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CNOTES
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Washington Nationals @ New York Mets
1:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
901 Washington (R) Zimmermann, J (3-0) (10-7) (4-4 A) W-1 -143 7.5 -140 7.5 n/a n/a n/a
902 N.Y. Mets (R) Gee, D (0-3) (8-8) (5-3 H) L-1 +133 +130 n/a n/a n/a
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Miami Marlins @ Cincinnati Reds
1:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
903 Miami (R) Sanabia, A (2-1) (4-14) (2-7 A) L-1 +210 8.5 +210 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
904 Cincinnati (R) Bailey, H (1-1) (10-8) (9-3 H) W-1 -225 -240 n/a n/a n/a
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Atlanta Braves @ Pittsburgh Pirates
1:35 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
905 Atlanta (R) Medlen, K (1-1) (13-4) (7-2 A) L-2 -185 7.5 -185 7.5 n/a n/a n/a
906 Pittsburgh (L) Sanchez, J (0-2) (9-8) (7-4 H) W-2 +175 +165 n/a n/a n/a
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Chicago Cubs @ Milwaukee Brewers
2:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
907 Chi. Cubs (R) Feldman, S (0-2) (5-11) (2-6 A) L-2 +135 8.5 +135 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
908 Milwaukee (R) Peralta, W (0-1) (8-8) (6-5 H) W-6 -145 -145 n/a n/a n/a
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San Diego Padres @ San Francisco Giants
4:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
909 San Diego (L) Stults, E (2-1) (5-12) (4-7 A) L-2 +157 8.0 +135 8 n/a n/a n/a
910 San Francisco (L) Zito, B (2-1) (11-7) (6-2 H) W-2 -167 -155 n/a n/a n/a
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Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies
4:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
911 Arizona (R) McCarthy, B (0-2) (9-8) (4-4 A) L-2 +121 10.0 +125 10.5 n/a n/a n/a
912 Colorado (R) Nicasio, J (2-0) (13-4) (8-0 H) W-8 -131 -145 n/a n/a n/a
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St. Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies
8:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
913 St. Louis (R) Westbrook, J (1-1) (10-7) (6-5 A) W-1 -105 8.5 -115 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
914 Philadelphia (R) Kendrick, K (1-1) (7-11) (4-5 H) L-1 -105 +105 n/a n/a n/a
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New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays
1:07 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
915 N.Y. Yankees (R) Nova, I (1-1) (10-6) (5-2 A) W-2 +128 8.5 +120 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
916 Toronto (R) Johnson, J (0-1) (7-11) (4-8 H) L-2 -138 -140 n/a n/a n/a
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Kansas City Royals @ Boston Red Sox
1:35 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
917 Kansas City (R) Santana, E (1-1) (8-7) (4-5 A) L-1 +134 8.5 +130 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
918 Boston (R) Dempster, R (0-1) (12-4) (5-2 H) W-7 -144 -150 n/a n/a n/a
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Oakland Athletics @ Tampa Bay Rays
1:40 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
919 Oakland (L) Milone, T (3-0) (12-6) (6-2 A) L-2 +102 8.5 +100 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
920 Tampa Bay (R) Carmona, F (0-3) (7-10) (5-3 H) W-2 -112 -110 n/a n/a n/a
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Cleveland Indians @ Houston Astros
2:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
921 Cleveland (R) Jimenez, U (0-2) (6-10) (4-4 A) W-1 -110 8.5 -110 9 n/a n/a n/a
922 Houston (L) Bedard, E (0-1) (5-12) (2-6 H) L-1 +100 +100 n/a n/a n/a
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Minnesota Twins @ Chicago White Sox
2:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
923 Minnesota (L) Diamond, S (0-1) (7-7) (3-4 A) W-3 +136 8.5 +130 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
924 Chi. White Sox (R) Floyd, G (0-3) (7-10) (4-3 H) L-2 -146 -150 n/a n/a n/a
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Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers
3:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
925 Seattle (R) Harang, A (0-1) (7-12) (3-6 A) L-2 +158 10.0 +155 9.5 n/a n/a n/a
926 Texas (R) Grimm, J (0-0) (11-6) (6-2 H) W-2 -168 -175 n/a n/a n/a
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Detroit Tigers @ Los Angeles Angels
3:35 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
927 Detroit (R) Fister, D (3-0) (9-8) (5-6 A) L-3 +113 8.5 +105 8 n/a n/a n/a
928 L.A. Angels (L) Wilson, C (1-0) (6-10) (4-4 H) W-2 -123 -115 n/a n/a n/a
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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Baltimore Orioles
1:35 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
929 L.A. Dodgers (R) Billingsley, C (1-0) (7-10) (3-5 A) L-6 +102 9.0 -115 8.5 n/a n/a n/a
930 Baltimore (R) Arrieta, J (1-0) (10-7) (5-3 H) W-3 -112 -105 n/a n/a n/a
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Kansas City Royals @ Boston Red Sox
7:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend
Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U
931 Kansas City (R) Guthrie, J (2-0) (8-7) (4-5 A) L-1 +124 9.0 +125 9 n/a n/a n/a
932 Boston (R) Webster, A (0-0) (12-4) (5-2 H) W-7 -134 -145 n/a n/a n/a
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Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 08:32 AM |
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CNOTES
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Preview: Yankees (10-6) at Blue Jays (7-11)
Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: April 21, 2013 1:07 PM EDT
It's been a happy homecoming for Vernon Wells, who will try to power the New York Yankees to a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday at Rogers Centre.
A fixture in the outfield for more than a decade with Toronto (7-11), Wells has spent the past two-plus seasons tormenting the Blue Jays - first with the Los Angeles Angels the last two years before joining the Yankees (10-6) in late March. He is hitting .242 in 15 lifetime games versus Toronto, but all five of his home runs and seven of his nine extra-base hits in those contests have come in nine games north of the border.
Wells was at the center of New York's 5-3, 11-inning victory Saturday, scoring the go-ahead run on a two-run throwing error by losing pitcher Aaron Loup after leading off the inning with a single. He also homered for the second time in this series and is 5 for 10 with four runs scored in the two wins.
"You know what, you get in the moment and you make an aggressive play like that and sometimes it works out,' Wells said. "You look great when it works out and bad when it doesn't.'
