Announcement

**Spark** · 06-08-2004, 09:32 AM

Trends for MLB games on Tuesday, June 8th, 2004

San Diego Padres @ Boston Red Sox
Pedro Martinez is 53 - 22 overall as a favorite at home.
Pedro Martinez has 12 overs, 24 unders, and 1 pushes against total #8805; 8 and total #8804; 8.5 in the current park.
When David Wells is starting, his team is 10 - 6 versus BOS.
David Wells is 11 - 7 against a good run-creating team (#8805; 5 rc/g) as a dog on the road.

Florida Marlins @ Cleveland Indians
Dontrelle Willis has 6 overs, 3 unders, and 0 pushes as favorite on the road.

Atlanta Braves @ Detroit Tigers
Mike Hampton is 9 - 24 against a righthander as a dog on the road.
Jason Johnson is 3 - 7 against a poor run-creating team (#8804; 4.5 rc/g) as a favorite at home.
Mike Hampton is 13 - 29 overall as a dog on the road.

Colorado Rockies @ New York Yankees
Jeff Fassero is 3 - 12 overall as a dog on the road.
Jeff Fassero is 3 - 10 against a righthander as a dog on the road.
Javier Vazquez is 10 - 3 against a lefthander as a favorite at home.
Javier Vazquez is 39 - 20 overall as a favorite at home.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Chicago Cubs
Woody Williams has 0 overs, 5 unders, and 1 pushes against CHC on the road.
When Matt Clement is starting, his team is 2 - 6 versus STL.
Matt Clement is 39 - 21 overall as a favorite at home.
Matt Clement is 34 - 19 against a righthander as a favorite at home.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Chicago White Sox
Mark Buehrle is 34 - 14 overall as a favorite at home.
Mark Buehrle is 26 - 11 against a righthander as a favorite at home.

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Texas Rangers
Joaquin Benoit has 6 overs, 2 unders, and 0 pushes as a favorite at home.
Doug Eddings is 35 - 17 when umpiring where the favorite at home is a good OBP team.
Doug Eddings is 70 - 39 when umpiring as a "homer" for a favorite.
Doug Eddings has 11 overs, 17 unders, and 0 pushes umpiring against total #8805; 10.5 and total #8804; 11.

Montreal Expos @ Kansas City Royals
Tony Armas Jr. is 3 - 13 against ground ball-hitting team as a dog on the road.

New York Mets @ Minnesota Twins
Brad Radke is 2 - 7 this month as a favorite at home.
Brad Radke is 5 - 9 against ground ball-hitting team as a favorite at home.
Tom Glavine is 10 - 6 against a righthander as a dog on the road.

Milwaukee Brewers @ Anaheim Angels
Ben Sheets is 7 - 4 against ground ball-hitting team as a dog on the road.

Houston Astros @ Seattle Mariners
Dale Scott has 0 overs, 6 unders, and 0 pushes umpiring against HOU.
Roger Clemens is 23 - 6 against a good run-creating team (#8805; 5 rc/g) as a favorite on the road.
Roger Clemens is 19 - 6 against a good extrapolated runs team (#8805; 5.1 xr/g) as a favorite on the road.
Roger Clemens is 40 - 17 against a righthander as a favorite on the road.
Roger Clemens is 47 - 25 overall as a favorite on the road.
Dale Scott has 7 overs, 3 unders, and 1 pushes umpiring against SEA.

**Spark** · 06-08-2004, 09:40 AM

ST LOUIS (33 - 24) at CHICAGO CUBS (29 - 27) - 8:05 PM
WOODY WILLIAMS (R) vs. MATT CLEMENT (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 19-7 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
ST LOUIS is 6-1 (+5.0 Units) against the money line in June games this season.
ST LOUIS is 9-3 (+7.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WILLIAMS is 31-10 (+17.4 Units) against the money line when pitching in night games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-99 (-53.2 Units) against the money line in home games in all games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-99 (-53.2 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-99 (-53.2 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1-6 (-6.4 Units) against the money line when playing on Tuesday this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 25-18 (+5.8 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS over the last 3 seasons
22 of 42 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.5 Units, Under=-3.2 Units)

WOODY WILLIAMS vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
WILLIAMS is 2-5 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 4.42 and a WHIP of 1.241.
His team's record is 5-6 (-1.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-7. (-5.2 units)

MATT CLEMENT vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
CLEMENT is 2-3 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 4.50 and a WHIP of 1.428.
His team's record is 3-6 (-3.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-5. (-1.5 units)

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

LOS ANGELES (30 - 24) at TORONTO (25 - 32) - 7:05 PM
HIDEO NOMO (R) vs. TED LILLY (L)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 81-104 (-55.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Tuesday since 1997.
NOMO is 25-12 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in road games in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
NOMO is 9-1 (+7.3 Units) against the money line in June games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
NOMO is 25-12 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
NOMO is 13-5 (+10.8 Units) against the money line in road games when his team is off a loss over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
LILLY is 2-8 (-8.2 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 2-1 (+0.7 Units) against TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.0 Units)

HIDEO NOMO vs. TORONTO since 1997
NOMO is 3-2 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 3.88 and a WHIP of 1.154.
His team's record is 5-5 (-0.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-5. (+0.0 units)

TED LILLY vs. LOS ANGELES since 1997
No recent starts.

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

SAN DIEGO (31 - 25) at BOSTON (33 - 23) - 7:05 PM
DAVID WELLS (L) vs. PEDRO MARTINEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 9-1 (+7.5 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
BOSTON is 9-1 (+7.5 Units) against the money line in home games when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
MARTINEZ is 7-0 (+7.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Tuesday over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
WELLS is 76-37 (+30.3 Units) against the money line in road games in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
WELLS is 76-37 (+30.3 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)
WELLS is 16-4 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in road games when his team is off a win over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BOSTON is 35-40 (-38.5 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -175 to -200 since 1997.
MARTINEZ is 5-9 (-12.4 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -175 to -200 since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 2-1 (+0.7 Units) against SAN DIEGO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.0 Units)

DAVID WELLS vs. BOSTON since 1997
WELLS is 10-6 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 4.62 and a WHIP of 1.504.
His team's record is 13-8 (+2.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 11-10. (+0.1 units)

PEDRO MARTINEZ vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
MARTINEZ is 3-0 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 1.04 and a WHIP of 0.769.
His team's record is 3-0 (+3.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-1. (+1.0 units)

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

COLORADO (21 - 35) at NY YANKEES (35 - 20) - 7:05 PM
JEFF FASSERO (L) vs. JAVIER VAZQUEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 59-130 (-54.8 Units) against the money line in road games in all games over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 13-34 (-18.7 Units) against the money line in road games in an inter-league game since 1997.
COLORADO is 39-90 (-42.4 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 59-130 (-54.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
FASSERO is 3-9 (-8.3 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997. (Team's Record)
FASSERO is 5-14 (-12.5 Units) against the money line in June games since 1997. (Team's Record)
FASSERO is 15-28 (-19.0 Units) against the money line in road games when pitching in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
FASSERO is 1-7 (-7.8 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Tuesday since 1997. (Team's Record)
VAZQUEZ is 15-2 (+11.7 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
NY YANKEES is 2-1 (+0.3 Units) against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.0 Units)

JEFF FASSERO vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
FASSERO is 3-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 5.40 and a WHIP of 1.606.
His team's record is 3-5 (-2.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-4. (-0.7 units)

JAVIER VAZQUEZ vs. COLORADO since 1997
VAZQUEZ is 2-2 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 4.94 and a WHIP of 1.420.
His team's record is 2-4 (-2.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-2. (+0.7 units)

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

ARIZONA (22 - 35) at BALTIMORE (25 - 27) - 7:05 PM
RANDY JOHNSON (L) vs. SIDNEY PONSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 6-21 (-19.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
ARIZONA is 8-21 (-15.5 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Tuesday over the last 3 seasons.
ARIZONA is 38-56 (-30.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
PONSON is 5-1 (+4.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Tuesday over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BALTIMORE is 1-6 (-5.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
PONSON is 4-13 (-12.1 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 since 1997. (Team's Record)
PONSON is 1-5 (-4.6 Units) against the money line when his team is off a win this season. (Team's Record)
PONSON is 4-13 (-12.1 Units) against the money line in home games when the total is 8 to 8.5 since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
BALTIMORE is 1-2 (+0.5 Units) against ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)

RANDY JOHNSON vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
JOHNSON is 1-4 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 4.85 and a WHIP of 1.359.
His team's record is 1-5 (-6.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-3. (-0.6 units)

SIDNEY PONSON vs. ARIZONA since 1997
PONSON is 1-0 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.55 and a WHIP of 1.245.
His team's record is 2-1 (+2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.1 units)

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

FLORIDA (32 - 25) at CLEVELAND (25 - 29) - 7:05 PM
DONTRELLE WILLIS (L) vs. CLIFTON LEE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 78-52 (+30.8 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
FLORIDA is 116-72 (+43.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
WILLIS is 11-3 (+8.2 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
CLEVELAND is 2-13 (-12.7 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
CLEVELAND is 14-29 (-20.9 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 14-29 (-20.9 Units) against the money line in home games when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
FLORIDA is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.0 Units)

DONTRELLE WILLIS vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
No recent starts.

