Sunday 9/20/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (64-85) at Astros (78-71)

Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: September 20, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

With a lengthy skid finally in the past, the Houston Astros hope they remember how to string together some victories.

They can start by trying to win back-to-back games for the first time in more than three weeks Sunday against the visiting Oakland Athletics.

Mired in a five-game losing streak and trailing by a run in the seventh inning Saturday, Evan Gattis belted a three-run homer on his own bobblehead night to highlight Houston's 10-6 victory.

"It woke everybody up," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB's official website. "It put a lot of belief that we remember how to win games like this."

It was the third win in the last 12 games for the Astros (78-71), who lost their lead atop the AL West earlier this week and sit 2 1/2 games behind first-place Texas.

"It feels hard to win a big-league game," said Hinch, whose club broke out after totaling 16 runs in the previous five games.

Gattis, who has set career highs with 25 home runs and 83 RBIs, is batting .350 with two and eight RBIs in the last five contests.

"I'm 1 for 2 hitting home runs on my bobblehead day so I've got that going for me," he joked.

While Houston holds a 1 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for the second wild-card spot, it hasn't won consecutive games since beating the New York Yankees on Aug. 25-26.

The Astros also look to see improvement from Collin McHugh (16-7, 4.05 ERA), who is 3-0 in his last four starts but allowed five runs and homers to Billy Butler and Josh Reddick over 5 1-3 innings of an 11-5 victory at Oakland on Sept. 9. The right-hander followed by giving up five more runs in 3 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 6-5 loss at Texas.

However, there might not be too much concern considering those two outings came on the road and McHugh is 2-1 with an 0.94 ERA in his last four starts at home. He's posted a 1.26 ERA while winning both of his home starts against the A's (64-85).

Aaron Brooks (2-3, 7.68) opposed McHugh last week but hopes for a better effort this time after he allowed five runs and eight hits in four-plus innings of that contest. That performance was the second of a rough three-start stretch in which the rookie right-hander is 1-2 with a 12.47 ERA.

Brooks yielded six runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings Tuesday, but benefited from plenty of run support during a 17-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

"It's fun when you get that many runs," he said after recording his first career road victory.

Jose Altuve is 3 for 6 with two doubles against Brooks, and is batting .357 with six doubles in the last 10 games.

Teammate Carlos Gomez has missed seven straight games while day to day with rib discomfort.

"We have to be careful, because this could be simple or it could be really bad," said the All-Star center fielder, who has hit .306 with three homers in his last 16 games.

Oakland's Jake Smolinski has hit half of his six home runs this season while recording six RBIs in the last five games.

Marcus Semien, who also homered Saturday, is 4 for 7 against McHugh.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (76-72) at Twins (75-73)

Game: 4
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 20, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

A three-game set in Houston could be a boon to the Los Angeles Angels' playoff hopes. They can head there with quite a bit of momentum by further damaging the Minnesota Twins' chances.

The Angels will try to draw closer to postseason position by sweeping this four-game series with the sliding Twins on Sunday.

Los Angeles (76-72) is 1 1/2 games back of Houston for the league's second wild-card spot with 14 to go, while Minnesota (75-73) trails by 2 1/2. Whereas the Twins have no games left against the teams they're chasing for a wild-card spot, the Angels visit the AL West rival Astros on Monday to begin a series that could give one club a distinct advantage in the race.

While Houston beat Oakland 10-6 on Saturday, the Angels still made up some ground and leapfrogged the Twins in the standings by sweeping a doubleheader with a 4-3 win in 12 innings and a 5-2 victory in the nightcap.

"We all know; we know that we control our own fate from here on out given with the teams we play from here until the end of the season," said right-hander Garrett Richards, the winner of Saturday's second game. "We're just trying to treat it one game at a time and go out and win one game at a time."

The Angels are turning to Matt Shoemaker (7-9, 4.31 ERA), who has allowed one run and six hits in 14 1-3 innings while winning his last two starts. His most recent, however, was back on Sept. 1 because he's been battling tightness in his right forearm.

"It's one of those things where we're in a tight playoff race. I just want to help this team out, do everything I can to help them win," Shoemaker told MLB's official website.

Shoemaker was 0-6 with a 4.60 ERA in his first eight home starts before throwing six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in each of the last two, including a 7-0 win over Minnesota on July 21.

