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Padres-Pirates Preview

(AP) -- A.J. Burnett is walking batters at the lowest frequency of his career, and that aggressive approach is fueling his renaissance season.

James Shields' inability to throw strikes, conversely, has proven costly of late.

These veteran right-handers match up Monday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres open a three-game series at PNC Park.

Burnett (7-3, 2.05 ERA) ended a four-game winless stretch with his fifth straight quality start Wednesday at Detroit, allowing two runs over seven innings in a 9-3 victory.

Opponents are hitting .255 against Burnett - barely better than .256 last year when he posted a 4.59 ERA. One of the biggest differences has been Burnett's ability to limit walks. He didn't record a base on balls against the Tigers and his 2.31 walks per nine innings marks the lowest rate of his career.

The 38-year-old, who was backed by a total of five runs over his previous four outings, said the nine runs of support didn't change his approach.

"I program myself that it's 0-0 no matter what," Burnett, whose ERA is a personal best, told MLB's official website. "I didn't change anything. Just try to get strike one, and get back in the dugout."

Burnett is 4-7 with 4.38 ERA in 12 matchups with San Diego, including a win in Pittsburgh's 11-5 road victory May 28. He gave up five runs over 5 2-3 innings.

Shields (7-3, 4.14) hasn't performed nearly as well as Burnett despite an identical record, as he's 0-3 with a 5.59 ERA over his last five outings. His last start could be something to build off, though, as he limited Seattle to two runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 7-0 loss on Wednesday.

While Burnett has been effective because of his aggressiveness, much of Shields' ineffectiveness can be chalked up to his career-worst 3.02 walks per nine innings. He walked four Mariners and has three or more walks in three of his last four starts.

Shields has been stuck on seven wins since June 3, receiving eight runs of support in five games.

The right-hander gave up two runs over six innings without a decision in San Diego's 6-2 win against the Pirates on May 29, his first career matchup. The teams split the four-game series.

Pittsburgh (47-34) beat Cleveland 5-3 on Sunday, its seventh in nine games. The rotation has posted a 2.52 ERA in that span with Gerrit Cole working eight strong innings against the Indians.

The Pirates haven't needed much offense, going 25-2 when scoring at least three runs since May 22, though Neil Walker is 17 for 37 with nine RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak.

Starling Marte, who leads the team with 44 runs, left Sunday's game during a fourth-inning at-bat with discomfort in his left side, but said he felt better afterward.

The Padres (39-45) lost 3-1 at St. Louis on Sunday, recording three hits and scoring two runs or fewer for the fifth time in six games. Justin Upton and Matt Kemp are a combined 4 for 37 in that span.

Upton is 8 for 16 with two homers and two doubles off Burnett, while Kemp is 0 for 11 with eight strikeouts.

San Diego has averaged 5.9 runs while winning 16 of its last 19 at Pittsburgh.

Josh Harrison is 16 for 36 (.444) with three doubles and two triples in his last nine against the Padres.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Cardinals-Cubs Preview

(AP) -- The MLB-best St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs have both overcome shortages on the offensive end thanks to some spectacular work on the mound.

The Cubs, however, haven't measured up in either category in the season series with their rivals.

Former Boston teammates John Lackey and Jon Lester face off in the opener of a four-game series Monday night when the visiting Cardinals look to maintain their dominance over the Cubs.

St. Louis (53-28) has hit .195 while totaling 11 runs in its last six games, but moved past a four-game losing streak by holding San Diego to two total runs in back-to-back victories.

Lance Lynn allowed one unearned run over seven innings Sunday, while rookie Tommy Pham added a two-run homer and a double in a 3-1 home win.

"He's sparking us, that's exactly what we were hoping for," manager Mike Matheny said.

Chicago is also slumping with a .207 average and 2.2 runs per game over its last 12. The team, however, has won five of six since a five-game skid while posting a 0.80 ERA in those six contests.

Kyle Hendrick provided the latest gem with 7 1-3 stellar innings in Sunday's 2-0 win over Miami.

"As long as you can pull some of this ... magical stuff out while you're waiting for the offense to come I'll take it," manager Joe Maddon said after his team finished with three hits.

The Cubs (44-36) have averaged 2.9 runs against the Cardinals, but their rotation hasn't been able to make up for those shortcomings with a 5.06 ERA while dropping seven of nine in the season series.

Lackey hopes to keep Chicago's bats quiet as the Cardinals seek a season high-tying fourth straight road win in the opener of a trip with stops at the two teams nearest to them in the NL Central.

The right-hander has gone 1-0 with a 1.84 mark in two starts against the Cubs this year, allowing two runs over seven innings in a 3-2, 10-inning win June 26.

Kris Bryant is 1 for 6 with five strikeouts when facing Lackey, while Anthony Rizzo has gone 0 for 9 and twice has been hit by a pitch. Chris Coghlan has fared better, going 8 for 14 with a double.

Rizzo is expected back after sitting out Sunday's win while in a 3-for-28 slump. He's one shy of his 18th hit-by-pitch, which would be the most by any Cub in a single season since 1900.

Lackey (6-5, 3.30 ERA) has gone 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in his last four starts overall after yielding two runs over seven in Wednesday's 7-1 home loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Lester (4-6, 3.74) was his teammate from 2010-14 and both helped the Red Sox win the 2013 World Series. Now he's hoping to build on one of his best outings as a Cub after allowing five hits over seven innings in a 2-0, 11-inning victory at the New York Mets.

Lester, who hasn't won since May 16, had gone 0-3 with a 5.74 ERA in five June outings. He'll be without personal catcher David Ross, who is sidelined with a mild concussion.

The left-hander faces the Cardinals for the third time this season, going 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Jhonny Peralta homered off him in Chicago's 6-5 win in the most recent matchup May 6.

Lester will also have to be careful with Jason Heyward, who is 8 for 15 with a homer off him. Heyward is also 14 for 35 (.400) in this season series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Blue Jays-White Sox Preview

(AP) -- Mark Buehrle's legacy with the Chicago White Sox centers around the 2005 World Series championship he helped deliver during his 12 years with the club.

It's also part of the reason Chris Sale believes he has a long way to go in order to match Buehrle's accomplishments, no matter how dominant he's been while wearing the same uniform.

Sale can become the first player in history to record at least 10 strikeouts in nine consecutive starts when he opposes his former mentor in Monday night's series opener against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Buehrle signed with Miami for the 2012 season after leaving a lasting impression on Sale, who came up with the White Sox as a reliever in August 2010. Both left-handers work quickly and are extremely competitive, but Sale's overpowering style contrasts with Buehrle's soft-tossing approach.

Sale (6-4, 2.87 ERA) is 3-2 with a 1.56 ERA over his last seven outings after giving up one run in eight innings of a 2-1, 11-inning win over St. Louis on Tuesday. He struck out 12 to tie Pedro Martinez's major league record of striking out at least 10 in eight straight starts, set in 1999.

Sale, striking out 12.28 hitters per nine innings to lead the majors, says he's not thinking about breaking any records.

"Those kinds of things don't really matter to me," Sale said. "You start worrying about that stuff right now and we won't be talking about it anymore, that's for sure."

Sale once said that it would take winning multiple championships to potentially supplant Buehrle as the premier pitcher in White Sox history, and now he'll get his first chance to go head-to-head with the veteran.

Manager Robin Ventura started rookie Carlos Rodon in Sunday's 9-1 loss to Baltimore to give an extra day of rest to Sale, who has thrown fewer than 110 pitches once in his last 10 starts.

"We didn't do that because (Sale would oppose Buehrle), but you notice it," Ventura said. "It could be a quick game."

The 36-year-old Buehrle (9-4, 3.64) is proving he has plenty left in the tank as he prepares to take the mound as a visitor at U.S. Cellular Field for the second time.

He's 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in his last six starts after allowing one run and four hits in seven innings of Wednesday's 11-2 win over Boston.

"I'm feeling good, I can't tell you why I'm feeling good but … it's that time of the year," Buehrle said. "I'm having some good outings, making good pitches and when I'm not making good pitches I'm getting away with them."

Buehrle's only start on the South Side not in a White Sox uniform came Aug. 16, when he allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings of Toronto's 6-3 victory. He's 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA in three starts against the White Sox (36-43), who had a four-game winning streak snapped Sunday.