CLIFTON LEE vs. FLORIDA since 1997
No recent starts.

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

ATLANTA (28 - 28) at DETROIT (25 - 31) - 7:05 PM
MIKE HAMPTON (L) vs. JASON JOHNSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 10-20 (-13.9 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Tuesday over the last 3 seasons.
HAMPTON is 1-5 (-4.7 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
ATLANTA is 25-8 (+16.7 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 14-46 (-28.0 Units) against the money line in June games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 2-1 (+0.4 Units) against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.0 Units)

MIKE HAMPTON vs. DETROIT since 1997
HAMPTON is 1-0 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 3.38 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

JASON JOHNSON vs. ATLANTA since 1997
JOHNSON is 1-0 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 5.07 and a WHIP of 1.501.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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

SAN FRANCISCO (29 - 28) at TAMPA BAY (21 - 33) - 7:15 PM
JEROME WILLIAMS (R) vs. DOUG WAECHTER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WILLIAMS is 1-6 (-7.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAN FRANCISCO is 160-95 (+44.8 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN FRANCISCO is 2-1 (+0.0 Units) against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.0 Units)

JEROME WILLIAMS vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
No recent starts.

DOUG WAECHTER vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
No recent starts.

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

PHILADELPHIA (29 - 26) at CHI WHITE SOX (30 - 24) - 8:05 PM
RYAN MADSON (R) vs. MARK BUEHRLE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
BUEHRLE is 10-2 (+6.8 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 to -175 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BUEHRLE is 6-1 (+4.9 Units) against the money line in home games in all games this season. (Team's Record)
BUEHRLE is 6-1 (+4.9 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
BUEHRLE is 6-1 (+4.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season. (Team's Record)
BUEHRLE is 6-0 (+6.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CHI WHITE SOX is 2-1 (+1.1 Units) against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.0 Units)

RYAN MADSON vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
No recent starts.

MARK BUEHRLE vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
BUEHRLE is 1-0 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 1.08 and a WHIP of 0.960.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

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

PITTSBURGH (24 - 30) at TEXAS (31 - 24) - 8:05 PM
OLIVER PEREZ (L) vs. JOAQUIN BENOIT (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 4-0 (+4.1 Units) against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.3 Units)

OLIVER PEREZ vs. TEXAS since 1997
No recent starts.

JOAQUIN BENOIT vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
No recent starts.

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

NY METS (28 - 28) at MINNESOTA (30 - 26) - 8:10 PM
TOM GLAVINE (L) vs. BRAD RADKE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
GLAVINE is 2-8 (-7.2 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
RADKE is 9-1 (+7.8 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
RADKE is 27-10 (+16.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Tuesday since 1997. (Team's Record)
RADKE is 9-1 (+7.8 Units) against the money line in home games when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
GLAVINE is 6-1 (+6.1 Units) against the money line in road games in all games this season. (Team's Record)
GLAVINE is 6-0 (+6.2 Units) against the money line in games played in a dome since 1997. (Team's Record)
GLAVINE is 6-1 (+6.1 Units) against the money line in road games this season. (Team's Record)
RADKE is 0-6 (-8.4 Units) against the money line in June games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 2-1 (+0.6 Units) against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.0 Units)

TOM GLAVINE vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
GLAVINE is 1-0 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.429.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

BRAD RADKE vs. NY METS since 1997
No recent starts.

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

MONTREAL (18 - 37) at KANSAS CITY (20 - 34) - 8:10 PM
TONY ARMAS (R) vs. ZACK GREINKE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MONTREAL is 12-32 (-18.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ARMAS is 10-3 (+7.7 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against KANSAS CITY over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.0 Units)

TONY ARMAS vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
ARMAS is 0-0 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 2.985.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-0. (+0.0 units)

ZACK GREINKE vs. MONTREAL since 1997
No recent starts.

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

HOUSTON (30 - 26) at SEATTLE (22 - 34) - 10:05 PM
ROGER CLEMENS (R) vs. JOEL PINEIRO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEMENS is 3-9 (-11.2 Units) against the money line in road games in an inter-league game since 1997. (Team's Record)
SEATTLE is 5-12 (-14.3 Units) against the money line in home games after shutting out their opponent over the last 3 seasons.
PINEIRO is 1-10 (-11.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
PINEIRO is 1-9 (-10.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
PINEIRO is 0-8 (-10.0 Units) against the money line when pitching in night games this season. (Team's Record)
PINEIRO is 0-6 (-6.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 3-1 (+2.0 Units) against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.0 Units)

ROGER CLEMENS vs. SEATTLE since 1997
CLEMENS is 7-8 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 3.74 and a WHIP of 1.280.
His team's record is 8-10 (-6.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 10-8. (+1.1 units)

JOEL PINEIRO vs. HOUSTON since 1997
PINEIRO is 1-0 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 1.429.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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

CINCINNATI (34 - 23) at OAKLAND (32 - 24) - 10:05 PM
JUNG BONG (L) vs. BARRY ZITO (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 4-0 (+4.0 Units) against CINCINNATI over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.0 Units)

JUNG BONG vs. OAKLAND since 1997
No recent starts.

BARRY ZITO vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
ZITO is 1-0 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 0.571.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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

MILWAUKEE (27 - 27) at ANAHEIM (33 - 23) - 10:05 PM
BEN SHEETS (R) vs. KELVIM ESCOBAR (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 12-2 (+10.6 Units) against the money line in home games after getting shut out over the last 3 seasons.
ESCOBAR is 1-5 (-6.5 Units) against the money line when playing on Tuesday over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.9 Units)

BEN SHEETS vs. ANAHEIM since 1997
SHEETS is 0-1 when starting against ANAHEIM with an ERA of 7.50 and a WHIP of 1.833.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

**Spark** · 06-08-2004, 09:44 AM

Hot Pitchers
-- W.Williams is 2-0, 2.25 in his last two starts, but is 0-1, 7.94 in two starts vs Cubs this season.
-- Randy Johnson is 4-0, 2.96 in his last four starts. Arizona won his last four road starts.
--J. Johnson is 3-1, 3.86 in his last four starts, after they had lost his previous seven starts.
-- Vazquez is 3-0, 4.26 in his last three starts; he has a 2.97 RA in five home outings.
-- Willis is 1-0, 1.20 in his last two starts, but Florida scored just eight runs in his last four starts. Cleveland is 5-0 at home with Lee (4-0, 2.12).
-- Lilly is 2-0, 2.50 in his last three starts.
-- Boston is 4-1 in Pedro's five home starts, scoring 29 runs in the five games. Pedro has 5.06 RA in his last 5 starts, and only one win. David Wells comes off DL to start; he has 2.67 RA in is last four starts.
-- Buehrle is is 4-0, 0.80 in his last five home starts; in his last three at home, White Sox outscored their foes 35-0. Sox are 9-3 in his starts.
-- Pittsburgh is 4-0 on road with Perez (3.86).
-- Greinke is 0-1, 2.37 in his first three big league starts
-- Glavine is 2-1, 2.21 in his last five starts; Mets won six of his seven road starts and are 6-2 in his last eight starts overall. Radke has 2.14 RA in his last three starts
-- Zito has 0.56 RA in his last two starts, but didn't win either game, because A's scored only two runs in the 2 games; they have won four of his last five starts.
-- Clemens is 3-0, 4.44 in four road starts; in his last 7 starts, he is 4-0, 2.40. Astro bullpen is 0-3 in his last 4 starts. Houston is 8-1 when it gives him 3+ runs.
-- Sheets is 2-1, 1.96 in his last three starts. Anaheim is 5-0 in his home starts, scoring 40 runs (3-0, 6.35); they scored 89 runs in his eleven starts overall.