Wells' limited track record versus Blue Jays scheduled starter Josh Johnson (0-1, 6.91 ERA) isn't much, going 1 for 6 with two walks as the Yankees try to complete their first series sweep at Toronto of at least three games since Aug. 26-28, 2004. Johnson is still seeking his first win with Toronto since being acquired from Miami in the offseason, but the right-hander appears to be on the right track. He did not get a decision Tuesday versus Chicago after limiting the White Sox to two runs and four hits in seven innings before the Blue Jays eventually lost 4-3.
"I was just more aggressive overall," Johnson told MLB's official website. "Fastball, curveball, slider, everything was going - not just to the catcher but through the catcher and through the zone. That was the main focus for this start, and it worked out."
Johnson, who has allowed homers in each of his two outings at home, won his only start against the Yankees back in 2009.
The Yankees go for the sweep behind Ivan Nova (1-1, 5.59), who will try to build on his last outing and win consecutive starts. He worked in and out of trouble Tuesday to get a win versus Arizona, allowing two runs and seven hits with two walks in five innings.
"It feels really good," Nova said of notching the victory. "I was joking with the guys - I don't remember when the last time was that I won a ballgame. I know that I didn't go far enough in the game. It's something we will keep working on. Hopefully, this is a good sign for me."
While Nova has a 17-8 lifetime road record, he has lost his last away from the Bronx dating back to last year, giving up 14 runs and 18 hits over 15 1-3 innings. One of those defeats came at Toronto on Sept. 27 after yielding four runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings of a 6-0 defeat.
Nova's last road win, though, also came at Rogers Centre, where he struck out 10 in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-2 win Aug. 11. He is 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in six starts and seven lifetime appearances versus Toronto.
Edwin Encarnacion is 6 for 15 lifetime against Nova, while ex-Yankee Melky Cabrera is 3 for 5 with two homers and a double.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 04:59 PM |
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CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
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Preview: Nationals (10-7) at Mets (8-8)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 21, 2013 1:10 PM EDT
The last time the Washington Nationals had a pitcher win his first four starts of a season, it was 16 years ago and they were the Montreal Expos.
Bryce Harper may have a big role in Jordan Zimmermann accomplishing that feat.
Coming off his second two-homer game of the season, Harper will try give Zimmermann some help at the plate, as the Nationals go for a second straight win over the New York Mets in Sunday's finale.
Zimmermann (3-0, 2.45 ERA) is off to the best start of his career, and his win total is just one shy of the rest of the rotation.
Matching that total Sunday would make the right-hander the first member of the Nationals franchise to win his first four starts of a season since Pedro Martinez won his first eight of 1997, en route to the NL Cy Young Award.
Zimmermann was impressive again Monday, tossing 103 pitches to complete a six-hitter in a 10-3 win at Miami.
"It means a lot," Zimmermann said of his second career complete game and first since 2011. "It means I'm doing my job staying in the game and putting up zeros. It's the kind of pitcher I want to be. I want to be a workhorse and someone who can eat up innings."
He's also been helped by the lineup, which has backed him with 18 total runs through three games, scoring six in the first inning.
"It's a lot easier to pitch when you get runs early in the game," Zimmermann said.
Harper and the offense may be primed for another big performance after all seven of Washington's hits during Saturday's 7-6 win went for extra bases, including four homers.
Harper doubled and had two homers with three RBIs on Saturday after going 0 for 4 in Friday's 7-1 loss to open this series. He also went deep twice in a 2-0 season-opening win over Miami on April 1.
"He beats you in many ways, not just home runs," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "If he gets on base he can steal a base or two as well. He's a dangerous player."
Last year's NL Rookie of the Year, Harper is hitting .371 with seven homers and 14 RBIs this season, and he owns a .333 average with three homers and seven RBIs in eight visits to Citi Field.
The Nationals (10-7) have also enjoyed visiting Flushing, winning 13 of the last 15 there thanks in large part to a 2.01 ERA while limiting New York to .194 at the plate.
Each of Zimmermann's last five starts against the Mets have ended in wins for Washington, while he's 1-0 with a 1.55 ERA.
The Mets (8-8) are looking to take a three-game series from the Nationals for the first time since winning two of three in the nation's capital from Sept. 2-4, 2011.
They're scheduled to give the ball to Dillon Gee (0-3, 8.36), who is 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA in his last three starts against Washington after winning the first three of his career with a 1.27 ERA.
The right-hander, who will be facing Harper for the first time, is also on the verge of becoming the first Met to lose his first four starts in April since Steve Trachsel in 2001.
Gee's struggles continued Tuesday, when he was tagged for five runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-4 loss at Colorado.
Daniel Murphy is batting .355 with 12 RBIs and 17 runs after getting three hits in this series. The second baseman is 7 for 21 with two doubles and a homer off Zimmermann.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:01 PM |
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CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
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Preview: Marlins (4-14) at Reds (10-8)
Game: 4
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 21, 2013 1:10 PM EDT
It's been an up-and-down start thus far for the Cincinnati Reds, who will try to stay on the "up" end Sunday by taking a third of four games from the Miami Marlins in Sunday's finale
The reigning NL Central champions raced to a 5-2 start, averaging 7.3 runs, and promptly dropped five in a row. Cincinnati (10-8) has since regrouped to win five of six, this time on the strength of strong pitching as it has posted a 1.40 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 58 innings.
Manager Dusty Baker's bullpen provided five shutout innings in Saturday's 3-2, 13-inning victory, helping the Reds overcome stranding 17 runners and going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Baker credited starter Bronson Arroyo for giving his relievers a chance to be effective after throwing eight innings.
"Bronson pitched a heck of a game,' said Baker, whose pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer in six consecutive games, the longest stretch since a six-game streak from July 10 through July 19, 2010. "He kept some pretty good hitters off balance.'
Homer Bailey (1-1, 3.32 ERA) has contributed a solid outing as well during this run, scattering two singles around a season-high 10 strikeouts in 89 pitches over eight innings Tuesday against Philadelphia. The right-hander, though, had nothing to show for it as the game was suspended in the middle of the ninth tied at zero and eventually won by the Reds the following night.
"When you're on the same page as your catcher, I can kind of sit back and almost go into cruise control, where all I have to think about is executing pitches," Bailey told the Reds' official website. "Being able to go out there and just execute pitches if that's your only mindset makes something very hard a little bit easier. Trying to make pitches is extremely hard."
Bailey, who did not face the Marlins last year, is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four lifetime starts against them.
Marlins counterpart Alex Sanabia (2-1, 4.24) has a similar track record to Bailey in the early part of the season with two strong starts around a terrible one. The right-hander limited Washington to two runs and six hits in six innings of an 8-2 victory on Tuesday and has half of Miami's four wins.