The Twins, 3 for 17 with runners in scoring position during the doubleheader, have lost five in a row - all at home. They haven't had a longer losing streak overall or at home since dropping their final six games of 2013.

"I think everyone's feeling a little bit of weight," manager Paul Molitor said. "It's a new experience for a lot of these guys. Some of these at-bats, you can tell they're trying really hard."

Tyler Duffey (3-1, 3.72) faces the Angels for the first time after Minnesota opted against starting Phil Hughes due to a lower back injury that's sidelined him since Aug. 9.

While it's unclear if Hughes will be shut down for the season, the Twins have considered limiting Duffey's innings even though he's pitched well. The rookie right-hander tossed 138 innings in the minors before logging 38 2-3 in seven starts with Minnesota after being promoted last month.

Duffey is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last six outings after defeating Detroit on Monday, yielding one run with seven strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-1 win.

"I'm getting the opportunity to pitch in some really meaningful games. That's all you can ask for," Duffey said.

He'll try to slow down Mike Trout, who is hitting .354 with 16 RBIs in 12 games at Minnesota. He has four homers and nine RBIs in the past four after connecting for a solo shot in the second game Saturday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (92-56) at Cubs (87-61)

Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: September 20, 2015 2:20 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs may not have enough time to catch the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, but they're proving they could be a problem for baseball's best team should they meet in the playoffs.

Jon Lester looks to lead Chicago to its first sweep of St. Louis in five years Sunday.

Chicago (87-61) has won six of the last eight meetings after 8-3 and 5-4 wins to begin this three-game set. A victory Sunday would give the Cubs their first sweep of at least three games against the Cardinals since Sept. 13-15, 2010, and first at Wrigley Field since taking four straight July 27-30, 2006.

Sunday's meeting is their last of the regular season, but a postseason series could be looming. The Cubs trail the Cardinals by five games but appear to be safe for a wild-card berth and could overtake Pittsburgh by the end of the weekend.

Should Chicago win a potential wild-card game against the Pirates, it would likely set up an NL division series against the Cardinals (92-56), who own the majors' best record and became the first team to clinch a postseason berth Saturday despite losing.

Lester (10-10, 3.38 ERA) appears to be finding his playoff form, putting together his first complete game as a Cub his last time out. He struck out nine while limiting Pittsburgh to five hits in a 2-1 road victory Tuesday. The left-hander is 6-2 in 11 starts since the All-Star break, including 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA in three this month.

"This is what he does," manager Joe Maddon said. "He likes pitching in big games in the latter part of the season. It's not a surprise."

Lester, who has never gone the distance in two straight outings, is 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis with all but one coming this year. He went seven innings in each of the last three, giving up a combined four hits in the last two.

Jason Heyward has hit .429 with four doubles and a homer in 21 at-bats against Lester.

The Cardinals had been hitting .122 against left-handers since Sept. 6 before going 6 for 16 on Saturday.

St. Louis' Carlos Martinez (13-7, 3.02) snapped his recent slump Tuesday, yielding one run and four hits while striking out nine over eight innings in a 3-1, 10-inning victory at Milwaukee. He had posted a 5.60 ERA over his previous five starts.

"Best I've ever seen him throw," manager Mike Matheny told MLB's official website. "That was no-hit stuff."

He's 1-0 in four games against the Cubs this year despite a 6.32 ERA, largely inflated from the seven runs he gave up over 3 2-3 innings in the Cardinals' 10-9 victory May 4.

Starlin Castro is batting .386 over his last 22 games and 5 for 7 in this series, but he's 1 for 11 with five strikeouts against Martinez.

Maddon was ejected in the ninth inning Saturday along with reliever Hector Rondon after his pitch hit Greg Garcia, who was the third Cardinal to be struck on the day. A night earlier, Maddon called the Cardinals a "vigilante group" after Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch from Tyler Lyons, which may have been retaliation for Matt Holliday being hit in the head earlier.

After Garcia was hit, Matt Carpenter went deep before Tommy Pham and Heyward singled, but Pedro Strop came on to get the final three outs.

"It was a very intense game," said Carpenter, 8 for 17 with three homers in the last four games. "But you know what? Every game from here on out is going be an intense game."

Holliday, who returned Friday after missing 41 games with a quad strain, didn't play but was available off the bench and should hold the same status Sunday. He's 5 for 9 off Lester.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (72-77) at Rangers (80-68)

Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: September 20, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

After surging to the top of the AL West, Shin-Soo Choo and the Texas Rangers are trying to create some breathing room. That's going to be mighty difficult against Felix Hernandez.