Cold Pitchers
-- Cubs are 1-4 in Clement's last five starts (5.40 RA in his last three starts).
-- Dubose is 1-2, 7.89 in his last six starts and has an RA of 11.37 in his last three starts.
-- Atlanta is 0-5 on road with Hampton (6.67); they're 1-7 in his last eight starts overall (1-5, 5.18). Braves scored 18 runs in his last seven starts.
-- Fassero is 0-2, 11.42 in his two '04 starts.
-- Nomo was 0-4, 7.78 in his last five starts before he went on DL; road team is 7-2 in his starts. .
-- JWilliams is 1-3, 5.40 in his last seven starts. Tampa is 1-3 at home with Waechter; he is 2-5, 6.38 in his last seven starts.
-- Wolf is 0-2, 4.41 in his last five starts, even though he has 2.70 RA in his last three starts.
-- Benoit is 1-2, 7.59 in his last four starts.
-- Seattle lost Piniero's last eight starts (0-6, 5.81); M's scored just twelve runs in those eight games.

Hot Teams
-- Cardinals won seven of last eight games and are 9-4 in their last thirteen road contests.
-- Braves won their last five series openers and are 7-4 in their last eleven road games.
-- Bronx is 15-3 in its last eighteen home games, they won ten of last twelve games overall- they won last six home series.
-- Indians won seven of their last ten games and 13 of last 21 at home; they're 7-3 in home series openers.
-- Dodgers won six of last eight games and three of last four series openers. Toronto is 13-5 in last 18 at home.
-- Padres won three of last four games, three of last four road series and five of last eight road series. Boston is 6-2 in its last eight home openers and 16-7 in their last 23 games at Fenway.
-- Giants won their last five road series openers and are 10-6 in their last 6 road contests. Tampa is 7-3 in last ten home games, 11-5 in last 6 games overall.
-- Phillies are 4-0-3 in last seven road series (14-8). White Sox won six of last seven home series (13-8), and are 4-1 in last five home games.
-- Texas is 14-6 in its last 20 home games.
-- Mets are 5-2 in last seven games and 7-4 in their last eleven road contests.
-- A's are 11-1 in their last twelve home games. Reds are 8-2 in their last ten on the road.
-- Seattle won its last three games in a row.
-- Angels won first game in their last six home series, but lost last three games, after winning fifteen of their previous seventeen games at home.

Cold Teams
-- Cubs lost nine of their last thirteen ballgames.
-- Arizona lost nine of last eleven road games and seven of last nine road series. Orioles lost six of last eight at home and four of last five overall.
-- Tigers lost five of last seven home games and three of last four series openers.
-- Rockies lost nine of last eleven road games and eight of nine road series.
-- Pirates lost eight of their last nine games.
-- Expos lost seven of nine road openers and twelve of last sixteen overall, including their last six series.
-- Twins lost four of last five series openers and seven of last eleven home games.
-- Astros lost nine of their last twelve road contests.
-- Brewers lost five of last seven games and three of last four road series openers.

Totals
-- Under is 6-2 in last eight starts for both Williams and Clement, and 9-0 in last nine Cub home games.
-- Nine of last ten Arizona games went over total, with last seven in row going over, as have seven of last eight Dubose starts.
-- Under is 7-1 in last eight Atlanta road games and 4-1 in Hampton's last five starts.
-- Last seven Colorado road games stayed under, as have four of Vazquez' five home starts.
-- Under is 4-1 in last five Indian games, 3-1-1 in Lee's last five starts and 3-0 in Willis' last three outings.
-- Over is 8-1 in Nomo's last nine starts and 3-0 in last three Dodger road games.
-- Nine of last ten Padre games stayed under, including their last four on road, but Boston went over total in their last four home contests. Five of Wells' last six starts stayed under the total.
-- Over is 5-1 in last six JWilliams starts and 8-1 in the Giants' last nine road games.
-- Seven of Buehrle's last ten starts went over the total.
-- Six of last nine Texas games stayed under the total.
-- 13 of last 18 Royal home games stayed under, as did all three Greinke starts.
-- Under is 8-2-1 in last eleven met games, 3-1-1 in last five Glavine starts, 4-1 in last five Twin road games and 6-2 in last eight Radke starts.
-- Zito's last four starts stayed under; A's somehow scored 21 runs in last two games, going over last two games after staying under in 10 of previous 11 at home.
-- Four of Clemens' last five starts stayed under total.
-- Under is 13-1 in last fourteen Brewer games and 8-1 in their last nine on road, as well as 8-1-1 in Sheets' last ten starts. Over is 9-2 in Washburn starts.

**THE HAMMER** · 06-08-2004, 10:14 AM

Great info, thanks for all the hard work!!!!!!

**trick4** · 06-08-2004, 12:42 PM

Thanks Spark for the hard work you put into this forum!Good Luck to you!

**Ripped71** · 06-08-2004, 12:43 PM

National League:

St. Louis (10) at Chicago Cubs (-140), 8:05 ET
Williams (R) vs. Clement (R)
(Matchup)
Williams - 8-1 TSR after allowing 0 earned runs last start
Clement - Cubs 1-5 as a home favorite of -150 or less

Inter-League:

Los Angeles (9) at Toronto (-110), 7:05 ET
Nomo (R) vs. Lilly (L)
(Matchup)
Nomo - 6-1 TSR away pitching on 7 or more days rest
Lilly - Toronto 1-6 off 6+ road games

San Diego (8) at Boston (-200), 7:05 ET
Wells (L) vs. Martinez (R)
(Matchup)
Wells - 9-1 TSR pitching on 7 or more days rest
Martinez - Boston 7-1 Over at home vs. left-handed starters

Colorado (10) at New York Yankees (-260), 7:05 ET
Fassero (L) vs. Vazquez (R)
(Matchup)
Fassero - 1-7 TSR away on Tuesdays
Vazquez - 6-1 TSR at home vs. NL West opponents

Arizona (-140) at Baltimore (8), 7:05 ET
Johnson (L) vs. Ponson (R)
(Matchup)
Johnson - 6-0 TSR as a favorite of -150 or less
Ponson - 1-6 TSR with a line of +125 to -125

Florida (8) at Cleveland (-110), 7:05 ET
Willis (L) vs. Lee (L)
(Matchup)
Willis - 13-3 TSR off BB starts allowing 1 or 0 earned runs
Lee - Cleveland 2-13 vs. left-handed starters

Atlanta (9.5) at Detroit (-110), 7:05 ET
Hampton (L) vs. Johnson (R)
(Matchup)
Hampton - 1-11 TSR away pitching on 5 or 6 days rest
Johnson - Detroit 14-3 Over off a division loss by 1 run

San Francisco (-135) at Tampa Bay (9), 7:15 ET
Williams (R) vs. Waechter (R)
(Matchup)
Williams - San Francisco 8-1 Over away off 3+ division games
Waechter - Tampa Bay 0-9 off 5+ road games

Philadelphia (9) at Chicago White Sox (-155), 8:05 ET
Madson (R) vs. Buehrle (L)
(Matchup)
Madson - Philadelphia 8-2 Under off 4+ road games
Buehrle - 11-1 TSR at home pitching on 5 or 6 days rest

Pittsburgh (10.5) at Texas (-110), 8:05 ET
Perez (L) vs. Benoit (R)
(Matchup)
Perez - Pittsburgh 1-9 vs. AL West opponents
Benoit - Texas 9-3 at home with a line of +125 to -125

New York Mets (8) at Minnesota (-115), 8:10 ET
Glavine (L) vs. Radke (R)
(Matchup)
Glavine - 6-0 TSR in dome stadiums
Radke - 0-6 TSR in June

Montreal (9) at Kansas City (-130), 8:10 ET
Armas (R) vs. Greinke (R)
(Matchup)
Armas - 10-3 TSR in interleague games
Greinke - Kansas City 24-6 Over after playing 3+ games as a home underdog

Houston (-145) at Seattle (7.5), 10:05 ET
Clemens (R) vs. Pineiro (R)
(Matchup)
Clemens - 6-1 Under in interleague games
Pineiro - 0-8 TSR in night games

Cincinnati (8.5) at Oakland (-200), 10:05 ET
Bong (L) vs. Zito (L)
(Matchup)
Bong - Cincinnati 0-4 vs. Oakland
Zito - Oakland 6-1 last seven games

Milwaukee (8) at Anaheim (-130), 10:05 ET
Sheets (R) vs. Escobar (R)
(Matchup)
Sheets - Milwaukee 0-6 vs. AL West opponents
Escobar - Anaheim 8-1 at home after playing 3+ games as a favorite

**GR8Life** · 06-08-2004, 01:06 PM

Thanks Spark & Rip!