Sanabia has essentially had one bad inning thus far, yielding six of his eight runs in an 8-0 loss to Atlanta on April 10. He has struggled getting the first out of the inning, allowing leadoff hitters to go 8 for 17 thus far.
The Marlins (4-14) have been held to three or fewer runs in 15 of 18 games, partly due to the on-going struggles of slugger Giancarlo Stanton. He had an infield single in six at_bats Saturday, raising his average by a point to .163, and has no RBIs and 17 strikeouts in 12 games.
"He is an unbelievable player. He is going to hit,' manager Mike Redmond said. "He's our big bat. He's just in a funk and we've got to get him out of it.'
Stanton, who has gone eight games without an extra-base hit, is 1 for 5 lifetime versus Bailey.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:02 PM |
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CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
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Posts: 10543
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Preview: Dodgers (7-10) at Orioles (10-7)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 21, 2013 1:35 PM EDT
Playing in AL ballparks has presented plenty of problems for the Los Angeles Dodgers in recent years, and Camden Yards has been no exception this weekend.
Los Angeles tries to avoid matching its longest losing streak from last season and notch a rare road interleague win Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Favored by many to win their first NL West title since 2009, the high-priced Dodgers have fallen short of expectations early on.
They won seven of their first 11 games but have been unable to maintain that success, losing six straight by a combined 36-13 score.
The skid continued with a pair of losses Saturday, as Los Angeles (7-10) squandered a four-run lead in a 7-5 loss in the opener of a split doubleheader before falling 6-1 in the nightcap.
Those defeats dropped the Dodgers to 7-19 in road interleague games since the start of 2010. They've lost seven of eight overall against the opposite league.
"There is a time when you feel like you just need a win,' manager Don Mattingly said. "Really, this feels like one of those times. We just need to put a win on the board and get out of this.'
Los Angeles, which lost seven in a row June 24-30, went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position in the doubleheader and is 7 for 43 (.163) during the losing streak.
Manny Machado matched career highs with three hits and four RBIs Saturday night, falling a triple shy of the cycle for the Orioles (10-7), winners of a season-high three straight and seven of 10.
Baltimore has won 11 of 16 in interleague play.
"We've got to come out and be greedy and get the sweep,' center fielder Adam Jones said.
Chris Davis hit his seventh homer - a 448-foot shot - in the nightcap and is 7 for 15 in his last four games. He leads the AL with seven homers and 21 RBIs.
Davis will get his first look at Chad Billingsley (1-0, 3.00 ERA), who was effective in two starts against San Diego since he was activated from the disabled list April 10 due to a bruised right index finger. He gave up a three-run homer to pitcher Eric Stults and six other hits over six innings Monday before leaving without a decision in a 6-3 loss.
The righty is 7-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 20 interleague starts, yielding 11 runs and 18 hits over 11 innings in losing the last two.
This will be his first appearance against the Orioles.
Baltimore's Jake Arrieta (1-0, 5.40) will try to build on his first win of the season, though he hopes to be far more efficient. The right-hander surrendered a home run on the first pitch he threw, walked five and needed 112 pitches to complete five innings but still beat Tampa Bay 5-4 on Tuesday. He allowed just the one run and struck out seven to earn his first victory since June 13.
"The win is the biggest part of the night,' said Arrieta, who has pitched five innings in each of his three starts - all Baltimore victories. "I would have liked to be out there a little bit longer but the pitch count got up."
He went 1-2 with a 4.65 ERA in five starts against the NL last season, but allowed one run in three of those outings.
Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford have fared very well against Arrieta. Gonzalez is 5 for 11 and Crawford is 4 for 7, with both hitting a home run.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:04 PM |
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CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
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Preview: Royals (8-7) at Red Sox (12-4)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 21, 2013 7:05 PM EDT
The Boston Red Sox not only made their emotional return to Fenway Park on Saturday, they did so in winning fashion against the Kansas City Royals.
Boston can match its longest winning streak in two years by sweeping Sunday's split doubleheader from Kansas City.
The twin bill was scheduled to make up for Friday's game, which was postponed as authorities continued to search for and eventually found the second suspect from Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon.
Saturday marked the first home game for the Red Sox (12-4) since Monday's events, with Fenway playing host to pregame ceremonies to honor the victims. Those ceremonies included a passionate speech from David Ortiz, who then went 2 for 4 in his season debut as he helped Boston to a 4-3 victory.
The win was the Red Sox's seventh straight, their longest streak since they won nine in a row June 3-12, 2011.
Ortiz's RBI single tied the game at one in the sixth before Daniel Nava's three-run homer in the eighth off Kelvin Herrera eventually paved the way for the victory.
"Driving around and looking around at people's faces, it was a very emotional day here just looking at those guys that were injured by those bombs going off and watching the news nearly every day, it was painful, very painful," said Ortiz, who played in his first major league game since Aug. 24 as he dealt with a right Achilles tendon injury. "Today I could see people opening their chest and letting it go."
While the Royals (8-7) have lost four of six, being a part of Saturday's emotional festivities seemed to take precedent over defeat.
"To go through and see everybody getting into it and what this city went through, just to be a part of it was amazing," said Lorenzo Cain, who went 4 for 4 with a solo homer off of closer Andrew Bailey in the ninth.
The Red Sox will send Ryan Dempster to the mound in Sunday's opener while the Royals will answer with Ervin Santana, with both teams seeking a continuation of strong pitching after solid outings Saturday. James Shields gave up one run on four hits over six innings for Kansas City while Clay Buchholz held the Royals to two runs on eight hits in eight innings.
Dempster (0-1, 2.65 ERA) will also look to continue Boston's streak of starters giving up three or fewer runs in all 16 contests so far. Though he's yet to record a victory with his new team, Dempster is coming off his best outing of the season as he limited Tampa Bay to a run on two hits in seven innings while striking out 10 in a 3-2 victory Monday. A blown save by Bailey squandered Dempster's bid for his first win with Boston, though he wasn't deterred.
"Anytime I can start a ballgame and we win that ballgame, that's all that matters," Dempster, 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA in three starts against the Royals, told the team's official website.
Santana (1-1, 2.45) is also fresh off a good showing, throwing eight innings against Toronto while giving up two runs on seven hits in a 3-2 victory last Sunday. He is 3-3 with a 4.13 ERA in 11 starts against the Red Sox.
Boston will send 23-year-old Allen Webster to the mound in the nightcap in his major league debut. Webster, who will be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket, was acquired from the Dodgers in last year's trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to Los Angeles. The right-hander owns a 0.90 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings over two outings for Pawtucket.