Choo looks to continue sparking the Rangers as they try to avoid another loss to Hernandez in the finale of this three-game set with the Settle Mariners on Sunday.

Texas (80-68) has gone 29-15 to turn an eight-game deficit in the division race into a 2 1/2-game lead on Houston.

The Rangers' turnaround includes an AL-best 12-6 record this month after beating Seattle 10-1 on Saturday.

Choo is enjoying his own revival, leading the majors with a .455 average and .571 on-base percentage this month. The right fielder entered September batting .245 with a .338 OBP.

He's hitting .513 with 11 runs in the past 10 games after reaching base five times Saturday, going 2 for 3 with two walks and one hit by pitch.

"Just a complete hitter," manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website. "He's not chasing, barrel on the baseball that's in the strike zone, seeing the ball exceptionally well, staying back - all the things that we talk about as being a complete hitter. He is that right now."

Choo, though, is 2 for 11 against Hernandez (17-9, 3.55 ERA) this season. The Mariners ace has a 1.57 ERA while winning all four of his starts against Texas this year. The right-hander allowed three hits with eight strikeouts in eight innings of a 5-0 win over the Rangers on Sept. 10.

Hernandez, who is trying to become the AL's first 18-game winner, gave up four runs and two homers in seven innings of a 4-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.

The Rangers will again counter with Derek Holland (3-2, 3.77), who gave up five runs in seven innings opposite Hernandez earlier this month. He was 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his seven previous starts against the Mariners (72-77).

The left-hander wasn't any better Tuesday, surrendering five runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings against Houston in his seventh start after missing over four months with a right shoulder injury.

"Derek didn't pitch but six games last year," Banister said of Holland, who missed nearly six months recovering from knee surgery in 2014. "He really hasn't pitched in a high-stress, high-intensity game in quite a while. When a guy is coming back after being gone for an extended period of time, they go through a relearning of what they experienced previously."

Adrian Beltre is on a tear at home, hitting .438 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in his last 27 games. He's put together a 16-game hitting streak there with a .459 average and 18 RBIs.

He went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs on Saturday despite playing with a wrap on his left index finger.

"I think we need to keep doing stuff to his hand," shortstop Elvis Andrus said. "He keeps getting better and better."

Beltre, though, is 1 for 14 over the past two years against Hernandez while Prince Fielder is 2 for 22 lifetime.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (71-77) at Giants (77-71)

Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: September 20, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy can't explain why the Arizona Diamondbacks have dominated his club in the Bay Area this season.

In danger of being blanked in a three-game home series for the first time ever, the Giants look to avoid a seventh straight defeat there to the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Arizona (71-77) lost its final four games at San Francisco last season but is 8-1 and has recorded five shutouts, including three in a row, there in 2015. The Diamondbacks, 28-36 against the rest of their road competition, join the 1938 Chicago Cubs as the only teams to shut out the Giants at home at least five times in the same season.

'There's no rhyme or reason,' Bochy said after Saturday's 6-0 loss. 'They've done a number on us. I'm a little stunned to be honest.'

With their postseason hopes fading, the Giants (77-71) have taken two steps back after winning five of six.

"Getting shut out back-to-back is something I would not have thought would happen," said Bochy, whose team has scored three runs during that six-game home skid to Arizona and none over the last 30 innings.

The Diamondbacks, who have never blanked an opponent over an entire three-game set, own a 1.30 ERA while holding the Giants to a .198 average at AT&T Park this year.

"Our pitching has been really good in this ballpark," Arizona manager Chip Hale told MLB's official website. "And we need to continue it (Sunday) and continue it on the road trip."

Jeremy Hellickson (9-9, 4.78 ERA) allowed eight hits but one run in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-1 victory at AT&T Park on April 19 to improve to 1-1 and lower his ERA to 3.27 against San Francisco this year. However, the right-hander must rebound after he gave up five runs, three hits and two walks before being removed after one inning of Monday's 10-3 loss to San Diego.

"I've got to make an adjustment early and try to keep us in the game," said Hellickson, who also committed an error. "Putting up a five spot before we even get a chance to bat is by far my worst inning of my career.'

Brandon Crawford is 4 for 5 against Hellickson. But since Aug. 20, the All-Star shortstop is 5 for 50 while playing 13 games and missing seven with calf and side injuries.