**Spark** · 06-08-2004, 05:53 PM

Glad to do it guys... Just hope it helps....

Tuesday, June 8th (All times eastern)
ATLANTA BRAVES (28-28) AT DETROIT TIGERS (25-31), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Mike Hampton (1-6, 5.49) Detroit - Jason Johnson (4-6, 5.35)

(Sports Network) - Mike Hampton tries to pick up just his second victory of the season, as he takes the mound for Atlanta in the opener of a three-game interleague series in Detroit.

Hampton's lone victory of the season came on May 23 against Los Angeles. He tossed six scoreless innings in the 5-1 victory.

His last outing came on Wednesday against the Montreal Expos. Hampton yielded four unearned runs in just three innings of work in the loss. He also struck out two batters and walked five.

The 31-year-old lefthander is 1-2 with a 2.55 earned run average in his last four starts.

Hampton is 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA in two career starts against the Tigers.

Jason Johnson hopes to repeat his performance from a week ago, as he gets the start for Detroit tonight. Johnson surrendered nine hits in 7 2/3 scoreless innings last Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals. He struck out three batters and picked up the victory.

The 30-year-old righthander has one career start against the Braves. He picked up a victory in that contest.

The Tigers lost two of three to the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. Joe Mauer's first career home run, a three-run blast in the eighth inning, lifted Minnesota to a 6-5 win in the rubber match Sunday at the Metrodome.

Esteban Yan (0-2) surrendered three runs on three hits in one-third of an inning for the Tigers, who have dropped three of their last four.

Ivan Rodriguez and Alex Sanchez each had multi-hit games for Detroit. Rodriguez also drove in two runs for the Tigers, who outhit the Twins 13-10 in the setback.

Atlanta earned a split in their four-game series with Philadelphia by picking up a win in Sunday's finale at Turner Field.

J.D. Drew smacked an opposite-field, three-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Braves a lead they wouldn't relinquish, as Atlanta topped the Phillies, 6-4.

Julio Franco, Andruw Jones and Dewayne Wise each collected two hits for the Braves.

Jaret Wright (4-5) left the game for a pinch hitter trailing 4-1 in the fifth, but was credited with the win when the Braves notched all six of their runs in the inning.

The Braves have been stellar in interleague play, posting a 71-47 all-time record. Meanwhile, the Tigers have compiled a less than stellar 53-68 mark against the National League.

Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez is fifth all-time with 139 hits in interleague action.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (30-24) AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS (25-32), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Hideo Nomo (3-5, 7.13) Toronto - Ted Lilly (4-2, 4.48)

(Sports Network) - Interleague play will get underway this evening in Toronto, as the Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game set at SkyDome.

Toronto is 58-63 all-time in interleague action, while the Dodgers own a 60-50 in regular season contests versus the AL. The Blue Jays' Carlos Delgado loves this time of year, as he has tallied an interleague-high 37 homers and 108 RBI. Delgado, who hasn't played since May 29 due to an injured rib cage, may return tonight.

Los Angeles, which sits in a virtual tie for first place in the NL West with San Diego, had a three-game winning streak stopped Sunday in Arizona. The Dodgers have still won six of their last eight games overall.

The Dodgers fell 6-5 to the Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark Sunday. Reliever Darren Dreifort (1-1) took the loss after giving up two hits and three runs over 2/3 of an inning. Starter Jeff Weaver allowed seven hits and two runs through six frames of action, but didn't record a decision.

Adrian Beltre carried the Dodgers' offensive attack, hitting two homers while recording two RBI and two runs scored. Beltre has six multihomer games, including two this season.

Juan Encarnacion posted a team-high three hits, while Cezar Izturis, Milton Bradley and Alex Cora chipped in two apiece. Izturis has his second 14-game hitting streak of the season.

Los Angeles, which is 2-1 so far on its nine-game road trip, owns a 15-12 record in foreign ballparks this season.

The Dodgers are bringing veteran righthander Hideo Nomo off the disabled list to take the ball tonight. Nomo, who has been sidelined due to a a split fingernail on his right index finger, lost four consecutive decisions over five starts before hitting the DL. Tonight he'll try to avoid matching his career- high losing streak as Nomo dropped five straight decisions May 9 - June 20, 1998.

Nomo's last start on May 19 against Philadelphia was cut short, as he surrendered two hits and a run over 1 1/3 innings of action. The veteran tossed just 2 2/3 innings of work in his last two starts. Nomo hasn't recorded a victory since April 21.

Nomo has made 10 career starts against the Blue Jays, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.88 ERA.

Heading to the mound for the Blue Jays will be lefthander Ted Lilly this evening. Lilly has won two straight starts and his last four decisions overall, including a victory over Seattle last Wednesday. The southpaw limited the Mariners to seven hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings, while fanning five and walking three. Lilly hasn't lost since starting the season with consecutive defeats on April 14 and 21.

Lilly, who began his career in Montreal in 1999, was trashed for three hits and three earned runs over two-thirds of an inning in his only other career outing against Los Angeles.

Toronto has lost three of its last four, including back-to-back games. The Blue Jays dropped their final two contests against Oakland over the weekend, including Sunday's 8-3 defeat.

Frank Menechino, Eric Hinske and Reed Johnson had an RBI apiece for the Blue Jays, who managed just five hits in the game.

Jason Kershner (0-1) took the loss in just three innings of work, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. The Blue Jays dropped to 2-25 when they score three or fewer runs.

Los Angeles took two of three meetings between these teams in 2002 at Dodger Stadium.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (31-25) AT BOSTON RED SOX (33-23), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - David Wells (2-4, 3.78) Boston - Pedro Martinez (5-3, 4.40)

(Sports Network) - David Wells returns from the disabled list this evening when the San Diego Padres begin the interleague play portion of their schedule with a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Wells, who will be activated from the disabled list prior to the game, has been sidelined since May 18 after suffering from cuts on his pitching hand following a fall over some barstools in his home.

The 41-year-old Wells, who has been known to injure himself off the field, is 2-4 this season with a 3.78 earned run average. He has lost his last two starts, though, and last pitched back on May 16 against the Chicago Cubs, who reached the hefty hurler for three runs and eight hits in six innings.

Wells is no stranger to the Red Sox or to Fenway Park. The 18-year vet has spent most of his career in the American League and is 14-20 in his career against Boston and 10-10 in Beantown.

Getting the ball for the Red Sox in the opener will be a familiar face to Wells in righthander Pedro Martinez, who is 5-3 on the season with a 4.40 earned run average and is coming off an atrocious outing in his last start.

Against the Anaheim Angels on Wednesday, the 32-year-old hurler allowed seven runs and 11 hits in five innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 10-7 loss.

Martinez has faced the Padres 19 times in his career, 12 of which have been starts, and is 7-2 against them with a save and a 3.12 ERA.

One of the best games of Martinez's career came against the Padres back on June 3, 1995, when he pitched nine perfect innings. The only problem was that the game was scoreless after nine. Martinez lost his perfecto and no-hitter in the 10th, but his former team -- the Expos -- posted a 1-0 win.

The Red Sox have won two in a row after a four-game slide and still trail the New York Yankees by 2 1/2 games in the American League East.

Wells might not be the only player getting activated from the DL tonight, as perennial All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra is on the verge of returning.

After missing most of spring training and the first 56 games of the regular season, Garciaparra conducted a workout in Boston on Monday, and there were no setbacks, setting the stage for his 2004 debut at some point during the Sox six-game homestand, possibly as early as tonight.

Team officials will huddle with Garciaparra on Tuesday to see how he is feeling and at that time they will determine if he is ready to go. Although, he could return tonight, a Wednesday or Thursday return seems more likely.

The 30-year-old Garciaparra played five games in a rehab stint for Triple-A Pawtucket, going 5-for-18.

San Diego, which has won three of its last four, was busy on its off-day on Monday, as it selected hometown high school favorite Matt Bush, a shortstop, as the top overall pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Bush became the first shortstop taken as the top overall pick since the Seattle Mariners selected Alex Rodriguez in 1993.

The Red Sox took two of three from the Padres in the only-ever series between these teams back in 2002 in San Diego.

San Diego, which will be starting a six-game road trip tonight, is 15-13 away from home this season, while Boston is 18-9 at home.

The Red Sox are 56-65 all-time in interleague play with San Diego posting a 52-58 all-time mark against the AL.

COLORADO ROCKIES (21-35) AT NEW YORK YANKEES (35-20), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Colorado - Jeff Fassero (0-5, 6.47) NY Yankees - Javier Vazquez (6-4, 3.75)

(Sports Network) - Javier Vazquez targets his fourth consecutive win this evening when the New York Yankees begin the interleague play portion of their schedule with a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium.