Webster will be opposed by the much more experienced Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 3.20), who is 3-7 with a 4.96 ERA in 18 starts against the Red Sox, though two of those victories have come in the last three.
Ortiz will likely feel comfortable facing Guthrie, as he's 13 for 38 (.342) with five doubles and three homers against him. Meanwhile, Kansas City's Chris Getz has 10 hits in 23 career at_bats against Santana.
Outfielder Shane Victorino left Saturday's game with tightness in his lower back after trying to lay down a bunt, and he'll be reevaluated prior to the doubleheader, Boston manager John Farrell said.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:05 PM |
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CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
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Preview: Braves (13-4) at Pirates (9-8)
Game: 4
Venue: PNC Park
Date: April 21, 2013 1:35 PM EDT
The Atlanta Braves are still tied for baseball's best record, but they find themselves in an unfamiliar spot thanks to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh handed Atlanta its first consecutive losses of the season and will look to extend the Braves' slide to three straight games Sunday at PNC Park in the finale of a four-game set.
The Pirates (9-8) have won six of eight and inched above the .500 mark for the first time this season with Saturday's 3-1 victory. Starters James McDonald and Paul Maholm were locked in a pitchers' duel until the Pirates broke through in the sixth. Maholm had surrendered two hits while throwing five shutout innings before allowing three runs, including a two-run homer to Gaby Sanchez - his first of the season. Sanchez had come in struggling, batting .174 with four hits in 12 games.
"It was a matter of our hitters sticking with the game plan," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Braves' 13-4 mark is tied with Colorado for the best in the majors, but their powerful offense has been somewhat halted of late. They were shut out in two of three prior to Saturday and the club produced just six hits in two losses to the Pirates.
Atlanta was 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position Saturday, didn't have an at-bat in such a situation in Friday's 6-0 loss and was 1 for 7 in a 6-4 win on Thursday.
The Braves only came away with one run in Friday's second inning in which they drew three walks against McDonald, who fanned two in a row to end the threat.
"It's been a couple of days where we can't get the big hit," said Chris Johnson, who is 21 for 45 (.467) over his last 11 games after starting the season 2 for 10. "We just have to focus in and get some hits with some guys on base. We'll be fine. We've proven we can score runs."
Pittsburgh starter Jonathan Sanchez (0-2, 12.96 ERA) will hope to pick up some good mojo from the rest of the starting staff, which has been dealing of late. McDonald struck out nine over six innings and Wandy Rodriguez allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings Friday. A.J. Burnett shut out St. Louis over seven innings of one-hit ball in a 5-0 win Wednesday.
Sanchez, however, was tagged for nine runs, eight hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings in a 10-2 loss at Arizona on April 10. The left-hander's first chance for redemption was thwarted as Tuesday's game against the Cardinals was rained out after two innings.
He'll be opposed by Kris Medlen (1-1, 1.42), who has only received five runs of support in three starts. Though Atlanta won each of his last two, he wasn't credited with a victory in the Braves' 6-3 win over Kansas City on Tuesday. Medlen yielded two runs and six hits with no walks in seven frames.
Medlen is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh, while Sanchez is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA over seven starts versus Atlanta. Sanchez's only victory over the Braves came on May 25, 2009, with San Francisco.
Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla told the team's official website he hopes to return Monday against the Rockies after leaving Saturday's game in the fourth inning with tightness in his left calf.
Believe in the 3 G's
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04-21-13 05:07 PM |
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Preview: Athletics (12-6) at Rays (7-10)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: April 21, 2013 1:40 PM EDT
The Tampa Bay Rays have cooled off the Oakland Athletics and continue to build some much-needed momentum at the same time.
Looking to complete a three-game sweep, the Rays try to prevent Oakland's Tommy Milone from starting 4-0 on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay (7-10) has bounced back nicely from a 2-7 road trip by winning the first two of a weekend set versus Oakland (12-6), which carried a three-game winning streak into the series and was 6-0 on the road.
The Rays have not swept a three-game set from the A's at home since 2005.
One night after matching a season high for runs in an 8-3 win, the Rays got seven strong innings from Jeremy Hellickson and a homer by Matt Joyce during Saturday's 1-0 win. All three Oakland hits came off Hellickson, who struck out six and walked one.
"We're going to take a win any way we can get it,' Joyce said.
"To know you can pitch play defense well enough to make one run stand, it's a good confidence builder.'
To help his team unwind and relax, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon brought a disc jockey into the clubhouse to provide some pregame entertainment.
"I want our guys to chill out a little bit, go out there and play hard and not be afraid of making mistakes - ever,' Maddon said. "This is my way of getting the point across.'
Joyce is batting .316 (6 for 19) in his last five games after going 4 for 30 (.133) in his first 10.
Teammate Evan Longoria did not homer, but had a hit and has reached base safely in all 17 games.
Longoria has never faced Milone (3-0, 3.86 ERA), who allowed two runs and struck out six in 6 2-3 innings of an 11-2 win over Houston on Monday to improve to 5-0 with a 3.11 ERA in his last eight regular-season starts.
"You pretty much know what you're going to get out of Tommy every time he goes out there,' Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "He works quick, he knows what he wants to do and has conviction in what he's doing. Since the day he's gotten here his first spring training he's been a model of consistency.'
Though the left-hander split his two appearances against the Rays last season, he posted an 8.18 ERA in those starts.
The A's averaged 8.5 runs and 12.7 hits while sweeping Houston and the Los Angeles Angels in their first road trip, but did not have a hit past the fourth inning Saturday.
Coco Crisp went 0 for 4 to snap his 12-game hitting streak, but he's 9 for 22 (.409) with a double and home run against scheduled Tampa Bay starter Roberto Hernandez (0-3, 5.79).
The right-hander allowed five runs - three earned - and walked three while striking out seven in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-4 loss at Baltimore on Tuesday.
Formerly known as Fausto Carmona, Hernandez is 4-7 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 starts versus Oakland.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:08 PM |
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Preview: Twins (7-7) at White Sox (7-10)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 21, 2013 2:10 PM EDT
Joe Mauer has been locked in at the plate lately for the Minnesota Twins.
Given his history against Chicago White Sox scheduled starter Gavin Floyd, he seems to be in good shape to extend his hitting streak to 11 games Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field.
After Friday's series opener was postponed because of cold and windy conditions, the Twins (7-7) won 2-1 in 10 innings Saturday. Ryan Doumit led off the 10th with a double and came around to score the winning run on Alexei Ramirez's throwing error.