Hellickson won't have to face Brandon Belt, who was diagnosed with a concussion suffered in Friday's 2-0 defeat.

"He's going to take a little time off," Bochy said. "He showed symptoms (Friday) and that's what we're treating him for."

Tim Hudson (7-8, 4.42), who squared off with Hellickson on April 19, is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA against the Diamondbacks this season. In his return to the rotation Sept. 8, the right-hander allowed a run in six innings of a 6-2 victory at Arizona.

He again yielded one run Monday but walked three and lasted 4 1-3 innings of a 5-3 victory over Cincinnati.

All-Star A.J. Pollock is 3 for 6 against Hudson this season, and is batting .436 in the nine games at San Francisco in 2015.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (88-60) at Dodgers (85-62)

Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: September 20, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates retained sole possession of the top wild card Saturday night by beating the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, and they will trot out their ace a day later to try to add some cushion.

Gerrit Cole takes the mound Sunday as the Pirates seek a series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers to open their final road trip.

Pittsburgh (88-60) had its lead over Chicago trimmed to a half-game with the Cubs' 5-4 victory over St. Louis early on Saturday, but the Pirates won 3-2 to hand Clayton Kershaw his first loss since June 27 and stay a game ahead.

Andrew McCutchen doubled home two runs in the third and Aramis Ramirez doubled in Gregory Polanco in the eighth, the third run charged to Kershaw. Mark Melancon closed the door for his club-record 47th save.

"It definitely wasn't deflating," manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website after his team moved within four games of the NL Central-leading Cardinals, whom the Pirates face Sept. 28-30 after finishing off their 10-game road swing in Chicago.

They should also get a lift from Cole (16-8, 2.60 ERA), who will take the mound without having to worry about Cy Young candidates Zack Greinke and Kershaw. Pittsburgh's ace looks to improve on his 9-2 record and 3.05 career ERA in September while trying to become the fourth NL pitcher with at least 17 wins.

The right-hander has pitched into the seventh inning in five of his last six starts, though he allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings while not factoring in the decision of a 5-4 win over the Cubs on Tuesday. He has only allowed one home run in 54 2-3 innings over his last nine starts overall and has given up just two over 95 1-3 this season on the road.

Cole has opposed Los Angeles three times in his career, allowing three runs in each on the way to a 2-0 record and 4.50 ERA. He limited the Dodgers to four hits in six innings in a 5-4 Pittsburgh win on Aug. 7.

Los Angeles (85-62) has won five of seven and holds a comfortable 8 1/2-game lead in the NL West as it hands the ball to Mike Bolsinger, who is taking Mat Latos' spot in the rotation.

Bolsinger (6-3, 3.13) will make his 19th start and third since getting called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 4. He is 1-0 since his promotion despite a 6.23 ERA in victories over San Diego and Arizona.

The right-hander matched the shortest start of his career while allowing three runs in 3 2-3 innings of a 9-5 win over the Diamondbacks on Sept. 12, and he seemed to pinpoint his troubles.

"(Against the Padres) I gave up two home runs with offspeed pitches," Bolsinger told MLB's official website, "...This game five or six straight hits on offspeed pitches, and that's my bread and butter, the curve and slider, it's what I need to work on."

The Pirates have won four of five against the Dodgers this season and nine of 12 the last two years.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (81-66) at Mets (84-64)

Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 20, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Matt Harvey has pitched at least eight dominant innings both times he has faced the New York Yankees.

It's guaranteed the New York Mets won't let him go nearly that long this time.

Harvey will take the mound for the first time in 12 days when he opposes CC Sabathia on Sunday night in this three-game series finale at Citi Field.

Harvey (12-7, 2.88 ERA) has pitched 171 2-3 innings, though the Mets (84-64) insist that the figure of 180 that agent Scott Boras says is his limit is not something to which the franchise needs to strictly adhere.

"We realize there's an innings limit and we realize he's close," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website. "He is going to pitch if we get to the postseason. So, now, how do you get to that point? How do you get him into that?"

The right-hander was rocked for a career high-tying seven runs over 5 1-3 innings and didn't get a decision in an 8-7 victory at Washington in his last outing Sept. 8.

With an eye on the innings count, the team skipped Harvey's turn after that start, with rookie Steven Matz being inserted into the rotation.

Harvey's last outing is in stark contrast to how he has fared in two career starts against the Yankees (81-66), yielding three runs over 16 2-3 innings. Harvey came within one out of a complete game in his longest outing of the year April 25, an 8-2 victory in the Bronx.