The Blue Jays (43-41) had dropped three straight before Sunday's 10-5 win over Detroit. Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer and Justin Smoak added a solo shot.

"We definitely needed this one," manager John Gibbons said. "We've got Sale tomorrow, so we needed a game where the offense could get things going."

Sale has struck out six over seven innings in each of his two career starts against the Blue Jays. He gave up three runs in a 3-1 loss in 2013 and two runs with five walks in a 4-3 victory June 28, 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Rays-Royals Preview

(AP) -- It was a rewarding Sunday for the Kansas City Royals in more ways than one.

Looking to sustain their momentum for the final week of the first half of the season and ready to show off their newly minted All-Stars, the Royals open a four-game series Monday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The AL Central-leading Royals (46-33) endured a rough stretch early last week with a four-game losing streak - including three in a sweep by upstart Houston - before grinding out a four-game split versus Minnesota, their closest pursuers in the division. Eric Hosmer's double in the ninth plated Lorenzo Cain with the winning run as Kansas City rebuilt its division lead over the Twins to 4 1/2 games.

"It's huge. It's as big a game as you're going to play in early July," manager Ned Yost said. "Very seldom do you have a chance to make it a two-game swing."

After the game, Yost - who will manage the AL team after reaching the World Series last year - learned he would have at least four of his players on the bench with him in Cincinnati for next week's All-Star game as catcher Salvador Perez, shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielders Cain and Alex Gordon were voted as starters by the fans. It's the first time the Royals have had an All-Star starter since Jermaine Dye in 2000, and they likely will match their team record of five set in 1982 since Eric Hosmer could make it as an injury replacement while reliever Wade Davis (0.25 ERA) is an extremely strong candidate.

"It's just been the support of our fans, really, over the last two years," said Gordon, making his third straight All-Star appearance. "Winning brings attention and that's what we've been doing. I think we play with a lot of energy, a lot of fun. People have noticed it."

Edinson Volquez (8-4, 3.48 ERA) again seeks his fifth consecutive victory after arguably his worst outing of the season. He allowed five runs - three coming on two homers - and eight hits in five-plus innings Wednesday, but the Royals rallied to get him off the hook in their 6-5 loss to the Astros.

The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three lifetime starts against the Rays, pitching eight innings of one-run ball last year in an 8-1 victory. Tampa Bay shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who is 13 for 35 in his last 10 games to raise his average to .226, is 3 for 8 with a homer against Volquez.

The Rays (43-41) righted themselves with an 8-1 victory Sunday over the Yankees to avoid a three-game sweep in the Bronx and end a season-worst seven-game losing streak. James Loney and Logan Forsythe each had two-run singles for Tampa Bay, which shook off a pair of walkoff defeats to avoid falling to .500 for the first time since June 1.

"At the plate we got going, finally," said Forsythe, who is only 2 for 24 over his last seven games and went hitless in 12 at-bats versus Kansas City in 2014. "It's nice to have a quality game."

Alex Colome (3-4, 4.70) is hoping the offense delivers again while potentially fighting to save his spot in the rotation. He's 0-3 with a 4.63 in his last eight starts and was tagged for five runs and eight hits over seven innings in an 8-1 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday.

"They don't say nothing to us," Colome told MLB's official website about possibly being bumped for Jake Odorizzi, who will make a rehab start Monday in Charlotte. "Something you have to ask the manager. The only thing I can do is do my job. Go out and pitch."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Orioles-Twins Preview

(AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles finally got the breakout offensive game they desperately needed.

A matchup with Phil Hughes could make it difficult for them to continue in that direction.

A pair of second-place teams open a three-game series at Target Field on Monday night as the Orioles and Minnesota Twins meet for the first time this season.

Things turned around quickly for Baltimore (43-39), which followed a 16-4 run with five losses in six games before a 9-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Manny Machado's two-run homer in the eighth inning of Saturday's 3-2 loss prevented the Orioles from being shut out in three consecutive games for the first time since 1957. They totaled 13 runs, batted .195 and struck out 50 times during the 1-5 stretch.

There were no such problems Sunday as Baltimore cruised behind three hits from Steve Pearce. Jonathan Schoop provided an immediate boost to the struggling offense, homering in his first at-bat in nearly three months following his recovery from a sprained right knee.

"The nerves were all there," Schoop said. "I was a little bit excited, but I feel really good."

Adam Jones had a pair doubles and scored twice after entering Sunday in a 5-for-36 slump.

"It gives you confidence and you have more room to work with," winning pitcher Miguel Gonzalez said about the run support. "We did a good job hitting, and our defense was great."

Chris Davis was robbed of a home run for the second straight day, but knocked in two to give him a team-leading 51 RBIs. He's batting .333 with four homers and 18 RBIs in his last 11 games against the Twins.

Hughes (7-6, 4.27 ERA) takes the mound after his start was pushed back a day to accommodate Ervin Santana's return Sunday.

The right-hander won his third straight outing Tuesday, allowing four runs and eight hits over 6 2-3 innings in an 8-5 victory at Cincinnati. It was a rare struggle for Hughes, who had compiled a 2.43 ERA in his previous four appearances before facing the Reds.

"You always gain confidence when things are going right and you're winning games," Hughes said. "It's high right now. I hope it continues."

The right-hander is 8-5 with a 4.83 ERA in 19 starts against the Orioles, but went 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two meetings last season, his first with the Twins.

Machado is 6 for 13 against Hughes, but Jones and Matt Wieters are a combined 15 for 83 (.181).

Minnesota returns home after completing a 4-6 road trip with Sunday's 3-2 loss to Kansas City.

The Twins didn't do much offensively in the second half of the trek, scoring 12 runs and going 6 for 40 (.150) with runners in scoring position in the final five games.

Brian Dozier and Torii Hunter combined to go 5 for 38 in those contests, but both have performed well lately against the Orioles.

Hunter is batting .386 with four home runs, 12 RBIs and a 1.129 OPS in his last 14 meetings. Dozier is batting .361 with 10 runs during a nine-game hitting streak in the series.

Dozier is 5 for 11 with a homer off Wei-Yin Chen (4-4, 2.84), who looks to continue an impressive string of outings.

He is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in his last six starts, allowing two earned runs or less in five straight. The left-hander surrendered a pair of solo homers, two other hits and a walk in eight innings Wednesday in a 4-2 victory over Texas.

Chen is 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts at Target Field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Braves-Brewers Preview

(AP) -- Kyle Lohse acknowledged after his last outing that his days with the Milwaukee Brewers could be coming to an end.

For now, he's focused on helping the club continue its long winning streak.

The hot-hitting Brewers return home after a perfect road trip seeking a ninth consecutive victory when they face the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.

Lohse (5-9, 6.24 ERA) hasn't been very impressive, but with the July 31 trade deadline looming a number of contending teams are searching for depth in the starting rotation. Despite its run, Milwaukee (36-48) is in last place in the NL Central.

Lohse took the rumors in stride after allowing four runs in 6 1-3 innings of Wednesday's 9-5 win over Philadelphia. The right-hander gave up two runs through six before becoming a bit unraveled to start the seventh.

He's allowed at least four runs in six of his last eight starts.

"Obviously, many of us wish our season stats looked better than they do right now, but you can't fix it all in one night," Lohse said. "You just keep doing the things that you do to be successful. (Wednesday's outing) was another step in the right direction for me."

Lohse has no reason to complain about his recent numbers against the Braves, going 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in the last three matchups, most recently allowing one run in eight innings of a 6-1 victory May 21, 2014.

Milwaukee has backed its starters with plenty of offense recently, averaging 7.25 runs during the eight-game winning streak. Gerardo Parra homered leading off the seventh inning Sunday and Adam Lind followed with a two-run shot three batters later in a 6-1 win over Cincinnati that completed a seven-game trip.

Jean Segura had three hits and has gone 10 for 16 in his last four. Lind is batting .404 with four homers and 17 RBIs over his last 13.

"It's a great stretch," manager Craig Counsell said. "We're getting guys on base (and) everybody's cleaning up with guys on base."

The Brewers have lost eight of 10 to the Braves (40-42), dropping three of four in Atlanta from May 21-24. They'll get their first look at Matt Wisler in his fourth career start.