It was the third straight victory for Minnesota, though it hadn't played since Tuesday because of a pair of postponements and a scheduled off day.
"It has been a weird stretch," Ron Gardenhire told the Twins' official website. "You just have to scratch your way through it and get a win one way or another."
Despite three straight days off, Mauer didn't seem to miss a beat Saturday, going 2 for 4 with a pair of walks. The three-time AL batting champ has a 10-game hitting streak and is batting .577 (15 for 26) in the last six.
He enjoys batting at U.S. Cellular, reaching safely in each of his last 13 games there for a .349 average with 16 walks for a .525 on-base percentage. He has also regularly tormented Floyd (0-3, 6.32 ERA).
Mauer is hitting .442 with three homers and four doubles in 43 career at_bats against Floyd - his highest average against any pitcher he has faced at least 35 times. Floyd has also walked Mauer 10 times.
Floyd is having similar trouble getting batters out in his last two games, as opponents have a .480 OBP.
Against Toronto on Monday, the right-hander allowed four runs, nine hits - including two homers - and three walks in a season-low 4 1-3 innings in a 4-3 loss.
Floyd, who is trying to avoid losing four consecutive starts in a single season for the first time in his 10-year career, posted a 1.38 ERA in winning his last two starts against the Twins. He had an 8.86 ERA in losing each of his previous eight starts in the series.
Minnesota counters with Scott Diamond (0-1, 8.31), who yielded four runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings in last Saturday's 4-2 loss to the New York Mets - his lone outing of the season. The left-hander went 1-3 with a 5.70 ERA in four starts against the White Sox (7-10) in 2012.
Alejandro De Aza and Alex Rios each went 5 for 11 off Diamond a year ago, while Adam Dunn was 3 for 10 with a home run.
De Aza had a leadoff homer Saturday, but Chicago managed just five other hits while striking out 13 times.
The White Sox lost for just the fourth time in 11 games when hitting a homer. They're 0-6 when they don't go deep.
"All it's going to take is a few big hits here and there to ease the tension, a few big homers,' said Jake Peavy, who allowed a run over seven innings Saturday. "We live and die with the home run and we just haven't hit many of them here of late. In the games we have won, we won it with the long ball.'
Believe in the 3 G's
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04-21-13 05:10 PM |
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Preview: Cubs (5-11) at Brewers (8-8)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 21, 2013 2:10 PM EDT
While the streaking Milwaukee Brewers will try to sweep another home series against division rival Chicago, Wily Peralta is hoping a matchup with the Cubs will help him earn his first win of the season.
After a solid performance against Chicago earlier this month, the right-hander will try to duplicate that effort while leading the Brewers to a seventh straight win Sunday afternoon.
A 5-1 victory Saturday was Milwaukee's seventh in a row at Miller Park against the Cubs and 17th in the last 19 matchups there. The hot-hitting Jonathan Lucroy hit an early solo homer, and the Brewers (8-8) took advantage of three errors.
Milwaukee is the first team since the 1977 New York Yankees to reach the .500 mark in its 16th game after dropping eight of its first 10.
"We're making the most of some of the things that have happened the last couple of days," manager Ron Roenicke said. "We're playing better ball, and we're getting some breaks."
Peralta (0-1, 6.19 ERA) will try to follow by earning his first win since Sept. 16. While he's one of the Brewers' top prospects, the right-hander's performance in his most recent start hardly looked promising.
Peralta was charged with a career-high six runs, seven hits and three walks over four-plus innings in Milwaukee's 10-8 win over San Francisco on Tuesday.
"When you have that kind of score and you've got a chance to get a win and you don't get it, that's frustrating," Peralta told the team's website. "But that's going to happen. You forget about it and get ready for the next one."
Peralta, who had a 2.93 ERA in his previous seven major league starts, performed a little better in his only start against Chicago on April 9. He gave up three runs over 6 2-3 innings but the Brewers fell 6-3, their only loss in four games versus the Cubs (5-11) this season.
Peralta is slated to pitch opposite Scott Feldman (0-2, 6.00), who had to skip one start due to tightness in his back. The right-hander hasn't made it through the fifth inning in his first two outings for the Cubs.
He allowed six runs - two earned - over 4 1-3 innings in a 7-6 loss to San Francisco on April 11. Feldman, though, shined in his only start against Milwaukee on June 12, 2010, while with Texas.
He pitched six scoreless innings and struck out six in a 4-3 win at Miller Park, one of his four in 15 starts against NL opponents.
Lucroy will try to keep Feldman from earning another win while adding to his recent turnaround. After batting .167 in his first nine games, the Brewers catcher is 9 for 24 (.375) with three homers and seven RBIs during a six-game hit streak.
Lucroy singled in one of his two at_bats against Feldman while Yuniesky Betancourt is 5 for 16 (.313) with two doubles versus the right-hander.
The Cubs' Starlin Castro, who enters this game with a major league-best 12-game hit streak, went 1 for 4 against Peralta in the win earlier this month.
The Cubs have committed seven of their 15 errors against the Brewers.
"We just have to make plays when we have a chance," starting pitcher Edwin Jackson said. "It is just a matter of going out and doing it."
Milwaukee hasn't won seven straight since July 26-Aug. 1, 2011, a stretch that began with a three-game home sweep over Chicago.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:11 PM |
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Preview: Indians (6-10) at Astros (5-12)
Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: April 21, 2013 2:10 PM EDT
The Cleveland Indians are just trying to have fun.
Ubaldo Jimenez looks like he's having anything but fun on the mound.
After snapping their longest slide of the season with an offensive barrage, the Indians may need another big display at the plate Sunday, with Jimenez scheduled to start the finale of a three-game set with the Houston Astros.
Cleveland (6-10) broke out offensively Saturday, collecting 22 hits with seven doubles and three homers to pound the Astros 19-6, ending a five-game losing streak. The Indians, who plated 14 runs in the first two innings, were hitting .206 with 11 runs during that slide, which included Friday's 3-2 defeat to Houston (5-12).
"It was finally nice to go out there and relax and know we were in control of the game and just have some fun," said Mark Reynolds, who had two hits and four RBIs with three coming on a homer. "It's what we talked about before the game was just to have fun."
Jason Giambi was surely enjoying himself Saturday, getting a double, a homer and five RBIs in appearing in just his fourth game.
The Indians' bats may need to be productive again since Jimenez (0-2, 11.25 ERA) is 1-12 with a 7.27 ERA in 17 starts, dating to a win over Tampa Bay on July 7.