The Mets won't give him the chance to get even close to that Sunday.

"We're going to keep a very close eye on him," Collins said. "The Yankees will decide when he comes out, but it won't be real deep in the game."

He'll be opposed once again by Sabathia (4-9, 4.93), who was ripped for a season-high seven runs in five-plus innings in that April matchup. That left him at 2-2 with a 4.11 ERA in five career Subway Series starts.

The much-maligned Sabathia, though, held an opponent scoreless for the first time this season with 6 2-3 innings in a 4-1 road victory over Tampa Bay on Monday. He didn't get a decision.

"CC threw the ball as well as he's thrown it all year," New York's Alex Rodriguez said. "Four pitches for strikes, and it's not just about speed, it's throwing the ball with conviction. Tremendous performance by CC. Very encouraging."

David Wright is 4 for 12 against Sabathia, but other Mets have fared poorly in the matchup. Michael Cuddyer hits .207, Juan Uribe is at .191 and Yoenis Cespedes is 1 for 11.

The Yankees evened this series with a 5-0 victory Saturday. Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Brian McCann also connected while Michael Pineda combined with six relievers on a six-hitter.

'You need those guys to step up," manager Joe Girardi said of Beltran and McCann.

Cespedes is 0 for 8 in the series and hitless in 16 at-bats in his last four games after homering nine times in 13 games to start September. Collins is making a lineup change as a result.

'We're going to take him out of the two-hole tomorrow and put him someplace else, see if we can get some guys on ahead of him,' he said. 'That might help out.'

It's uncertain if Mets reliever Tyler Clippard will be available after he was forced to miss the first two games of this series when his back tightened up during pregame warmups Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB roundup: Pirates beat Kershaw, snap losing streak
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

LOS ANGELES -- Third baseman Aramis Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers before 49,441 at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night.

Ramirez smoked an RBI double off reliever Chris Hatcher as the Pirates (88-60) snapped a four-game losing streak. They also remained a game ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race. Pittsburgh is four games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.

Despite the loss, the magic number for National League West-leading Dodgers (85-61) to clinch the division title fell to seven after the San Francisco Giants were blanked 6-0 by the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier in the day.

Cubs 5, Cardinals 4

CHICAGO -- Rookies continue to power the Chicago.

Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth inning to propel the Cubs and prevent the Cardinals from clinching a playoff spot..

The Cubs are five games behind the Cardinals and remained one game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first NL wild card.

Bryant's blast into the last row of the left field bleachers gave him 25 homers, tying the Cubs record for a rookie set by Billy Williams in 1961.

Tigers 6, Royals 5, 11 innings

DETROIT -- Ian Kinsler led off the 11th inning with his 11th home run of the season to give Detroit the win.

Despite the loss, Kansas City's magic number for clinching the American League Central Division title dropped to four because Minnesota lost a doubleheader to the Los Angeles Angels.

Tom Gorzelanny picked up the victory with two scoreless relief innings.

Astros 10, Athletics 6

HOUSTON -- Evan Gattis belted a three-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning as Houston erased an early deficit and beat Oakland.

The Astros snapped a five-game skid and maintained their 1 1/2-game lead for the second wild card in the American League.

Gattis pushed the Astros over the hump with his 25th home run on the season, an opposite-field blast to right field off Fernando Rodriguez. Gattis followed Colby Rasmus' two-out walk by launching a cutter, scoring Rasmus and shortstop Carlos Correa.

Reds 9, Brewers7

MILWAUKEE -- Brandon Phillips hit the go-ahead single following a lengthy delay as Cincinnati scored three times in the top of the eighth.

Phillips had the game-winning hit off Tyler Cravy following a scary collision involving Milwaukee third baseman Elian Herrera, shortstop Jean Segura and center fielder Shane Peterson on a single by Skip Schumaker.

Schumaker's hit dropped in between the players resulting in a collision. Herrera had to be taken off the field by an ambulance cart while Peterson left the game under his own power.

Rangers 10, Mariners 1

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cole Hamels struck out 12 in seven innings as Texas pounded Seattle.

Hamels gave up seven hits and struck out at least one batter in each of his seven innings as the Rangers have now won each of the last seven games started by Hamels.