Wisler (2-1, 2.60) allowed one hit and overcame five walks in 5 1-3 innings to beat Washington 4-1 on Wednesday. He didn't walk anyone in 11 innings over his first two starts after being called up from the minors to make his debut June 19.

The right-hander also struck out six after striking out two in his previous outings combined.

"The last time I was leaving balls up in the zone," said Wisler, recalling when he gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings of a 7-0 loss to the Nationals on June 25. "(Wednesday), I finally got down in the zone. That's what helped me a lot with a couple ground balls. ... My misses were not like up in the zone and over the plate."

Wisler might avoid having to face Carlos Gomez, who sat out Sunday with a left wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch Saturday. Counsell said he doesn't think Gomez will miss much time, leaving it unclear if he'll play against the Braves, who are beginning a seven-game trip.

They had a four-game winning streak snapped with Sunday's 4-0, 10-inning loss to Philadelphia. A.J. Pierzynski had three of the seven hits for Atlanta, which has scored fewer than three runs in three of its last four.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tigers-Mariners Preview

(AP) -- Hisashi Iwakuma's injury has been one of many factors behind the Seattle Mariners' disappointing first half.

They're hoping Iwakuma, making his first start in more than two months, can help open the team's final pre-All Star break homestand with a victory Monday night against the Detroit Tigers.

Iwakuma (0-1, 6.61 ERA) went to the disabled list with a strained back muscle after just three starts, last pitching April 20. Seattle (38-44) is hoping the right-hander can regain the form of his first three seasons when he went 38-20 with a 3.07 ERA.

Iwakuma is replacing Roenis Elias in the rotation. Elias, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, is 4-6 with a 4.27 ERA, but just 1-3 with an 8.55 ERA in his last four starts.

"Elias has thrown the ball extremely well," manager Lloyd McClendon told MLB's official website. "He probably doesn't deserve to be going down, but we can only carry so many guys on the roster. He has options. These things are tough sometimes, but that's the way it goes."

Iwakuma surrendered five homers before being injured - one more than he allowed in his final nine starts of 2014.

He went 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three rehab starts, earning the victory Tuesday for Tacoma when he gave up one run over 5 2-3 innings versus Las Vegas. He's 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts versus Detroit.

The Tigers (41-40) have dropped four of six while posting a 6.06 ERA with just two quality starts. Justin Verlander gave up seven runs over five innings in Sunday's 10-5 loss to Toronto.

Offense hasn't been much of an issue lately for Detroit, which has averaged 5.1 runs over its last 10. Even without Miguel Cabrera, whom the Tigers lost to a calf injury Friday that will sideline him at least six weeks, they had 11 hits Sunday. Alex Avila has gone 2 for 6 while starting the last two games in place of Cabrera, who was voted the AL's starting first baseman for the All-Star Game.

Ian Kinsler, who tripled Sunday, is hitting .361 with seven RBIs in his last eight games, and he's 9 for 23 with three homers against Iwakuma. Cespedes is 10 for 24 with three home runs and five doubles off the right-hander.

Seth Smith drove in both runs in Seattle's 2-1 win at Oakland on Sunday. Aside from Friday's 9-5 victory, those were the Mariners' only runs in the four-game series.

McClendon will miss the series to attend his sister's funeral, while bench coach Trent Jewett will serve as manager in his absence.

Detroit's Alfredo Simon (7-5, 3.94) has given up 18 runs in his last three outings, spanning 14 2-3 innings. The four home runs given by the right-hander in that span match the amount he allowed in his previous nine starts.

He was clobbered for 15 hits - the most allowed by a Tigers pitcher since 1998 - and six runs over 5 2-3 innings of a 9-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

The Tigers are hoping he doesn't fall victim to another late-season swoon. He was 12-3 with a 2.70 ERA for Cincinnati before last year's All-Star Break, then went 3-7 with a 4.52 ERA in his final 14 outings.

"We're not to the second half yet," manager Brad Ausmus told MLB's official website. "But certainly, his last three outings haven't been as good as his previous outings."

Simon has a 0.93 ERA over seven career relief appearances against the Mariners.

Seattle won four of six meetings last year.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Phillies-Dodgers Preview

(AP) -- After playing 2,090 games for the Philadelphia Phillies, Jimmy Rollins is set to play his first one against them.

Rollins is on the opposite side for the first time Monday night when he and the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Phillies.

Acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for pitchers Zach Eflin and Tom Windle in December, the shortstop enjoyed a storied 14-season tenure with the Phillies. He was a three-time All-Star and the 2007 NL MVP and a key member of the 2008 World Series champion club.

His 2,306 hits are the most in franchise history, but his relationship with the team seemed to sour in recent years.

"It wasn't the best," he said. "After 2011, the magic was gone."

The 36-year-old is batting a career-worst .208, the lowest mark among NL qualifying hitters. He didn't start for the first time in 12 games in Sunday's 8-0 loss to the Mets, but it was said to be a routine day off.

Los Angeles (46-37) gave up 15 hits and managed only three of its own. The Dodgers lost first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch, but he said he expects to play Monday.

Yasiel Puig is hitting .175 over his last 18 games after going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Sunday, but will hope to continue his success against the Phillies. He's 18 for 46 (.391) with four doubles and three triples in his last 11 matchups.

Carlos Frias was slated to start Monday but went on the disabled list Sunday with lower back tightness. Manager Don Mattingly didn't say who would replace him, though left-hander Eric Surkamp being scratched from Sunday's start for Triple-A Oklahoma City might provide a clue.

"Someone from the minor leagues," Mattingly told MLB's official website. "We'll start somebody tomorrow. We won't forfeit tomorrow."

The Phillies (28-56) defeated Atlanta 4-0 in 10 innings Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak. Cesar Hernandez was 3 for 4, improving to 25 for 54 (.463) over his last 13 contests.

Sean O'Sullivan (1-6, 5.76 ERA) is looking for his first win since May 17. He's given up six runs in each of his last two starts, and allowed a season-high 12 hits over five-plus innings of a 7-4 loss to Milwaukee last Monday.

"I was ahead of guys. The problem was putting them away," he said. "Tonight's on me. I'm pretty disappointed with the results."

O'Sullivan is 0-7 with an 8.39 ERA in eight road starts since May 28, 2011, and has allowed 11 home runs in 27 road innings this year compared to three in 38 2-3 innings at home.

His only experience against the Dodgers was a scoreless inning of relief for the Los Angeles Angels on June 24, 2010.

Philadelphia took four of last year's seven meetings with Ben Revere going 11 for 24.

Revere, who has hit .522 with 10 runs scored in his last 12 against the Dodgers, has only started four of the last 10 games and has missed two straight due to what he said was a sore right hamstring.

"Just a little thing," he told MLB's official website. "Give it a couple days to heal."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Reds-Nationals Preview

(AP) -- Behind star slugger Bryce Harper and an overpowering rotation, the surging Washington Nationals are closing in on their longest run at home in 10 years.

Doug Fister hopes to add to that success as the Nationals seek their 10th straight home victory Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the struggling Cincinnati Reds.

Washington starters have posted an 0.44 ERA, tossing six scoreless outings and conceding only three runs in 61 innings, during the winning streak at Nationals Park. The Nationals haven't won 10 in a row there since a 12-game run in June 2005.

Jordan Zimmermann provided the latest gem Sunday when he allowed one run over seven innings in a 3-1 win over San Francisco for the NL East-leading Nationals' 12th win in 15 games overall.

Harper, voted to his third All-Star Game on Sunday, is 5 for 7 with a home run and two doubles in his last two games. He's also batting .385 with seven homers in 27 games since the start of June.

"I have a great group of guys around me," Harper told MLB's official website. "They come in, have fun. They do the things we need to do as a group, as a family that we are."

Fister (3-4, 4.34 ERA) will try to continue Washington's groove on the mound. However, he's still trying to find his way since missing more than a month because of a flexor strain in his right elbow.

After scattering four hits over seven innings in a 7-0 home win over Atlanta in his second start off the disabled list June 25, he gave up four runs over six in Wednesday's 4-1 road loss to the Braves.

"Things are starting to get back to normal," Fister told MLB's official website. "It's just a matter of fine-tuning and getting back to the game plan."