Manager Terry Francona doesn't care about what happened before he arrived this season.
"Last year is over," Francona told the team's official website. "You can't pitch for last year. It doesn't work. It just makes it harder. So we need to separate that, first of all. We need to figure out, 'What did he do good? What didn't he do good?'
"If you start going back to last August, then he's got no chance."
There hasn't been a lot going right for Jimenez over his last two starts, giving up seven runs in each while getting charged with the defeats.
The right-hander's latest outing was one of the shortest of his career, getting pulled with two outs in the second while surrendering two hits and five walks in a 7-2 loss to Boston on Tuesday.
"You're going to have challenges throughout the season. We knew that coming in," Francona said. "I just think we'd prefer to tackle them as opposed to running away from them."
Francona may feel better about Jimenez facing Houston since he's 4-0 with a 1.88 ERA in six career starts.
The Astros are hoping to see some improvement from Erik Bedard (0-1, 7.04), who is slated to take the mound for the first time since an 11-2 loss at Oakland on Monday.
The veteran left-hander managed one out while surrendering six runs, one homer and four walks. Manager Bo Porter isn't too worried, and that's due to Bedard tossing 7 1-3 scoreless innings over his first two appearances of 2013.
"He just didn't have it," Porter told the team's official website. "I didn't see anything wrong mechanically and there's nothing wrong physically. It was a classic, 'Just one of those nights.'"
Jose Altuve is among the AL's leaders with a .371 average after getting two hits Saturday. The second baseman is a staggering 8 for 15 over the past four games.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:13 PM |
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Preview: Mariners (7-12) at Rangers (11-6)
Game: 3
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: April 21, 2013 3:05 PM EDT
Superb pitching has the Texas Rangers on the brink of sweeping their first series of the season.
Facing the Seattle Mariners' woeful offense is surely helping.
The Rangers are making a bid to shut out an opponent over the course of a three-game series for the first time in 22 years Sunday against the Mariners.
Texas (11-6) is third in the majors with a 2.72 ERA, a vast improvement so far after compiling a 3.99 mark last year.
Pitching has been especially impressive in this series, as the Rangers have struck out 21 and held the Mariners to 10 hits - nine singles.
They followed Friday's 7-0 victory with a 5-0 win Saturday, giving them a chance to sweep the Mariners for the first time since Sept. 23-25, 2011.
The Rangers haven't recorded three straight wins via shutouts since a five-game stretch from April 19-30, 1981. That included blanking Boston during a three-game sweep at home.
Seattle (7-12) has never been shut out for three straight games, but the team is among the worst offensively in baseball. The Mariners are hitting .218 and averaging 3.1 runs per game, getting outscored 20-5 while dropping four of five.
"We're in one of those zones right now where if you do hit it hard, it's right at them," manager Eric Wedge said. "We're going through some tough times offensively right now."
Texas has felt the same way this season, but its standards are much higher. The Rangers are batting .245, a drop of nearly 30 points from last season.
They've collected 15 hits with seven going for extra bases - including three homers - in this series.
"The last two nights have been a step in the right direction," said left fielder David Murphy, who has three hits in two games to spike his season average 32 points to .183. "But I think it's safe to say our offense still has yet to completely click. While we're still trying to find ourselves one through nine, our pitchers are going to keep us in games and our pitchers are going to win games for us."
Justin Grimm is getting another chance to do that in place of injured Matt Harrison. Grimm's first start of the season resulted in a 4-3 win at Seattle on April 11, when he allowed two runs and five hits in four innings.
Aaron Harang is scheduled to make his second start for the Mariners after being acquired in a trade with Colorado earlier this month.
The veteran right-hander replaced an ineffective Blake Beavan in the rotation Tuesday, and allowed three runs and seven hits with six strikeouts in five innings of a 6-2 loss to Detroit.
Harang has a 12.34 ERA in three starts at Texas, but hasn't pitched in Arlington since June 25, 2003, with Cincinnati.
Lance Berkman is the Ranger most familiar with Harang, going 15 for 58 (.259) with seven homers in their matchups.
Kyle Seager continues to be a rare offensive bright spot for Seattle, batting .333 during a nine-game hitting streak. He has three hits in this series, and is batting .452 over his last seven games in Arlington. However, he's 0 for 3 versus Grimm.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:14 PM |
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Preview: Tigers (9-8) at Angels (6-10)
Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: April 21, 2013 3:35 PM EDT
If the Los Angeles Angels are to complete another home sweep of the Detroit Tigers, they'll likely need to be the first opponent this season to get the best of Doug Fister.
The Angels attempt to do both while trying for a sixth consecutive home victory over the Tigers on Sunday.
Mike Trout's first career grand slam highlighted a nine-run first inning and Garrett Richards allowed two hits over seven in Los Angeles' 10-0 win over Detroit (9-8) on Saturday.
"It's always good to help your starter out like that. Then they can pound the strike zone and not have to worry too much,' Trout said. "We're looking better, stating positive, grinding it out and having great at_bats.'
The Angels (6-10) have not won more than two in a row this season, but have outscored the Tigers 18-1 in the first two of this set and 30-6 during a five-game series winning streak in Anaheim.
Trout is 11 for 25 (.440) with two homers and 10 RBIs in six games, and batting .300 (6 for 20) with three home runs and eight RBIs in five career home contests against the Tigers.
Teammate Peter Bourjos is 6 for 8 with four RBIs in the series. He's 3 for 6 with a double against Fister (3-0, 2.70 ERA), who allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings Tuesday of a 6-2 win against his former team in Seattle.
"I look at it as I have a job to do, no matter what team it is," Fister told the Tigers' official website. "That's the focus."
Fister was winless in his previous five starts against the Angels before he allowed a solo homer to Albert Pujols and one other hit while striking out 10 in eight innings of a 7-2 home win July 18.
The Angels counter with C.J. Wilson (1-0, 4.00), who followed a pair of mediocre starts by overcoming four walks to allow a run in six innings of a 4-1 win over Houston last Sunday for his first victory.
"Just happy to go out there and shut the other team down," Wilson told the Angels' official website. "I had a couple innings there with some guys on base, some of that's my fault for getting behind in the count, some of that is circumstance, but I felt like I made some pretty big pitches (last Sunday)."
The left-hander posted a 4.61 ERA while splitting his two starts against the Tigers last season in his first with the Angels. He gave up a run and four hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 6-1 home win Sept. 8.
Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is batting .308 (4 for 13) with two doubles against Wilson.