The 12 strikeouts were the most for Hamels since he struck out 13 in his July 25 no-hitter for Philadelphia. He also didn't walk a batter, making him the first Rangers pitcher to strike out at least 12 and not walk a batter since Yu Darvish on Aug. 1, 2013.

Rockies 10, Padres 2

DENVER -- Colorado spoiled the 2015 debut of San Diego starter Robbie Erlin.

It was the sixth win in nine games for the Rockies.

White Sox 4, Indians 3

CLEVELAND -- Carlos Rodon pitched into the eighth inning and continued his mastery over Cleveland.

Rodon out-pitched Carlos Carrasco, who retired the first nine batters he faced, then gave up three runs on four hits over the next two innings.

In five career appearances against Cleveland, Rodon is 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA.

Braves 2, Phillies 1

ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman launched a two-run opposite-field double off the top of the left-field wall and Atlanta rallied for the win.

Atlanta now has a three-game lead over Philadelphia in the battle for last place in the National League East and the first overall pick in the 2016 draft.

The Phillies have lost five straight.

Orioles 2, Rays 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Chris Davis went 3-for-4 and scored the game-winning run while Wei-Yin Chen pitched seven strong innings to lead Baltimore past Tampa Bay.

Chen earned his 10th win by giving up one run and striking out seven over seven innings. He threw 101 pitches with 67 strikes.

Zach Britton pitched the ninth inning for his 34th save of the season.

Yankees 5, Mets 0

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran belted a three-run homer in the first inning and Michael Pineda combined with six relievers on a six-hit shutout as the Yankees blanked the Mets in the middle game of the Subway Series at Citi Field.

The Yankees evened the series at one game apiece.

Pineda was staked to a 3-0 lead before Mets Noah Syndergaard recorded an out. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner opened the game with flared singles to center, after which Beltran -- booed prior to every at-bat by Mets fans still angry he struck out looking as the potential winning run in Game 7 of the 2006 NL Championship Series -- homered deep into the second deck in right field.

Nationals 5, Marlins 2

WASHINGTON -- Bryce Harper had a two-run homer and three RBIs and Tyler Moore added a solo homer and double as Washington beat Miami to pull within seven games of the first-place New York Mets in the National League East.

Jordan Zimmermann allowed six hits and two runs with seven strikeouts and one walk in six innings. Harper hit his 41st homer -- a two-run shot to right -- to give the Nationals some insurance at 5-2 in the seventh.

The Nationals scored three runs in the fifth to take the lead as Brad Hand walked four batters in the inning.

Diamondbacks 6, Giants 0

SAN FRANCISCO -- Arizona continued its mastery of San Francisco at AT&T Park with seven-hit pitching and a 17-hit attack.

A.J. Pollock, Ender Inciarte and David Peralta each had three hits as the Diamondbacks improved to 8-1 in San Francisco this season with a sixth consecutive win.

Patrick Corbin shut out the Giants on five hits over seven innings. David Hernandez and Josh Collmenter finished the Diamondbacks' 11th shutout of the season.

Angels 4, Twins 3 (12 innings, Game 1)

Angels 5, Twins 2, Game 2

MINNEAPOLIS -- Los Angeles had no run-scoring hits but pieced together enough offense over 12 innings to beat Minnesota in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

All four runs scored by the Angels came via a sacrifice or a fielder's choice, including the game-winner in the top of the 12th inning

In the nightcap, Garrett Richards pitched 8 2/3 strong innings. The right-hander retired 12 straight batters through the middle innings until his biggest mistake of the night, a solo homer by Trevor Plouffe to lead off the seventh.

Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 6

TORONTO -- Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to tie the score and David Ortiz singled in the go-ahead run as Boston held on to defeat Toronto.

After the Blue Jays took a 4-2 lead in the eighth, Bradley tied the score with a two-run homer in the ninth against Roberto Osuna.

Bradley had three RBIs for the game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB notebook: Mets' Cespedes will demand long-term deal
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, not surprisingly, will demand a long-term contract when he becomes a free agent after the season.

Cespedes said staying with the Mets is probably "50-50."

Cespedes, who turns 30 next month, will be seeking a contract of at least six years this winter, he told ESPN.com before the Mets' 5-1 win against the New York Yankees at Citi Field on Friday night.

Cespedes could receive a deal between $125-160 million, depending on the length of the contract.

"My only hope is to stay healthy," Cespedes said. "I'm not thinking about a contract, but I do know that I will be looking for a contract that is six years or more, has to be six years or more. We'll see what happens."

Cespedes is hitting .289 with 17 home runs and 42 RBIs in 44 games since being acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 31. Overall, he is hitting .292 with 35 homers and 103 RBIs in 147 games.

---Mets manager Terry Collins said right-hander Logan Verrett will take right-hander Jacob deGrom's turn in the rotation Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves.

DeGrom ranks among the National League's top 10 in ERA (2.64) and strikeouts (189) but has a 6.41 ERA in his last five starts.

---San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was diagnosed with a concussion after complaining of a headache in Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is out indefinitely.

Manager Bruce Bochy said catcher/first baseman Buster Posey would get a majority of the starts at first base in Belt's absence. Posey started at first Saturday, with catcher Trevor Brown making his major league debut behind the plate.

---Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (cracked left scapula), who visited doctors in Boston, said he is feeling better and is "heading in the right direction" but there is no timeline for a return.

Tulowitzki was injured in a collision with center fielder Kevin Pillar at Yankee Stadium last Saturday.

 

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Sunday's 6-pack

Westgate Super Contest (1,727 entrants-- prize pool is $2.5M)

six most popular picks in Week 1 season record: 5-2

6) Rams 411-- Trap game after win over Seahawks

5) Titans 414-- Not a lot of faith in Johnny Manziel

4) Cardinals 428-- Arizona covered last six road openers.

3) Ravens 476-- Not a lot of faith in the Raiders.

2) Bengals 499-- Not really sure why on this one.

1) Steelers 608-- Long travel, short work week for 49ers.

 

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'NFL Week-Two'

The first week of NFL action is in the books. Heading into Week 2, there are five teams that won as underdogs to open the season, Bills, 49ers, Titans, Rams and Falcons. Three of those teams, Bills, 49ers, Titans won by ten or more points. A dominant win is certainly a promissing sign and a knee-jerk reaction might be to side with those teams in Week 2. But, that thinking could be costly. Our trusted NFL number crunching machine tells us, since 2000, teams off a ten or more point victory in Week 1 are 53-48-10 ATS the following week. Within those numbers teams entering Week 2 off a big win (=> 10 pts) as an underdog are just 11-16-2 ATS. Have the squads underdogs during Week 2 they fall to 4-6-1 ATS.

Buffalo Bills off an impressive WK1 27-14 victory over Colts fall into the mentioned roll when they take on defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots in front of the frenzied crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Rex Ryan's retooled squad are sure to give Patriots a run for the money. However, going back to the well with Buffalo has some risk. Ryan has been haunted in the past by Bill Belichick coached Patriots (4-9) and for whatever reason, the Patriots seem to thrive in this hostile environment going 10-1 SU, 8-2-1 ATS the past eleven trips into Ralph Wilson Stadium. One final eye-opening betting gem, the last five times Bills were expected to compete at home vs. their division rival (home dogs of 5.5 or less) they went 0-5 against-the-number.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Streaks, Tips, Notes

Seattle at Green Bay September 20, 8:30 EST

A rematch of the NFC Championship Game in which Russell Wilson overcame the worst performance of his career by tossing a 35 yard TD pass on the first possession of overtime earning Seahawks a return trip to the Super Bowl. Hard to envision Seahawks opening 0-2 but Aaron Rodgers and company still hurting from that devistating loss will exact revenge. Road underdogs off a road loss in WK1 being 1-5 ATS, Seahawks 1-3-1 ATS their last five strips into Green Bay the numbers point to Packers covering the 3.5 point spot.


Tampa Bay at New Orleans September 20, 1:00 EST

The Buccaneers destroyed 42-14 at home in the opener set sail for New Orleans for a division battle with Saints who got shellacked 31-19 in Arizona. Saints will bounce back, they've won five straight against this stinking squad from Tampa. However, from a spread standpoint can't resist taking double digits in this spot. Buccaneers have thrived taking double digits on the road (7-4 ATS), Saints are a mediocre 6-7 ATS at home laying double digits, 1-5 ATS as a division home favorite of 8.5 or more points.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Arthur Ralph Sports

Bonus Play SUN Phil Eagles - 4 1/2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

INDIAN COWBOY
SOCCER


7-Unit Play. Take St. Etienne (-125) over Nantes (11 a.m., Sunday, September 20) (French Ligue 1)


3-Unit Play. Take Fiorentina (-110) over Carpi (12 p.m., Sunday, September 20) (Italian Serie A)