The right-hander seeks his third straight win against the Reds after going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two meetings last season. Marlon Byrd has had the most success against him, going 5 for 12 with a home run.

Byrd is batting .356 over a 10-game hitting streak heading into this series after finishing with two of his team's four hits in Sunday's 6-1 home loss to NL Central-worst Milwaukee.

The Reds (36-44) have scored two runs or less six times during this 2-7 stretch. Joey Votto has gone 3 for 32 over that span, while Brandon Phillips is 5 for 28 in his past seven.

It certainly hasn't helped that Cincinnati's pitching staff has a 6.83 ERA over its last six.

"We need to do better at doing the little thing," said manager Bryan Price, whose club is now just two games ahead of the Brewers. "It is something you say when you get outplayed and get drubbed."

Anthony DeSclafani (5-6, 3.63) aims to regroup from one of his worst outings of the season. He gave up a season high-tying six runs over 6 2-3 innings in Tuesday's 8-5 home loss to Minnesota.

The right-hander has pitched well on the road, going 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA in eight starts. In his only start versus Washington (46-36), he gave up two runs over six innings in a 5-2 home win May 29.

Harper is 1 for 4 with a strikeout in their matchups and 2 for 19 over his last six games against the Reds.

The Nationals were outscored 21-9 in dropping three straight at Cincinnati in May. All-Star Todd Frazier keyed the Reds' sweep by going 8 for 12 with two home runs and three doubles.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mets-Giants Preview

(AP) -- In all likelihood, the last pitcher the New York Mets want to face after breaking out of their lengthy offensive slump is the one who no-hit them last month.

The Mets hope history doesn't repeat itself as they get a rematch versus Chris Heston on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the slumping San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

In his 13th career start on June 9, Heston (8-5, 3.78 ERA) allowed just three hit batsmen and struck out 11 Mets while throwing the season's first no-hitter, calling it the greatest moment of his life.

The rookie didn't throw a pitch faster than 91 mph, utilizing a devastating sinker in the 5-0 victory at Citi Field. It was San Francisco's fourth no-hitter in as many seasons, following Matt Cain's perfect game in 2012 and hitless gems by Tim Lincecum in 2013 and `14.

"What I was impressed by was how he threw his sinker on both sides of the plate," New York manager Terry Collins told MLB' official website. "His breaking ball, we heard it was very good and it is. If his command's on as good as it was last time, we've got our work cut out for us."

Heston has gone 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts since his no-hitter. He allowed three runs over six innings Wednesday before closer Santiago Casilla blew a two-run lead in a 6-5 loss at Miami.

Now Heston will try to help the Giants (42-41) avoid falling to .500 for the first time since they were 17-17 on May 13. They're coming off an 0-6 road swing following Sunday's 3-1 loss at Washington.

"Well, there's time (to turn things around) before the All-Star break," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's how we have to look at it."

New York (42-41) had been batting .183 and averaging 1.8 runs during a 5-11 stretch before getting on track with 15 hits - its most since May 16 - in Sunday's 8-0 win at Dodger Stadium.

Wilmer Flores stayed hot with a career-high four hits, while Daniel Murphy and Ruben Tejada added three apiece. Flores was 10 for 13 with five RBIs - lifting his average 25 points to .258 - as the Mets took two of three in the series.

New York dropped two of three to the Giants last month, falling to 3-10 against them since September 2013. The club was swept in its only trip to AT&T Park over that span in June 2014.

The Mets have batted .200 versus San Francisco in the past 13 meetings. Lucas Duda (9 for 52), Ruben Tejada (1 for 27) and Travis d'Arnaud (3 for 24) have scuffled against the Giants.

Jonathon Niese (3-8, 3.90) is on the verge of a career-worst losing streak despite pitching well of late. He's lost six straight decisions but owns a 3.00 ERA over a string of five straight quality starts.

The left-hander allowed one run over seven innings in a 1-0 home loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

He yielded four runs - two earned - over seven innings but did not factor in a 5-4 home win over the Giants on June 11. He's 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three career starts at AT&T Park.

Brandon Crawford homered against Niese last month and is 5 for 12 lifetime in the matchup. He provided the offense Sunday with his 12th homer in the fourth inning.

All-Star Buster Posey extended his hitting streak to 11 games, batting .410 (16 for 39) with four homers, 16 RBIs and a 1.262 OPS in that span. The catcher is 8 for 22 with a homer versus Niese.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Cole posts majors-leading 12th win, Pirates beat Indians

PITTSBURGH (AP) Down 3-0 after the third inning on the heels of two uneven starts, Gerrit Cole didn't get angry or flustered.

Instead, the Pittsburgh ace became dominant.

Cole overcame a rocky start for his major league-best 12th win and Andrew McCutchen's two-run double capped a five-run fifth inning as the Pirates rallied past the Cleveland Indians 5-3 Sunday.

Cole (12-3) set down his last 16 batters after the Indians scored twice in the second inning and once in the third.

"I wasn't getting frustrated because I felt that they were hitting some good pitches," Cole said. "Sometimes that happens."

Cole threw 106 pitches while allowing three runs and five hits in eight innings. He struck out five and walked one after going winless in his previous two starts while pitching a combined 11 1-3 innings.

"They weren't chasing pitches out of the strike zone, especially early," Cole said. "We just stayed with the game plan until things eventually started working out."

Mark Melancon posted his NL-leading 27th save as the Pirates won for the fifth time in six games.

McCutchen's tiebreaking double off the top of the center-field fence was the last of six Pirates' hits in the inning off Danny Salazar (7-4).

"When Danny's pitching, sometimes scoring one run is enough because he's that good," Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "Pittsburgh's a good team, though. They have good hitters and they did what they were supposed to do in the fifth inning."

Jung Ho Kang led off the fifth with a single and Pedro Alvarez followed with his 12th homer.

Chris Stewart singled one out later, was sacrificed to second by Cole, took third on Josh Harrison's single and scored the tying run on a single by Neil Walker. McCutchen then put the Pirates ahead.

McCutchen said it took a while to adjust to Salazar, who had never faced the Pirates.

"He has a good changeup and a fastball in the mid-to-high 90s, so it's pretty hard to sit on any one pitch," McCutchen said. "It took a couple of times through the order until we became comfortable."

Cleveland broke on top on RBI singles by Michael Bourn and Roberto Perez in the second inning and Michael Brantley in the third.

Then Cole took over and sent the Indians to their second straight loss following a five-game winning streak.

"He's got great stuff," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "And once they got the lead, he found another gear."

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle also a change in Cole once Pittsburgh went ahead.

"When we scored five in the fifth he just got in that closer's mentality and pitched through the eighth very effectively," Hurdle said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates:

LF Starling Marte left the game because of discomfort in his left side while batting in the fourth inning. He motioned for a trainer after swinging and missing at a pitch.

"I feel better," Marte said after the game. "I knew it was best (to leave the game) so I feel better tomorrow."

UP NEXT

Indians:

RHP Carlos Carrasco (10-6, 3.88 ERA) faces Houston LHP Dallas Keuchel (10-3, 2.03) on Monday night in the opener of a four-game home series. In Carrasco's last start, he lost his no-hit bid with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth at Tampa Bay.

Pirates :

RHP A.J. Burnett (7-3, 2.05), who has a 1.77 ERA in last five starts, opposes San Diego RHP James Shields (7-3, 4.14) on Monday night to start a three-game home series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

4 Royals elected to start All-Star Game; Reds' Frazier, too

NEW YORK (AP) The All-Star Game will have a Kansas City flavor, just not as much as it appeared last month.
And the hometown Reds can celebrate a starter, too, despite Cincinnati's sorry season.
Houston second baseman Jose Altuve passed Kansas City's Omar Infante in the final days of voting, leaving four Royals as starters for the All-Star Game.

Cincinnati's Todd Frazier leapfrogged St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter and will be in the NL starting lineup for the July 14 game at Great American Ball Park, according to final results announced Sunday.

AL champion Kansas City will be represented in the starting lineup by outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon, catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar. Four players ties the AL record for fan-elected starters, achieved nine times previously.

Kansas City had not had any starters since outfielder Jermaine Dye in 2000.

"Winning brings attention, and that's what we've been doing," Gordon said. "I think we play with a lot of energy, a lot of fun. People have noticed it."