The right-handed Vazquez topped the Baltimore Orioles in his last trip to the hill on Thursday, as he allowed a pair of runs on five hits over seven innings to improve to 6-4 on the year, while lowering his earned run average to 3.75.

Vazquez, who spent the first six years of his career in the National League, is 2-2 lifetime against the Rockies with a 4.94 ERA in six starts.

New York has been on fire of late and has won 11 of its last 13, moving 2 1/2 games in front of the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. Jason Giambi returned from the disabled list on Sunday and homered in the Yankees' 2-1 win.

However, Derek Jeter missed his second straight game with a sore groin and will be a game-time decision tonight. Second baseman Enrique Wilson is also nursing a groin injury and is also questionable for tonight's affair.

Gary Sheffield also missed Sunday's game with a stomach virus, but will be ready to go tonight. Nobody has been hotter for the Yanks than Sheffield, who was named the AL Player of the Week on Monday. During an 11-game hitting streak, Sheff has gone 20-for-47 with 12 runs scored, five home runs and 16 RBI.

On the milestone watch, Bernie Williams needs five hits to become the seventh Yankee to reach 2,000. Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Don Mattingly, and Yogi Berra are also on that list. He is also just two home runs away from tying Graig Nettles (250) for sixth place on the Yankees all-time list.

Alex Rodriguez has now reached base safely in 44 consecutive games, extending the longest such streak of his career and the longest streak in the majors this season. The run is also longest by a Yankee since Jeter reached base safely in 57 straight games from September 24, 1998, through June 5, 1999.

During the streak, Rodriguez is 58-for-172 (.337) with 12 homers, 28 RBI and 27 walks. He is hitting .305 for the year.

The Yankees, who are in the midst of a 12-game home-stretch, are 18-8 in New York this season.

Colorado, meanwhile, has dropped four of five after falling 10-5 in the finale of its four-game set with the San Francisco Giants. Aaron Miles finished 3- for-4 with two runs scored for the Rockies, who lost for the 14th time in their last 18 contests. Vinny Castilla and Jeromy Burnitz each knocked in a pair of runs in defeat.

Jeff Fassero will get the call tonight for Colorado, as the veteran lefthander seeks his first win of the season. Fassero, who has started just three games this season for the Rockies, is 0-5 on the year with a 6.47 ERA in 19 games. He has also lost in his last three appearances.

Fassero has faced the Yankees 10 times in his career, eight of which have been starts, and is 3-4 against them with a 5.10 ERA.

The Rockies, who will be starting a six-game road trip tonight, are 8-19 away from home this season.

This is the second-ever series between New York and Colorado, as the two teams combined for 70 runs in a three-game matchup during the 2002 campaign, with the Yankees taking two of three.

The Yankees have prospered in interleague play, going 72-48 against National League opponents -- the second-best record in the majors. Only the Oakland A's (76-47) have a better record than New York.

Colorado, though, is just 41-56 against the AL and has lost 34 of 47 on the road in interleague action.

FLORIDA MARLINS (32-25) AT CLEVELAND INDIANS (25-29), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Florida - Dontrelle Willis (5-3, 3.64) Cleveland - Cliff Lee (5-1, 3.27)

(Sports Network) - The Indians shoot for their fourth straight victory when they battle the Florida Marlins tonight in the opener of a three-game interleague series from Jacobs Field.

The Tribe won the final three contests of a four-game set at Anaheim. On Sunday, C.C. Sabathia threw seven shutout innings, carrying a no-hitter through 5 1/3, leading the Indians to a 7-0 win.

Sabathia (3-3) ended a personal two-game losing streak, allowing only four hits, striking out six and walking two. Chone Figgins' one-out single in the sixth ended the lefthander's bid for a no-hitter.

Omar Vizquel ended 2-for-5 with a two-run homer for Cleveland, which has won seven of 10 since dropping seven in a row. Ronnie Belliard and Victor Martinez added a pair of RBI apiece.

Starting tonight, 12 of the Indians' next 16 games will be against NL opponents, as they will also play Cincinnati, the New York Mets and Atlanta. Since the inception of interleague play in 1997, the Indians are 60-61.

Lefthander Cliff Lee will be on the mound this evening for the Indians as he tries to rebound from his first loss of the year. He is 0-1 over his last three starts and is coming off a defeat to the Angels on Thursday when he allowed 10 hits and five runs in 6 1/3 innings.

This will be Lee's first career outing against the Marlins.

Florida enters tonight's play alone in first place in the National League East, two games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Marlins are 2-2 on their current 10-game road trip. They split a weekend series against the Mets and will conclude the swing in Detroit.

This marks Florida's first trip into Jacobs Field since the 1997 World Series when the Marlins beat the Indians.

The Marlins and Indians have met only once before in the regular season with Florida sweeping a three-game series at home during the 2002 campaign, outscoring Cleveland, 9-1.

Florida has lost five of its last seven games, including Sunday's 5-2 defeat. Brad Penny (6-3) took the loss after he was touched for five runs -- three earned -- on eight hits over five innings. Penny, who lost for the first time in his last five outings (3-1), walked one and fanned four.

Juan Pierre and Mike Lowell each drove in a run for the Marlins.

Lefthander Dontrelle Willis faces the Indians for the first time in his career as he gets the start tonight for Florida. Willis didn't get a decision in his last start, Wednesday against Cincinnati. In that game he threw eight innings and allowed one run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

The big story in that contest was Willis retired each of the first 20 Reds he faced until Sean Casey collected a two-out single to left in the seventh frame.

In his last two starts, Willis has gone 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA, allowing two runs on seven hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts over 15 innings. Prior to that stretch, Willis went 1-3 with a 7.20 ERA over six starts, from April 25 - May 23.

This marks Willis' third career interleague appearance. He faced Oakland and Tampa Bay last year and combined for a 2-0 record and a 0.00 ERA against the two teams, allowing seven hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 12 scoreless innings.

Willis is unbeaten in his last six road starts, back to September 7, 2003 against the Expos in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the six starts, Willis has gone 4-0 with a 3.31 ERA. His last road loss came on August 28, 2003 at Pittsburgh.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (22-35) AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES (25-27), 7:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Randy Johnson (7-4, 2.88) Baltimore - Sidney Ponson (3-6, 6.48)

(Sports Network) - Randy Johnson opens interleague play tonight for the Arizona Diamondbacks as they start a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

The Big Unit has won his last four starts and is coming off victory on Wednesday against San Francisco when he tossed five innings. The big lefthander started his winning streak on May 18 with a perfect game at Atlanta and since then he has struck out 26 batters and walked only four.

He will enter tonight's game 35 strikeouts shy of 4,000 for his career. Johnson is 4-7 with a 4.54 ERA in 20 career outings (19 starts) against the Orioles.

The Diamondbacks have won four of their last six games, including Sunday's 6-5 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Bank One Ballpark. Robby Hammock went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in to power the Diamondbacks.

Arizona salvaged the finale of the three-game series. Danny Bautista, Steve Finley and Luis Gonzalez each had two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who overcame a 4-1 deficit.

Scott Service (1-0) retired one batter in the seventh to pick up the win. Jose Valverde notched his fifth save, despite yielding one run on two hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings.

Arizona starter Steve Sparks was charged with four runs -- two earned -- on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The Orioles snapped a four-game slide with a 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. B.J. Surhoff had two hits and knocked in a pair of runs to lead Baltimore to the win at Camden Yards.

Rafael Palmeiro and Javy Lopez also stroked two hits and both scored twice for the Orioles, who halted a four-game slide and split two weekend games with division-rival Tampa Bay. Saturday's contest was rained out.

Rodrigo Lopez (5-2) earned the win with 6 1/3 innings of work. He scattered 10 hits and yielded three runs, while walking one and striking out two.

Jorge Julio surrendered a run in the ninth inning, but held on for his ninth save. The tying run was at third base when he retired Tino Martinez on a fly ball to end the game.

Sidney Ponson gets the ball for the Orioles this evening. The righthander has lost three straight starts and is coming off a defeat to the Yankees last Tuesday when he allowed a season-high 12 hits, including three homers, along with seven runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Ponson is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA in three career starts versus Arizona.

The Diamondbacks were the most successful National League team against AL competition last year, going 11-4 in their 15 interleague efforts. The Diamondbacks are 47-44 all-time against the American League.

The Orioles are tied for the worst mark since interleague play began in 1997. Baltimore is 51-70 versus the National League. Last year the Orioles went 5-13 versus the NL.

