elbow surgery that erased his entire 2012 season and a biceps strain that sidelined him for most of April, Lackey started 1-4 with a 4.05 ERA. Since then, he's 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 10 starts.

"It's probably the best first half I've had," said the 34-year-old Lackey, who possibly forgot about going 11-5 with a 2.91 ERA before the break in 2007.

Lackey (6-6, 2.80) lost for the first time in seven starts Sunday, allowing two solo homers among five hits and striking out nine in seven innings of a 3-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.

"John's pitching as well as he has I think at any point in time in his career - and that's not to shortchange anything he did early on," manager John Farrell said. "But he's in a very good place right now."

Lackey is 18-6 with a 2.91 ERA in 33 starts against the Athletics (54-38), going 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 17 outings in Oakland. He's dropped two straight there despite a 2.77 ERA.

The AL East-leading Red Sox (57-37) scored 30 runs to win the final three of a four-game set at Seattle, coming away with an 8-7, 10-inning victory Thursday after trailing by four runs early.

"We continue to grind away and play it right to the last out," Farrell said.

Boston took two of three at home from the A's in May but has dropped 16 of 20 at Oakland and been outscored 45-10 during its slide there.

Jacoby Ellsbury is batting .413 with two homers and 11 RBIs during his AL-high 19-game hitting streak, but he's 4 for 34 in his last nine at Oakland.

Teammate Daniel Nava's only hit in six at_bats Thursday drove home the go-ahead run with two outs in the 10th. He's hit .375 in his last seven games but is 3 for 17 on the road against the A's.

Owner of a one-game lead over Texas in the AL West, Oakland has won 10 of 14 overall and 18 of 22 at home. The A's lost 5-0 at Pittsburgh on Wednesday to conclude a 4-2 trip.

Coco Crisp had three hits in that game but is batting .156 (5 for 32) with two homers against Lackey.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson went 5 for 9 with three doubles and four RBIs at Boston in May.

Scheduled Oakland starter Jarrod Parker (6-6, 4.04) went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA against the Red Sox last season.

The right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.24 ERA in his last eight starts, but the A's have totaled seven runs while losing his last three. After leaving his previous outing with hamstring tightness, Parker allowed three runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 4-3 loss at Kansas City on Saturday.

"I'm semi-happy with the health stuff," Parker told the Athletics' official website. "It felt OK. I'd be lying if I told you it didn't affect my stuff though."

---------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Athletics
Fri, Jul 12 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Red Sox at Athletics
Sat, Jul 13 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Red Sox at Athletics
Sun, Jul 14 - 4:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Angels (44-46) at Mariners (40-52)
Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: July 12, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


Seattle Mariners starter Joe Saunders is still looking for his first victory over his first major-league club, although that's not entirely his fault.

He's enjoyed success against several of the Los Angeles Angels' stars, and has shut down Josh Hamilton this season after previously struggling in those matchups.

Hamilton, however, is heating up with four homers and 10 RBIs over his last six games for the visiting Angels heading into Friday night's opener against Saunders and the Mariners.

Saunders (7-8, 4.51 ERA), who pitched for the Angels from 2005-10, is 0-2 in two starts against them despite a 1.93 ERA.

"I've pitched well against them, just came up on the short end a couple times," Saunders told the Mariners' official website. "It was a couple 'hang-with-'em' starts. But that's OK. As long as I keep the team in the game, I'm doing my job."

Both previous outings were in Anaheim. He's 10-3 with a 2.80 ERA in 17 career starts at Safeco Field, although he is 1-3 with a 7.45 ERA in his last four there.

Saunders has yielded two earned runs over 13 2-3 innings in winning his first two July outings - both on the road.

The left-hander has held Albert Pujols hitless in eight at_bats and limited Mike Trout to a double in seven, while Hamilton is 4 for 13 with a homer against him.

Hamilton, however, is 0 for 3 against Saunders this year while hitting an AL-low .151 against lefties. The left fielder has put together a solid six-game stretch capped by his first multihomer effort with the Angels (44-46) in Wednesday's 13-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.

"I'm sort of just getting back to doing what you do and quit worrying about listening to everybody," said Hamilton, who drove in a season-high five runs. "Listen to the guys here I really care about, the coaches and the players, and go from there."

Pujols and Hamilton hit back-to-back homers for the first time as the Angels won their 11th in 14 games.

"Those are two guys who are critical to where we want to be," manager Mike Scioscia told the Angels' official website. "And to see those guys have such good nights in the same game - I hope we see more of it."

Trout is 11 for 25 during a seven-game hitting streak, and he's 17 for 37 with seven RBIs and seven runs scored against Seattle (40-52) this year, helping Los Angeles win six of 10.

Pujols has a team-high nine RBIs versus the Mariners. Alberto Callaspo is 11 for 22 in the season series and 4 for 12 off Saunders.

The Mariners dropped the final three games of a four-game home set with Boston after falling 8-7 in 10 innings Thursday.

Second baseman Nick Franklin missed the game with a sore right knee, but could return Friday.

Endy Chavez, 11 for 33 against the Angels, left in the bottom of the fourth inning with tightness in the right side of his groin.

Kyle Seager is 19 for 43 during an 11-game hitting streak, and 13 for 38 against the Angels in 2013.

Seattle has matched a franchise record by homering in 19 straight games, also doing so from Sept. 7-27, 1999.

The Angels will start Jerome Williams (5-4, 4.16), who is 0-2 with an 8.47 ERA over his last four outings and has failed to last past the fourth inning in the last two.

The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners, pitching eight innings to earn a 12-0 victory May 21.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Angels at Mariners
Fri, Jul 12 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Angels at Mariners
Sat, Jul 13 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Angels at Mariners
Sun, Jul 14 - 4:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rockies (44-49) at Dodgers (46-45)
Game: 2
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: July 12, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


A Colorado Rockies lineup that featured the return of two starters nearly failed to score in the opener of this four-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It likely won't get any easier to get on the board against Clayton Kershaw.

The Dodgers have won five straight and have taken Kershaw's last seven home starts against the Rockies heading into Friday night's matchup.

Colorado (44-49) welcomed back Troy Tulowitzki and Dexter Fowler in Thursday's 6-1 loss. Tulowitzki had been out since June 13 with a fractured rib while Fowler last played June 25 due to a bone bruise in his right hand.

Each went 0 for 4, and the Rockies only avoided a shutout on Carlos Gonzalez's homer in the ninth inning.

Tulowitzki and Fowler have fared well against Kershaw (8-5, 1.89 ERA). Tulowitzki has nine hits in his last 26 at_bats versus the left-hander while Fowler has the most hits of any player against Kershaw, going 15 for 34.

It still figures to be a challenge for the Rockies against the pitcher with the lowest ERA and opponent batting average (.186) in the majors. Kershaw has won a season-high three straight outings, yielding three runs over 25 innings.

The middle game of that run was a four-hitter in an 8-0 victory July 2 at Coors Field.

Kershaw could produce similar results Friday since he's 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA in his last seven home starts against the Rockies - all victories for Los Angeles. He owns baseball's seventh-lowest run support average at 3.25, but could get some more help this time.

The Dodgers (46-45) have to like their chances against Juan Nicasio (4-4, 5.31), who went 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA in his last seven outings before he was sent to the minors June 27. Nicasio went 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two starts at Triple-A Colorado Springs, and the Rockies believe he will fare better now.

"It's throwing strikes, being in good counts, being more efficient," manager Walt Weiss told the Rockies' official website. "It's got to be a put-away pitch, so he doesn't have to deal with extended at_bats. We all know he's got the big arm, but it's a matter of being more efficient and getting strike one."

The right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.22 ERA in six career starts against the Dodgers. Andre Ethier is 7 for 12 against him while Nicasio has yet to face Cuban rookie sensation Yasiel Puig.

Ethier may be back in the lineup after he did not start Thursday, but he will have to begin a new hitting streak. He replaced Puig in center field and had a sacrifice fly in his lone at-bat, which was enough to end a nine-game run in which he went 16 for 38.

Mattingly said Puig had tweaked his left hip in his previous at-bat, so he was removed for precautionary reasons.

"It had been bothering me since I ran into the wall in Colorado,' Puig said through an interpreter.

Mark Ellis had three hits and four RBIs as Los Angeles moved above .500 for the first time since April 15.

Puig, 7 for 17 against Colorado, finished second to Atlanta's Freddie Freeman in fan voting for the final NL All-Star spot.

The Dodgers have won 16 of 19 while the Rockies have dropped eight of 11.

"We're confident and we've got momentum,' Mattingly said. "It's a good time to kind of keep it rolling knowing there are going to be days when it's not like this.'


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Dodgers
Thu, Jul 11 Final 1 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rockies at Dodgers
Fri, Jul 12 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Rockies at Dodgers
Sat, Jul 13 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 4
Rockies at Dodgers
Sun, Jul 14 - 4:10PM EDT