Eight Royals were on track to start in vote totals announced June 15, but first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and designated hitter Kendrys Morales also were overtaken.

"We're going to have a blast," said Royals manager Ned Yost, manager of the AL team. "The All-Star Game is an experience you never forget, and to do it with so many of our teammates there is really special."
Yost already has made one decision: Cain will play right field and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels will play center. Trout will make his fourth straight All-Star appearance.

Seattle's Nelson Cruz, suspended for the final 50 games of the 2013 season for violating baseball's drug agreement, was elected to start for the second straight year. In the closest vote at any position, Cruz's 10.6 million votes edged Morales' 10.32 million at designated hitter.

Toronto's Josh Donaldson will start at third for the second straight year after receiving a record vote total of 14.09 million, topping Josh Hamilton's 11.07 million in 2012. Trout was second this year with 14 million.

Washington outfielder Bryce Harper set a mark for NL players at 13.86 million, topping the previous record of 7.62 million set three years ago by San Francisco catcher Buster Posey, who was elected to start again this year.
MLB said 620 million votes were cast, breaking the old mark of 391 million in 2012. The New York Yankees do not have any fan-elected starters for the first time since 2001.

At least two elected starters will miss the game because of injuries: Miami outfielder Giancarlo Stanton broke a hand on June 26, and Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera hurt his left calf Friday. In addition, the Cardinals' Matt Holliday, who finished third among NL outfielders behind Harper and Stanton, has been sidelined since straining a quadriceps on June 8 and is uncertain when he will return.

"I'm getting there," Holliday said. "I've got a few more hurdles to clear with my running, but I feel like I'm getting pretty close."

Each fan could cast up to 35 ballots in the first year of all-online voting. Pitchers and reserves will be announced Monday.

Altuve overturned a 232,000-vote deficit in Monday's update and finished with 9.63 million to top Infante, who was just shy of 9 million. Frazier trailed Carpenter by 2.5 million votes in mid-June and by 63,000 at the start of the week but finished ahead by 2.1 million.

"I was really nervous. I was excited. It was a huge comeback," Frazier said. "I'm pretty much on Cloud Nine."
NL starters include Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Miami second baseman Dee Gordon and St. Louis shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who also was suspended 50 games following MLB's investigation of the Biogenesis of America clinic.

Dee Gordon remembered attending All-Star Games when his dad, pitcher Tom Gordon, made the roster.
"In 2004 I got kicked off the field for trying to rob Home Run Derby homers," he said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Pujols hits 25th HR, Angels finish sweep of Rangers 12-6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Albert Pujols probably didn't need to pad his AL home run lead to have a chance to join teammate Mike Trout in the starting lineup for the All-Star game.

The slugger did it anyway.

Pujols went deep for the 25th time, Kole Calhoun homered and drove in four runs and the Los Angeles Angels finished a dominant three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 12-6 victory Sunday night.

"I don't control that," said Pujols, who is a strong candidate to replace the injured Miguel Cabrera of Detroit at first base in what would be his 10th trip to the All-Star game. "We'll see what happens in the next week or so. My job is to try to help this ballclub win."

Trout celebrated his third straight year of being voted an All-Star starter in the outfield - and fourth trip to the midsummer party - with one of seven run-scoring singles or sacrifice flies for the Angels in the first three innings. The All-Star game is July 14 in Cincinnati.

"It's special to be a part of that group," said Trout, who has 21 homers to share third in the AL with Seattle's Nelson Cruz but hasn't decided whether to compete in the home run derby. "It's a fun couple of days."

Calhoun's three-run shot, his ninth, gave Los Angeles a 12-1 lead in the fifth, and a 25-1 advantage combined in the first five innings of the three games.

C.J. Wilson (7-6) allowed three runs in six innings, and the Los Angeles left-hander beat his former team for the second time in 10 starts.

Texas righty Colby Lewis (8-4) allowed 12 hits and 10 earned runs in four innings.

One night after getting a career-high six RBIs, C.J. Cron matched his career best with four hits, including a run-scoring double. His previous best for hits was also against the Rangers earlier this year. He's hitting .529 (18 of 34) against Texas and .135 against the rest of the league.

Pujols, Calhoun and Johnny Giavotella had two hits apiece for the Angels, who outscored the Rangers 33-8 in the series. Pujols, whose solo homer in the fourth put Los Angeles up 8-1, had two RBIs along with Giavotella.

"Everybody's got a sore hand from all the high fives," said Wilson, who entered the game with a 6.59 ERA against Texas.

The only hit off Wilson through four innings was Prince Fielder's 13th home run in the first.

Lewis, Wilson's teammate for both of Texas' World Series teams in 2010-11, couldn't keep the Angels off the bases while dropping his sixth straight start against them.

Seven of the first nine Los Angeles hitters reached, and all the Angels had been on at least once with no outs in the third inning after David Freese's hard ground-ball single off Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre's glove.

"I guess you just chalk it up to there's good days and there are bad days," Lewis said. "You just have to have more better ones than you have bad ones."

The Angels had at least 15 hits - their season high coming into the series - in each of the three games.

The Rangers got to Wilson with five hits combined in the fifth and sixth, but are hitting just .190 against lefties since June 1. They went into the game with the worst average in the majors against left-handers in that span.

Texas, which lost a season-high sixth straight home game and dropped below .500 for the first time since May 29, had nine of its 11 hits after trailing 12-1.

NOW THAT'S CLUTCH

The Angels went 20 of 45 (.444) with runners in scoring position in the series after entering the three-game set in a 0-for-27 drought. They also pushed a half-game lead over Texas for second in the AL West to 3 1-2 games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels:

OF Collin Cowgill, out since late May with a sprained right wrist, will be shut down for at least another week. Manager Mike Scioscia said there wasn't any change in the nature of the injury.

Rangers:

OF Josh Hamilton was out of the lineup with what manager Jeff Banister said was a mild groin issue. Banister said the disabled list wasn't a consideration yet for Hamilton, who missed a month with a strained left hamstring before coming off the DL on Tuesday. Hamilton sat for two of the three games in his first series against his former team.

UP NEXT:

Angels:

LHP Andrew Heaney (1-0) starts the opener of a two-game interleague series at Colorado after getting his first major league win in his previous outing against the Yankees on Tuesday.

Rangers:

RHP Yovani Gallardo takes a scoreless streak of 29 1/3 innings, longest in the majors this season, into the opener of a two-game interleague series at home against Arizona on Tuesday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Ramos homers, drives in 2 as Nationals defeat Giants 3-1

WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is in a groove, and he wouldn't let the San Francisco Giants get back on track.

Zimmermann pitched seven solid innings, Wilson Ramos snapped a tie with a sixth-inning homer, and the Nationals beat the struggling Giants 3-1 on Sunday night, completing a three-game sweep.

Ramos added an RBI single in the eighth and Bryce Harper, voted a starter on the National League All-Star team, had a double and single.

Zimmermann (7-5) has allowed one run over 22 2-3 innings in his last three starts.

"I just think he's got a feel for his breaking pitches that (he) didn't have necessarily early in the season," manager Matt Williams said. "It probably helps that's it's gotten warmer and more humid and can grip the ball better."

Drew Storen pitched the ninth, picking up his 25th save for Washington, which has won nine straight at home.

The last time he faced the Giants, Zimmermann held them scoreless for 8 2-3 innings in Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS before exiting after walking Joe Panik. He was charged with a run after Panik later scored to tie the game, which San Francisco won 2-1 in 18 innings.

"Any time you sweep a team it's special. We're looking to win series and that's our goal," Zimmermann said. "To take three from those guys and send them back home, it's big for our ballclub."

Zimmermann allowed Brandon Crawford's 12th homer on a 3-0 pitch in the fourth inning Sunday, then retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced.

The Giants, who lost manager Bruce Bochy and starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong to ejections, finished 0-6 on their road trip.

"Well, there's time (to turn things around) before the All-Star break," Bochy said. "That's how we have to look at it."

Bochy and Vogelsong were ejected by plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the fifth inning after complaining about the strike zone.

The Giants had shown displeasure with Cuzzi's strike zone several times before Vogelsong's 1-2 pitch to Denard Span was called a ball.