Arizona met Baltimore once before, winning twice in a three-game set at Bank One Ballpark during the 2002 season.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (29-28) AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (21-33), 7:15 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: San Francisco - Jerome Williams (4-4, 4.68) Tampa Bay - Doug Waechter (3-5, 4.44)

(Sports Network) - The red-hot San Francisco Giants open interleague play tonight, as they visit the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the opener of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.

The Giants took three of four from the Rockies this weekend and completed the series with a 10-5 win on Monday. Pedro Feliz slugged a pair of home runs and drove in three runs to power San Francisco to the victory in the finale at Coors Field.

Neifi Perez and Edgardo Alfonzo had three hits each to help the Giants win for the 13th time in 17 games. Yorvit Torrealba added a three-run homer for San Francisco, which pounded out 15 hits and reached double figures in runs for the third time in the series.

Meanwhile, the Devil Rays had their three-game winning streak snapped Sunday with a loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

B.J. Surhoff had two hits and knocked in a pair of runs to lead Baltimore over Tampa Bay, 5-4, in the finale of an abbreviated two-game series at Camden Yards. Saturday's scheduled contest between the teams was rained out.

Rocco Baldelli belted a solo homer for the Devil Rays. He added a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning that made it a one-run game.

Rob Bell (1-3) took the loss, giving up five runs on 10 hits and a walk in just 4 2/3 innings.

Jerome Williams tries to rebound from a tough outing, as he takes the ball for the Giants this evening. Williams pitched last Thursday in Arizona and was pounded for six runs and eight hits in five innings of work. The Diamondbacks handed the Giants an 11-5 setback.

Williams is just 1-3 in his last seven starts after posting a 3-1 record in his first four outings of the season.

The 22-year-old righthander has never faced the Devil Rays in his brief career.

Doug Waechter will head to the mound for Tampa Bay tonight and try to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season.

He picked up a victory last Wednesday in Minnesota after surrendering just two runs and three hits in seven innings. It was Waechter's longest outing of the year.

This will be the 23-year-old righthander's first-ever appearance against San Francisco.

The Giants have an impressive interleague record, going 61-49 all-time against the American League. However, the Devil Rays have a terrible history in interleague play with a 38-68 mark.

Giants slugger Barry Bonds is fourth all-time in interleague home runs with 32.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (29-26) AT CHICAGO WHITE SOX (30-24), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia - Ryan Madson (3-1, 1.07) Chicago - Mark Buehrle (5-1, 3.30)

(Sports Network) - Mark Buehrle attempts to win his fifth straight decision tonight, as he heads to the mound for the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game interleague series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.

Buehrle posted a no-decision in last Wednesday's 3-2 win in Oakland. He had won his previous four starts before that outing against the Athletics. Buehrle surrendered one run and five hits in six scoreless frames against the A's.

The 25-year-old lefthander is 4-0 in his last five starts and has allowed just three runs in 33 2/3 innings (0.82 ERA) over that stretch.

Buehrle has one career start against the Phillies and was spectacular in that outing, allowing just one run in 8 1/3 frames.

Meanwhile, Ryan Madson will make his first career start tonight for Philadelphia.

The 23-year-old righthander has been excellent out of the bullpen for the Phillies this season, going 3-1 with one save and a 1.07 ERA in 33 2/3 innings.

Madson is filling Randy Wolf's spot in the rotation this evening. Wolf is likely headed to the disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow.

The White Sox dropped two of three games in Seattle this weekend. The Mariners picked up a 5-4 victory over Chicago in Sunday's finale. Jolbert Cabrera drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to force in Willie Bloomquist for the game-winning run.

Carlos Lee stroked two hits to run his hitting streak to 22 games. The White Sox have dropped four of their last five games.

Philadelphia split a four-game series in Atlanta over the weekend and were dealt a disappointing 6-4 setback in Sunday's finale.

J.D. Drew smacked an opposite-field, three-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Braves a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Jim Thome homered and drove in two and Mike Lieberthal contributed a solo homer for Philadelphia. Jimmy Rollins had three hits and a run scored, but he couldn't stop the Phillies from having their two-game winning streak snapped.

Kevin Millwood (4-4) continued to struggle against his former mates, taking the loss and falling to 0-6 in six career starts against Atlanta, where he pitched from 1997-2002. He allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks, fanning three over 4 2/3 innings, and remained winless over his last five starts overall (0-2).

This will be the Phillie's first-ever trip to the Southside of Chicago. The only other meeting between these teams came in Philadelphia during the 2002 campaign. The White Sox won two of three in that series at Veterans Stadium.

Chicago is 66-55 all-time in interleague play, while the Phillies are 57-61.

Thome has been terrific in interleague play over his career. He is third all- time in homers (34) and fifth in runs batted in (87).

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (24-30) AT TEXAS RANGERS (31-24), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Oliver Perez (3-3, 3.20) Texas - Joaquin Benoit (2-2, 5.77)

(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates try to snap a three-game losing streak tonight, when they battle the Texas Rangers in the middle test of a three-game interleague set at Ameriquest Field.

The Rangers picked up a victory in Monday's opener. Hank Blalock knocked in the winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Texas over Pittsburgh, 6-5.

Mark Teixeira belted a two-run homer for the Rangers, who moved seven games over .500 and within 1 1/2 games of Anaheim for the American League West division lead. Texas has won five of its last seven contests.

Craig Wilson posted a two-run homer for the Pirates, who have lost eight of their last nine outings.

The game was deadlocked at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the 10th. Laynce Nix got things started with a one-out single and the raced to third on a two-out base hit by Michael Young. With two strikes, Blalock blooped a single into center to plate Nix for the victory.

Francisco Cordero (2-0) earned the win in two scoreless frames for Texas.

Mike Johnston (0-3) suffered the loss after yielding one run on three hits in just two-thirds of an inning.

Oliver Perez tries to pick up his first victory in nearly a month, as he takes the ball for the Pirates tonight. His last win came via a complete game performance May 13 in Colorado.

However, the 22-year-old lefthander has been 0-2 in three starts since that victory. Perez surrendered three runs in seven innings last Thursday against St. Louis. He was handed the loss in the 4-2 setback.

This will be Perez's first-ever appearance against the Rangers.

Joaquin Benoit hopes to rebound from a tough outing his last time out, as he takes the mound for Texas for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Benoit's last start came on May 26 in a 4-0 loss against the White Sox. He surrendered four runs in just four innings of work.

Benoit has never faced the Pirates before.

The Pirates have an all-time interleague record of 42-56, while Texas is 57-66 against the National League. Pittsburgh went 5-7 in interleague play last season and the Rangers were a dismal 4-14.

This will be the second all-time series between Pittsburgh and Texas. The Rangers earned a three-game sweep over Pittsburgh from June 21-23, 2002.

MONTREAL EXPOS (18-37) AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS (20-34), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Montreal - Tony Armas Jr. (0-0, 3.18) Kansas City - Zack Greinke (0-1, 2.37)

(Sports Network) - A pair of last place squads hoping to get back on the winning track go head-to-head tonight, as the Montreal Expos battle the Kansas City Royals in the first of a three-game interleague set.

Montreal is pulling up the rear in the NL East -- 13 games back of Florida, while the Royals are in the cellar of the AL Central -- 10 contests behind the Chicago White Sox.

Neither of these teams has been terribly effective during interleague action over the years, as Montreal is 62-59 and Kansas City is just 51-70.

The Royals could be without a key player tonight, as first baseman/designated hitter Ken Harvey is struggling with a bruised right forearm. Harvey collided with Royals pitcher Jason Grimsley after a high bouncer in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Harvey, the AL's leading hitter (.375), is questionable for this contest.

Harvey finished 1-for-2 in the contest, extending his hitting streak to 15 games -- the Royals' longest since Joe Randa's 16-game streak last August 17 to September 3. Harvey is hitting .508 during the streak.

Kansas City has dropped two straight on the heels of a two-game win streak. Grimsley took the loss Sunday, giving up a hit and three runs while not recording an out in the defeat. The reliever, who suffered a bruised left forearm and right jaw in his collision with Harvey. walked one in the losing effort.

Royals starter Chris George allowed three hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings of action. George struck out five and walked five in the contest.

Mike Sweeney provided a bulk of the offense for the Royals with a two-run homer, while Tony Graffanino added a RBI. Kansas City managed just four hits in the game.