He had one of the four hits Saturday for the Tigers, who have scored one run during a three-game skid that followed a 4-1 start to their nine-game trip.
"We played the game all right, we just got ambushed," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told MLB's official website.
Ex-Angel Torii Hunter went 2 for 4 in the series opener, but his 12-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-3 effort Saturday. He's still batting .400 on the season.
Believe in the 3 G's
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04-21-13 05:16 PM |
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Preview: Padres (5-12) at Giants (11-7)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: April 21, 2013 4:05 PM EDT
With his lengthy undefeated stretch in the past, San Francisco's Barry Zito is poised to bounce back from one of the worst starts of his career.
The left-hander looks to regroup and help the Giants complete a three-game sweep of the visiting San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Zito (2-1, 4.86 ERA) did not give up a run in his first two outings, and including the postseason, was in the midst of a 16-start stretch where he went 11-0 with a 2.93 ERA before being tagged for nine runs and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings of a 10-8 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday.
"Baseball's kind of a strange game,' said Zito, who gave up eight of those runs in the third inning. "I actually felt better (Tuesday) than I did my first two games."
While manager Bruce Bochy agreed with Zito's assessment that his stuff was decent, the veteran pitcher was grateful for his own run of success and is eager to take the mound for San Francisco (11-7) in the series finale.
"It's just important to put the past in the past and come out and not take anything for granted," Zito, who went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA while pitching in all three rounds during the 2012 postseason, told the Giants' official website. "Each day is a new day. That's something I pride myself on, going out (Sunday) and fighting and grinding."
Zito looks to get back on track and improve his 4-9 record and 4.80 ERA in 20 starts against the Padres (5-12).
He'll have a tough task in following up Saturday's effort by teammate Tim Lincecum, who allowed four hits and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings of a 2-0 win over San Diego.
"(Lincecum's) fastball had good life on it,' said San Diego's Chase Headley, who is 2 for 10 in three games since coming of the disabled list with a broken thumb. "When a guy has a split-finger that really dodges the plate and he has a fastball that's riding through the zone, that makes that pitch better.'
Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer for one of three hits for the Giants, who haven't scored more than three runs in any of the last four games but have won two straight after being swept in a three-game set at Milwaukee.
San Francisco has won three straight overall versus San Diego and 14 of 18 at home against the Padres.
Sandoval's homer is his only hit in 11 at_bats over three contests since a 10-game hitting streak. He's 6 for 10 with a double and a triple against scheduled Padres starter Eric Stults (2-1, 3.94), but could be rested Sunday after he fouled a ball off his foot.
"I'm fine,' Sandoval said.
Stults, who is 3-0 with a 3.67 ERA in his last four starts versus San Francisco, allowed three runs and nine hits over six innings in a 6-3 win at Dodger Stadium on Monday.
"I feel like I made a lot of good pitches,' said the left-hander, who also hit a three-run homer.
Everth Cabrera had two hits Saturday for San Diego, which has been held to two runs and 10 hits in two games at San Francisco after totaling 22 and 37 hits during a three-game sweep of Los Angeles this week.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:17 PM |
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Preview: Diamondbacks (9-8) at Rockies (13-4)
Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: April 21, 2013 4:10 PM EDT
The Colorado Rockies' Juan Nicasio and Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon McCarthy each have a lofty ERA but the two have experienced differing results.
Nicasio will try to stay unbeaten while leading the surging Rockies to a ninth straight win Sunday against the Diamondbacks and the winless McCarthy.
Nicasio (2-0, 5.63 ERA) is one of the pitchers to benefit from Colorado's longest win streak since a 10-game run Sept. 3-12, 2010. The right-hander gave up four runs for the second straight outing Tuesday but picked up the win in an 8-4 victory over the visiting New York Mets.
"It wasn't his sharpest game, but he kept us in the game and gave us a shot," manager Walt Weiss told the team's website.
The Rockies (13-4) improved to 8-0 at Coors Field by holding on for a 4-3 win over Arizona (9-8) on Saturday. Colorado, the only remaining unbeaten team at home, gave up all the runs in the final two innings.
The Rockies have outscored opponents 55-25 during their franchise-best home start. Colorado will try to extend it while recording its first series sweep over Arizona since Sept. 10-12, 2010, at Coors Field.
Nicasio, who is 0-0 with an 8.59 ERA in two career starts versus the Diamondbacks (9-8), has benefited this season from a run support average of 8.4.
McCarthy (0-2, 7.47) has been backed by an average of 6.3 runs, but has been unable to take advantage.
After giving up six runs in each of his first two outings for Arizona, he yielded only a three-run homer to the New York Yankees' Robinson Cano on Tuesday but needed 102 pitches to get through four innings and took the loss in a 4-2 defeat.
"I was just completely out of sync and just kind of not able to do a whole lot," McCarthy told the team's website. "I felt like I was at least still battling, which is kind of good. I just couldn't get right from the (bullpen) all the way through.
"Even after evaluating, I don't know what it is, mechanically, that I was looking for. Just everything was so off."
Before this season, McCarthy was 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA in five starts against NL opponents. He has never faced Colorado and only two Rockies players have faced the right-hander.
Michael Cuddyer is 3 for 17 (.176) with a solo homer and four strikeouts against McCarthy, while Yorvit Torrealba is 3 for 5 with a double.
Cuddyer hit a key solo homer Saturday and Carlos Gonzalez doubled and drove in a run. Gonzalez has played a big role in the winning streak, batting .481 with 10 runs in his last seven.
Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Ross are both 2 for 3 against Nicasio with both of Ross' hits landing for doubles.
The status of veteran first baseman Todd Helton is uncertain. Helton was held out of Saturday's game because of a strained left forearm. He was batting .268 with 10 RBIs in his first 13 games.
Believe in the 3 G's
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04-21-13 05:19 PM |
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Preview: Cardinals (10-7) at Phillies (7-11)
Game: 4
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: April 21, 2013 8:05 PM EDT
The St. Louis Cardinals bounced back, while the Philadelphia Phillies' performance seemed to suggest that the previous game was little more than an aberration.
Philadelphia will turn to Kyle Kendrick as it tries to salvage a four-game split Sunday night at Citizens Bank Ballpark.
The Cardinals (10-7) rebounded from an 8-0 loss Friday for a 5-0 win on Saturday, led by a brilliant start from Lance Lynn and solid production from the heart of the batting order. Jaime Garcia lasted just three innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits Friday, but Lynn picked up the team in a big way, throwing seven innings while yielding one hit.
St. Louis' No 2-3-4-5-6 hitters accounted for all of the team's hits, going 8 for 20. Carlos Beltran homered for the third straight game, continuing to show a fondness for playing the Phillies, particularly on the road. Saturday marked his 30th career homer against Philadelphia and his sixth over his last 13 contests at Citizens Bank Park.
"I don't think about homers, I think about trying to get on base," said Beltran, hitting .268 with four homers and 12 RBIs. "But if you get a good approach and connect with the ball good, sometimes that happens."
Cardinals right-hander Jake Westbrook (1-1, 0.00 ERA) was fortunate that his last start was washed away by rain after he gave up four runs on five hits in two innings Tuesday against Pittsburgh.
"I made some mistakes, and they capitalized on them," Westbrook, who seeks his 100th career victory, told the team's official website. "I missed a few spots. Usually I can get away with (mistakes), but tonight, that wasn't the case. It's just one of those things where I wasn't as sharp as I need to be."
Westbrook is 2-1 with a 4.39 ERA in five starts against Philadelphia.
The Phillies (7-11) seemed to wake up their offense in Friday's 8-2 victory, but it didn't last for long as they managed just three hits Saturday, with John Mayberry Jr.'s fifth-inning double the only one against Lynn. Philadelphia has just seven runs in five losses over its last six games.
Manager Charlie Manuel hopes for a boost with the possible return of Ryan Howard on Sunday, as he's been out of the lineup for two straight games with a sore groin. But even in the 16 games Howard has played, he hasn't been particularly powerful, slugging just .387 with one homer and five RBIs.
"We need to get Ryan going," Manuel said. "We need Ryan's power in the lineup. He's our big RBI guy."
Philadelphia will look for a lift from Kendrick (1-1, 3.38 ERA), who has proven successful against the Cardinals, going 5-1 with a 2.63 ERA in six career starts.
Despite the Phillies' offensive woes, Michael Young continued an 11-game hitting streak with a ninth-inning single Saturday after striking out in his first three at_bats. He is 14 for 38 (.368) during the streak, and 11 for 27 (.407) against Westbrook.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:20 PM |
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CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
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Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack
-- Musn't be a lot to do in Auburn, AL; they drew 83,401 people to their spring football game. What would they draw if they were good?
-- Toronto is 7-11, Dodgers are 7-10, as two big spenders from last winter continue to struggle. LA lost a twinbill in Baltimore Saturday.
-- Detroit Tigers have been outscored 20-1 in their last three games; rough day for Rick Porcello Saturday- nine of 11 batters he faced scored.
-- Carmelo Anthony shot the ball 23 of first 26 times he had it Saturday, but passed on 15 of 33 touches in second half. What a guy.
-- Mariners got shut out for second day in row at Texas; they've scored five runs in their last fifty innings.
-- Ryan Zimmerman (hamstring) is making his annual spring trip to the DL; baseball players get hurt an awful lot.
*****
Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday.........
13) First thing I thought of when Daniel Nava hit his game-winning 8th inning HR Saturday was when Mike Piazza hit a similar game-winner for the Mets after baseball resumed in September of 2001. Just an outburst of emotion from an excited crowd; quite a moment.
12) Astros' starter Philip Humber gave up eight runs in the first inning Saturday, third time this week Houston's starter didn't finish second inning. Going to be a very long summer for Astro skipper Bo Porter.
11) Bad night for Indian starter Scott Kazmir, making his first big league start in two years, and in his hometown; when your team gives you a 14-0 lead in second inning and you don't last five innings to get the win, its a bad night. Kazmir allowed six runs in 3.1 IP, throwing 89 pitches.
10) Knicks 85, Celtics 78-- Boston bench was 0-7 from floor, scored total of four points, had plus/minus of -18; New York bench was 13-32, 33 points, -4. Knicks were -9 in 5:00 Felton was off floor, they miss steady Prigioni. C's scored only eight points in the fourth quarter, 25 in second half.
9) Nuggets 97, Warriors 95-- 37-year old Andre Miller is probably the best player coached by the late Rick Majerus, who would have been proud of his former star Saturday. Miller scored 18 4th quarter points as Denver won for 39th time in 42 home games, including last 24 in row.
8) Nets 106, Bulls 89-- Derrick Rose made $6,993,708 LY; I'm assuming he made more than that this season. Rose has been practicing 5-on-5 for over a month, would be nice if he actually played in a game. Willis Reed he ain't. I actually watched the 19-6 Indians-Astros game instead of this mess.
7) Clippers 112, Grizzlies 91-- Wonder what Mark Cuban thinks when he watches Lamar Odom try? Odom had to go to three high schools before he found one that would give him a diploma, he went to URI for ten days or so, but he's made over $110M in his NBA career. He is very talented, but seems more comfortable as a supporting role player. He helps the Clippers.
6) Made me sick listening to ESPN announcers say that Vinny Del Negro might have to get Clippers to Western Confeence finals in order to keep his job; when have the Clippers won more games? If LA loses to the Thunder in the next round, he's not a good coach? Who will they hire who is better?
5) Memphis coach Lionel Hollins is also a free agent after this season is over, but people seem to think the Grizzlies will bring him back, so at least someone has ounce of sense. Firing Hollins after they traded Rudy Gay would be an example of epic stupidity.
4) Dodgers lost their last six games, have been outscored 33-13.
3) Interleague play is an everyday thing because there are now 15 teams in each league, fueling speculation that the NL will adopt the DH; so far this season, NL teams have an 11-9 edge, with over 5-2 in games without the DH, 6-7 in games with a DH. Go figure.
2) Gonzaga big guy Kelly Olynyk, who started four games in his first two years but blossomed into a 17 ppg scorer this year, is bolting Gonzaga for the NBA- we wish him well, but have seen far too many kids like him leave school and disappear off the basketball map. Is he ready? Is one strong year enough to make him an NBA player?
If the kid is promised a top half of first round selection, then he's guaranteed $10M for three years and has to go, for the most part, but what if he stayed in school and sharpened his skills one more year? We'll never know.
1) Rutgers hired alum/former NBA player/coach Eddie Jordan this week, but his top returning scorer Eli Carter is transferring anyway, making it four of Knights' top six scorers who won't be back next season. Rutgers was 4-9 in Big East play with Carter playing, before he broke a bone in his leg, so not like he's Kevin Durant or something. Lot of these kids get bad advice and always think the grass is greener on the other side. It isn't.
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Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
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04-21-13 05:22 PM |
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