Bochy appeared to say something from the dugout. Cuzzi turned toward Bochy, and Vogelsong soon began walking toward the plate. Cuzzi ejected Vogelsong.

"I'm not going to get into what the exchange was," Vogelsong said. "Obviously I was frustrated with the pitch. I guess he was frustrated with my reaction. And I got thrown out."

Bochy came out and was ejected shortly thereafter.

Vogelsong allowed a run on three hits. He struck out two and walked three.

Reliever George Kontos (2-1) allowed Ramos' homer.

Washington took a 1-0 lead on Michael A. Taylor's RBI single in the second.

DELAYED DEPARTURE

Rather than return to San Francisco after the game, Bochy and his players chose to stay overnight in Washington and fly back in the morning. Bochy said the Giants will get in around 1 p.m. local time and travel by bus to AT&T Park for Monday night's game against the Mets.

"The red-eye just seems like it flattens us," he said before the game. "Not that we don't look flat now."

SPAN STREAK STOPPED

Denard Span went 0 for 4, putting an end to his streak of reaching base safely in 23 consecutive games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants:

OF Hunter Pence (left wrist tendinitis) took batting practice on the field for the first time since going on the disabled list. ... LHP Jeremy Affeldt (left shoulder strain) has begun playing catch.

Nationals:

The Nationals placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled with a strained left oblique, one day after he left his start in the fourth inning. ... OF Jayson Werth (fractured left wrist) took swings with a fungo bat on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Giants:

RHP Chris Heston (8-5, 3.78) no-hit the Mets on June 9 at Citi Field. He opposes them at AT&T Park on Monday night when the Giants open a six-game homestand. Jonathan Niese (3-8, 3.90) pitches for the Mets.

Nationals:

RHP Doug Fister (3-4, 4.34) makes his third career start against the Reds on Monday night. He's 2-0 against them with 1.29 ERA. RHP Anthony DeSciafani (5-6, 3.68) pitches for the Reds.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Brewers extend win streak to 8 games with 6-1 victory

CINCINNATI (AP) Taylor Jungmann kept the Milwaukee Brewers rolling.

The rookie right-hander allowed one run and four hits in eight innings and the Brewers extended their winning streak to eight games with a 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

It's the Brewers' longest winning streak overall since they won nine in a row from April 4-13 of last season.

Gerardo Parra and Adam Lind hit seventh-inning home runs for the Brewers, who finished off their second undefeated road trip of at least seven games in franchise history.

Milwaukee also went 7-0 on a road trip in 2008, sweeping three in San Francisco and four in St. Louis from July 18 through July 24.

Jungmann (3-1) credited increased dependence on his changeup for his effectiveness in his sixth start after making his major league debut on June 9.

"I thought I had the changeup going," Jungmann said. "I didn't throw it as much in my first five starts. I was happy for it."

Cincinnati starter Mike Leake (5-5) lost for the first time since May 27. Leake, who was 3-0 in six June starts, allowed eight hits and three runs with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings.

"They're a hot team right now," Leake said of Milwaukee. "They're finding holes and laying off pitches. They fouled off some tough pitches and made it tough on me. They make you pay for every mistake."

Jungmann retired the first 12 batters he faced before Jay Bruce led off the fifth with a double into the right-field corner.

Jungmann lost his shutout when Skip Schumaker scored from first on Brandon Phillips' double with two outs in the eighth on a ball that left fielder Shane Peterson had in his glove before slamming into the wall

It was Milwaukee's first sweep in Cincinnati since a three-game series on Sept. 16-18, 2011. The Reds scored five runs in the series, one fewer than the Brewers scored on Sunday.

"We need to do a better job doing the little things, which is what you say when you're outplayed and you get drubbed," Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said.

Aramis Ramirez gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead and extended his hitting streak to eight games with a two-out RBI single in the first inning - the sixth time the Brewers scored in the first inning on the seven-game road trip.

The Brewers had a 3-0 lead before Parra led off the seventh with his seventh homer of the season and second of the series. Lind followed with a two-run shot, his second in two days and 14th of the season, lifting his RBI total on the road trip to a team-high 12.

"It's a great stretch," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We're getting guys on base for him. Everybody's cleaning up with guys on base."

RUN OF RBIS

Milwaukee 1B Adam Lind's run-scoring single in the fifth inning on Sunday gave him at least one RBI in nine consecutive games, tying the franchise record. Lind joins George Scott (1975), Cecil Cooper (1982) and Carlos Lee (2005) in the club.

TOUGH OPPONENT

Reds' RHP Mike Leake's loss to Milwaukee on Sunday was his third in the past year to the Brewers. He also lost 9-2 on Aug. 9 and 5-1 on July 23. Leake is 0-2 against the Brewers in three starts at Great American Ball Park.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers:

CF Carlos Gomez sat out Sunday with a left wrist contusion resulting from being hit by a pitch that forced him to leave Saturday's game in the fifth inning. "I don't think he's going to miss much time," manager Craig Counsell said.

Reds:

LHP Tony Cingrani is scheduled to make the next appearance of his rehab assignment on Tuesday for Triple-A Louisville. The Reds hope to get Cingrani stretched out enough to fill a variety of roles, including possibly starting, manager Bryan Price said.

UP NEXT

Brewers:

Milwaukee returns home for a series against Atlanta. RHP Kyle Lohse (5-9, 6.24 ERA) is scheduled to start on Monday.

Reds:

The Reds begin a six-game road trip with the first of three on Monday against the Nationals, who were swept in three games at Cincinnati in May. Anthony DeSclafani (5-6, 3.63) is Monday's scheduled starter.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Verlander drops to 0-4 as Blue Jays beat Tigers 10-5

DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Tigers need strong performances from Justin Verlander if they are going to win their sixth straight AL Central title, and right now the former ace is far from his best.

Verlander remained winless in four starts since missing the first two months of the season because of a strained right triceps. He allowed seven runs Sunday as his ERA ballooned to 6.75 ERA during the Tigers' 10-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Jose Bautista and Justin Smoak homered in a six-run fifth inning against the 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner and MVP, who is 15-14 since sports-hernia surgery before the 2014 season.

Once a famed perfectionist, Verlander (0-2) gave up seven hits and two walks in five innings, striking out five. He needed 94 pitches to get 15 outs.

"You can look at this in two ways," he said. "You can look at the fifth inning and look at it negatively, or you can look at the rest of it, and look at it positively. My stuff is better than it has been in a couple years. I just need to fine-tune it."

Detroit reached the midpoint of the season at 41-40, its poorest record since a 39-42 mark for the first half in 2012. The Tigers trail first-place Kansas City by six games and are 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota.

"If you look around this clubhouse, we've got a lot of veterans who know what it takes," said J.D. Martinez, who hit his 23rd homer. "They know to lock it down. ... That's something that Kansas City struggled with last year, but they have a lot more experience this time."

Toronto stopped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in seven games.

"We definitely needed this one," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We've had to go against (Anibal) Sanchez and (David) Price the last two nights, and we've got (Chris) Sale tomorrow, so we needed a game where the offense could get things going."

Marco Estrada (6-4) improved to 5-1 in his last seven starts, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings. Roberto Osuna got four outs for his third save.

"It is always great to get a win, but today was even better because it is my birthday," said Estrada, who turned 32. "The guys got me a nice present by putting up 10 runs."

Toronto went ahead after seven pitches when Jose Reyes led off with a bloop double and scored on Josh Donaldson's single. Verlander's error on an errant pickoff attempt allowing Donaldson to take third, but pitched out of the jam.

Verlander didn't allow another hit until the fifth, helped by a spectacular play by Jose Iglesias that ended the fourth. The shortstop ranged into the hole and threw to second for a forceout.

"I was seeing reactions that I haven't seen for a while on my offspeed pitches, and that felt good," Verlander said. "It is a shame that I fell out of sync in the fifth, but this is only my fourth start. You have to keep that in mind."

Danny Valencia walked leading off the fifth after being down 0-2 in the count, Kevin Pillar singled and Devon Travis hit an RBI double. Reyes' groundout made it 3-0 and moved Travis to third, and Donaldson singled through a drawn-in infield. Bautista followed with a two-run homer over the Tigers bullpen in left and, four pitches later, Smoak homered to right for a 7-0 lead.