The Royals will send 20-year-old righthander Zack Greinke to the mound this evening. He will be making the fourth start of his career, and is still searching for his first win despite posting a 2.37 ERA. The Orlando, FL native has received just seven runs of support over three starts, including none last week in a 2-0 loss to Detroit. Greinke allowed just six hits and two runs over seven innings against the Tigers, while fanning four and walking two.

Greinke will be toeing the rubber against the Expos for the first time in his career.

Taking the ball for the Expos tonight will be Tony Armas Jr. He was very impressive in his first start in over a year last week, as he allowed just three hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings of action against Atlanta. The 26- year-old righthander, who was out while recovering from shoulder surgery, fanned seven and walked three in the defeat.

Armas has appeared in one career game against the Royals, allowing two hits over two-thirds of an inning. In that contest on June 18, 2002, Armas was struck on the forearm by a Sweeney line drive and had to leave the game. Armas suffered a deep ulnar bone contusion.

The Expos are coming off consecutive losses to the Cincinnati Reds, including Sunday's 6-5 defeat at Great American Ball Park. Montreal allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Rocky Biddle (0-4), who garnered the loss, induced Adam Dunn to ground out to start the ninth and after walking Brandon Larson, got Jason LaRue to fly out for the second out of the frame. Biddle then surrendered a two-run homer to Jacob Cruz to tie the game. Later in the frame, Chad Bentz then surrendered the game-winning RBI single to D`Angelo Jimenez.

Jose Vidro ended 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for Montreal, which has dropped six straight series. Brad Wilkerson stroked two hits with an RBI and a run scored as the Expos have dropped four of their last six overall.

Montreal starter Livan Hernandez allowed three runs and six hits over eight innings, but did not figure into the decision.

The Expos swept the only other series between these teams in 2002 at Olympic Stadium.

NEW YORK METS (28-28) AT MINNESOTA TWINS (30-36), 8:10 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: NY Mets - Tom Glavine (3-5, 5.78) Minnesota - Brad Radke (9-4, 6.18)

(Sports Network) - The New York Mets try to go back above the .500 mark this evening when they begin the interleague play portion of their schedule with a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.

Tom Glavine will take the hill for New York, as the lefthander targets his first win in three starts. The 38-year-old hurler is coming off a no-decision in his last outing on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, who reached him for three runs on just three hits in seven innings.

Glavine, 6-3 on the year with a 2.31 earned run average, nine runs in his last five starts, spanning 35 2/3 frames, but is just 2-1 in that time.

In one regular season appearance against the Twins, Glavine earned the win with a splendid seven-scoreless inning effort.

New York split its four-game series with the Florida Marlins after sweeping a three-game set from the Philadelphia Phillies. On Sunday, Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer and ended with four RBI and Al Leiter pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to help the Mets to a 5-2 win.

Piazza, who is hitting .354 (29-for-82) over his last 22 games, has the highest batting average in the history of interleague play at .365, 20 points ahead of the injured Darin Erstad of the Anaheim Angels.

Since moving primarily to first base Piazza has steadily seen his average rise, jumping 30 points to .310 since the middle of May. He has also hit safely in 19 of his last 22 games.

The Mets, who are 62-56 all-time in interleague play, will be starting a six- game trip on the road, where they are 13-15 this season.

Minnesota, meanwhile, comes into tonight's opener after a taking two of three over the weekend from the Detroit Tigers, including Sunday's thrilling 6-5 victory. Joe Mauer's first career home run, a three- run blast in the eighth inning, lifted the Twins to the win at the Metrodome.

The Twins will pin their hopes tonight on right-handed veteran Brad Radke, who is 4-3 on the season with a 3.55 ERA. He lost his last start, though, on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as he allowed three runs on nine hits over seven innings.

Radke will be making his first-ever appearance against the Mets tonight.

Minnesota, 60-60 all-time in interleague play, is in the midst of a 13-game homestand and is 17-12 at home this season.

The Mets took two of three from the Twins in the only other series between these teams back in the 2002 campaign.

CINCINNATI REDS (34-23) AT OAKLAND ATHLETICS (32-24), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Cincinnati - Jung Bong (0-0, 0.00) Oakland - Barry Zito (3-3, 4.44)

(Sports Network) - South Korean lefthander Jung Keun Bong will make his Cincinnati debut tonight, as he anchors the Reds against the Oakland Athletics in the second of their three-game interleague set at the Coliseum.

Bong, who came over from Atlanta in a trade for reliever Chris Reitsma in a spring deal, will be making just his second career major league start in 46 appearances. The youngster is 6-3 with a 5.29 ERA in his major league career.

The 23-year-old hurler, who went 4-4 with a 4.89 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A Louisville, is replacing the injured Aaron Harang in the rotation. Harang was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his right elbow.

Bong has made one other career appearance against the Athletics, giving up a hit and a earned run over 1 1/3 innings.

The Athletics will counter with ace lefty Barry Zito on the mound. Zito is 1-0 over his last six starts, including a tough luck no-decision against Toronto last Thursday. The southpaw limited the Blue Jays allowed just five hits and one run over eight innings, while fanning five and walking two. Zito has surrendered just one run over his last 16 frames of work.

Zito picked up a win in his only other career game against the Reds, holding them to three hits and three runs over seven frames. The southpaw fanned six and walked one in the victory.

Oakland has won three straight to climb within a game of first place Anaheim in the AL West, including a dominating 13-2 win over the Reds Monday. Scott Hatteberg belted a grand slam and doubled in another run to tie his career high with five RBI to pace the A's to the win. Hatteberg has 11 RBI over his last three games.

Mark Kotsay, Erubiel Durazo and Damian Miller also homered for Oakland, which has won three straight and six of its last seven. The Athletics continued their success against National League opponents, improving to a major league- best 76-47 in interleague play with a perfect 13-0 mark against NL Central squads.

Bobby Crosby was 3-for-3 and Mark McLemore scored three runs in the winning effort.

Mark Mulder (7-2) pitched the first seven innings to earn the win. The lefthander gave up just two runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

This marks the second of 12 straight games against NL Central squads for the Athletics, who will also play Pittsburgh, St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs during the run.

Former Athletic Cory Lidle was roughed up in the defeat. Lidle (4-5) was hammered for nine runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

Sean Casey homered for the Reds, who had a two-game winning streak stopped and lost for just the third time in their last 10 games. Ken Griffey Jr. went 1-for-3 with a run scored, remaining two short of the 500-home run plateau.

Griffey has five homers in his last seven games for the Reds, who have still won 14 of their last 19 contests.

With the loss, the Reds' lead in the NL Central dwindled to one game over the St. Louis Cardinals. St. Louis topped the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, on Monday.

The A's are 4-0 in interleague play against the Reds. The teams met in 2002 with Oakland sweeping a series in Cincinnati. This series marks Cincinnati's first trip to Oakland since the 1990 World Series, when the Reds swept the Athletics.

The Reds are 43-55 all-time in interleague play and have scored the fewest runs (424) of any team since regular season play began between the NL and AL. The Reds went 7-5 last year versus the American League.

The Reds are 16-13 on the road this season and have captured eight of their last 10 outside Great American Ball Park.

Oakland has won 11 of its last 12 home games and is 18-10 at the Coliseum this season.

HOUSTON ASTROS (30-26) AT SEATTLE MARINERS (22-34), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Roger Clemens (8-0, 2.27) Seattle - Joel Pineiro (1-7, 5.79)

(Sports Network) - Roger Clemens tries to become the first nine-game winner in the majors this evening when the Houston Astros play the middle contest of their three-game interleague affair with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

After winning his first seven starts of the year, Clemens went three consecutive contests without a decision before beating the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. In that contest, Clemens allowed a run on five hits over seven innings. He also struck out five and walked two.

Clemens has held opponents to fewer than two runs in eight of his 11 starts this season and is tied for the Major League lead with a 2.27 ERA.

The six-time Cy Young Award winner, who started the 1986 season at 14-0 while with the Boston Red Sox, is two wins away from the Astros' franchise record to start a season (Juan Agosto, 10-0, 1988). Also, his eight wins to start his career in an Astros' uniform is a club-record.

Clemens has also won his last 12 regular season decisions dating back to last year. The 41-year-old righthander hasn't lost since September 6 against Boston and a win tonight would be Clemens' 319th of his career, moving him past Phil Niekro for sole possession of 14th place on the all-time list.

The Rocket has dominated the Mariners over the course of his brilliant Hall of Fame career and has 22 wins against them, the most of any pitcher.

Seattle will counter with struggling righthander Joel Pineiro, who has dropped his last six decisions and is 1-7 on the year with a 5.79 ERA. His latest loss came on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, as he allowed five runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 frames.