Ian Kinsler hit a two-run triple in the bottom half, and Martinez hit his 10th homer in his last 12 games, a sixth-inning drive off Bo Schultz that cut the deficit to 7-3.

Making his first major league relief appearance, Drew VerHagen walked the first three batters in the seventh before Alex Wilson came in. Russell Martin and Devon Travis added RBI singles.

Detroit added two more runs against the Toronto bullpen on an Anthony Gose homer and James McCann's RBI single.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays:

LHP Felix Doubront, who spent much of the first half of the season recovering from a shoulder injury, could fill the vacant spot in Toronto's rotation Tuesday in Chicago. Doubront was called up on Friday, and came through a 2 1/3-inning relief outing that night without problems.

Tigers:

Cabrera spent some team with the team after Friday's calf injury but will not make Detroit's upcoming trip in order to stay off his leg and get treatment. Cabrera was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career Saturday, and is expected to miss at least six weeks.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays:

Mark Buehrle (9-4) starts Monday at his old team, the Chicago White Sox, and faces former protege Sale (6-4). It will be the first meeting between the pair since Buehrle left Chicago after the 2011 season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Pham hits 1st MLB homer and drives in 3, Cards top Padres

ST. LOUIS (AP) Rookie outfielder Tommy Pham has done almost everything right in his first three starts with the St. Louis Cardinals.

His one regret: He's fallen woefully behind in answering the congratulatory text messages from friends and family after two impressive back-to-back performances.

"Just don't have the time right now," Pham said. "Eventually, I will get back to everyone."

Pham homered, doubled and drove in three runs, leading Lance Lynn and the Cardinals over the San Diego Padres 3-1 Sunday.

The Cardinals improved to a majors-best 31-11 at home with their second successive win. San Diego has lost five of seven.

Pham was called up from Triple-A Memphis on Friday. He hit his first homer, a two-run drive off Ian Kennedy (4-8) in the third. Pham doubled home Lynn in the fifth.

On Saturday, Pham scored both runs in a 2-1 win.

"He's sparking us, that's exactly what we were hoping for," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "He's delivered, he's in a great spot."

Pham's homer came on a 370-foot drive that gave the Cardinals the lead for good 2-1. The drive barely cleared the wall in left center. Pham temporarily stopped at second base, thinking it was a ground-rule double.

"I didn't know that the signs are out of play," Pham said. "But I'm just trying to focus on having good at-bats, swinging at good pitches."

Pham is 3 for 11 with one home run and three RBI this season.

Lynn (6-4) gave up three hits and one unearned run in seven innings. He also doubled and singled for his first career multihit game and scored twice.

Lynn struck out eight and retired 11 in a row at one point. He has not lost in his last six starts.

"As the game went on, I was able to hit the corners like I wanted to," Lynn said.

Lynn was just as pleased with his effort at the plate.

"I might be running out of luck when it comes to hitting," he said.

The Padres went down in order five times, three times against Lynn.

"We couldn't really put anything together off of him," San Diego second baseman Jedd Gyorko said. "He had good command of his fastball. He was mixing his sinker enough to keep us off balance."

Added San Diego manager Pat Murphy, "He was a one-man show."

Kevin Siegrist recorded his fourth save in six chances. Closer Trevor Rosenthal was unavailable after pitching in three successive games.

Matt Kemp drove in the Padres' run with a single in the third.

Kennedy gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings. He had allowed just one earned run in each of his previous four starts.

"Just eliminate two people in the lineup, Lynn and Pham," Kennedy said. "They hit me well. I felt like I commanded everything. They worked the counts, but overall I felt pretty good."

The Cardinals wrapped up a nine-game homestand with a 5-4 mark.

They lost four successive home games before snapping the streak with back-to-back wins over the Padres.

"You don't like to lose, especially four straight," Lynn said. "To come back, right the ship a little bit, and win two in a row, we'll take it."

San Diego has scored four runs in its last three games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals:

LHP Jaime Garcia was put on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain sustained while running the bases against Miami on June 24. LHP Tim Cooney was recalled from the minors and will start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.

UP NEXT

Padres:

RHP James Shields (7-3, 4.14) will start the first of a three-game series in Pittsburgh against RHP A. J. Burnett (7-3, 2.05).

Cardinals:

RHP John Lackey (6-5, 3.30) will start in the first of a four-game set in Chicago against the Cubs on Monday. He will be opposed by LHP Jon Lester (4-6, 3.74).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Ramirez stifles sloppy Yanks as Rays stop 7-game slide, 8-1

NEW YORK (AP) After a week without a win, the Tampa Bay Rays were hardly shy about describing their celebration Sunday.

James Loney got doused with an ice bucket. David DeJesus banged away on his cymbals. Loud music thumped through the clubhouse.

And it all started with Erasmo Ramirez.

The right-hander pitched out of early trouble in his latest terrific outing against the New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay took advantage of some shoddy defense for an 8-1 victory that snapped its longest losing streak of the season at seven games.

"At the plate we got going, finally," Logan Forsythe said. "It's nice to have a quality game."

Loney and Forsythe each had a two-run single for the Rays, who had dropped 11 of 13 while falling out of first place in the AL East. They salvaged the finale of a frustrating series at Yankee Stadium that included walk-off defeats in the first two games.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 670th home run, the only damage against Ramirez (7-3) in six innings. Yankees hitters entered 2 for 27 (.074) against him this year and didn't fare much better.

"They have a bunch of big left-handed hitters, lot of power, and I think his changeup really plays well for him against these hitters," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He's able to separate a lot with the fastball and the changeup combination."

It's not just the Yankees, though.

Ramirez is 5-1 with a 1.18 ERA in seven starts since May 30, yielding no more than two runs in any of them. He is 7-2 with a 2.17 ERA since joining the rotation on May 14.

"The right pitch, the right moment. Good defense behind me. Everything just came through," Ramirez said. "Just happy how everything is going right now."

The only bad news for the Rays came in a four-run eighth, when rookie outfielder Steven Souza Jr. was hit by a pitch on his right hand. He was removed in the bottom half and said X-rays were negative.

But he received stitches for a "really deep" cut that left his pinkie numb.

"I can't really bend it too well right now," said Souza, who will see a hand specialist in Kansas City and is day to day. "I'll take some more lacerations if it gets us more wins, if that's what it takes."

Ivan Nova (1-2) gave up four runs - three earned - and six hits in five innings, the shortest of his three starts since returning from Tommy John surgery. He has lost five consecutive decisions against Tampa Bay after winning six of his first seven.

The right-hander walked three and threw wildly past third base on a bunt, allowing a run to score on the error.

"I thought he did a pretty good job for not having anything," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He just had a hard time throwing strikes."

Second baseman Jose Pirela, who entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh, made two errors on one play in the eighth. Forsythe knocked in two runs with a bloop single that landed on the right-field line beyond a drawn-in infield.

Loney grounded a two-run single in the first and made a nice play at first base in the bottom half to thwart a bases-loaded threat.

New York didn't get another hit until A-Rod's 16th homer of the season leading off the sixth.

"It was more of a mechanical thing," said Curt Casali, who caught Ramirez. "As soon as he figured that out, it was smooth sailing. ... I was proud of the way he battled today because we needed him bad."

Casali had a sacrifice fly in the second following Kevin Kiermaier's leadoff triple, which glanced off the glove of a rapidly retreating Brett Gardner in center field after he initially misjudged the line drive.

"We didn't play our best game today - both sides of the ball," Yankees catcher Brian McCann said. "You tip your cap to Ramirez. He kept us between speeds all day."

SHAKE IT UP

Looking for a good-luck charm, Cash sent ace pitcher Chris Archer to home plate with the lineup card.

"Let's mix it up," the manager said. "Arch will have the lineup card tomorrow."

FEELING RIGHT AT HOME

Loney has a .402 batting average (45 for 112) at the new Yankee Stadium. He is hitting .340 in 55 career games against New York.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays:

C-DH John Jaso, sidelined since bruising his left wrist on opening day, was scheduled to be the DH for Triple-A Durham after a six-game rehab stint with Class A Charlotte. Jaso also will play at least one game in left field for Durham before coming off the disabled list. "He's getting close," Cash said, acknowledging it's possible Jaso could return during the upcoming four-game series in Kansas City.

Yankees:

Jacoby Ellsbury (sprained right knee) played seven innings in center field during his fourth rehab game for Class A Tampa.

UP NEXT

Rays:

With RHP Jake Odorizzi expected to come off the DL next weekend against Houston, RHP Alex Colome (3-4, 4.70 ERA) could be making his last bid to remain in the rotation when he starts Monday night vs. Royals RHP Edinson Volquez (8-4, 3.48). Cash said no decision had been made yet.

Yankees:

RHP Nathan Eovaldi (8-2, 4.52 ERA) faces Oakland ace Sonny Gray (9-3, 2.09) in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Matz sharp, Mets feast on Dodgers pitching to take series

LOS ANGELES (AP) Steven Matz is having the time of his young baseball life, winning his first two career starts, including silencing the Los Angeles Dodgers' powerful lineup.

Matz scattered two hits over six scoreless innings, Wilmer Flores went 4 for 5, and the New York Mets won 8-0 Sunday to take two out of three from the NL West leaders.

"The Dodgers have a really good team," Matz said, "so it was good to win the series and I think it will definitely give us momentum going into San Francisco."

Matz (2-0) struck out eight and walked two in a strong follow-up to winning his major league debut a week ago against Cincinnati. His 14 strikeouts after two games are the second-most by any Met, trailing only Matt Harvey's 18 in 2012.

The left-hander had a run-scoring groundout in a three-run fourth that made it 4-0, giving him five RBIs in two games, tying him for the most by any Mets pitcher in a two-game span.

"It's been a lot of fun. It's been great," Matz said. "It's been a good learning experience so far, and I just want to keep learning and trying to get better. Today was a little bit different. I kind of know what it feels like now, so I just tried to relax and pitch."

Matz credited his fastball with being his best pitch.

"The curve ball was so-so, but I was able to work with the fastball late in the count, especially up, and get some swings and misses on that," he said.

Logan Verrett earned the first save of his career with three scoreless innings to end the game.

Mike Bolsinger (4-3) gave up four runs and a season-high nine hits in five innings, his fifth straight outing of less than six innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked two while throwing a career-high 101 pitches. After winning his first four starts at home, he's lost two in a row at Dodger Stadium.

"A little unlucky," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Bolsinger. "He hung in there. I didn't think it was that bad. He wasn't getting squared up all over the yard. He kind of limited the damage."

New York had 15 hits - one off its season high - against the Dodgers' struggling pitching in their worst shutout loss of the season that also equaled their largest margin of defeat.

The Mets' eight runs were their most since June 14, when they had 10, and they earned their first shutout against the Dodgers since June 30, 2012.

Flores had a career-high four hits while driving in three runs and finished the three-game series 10 for 13. His single to Kike Hernandez in the fourth resulted in the Dodgers shortstop rolling over on his head with his legs splayed in the air in a fruitless attempt to field the ball.

"Some of the guys are starting to break out," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Wilmer's really starting to swing the bat right now. He's hitting the ball to right field and he's not trying to pull things. When they're pitching him away, he's taking them the other way, and that's what good hitters have to do."

Juan Lagares had a two-run triple and Ruben Tejada added an RBI single off reliever Juan Nicasio in the seventh when the Mets led 7-0. Yasiel Puig lost Lagares' hit in the sun and then overran it, stretching himself to the limit as the ball landed behind him in right field.

Michael Cuddyer was hitless in five at-bats in his return to the Mets' starting lineup after being out four games because of a knee injury, although he came off the bench in the last two.

The Dodgers mustered just three hits. After A.J. Ellis' leadoff single in the fifth, they had just two runners reach base the rest of the game.

"Early on we kind of chased out of the zone," Mattingly said. "The ball was taking off a little bit and as the game went on his command got better."

Puig went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and rookie Joc Pederson was hitless in three at-bats with a strikeout.

THROUGH THE GATES

The Dodgers became the first major league team to reach 2 million in attendance, with 2,004,009 through 43 home games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers:

1B Adrian Gonzalez left after three innings with a bruised right hand. He got hit by a pitch from Matz, although Gonzalez said he expects to play Monday. ... RHP Carlos Frias went on the 15-day DL retroactive to Wednesday with lower back tightness, a problem he had in his previous two starts, going only five innings in both. An MRI showed no structural damage in his back.

UP NEXT

Mets:

LHP Jonathon Niese (3-8, 3.90 ERA) starts in the series opener at San Francisco. He hasn't earned a win in a career-high nine straight outings and has lost a career-high-tying six consecutive decisions.

Dodgers:

They had yet to announce a starter to replace Frias in the opener of a four-game series against Philadelphia. LH Eric Surkamp was to be called up from the minors, but Mattingly refused to confirm he would start.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Red Sox, Buchholz shut down Astros

BOSTON (AP) Clay Buchholz knew he had it going right away.

Buchholz pitched a six-hitter to win his fourth straight start, coming within one out of a shutout as the Boston Red Sox rebounded from a tough loss with a 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Mookie Betts drove in three runs and made a leaping catch in center field to help the Red Sox snap Houston's five-game winning streak.

Buchholz (7-6) struck out eight and didn't walk a batter in his ninth career complete game. He is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in four starts against the Astros.

''I could throw just about any pitch I wanted to today. It doesn't happen often like that,'' he said. ''The first inning I threw some good pitches and they don't always happen that way. After the second inning, I felt like I was going to have good command of my fastball on both sides of the plate. When you have that you can throw everything off of that, and that's what I was able to do.''

Luis Valbuena's RBI single with two outs in the ninth broke up the shutout.

''A complete game is a complete game,'' Buchholz said. ''A shutout is a little different. It's pretty hard to do.''

Betts hit two RBI doubles and a sacrifice fly. Sandy Leon had three singles for the Red Sox, and Xander Bogaerts drove in two runs.

Unlike Friday night's extra-inning game that featured three Boston comebacks before the Astros pulled out a 12-8 victory in the 10th, the Red Sox scored early and won for the fifth time in seven games.

A couple of early runs were more than enough the way Buchholz was pitching. He has a 0.87 ERA in his last four starts.

''He's been on a run,'' Red Sox manager John Farrell said. ''He's in such a good place mentally where he's completing his delivery for strikes, and he was in control again today.''

Astros manager A.J. Hinch was impressed.

''He pounded the strike zone with a couple different pitches. He had a really good changeup, a really good cutter,'' Hinch said. ''This game was almost entirely about him.''

Boston grabbed a 1-0 lead against Collin McHugh (9-4) three batters in on Bogaerts' RBI single. Betts' sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in the second.

McHugh gave up four runs - three earned - and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.

''Fastball was sporadic, especially early on,'' he said.

In the fifth, the Red Sox turned catcher Hank Conger's throwing error into an unearned run. Brock Holt hit a dribbler in front of the plate and Conger fired the ball down the right-field line. Bogaerts followed by hooking a low, outside pitch into the left-field corner for an RBI double.

Betts hit a run-scoring double just inside third base to make it 4-0 in the sixth. His second RBI double came in a two-run eighth.

Betts also made a nice grab of Jose Altuve's drive on the warning track after a long run for the first out of the game.

FLYING PANDA

Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval made a catch of a foul pop near the Astros' dugout before falling over the railing. His right cleat struck pitcher Vincent Velasquez on the left side of the head. He had a couple of scratches, but wasn't injured.

''The railing's still up,'' Farrell joked. ''He's fearless.''

Buchholz had a funny line, too.

''That's a big man going over a small railing,'' he said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros:

Colby Rasmus started in center field and went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in his first game since June 26 due to a skin infection on his left wrist. Hinch said Rasmus will probably play every other day for the next week. ... After the game, Houston activated OF Jake Marisnick (hamstring) from the disabled list and sent OF Domingo Santana to Triple-A Fresno.

Red Sox:

2B Dustin Pedroia, on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring, hit in the cage after increasing his running a day earlier. Farrell said the club is still trying to decide if Pedroia will be activated for a series against the New York Yankees next weekend.

UP NEXT

Astros:

RHP Lance McCullers (4-2) is slated to start the series finale Sunday. He threw seven innings of one-run ball in a win over Kansas City on Wednesday.

Red Sox:

Rookie LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2) is scheduled to start. He's allowed one run or none in four of his six starts.