Pineiro, who is 1-3 in his five home starts this season, won his only other start against the Astros.

In the series-opener on Monday, Clint Nageotte earned his first major league win, tossing six scoreless innings to lead Seattle to a 5-0 win.

Nageotte (1-1), making his first career start, scattered six hits, struck out eight and walked three, as the Mariners rolled to their third straight win. Julio Mateo finished the eight-hit shutout, earning his first save of the season with three scoreless innings.

Scott Spiezio ended a 1-for-29 slump by going 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBI for Seattle, which has won three of four interleague meetings against Houston all-time.

Ichiro Suzuki finished with two hits to extend his hitting streak to 14 games for the Mariners, who wasted little time getting on Houston starter Brandon Duckworth, touching the young hurler up for three runs in the first.

Jeff Kent extended his hitting streak to 22 games, ending 1-for-4 for Houston, which has lost three of four. Kent's hit streak ties Carlos Lee of the White Sox for the longest in the majors this season. Lee's streak is also active.

Kent's streak is the Astros' longest since Moises Alou hit in 23 straight in 2001 and three shy of Tony Eusebio's 2000 team record.

The Mariners are in the midst of a 12-game homestand and are 13-16 in Seattle this season. The Astros, meanwhile, are 15-13 away from home this season.

Houston is 57-48 all-time in interleague play, while the Mariners have posted a 65-58 mark against the Senior Circuit.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (27-27) AT ANAHEIM ANGELS (33-23), 10:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Milwaukee - Ben Sheets (5-3, 2.71) Anaheim - Kelvim Escobar (4-2, 3.79)

(Sports Network) - Red hot hurler Ben Sheets will try for his second straight win and third in four outings tonight, when he leads the Milwaukee Brewers against the Anaheim Angels in their interleague opener at Angel Stadium. It marks the first of a three-game series.

Sheets, who hasn't made a start since May 27 due to an illness that caused him dizzy spells and headaches, has won two of his last three starts while surrendering no more than two earned runs in any of his past four efforts.

The former Olympian limited the Los Angeles Dodgers to only four hits and a run over seven frames of a win in his last outing. Sheets fanned eight and didn't permit a walk in the contest. The righthander has struck out 29 and walked only three in his last three starts.

Sheets is still third in the NL in strikeouts with 77, while sitting third in WHIP (0.95).

Sheets struggled in his only other career start against Anaheim. giving up eight hits and five runs over six innings of a loss. The hurler fanned four and walked three in the contest.

Taking the ball for the Angels tonight will be 28-year-old righthander Kelvim Escobar. Escobar has won two consecutive decisions over his last three starts, including a victory over Cleveland last week. The twirler scattered eight hits and a run over eight frames, while fanning six and walking one. Escobar has allowed no more than three earned runs in any of his last seven starts.

Escobar has made one career outing against the Brewers, giving up a hit over two innings.

The Angels, which sit atop the AL West by one game, are 64-58 all-time in interleague action. Meanwhile, Milwaukee, a former member of the AL, is 42-55 in interleague games.

Anaheim remains in first place in the AL West, but its lead has dwindled to just one game over Oakland. The Angels have lost their last three games, including a 7-0 defeat to the Cleveland Indians.

Bartolo Colon (4-4) continued his woeful pitching for the Angels, who were held to five hits and shutout for just the third time this season. Colon, who was hammered for seven runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, is 0-2 in his last five starts and hasn't earned a victory since May 8.

To make matters worse for the Halos, the team placed closer Troy Percival on the 15-day disabled list during the game with inflammation and swelling in his right elbow. The righthander underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday and the results came back showing the problems in the elbow.

Percival has blown saves in three of his last six opportunities. In 19 games this season, Percival has a 2-1 record with a lofty 5.09 earned run average. He has 13 saves in 17 chances, and has struggled a bit with 11 walks and 22 hits in 17 2/3 innings.

The Milwaukee Brewers found themselves on the wrong end of an 8-3 decision on Sunday against the San Diego Padres in the finale of a three-game series at PETCO Park.

Keith Ginter blasted a solo homer for the Brewers, who dropped the final two games of this set. Ginter is one of only three Brewers to homer on their nine- game road trip and the only one to connect in the Padres series.

Milwaukee starter Doug Davis (4-5) was saddled with the loss by going just four innings and yielding five runs on eight hits.

The Angels and Brewers last squared off at Miller Park in 2002, when Anaheim swept the series.

Anaheim is 18-10 at home this season, while Milwaukee is only 13-15 on the road.

06/08 11:06:13

**Spark** · 06-08-2004, 05:54 PM

Tuesday, June 8th (All times eastern)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (33-24) AT CHICAGO CUBS (29-27), 8:05 P.M.

Probable Starting Pitchers: St. Louis - Woody Williams (3-5, 4.71) Chicago - Matt Clement (6-4, 3.27)

(Sports Network) - At 20-9, the Cardinals have the best road record in the majors and Scott Rolen has been a big part of St. Louis' success. Rolen, who leads the majors with 60 RBI, leads the National League with a .398 road average and has hit safely in eight straight road games at a .516 (16-for-31) clip.

Last night, the Cardinals posted their fifth straight road victory in a 4-3 triumph over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a four-game series from Wrigley Field. Rolen went 2-for-4 and hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Reggie Sanders followed with another round-tripper, leading St. Louis to its seventh victory in eight games outside Busch Stadium.

St. Louis has won seven of its last eight overall and has pulled within one game of the first-place Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central. The Cardinals are 11-5 during their current 19-game stretch against NL Central opponents.

The Cardinals played without first baseman Albert Pujols, who is likely to miss this series with a strained left hamstring. He was hurt in Sunday's game against Houston.

St. Louis righthander Woody Williams tries to win his third straight start as he pitches this evening. Williams threw six scoreless innings against Pittsburgh on Thursday. His last loss came May 22 at Wrigley Field when he was battered for eight hits and seven runs -- six earned -- in five innings. Williams is 2-6 lifetime versus the Cubs.

Chris Carpenter remained undefeated on the road this season, tossing 8 1/3 strong innings last night for the Cardinals.

Corey Patterson homered and Moises Alou had two hits for the Cubs, who lost despite outhitting the Cardinals 9-6. Glendon Rusch, who also homered, suffered his first setback of the season, as Chicago fell for the ninth time in 13 games.

Matt Clement, who has beaten the Cardinals twice this season, will get the start tonight for the Cubs. The righthander has given up four runs in 15 innings in his two outings versus St. Louis. For his career, Clement is 2-3 in nine starts against the Cardinals.

Clement suffered a loss on Wednesday, allowing a season-high 11 hits along with four runs against the Astros.

Cubs second baseman Todd Walker is one hit shy of 1,000 for his career. He is in a 2-for-28 slump over his last seven games.

John Mabry, who is filling in for Pujols, will play in his 1,000th career game tonight.

The season series is even at 4-4. Most of the games have been tight with five of the contests being decided by a run. The Cubs have won eight of the last 13 encounters dating back to last season.

06/08 10:51:15 ET

**Spark** · 06-08-2004, 05:55 PM

Tuesday, June 8

National League

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.

Inter League

Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing from left to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 80.
San Diego Padres at Boston Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
Clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 80.
Colorado Rockies at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 80.
Arizona Diamondbacks at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 80.
Florida Marlins at Cleveland Indians, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing from right to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago White Sox, 8:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing from right to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Cloudy with a 70-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 80.
Montreal Expos at Kansas City Royals, 8:10 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners, 10:05 p.m.
Mostly cloudy. Winds blowing from left to right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 70.
Cincinnati Reds at Oakland Athletics, 10:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 60.
Milwaukee Brewers at Anaheim Angels, 10:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 70.

Wednesday, June 9

National League

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 60-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 80.

Inter League

Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from left to right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 75.
San Diego Padres at Boston Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 15-25 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 90.
Colorado Rockies at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 90.
Arizona Diamondbacks at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m.
Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 90.
Florida Marlins at Cleveland Indians, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 85.
Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers, 7:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 85.
Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago White Sox, 8:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 60-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 80.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Cloudy with a 50-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 80.
Montreal Expos at Kansas City Royals, 8:10 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 50-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 80.
Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners, 10:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 70.
Cincinnati Reds at Oakland Athletics, 10:05 p.m.
Cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to right field at 15-25 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 60.
Milwaukee Brewers at Anaheim Angels, 10:05 p.m.
Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 70.
As of June 8, 2004, at 02:12 PM ET

Announcement

MLB TRENDS.....TUESDAY

MLB TRENDS.....TUESDAY

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment