Vegas MLB Gambling – New York Yankees at Cincinnati Reds

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A spectacular performance by Andy Pettitte in his second start since coming out of retirement halted a three-game losing streak by the New York Yankees on Friday. It also provided a warm and fuzzy moment to help mask an alarming offensive trend for the Yankees, who continue to shrivel up in the clutch. New York went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, including a failure to score with the bases loaded and no outs. The Yankees are 3-for-48 with runners in scoring position in the last six games.

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Cincinnati Reds managed only four singles and was shut out for the first time this season. It also marked the seventh time in 10 games that the Reds have been held to three runs or fewer. The leadoff spot is killing the team. Rookie Zack Cozart is mired in a 3-for-36 funk and Drew Stubbs batted less than .100 during his seven-game stint at the top of the order. Cincinnati’s leadoff hitters rank last in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the National League.

Reds Yankees Betting

When: 1:05 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (1-3, 4.35) vs. New York RH Ivan Nova (4-1, 5.44 ERA)

Bailey bounced back from his worst outing with his best start last time out. He limited the Atlanta Braves to one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings but did not factor in the decision. He has surrendered three homers in a start twice but hasn’t allowed a long ball in his five other outings. Bailey is looking to snap a four-start winless streak.

Nova was hit hard in his last start against Baltimore and also hurt his right foot, but pronounced himself good to go for Saturday. The Yankees have scored at least five runs in six of Nova’s seven starts – and they’ve been needed with opponents batting .326 against him. Nova limited the Reds to one run on four hits in eight innings last year.

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1. New York’s Raul Ibanez homered for the fifth time in nine games. He hit a three-run shot in two at-bats against Bailey last year.

2. Reds outfielder Chris Heisey is 8-for-15 (.534) in his last five games.

3. Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to five games Friday. He has an extra-base hit in each game.

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MLB Betting Pick – Toronto Blue Jays against New York Mets

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The Toronto Blue Jays traditionally struggle against the New York Mets, but one wouldn’t readily reach that conclusion after watching Friday’s series opener north of the border. J.P. Arencibia homered for the third straight game and amassed a career-high six RBIs as Toronto went deep five times and cruised to a 14-5 rout of New York. The Mets have dropped four of their last five games, but own a 14-5 all-time record versus the Blue Jays. Toronto has won three in a row.

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New York also saw ailing star David Wright earn an early exit because of flu-like symptoms. Manager Terry Collins has already declared Wright out for Saturday’s afternoon tilt. Ike Davis, who was held out of Friday’s game, has collected only one hit in his last 19 at-bats.

Mets Blue Jays Betting

When: 1:07 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), SN-1 (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Miguel Batista (1-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (4-2, 2.22)

The 41-year-old Batista showed some spring in his step in his last trip to the mound. He scattered four hits over seven shutout innings en route to a 3-1 win over Milwaukee on Monday. Batista has posted a 3-2 mark with a 1.70 ERA in his career versus Toronto, a team with which he played from 2004-05.

Morrow saw his four-game winning streak come to an end after he matched a season high by yielding six runs against Tampa Bay on Monday. The 27-year-old Morrow, who also permitted a six-spot versus the Rays earlier in the season, pitched one scoreless inning of relief in his lone career outing versus the Mets.

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1. Yan Gomes, the first Brazilian-born player to appear in the majors, belted his first career homer Friday. He is 3-for-5 in two games since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.

2. Rajai Davis had two of his team’s five homers Friday. While he has limited experience versus Batista (1-for-2), slugger Jose Bautista has limped to a 2-for-9 effort versus the veteran hurler.

3. Mets outfielder Jason Bay was able to run and throw in the outfield prior to Friday’s game, but his return to the lineup isn’t expected until later next week.

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MLB Baseball Odds – Miami Marlins visit Cleveland Indians

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The Miami Marlins are finally playing like the team their off-season spending spree suggested they would be all year, and they’ll try to keep it up by continuing their remarkable record in interleague play.

With a 3-2 win in Friday’s series opener at Progressive Field, the Marlins improved to 19 games above .500 all-time in interleague games. They also earned their 13th win in 17 games to keep pace with National League East leader Atlanta. The Marlins are 3 1/2 games back of the Braves.

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The Cleveland Indians had their four-game winning streak snapped and lost a game off their American League Central lead, but they’re still three games ahead of Detroit in the division.

Marlins Indians Betting

When: 4:05 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (2-1, 2.28 ERA) vs. Indians RH Jeanmar Gomez (2-2, 3.75)

Sanchez has recorded quality starts in seven of his outings this season, though he suffered his first loss of the year in his last start. He allowed three runs over seven innings in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday. Sanchez is 3-2 with a 4.58 ERA in nine games (eight starts) in interleague play. He has never faced the Indians. Sanchez is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in four road starts this season.

Gomez is coming off his best start of the season after holding the Twins to one unearned run on three hits over seven innings Monday. He didn’t get the decision, though, and is winless in his last two starts. Gomez will make his first interleague start. He is 6-3 all-time at Progressive Field but only 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four games (three starts) at home this season.

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1. Marlins closer Heath Bell earned his first save since May 1 on Friday, pitching a perfect ninth for his fourth save. He had made six appearances since his last save conversion.

2. Marlins starters have gone at least six innings in 31 of 39 games this season. Sanchez has done so in all seven of his starts.

3. Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo has hit safely in six straight games and is 9-for-25 (.360) over that span.

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Saturday MLB Betting – Pittsburgh Pirates at Detroit Tigers

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Pittsburgh Pirates’s offense, which ranks a distant last in the majors in runs scored, didn’t stand a chance against Justin Verlander in Friday’s series opener. The Detroit Tigers ace struck out 12 and held the Pirates without a hit until the ninth inning, leading the Tigers to a 6-0 triumph. Delmon Young homered and drove in three runs for the home club. Detroit will look to left-hander Drew Smyly, who has enjoyed an excellent rookie season, to follow up Verlander’s one-hit gem.

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Friday’s game aside, it has been the Pirates who have been buoyed by strong pitching this season — the team has the fourth-lowest ERA in baseball. That effort, though, has effectively been negated by a lineup that ranks at or near the bottom of the majors in most offensive categories. The Tigers haven’t seen any consistency from any pitchers beyond Verlander and Smyly, but Miguel Cabrera (.304, eight homers, 34 RBIs) and Austin Jackson (.331) have paced what has been a solid offense.

Pirates Tigers Betting

When: 4:05 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (1-2, 5.12) vs. Tigers LH Drew Smyly (1-0, 2.31 ERA)

Acquired in the off-season to add a veteran presence to the Pittsburgh rotation, Burnett has been solid in four of his five starts. Not counting his atrocious effort at St. Louis May 2 (2 2/3 innings, 12 hits, 12 runs), he has allowed six runs on 21 hits in 29 innings, striking out 29 and walking six. Burnett is 4-2 in eight lifetime starts against Detroit, but with a 6.33 ERA.

Smyly allowed more than two runs for the first time in his short career May 14 at Chicago (five innings, four runs), but the rookie remains one of the more pleasant surprises in the American League, ranking third in ERA and eighth in WHIP. Smyly, who is facing his first National League foe, is looking for his first home win after posting a 2.25 ERA in three starts at Comerica Park.

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1. Detroit has won 43 of its last 56 interleague games at Comerica Park, including 26 of 30 against teams with losing records.

2. The Pirates have had their share of struggles on the road in recent years, going 69-158 in their last 227 away games dating back to 2009.

3. Tigers center Gerald Laird is 5-for-8 (.625) with a double against Burnett. First baseman Prince Fielder (2-for-5, homer) and outfielder Austin Jackson (1-for-2, homer) have also fared well in limited action against the Pittsburgh right-hander.

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Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants in their Opener of a Three-Game Set

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The Oakland Athletics were essentially done in by free passes in their opener of a three-game set versus the San Francisco Giants. Oakland, which yielded five walks in the third inning alone Friday, will look to be in better control Saturday when it continues its series against its Bay Area rivals at AT&T Park. San Francisco posted an 8-6 win for its second straight victory and fifth in seven outings.

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While his team was extremely generous, Josh Donaldson certainly wasn’t in a giving mood. In fact, Donaldson handed out some punishment with a home run and five RBIs – and even made a sensational defensive stop on Brett Pill in the seventh inning. Despite his heroics, the Athletics fell for the third time in four games.

Athletics Giants Betting

When: 4:05 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CS California (Oakland), CS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Tyson Ross (2-3, 6.25 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (1-2, 2.66)

After spending time as a reliever in previous seasons, Ross authored his best start of 2012 in his last trip to the mound. The 25-year-old scattered five hits over six shutout innings in a 5-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. Ross allowed two runs in one inning of relief in his lone career outing versus the Giants.

Vogelsong permitted one earned run for the third straight outing, but his penchant for walking batters left him with only one victory in that span. He scattered three hits Monday, but five free passes ran up his pitch count and he did not receive a decision in San Francisco’s 3-2 win over Colorado. Vogelsong has faced the Athletics on two occasions, but received a pair of no-decisions after registering a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP.

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1. San Francisco’s Buster Posey was a spectator for Friday’s series opener, but is expected back in the lineup Saturday. Posey, who has three multi-hit games in his last four outings, has tripled in his lone career at-bat versus Ross.

2. Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick entered Friday’s tilt with a sizzling .366 batting average in interleague play. Reddick, who went 0-for-4 in the opener, has yet to face Vogelsong in his career.

3. Pitcher Brad Penny agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Giants. He will report to extended spring training Monday.

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Live Betting MLB – Colorado Rockies against Seattle Mariners

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The Colorado Rockies thought their left-handed star of the future may have come in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, but little did they know he might have already been in the organization. Christian Friedrich will make his third career start when the Rockies host the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. With Drew Pomeranz – acquired from Cleveland last season – in Triple-A Colorado Springs working on his mechanics, Friedrich has provided Colorado with two quality outings, a huge lift to a team which hasn’t received much from its rotation or its heavily used bullpen.

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Friedrich will face a Mariners’ team that hasn’t provided much run support for Jason Vargas with seven runs in his last four starts. Seattle, which won for only the second time in 14 road games with a 4-0 victory on Friday, hasn’t scored much at all for anyone with 23 runs during its 2-6 road trip.

Mariners Rockies Betting

When: 4:10 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), ROOT Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Jason Vargas (4-3, 3.28 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Christian Friedrich (1-0, 1.38)

Vargas allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings in a 6-1 loss at Boston in his last outing. He had allowed four runs in his three previous starts (1-1, no-decision). Vargas is 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA in two outings at Coors Field while with the Mets. The Rockies’ roster is hitting .241 against him, but Michael Cuddyer is 4-for-11.

Friedrich’s first two outings came at Petco Park in San Diego and AT&T Park in San Francisco – both pitcher-friendly venues with home teams lacking offensive punch. He has two walks and 17 strikeouts, including 10 on Monday in a no-decision against the Giants, and threw only 93 pitches in seven innings, 69 for strikes.

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1. Seattle second baseman Dustin Ackley went 0-for-4 on Friday to snap his 13-game hitting streak.

2. Mariners left-hander Lucas Luetge has a team-record 15 straight appearances to begin his major league career without allowing an earned run.

3. The Rockies entered Friday with a 5.67 ERA at home, the worst in the majors.

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MLB Baseball Prediction – Minnesota Twins vs Milwaukee Brewers

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The Minnesota Twins are riding their first three-game winning streak of the season and are breaking out of a season-long offensive slump. The lowest-scoring team in the American League entering Friday, the Twins broke out for 11 runs for the second time in the last three games in an 11-3 triumph at the interleague rival Milwaukee Brewers. The last two days have also included rare strong starting pitching performances. The Brewers are streaking in the opposite direction, having dropped three straight and five of six.

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Ryan Braun is up to .317 and hit his 11th homer Friday but is getting little help from the rest of the Milwaukee offense. Rickie Weeks went 1-for-3 on Friday to raise his average to .159. The Twins got Justin Morneau back in the lineup Wednesday and immediately began to take off. The former MVP has driven in six runs in the past two games and has combined with Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham to form a strong middle of the order.

Twins Brewers Betting

When: 4:10 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Carl Pavano (2-3, 5.14 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (2-4, 5.04)

Pavano has allowed four earned runs in three of his last four starts and has not made it through seven innings in any of his last five turns. The veteran right-hander has issued only six walks in 49 total innings but has surrendered 56 hits – seven home runs. Pavano is 2-4 with a 4.77 ERA in 14 career games – 12 starts – against Milwaukee. Ryan Braun is 5-for-14 with a pair of homers off Pavano.

Gallardo has taken the loss in three of his last four turns. He yielded only two runs on two hits last time out but walked six in six innings. The 26-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in four career starts against Minnesota but Mauer and Morneau are a combined 9-for-16 off Gallardo.

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1. Pavano had deep tissue work done on his right shoulder this week back in Minneapolis before rejoining the team Friday.

2. Twins outfielder Ryan Doumit (calf) was available Friday but did not get into the game.

3. Weeks was dropped to sixth in the batting order Friday. He had hit first, second or third in the first 36 games.

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May 19 MLB Odds – Atlanta Braves at Tampa Bay Rays

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So far in 2012, Atlanta has found plenty of success away from Turner Field. The Braves won their major-league leading 15th road game of the season in Friday’s series opener at Tampa Bay, handing the Rays only their fifth loss at home this season. The Atlanta Braves already have won twice at Dodger Stadium and swept defending World Series champion St. Louis in Busch Stadium. Tampa Bay has lost two in a row since winning four straight.

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Friday’s loss dropped the Rays two games behind Baltimore in the American League East. Injuries have ravaged Tampa Bay’s roster as nine Rays are currently on the disabled list. The Tampa Bay Rays start right-hander Alex Cobb, promoted to take the place of Jeff Niemann in the rotation. Niemann suffered a small fracture in his right leg in his last start against Toronto. The Braves lead the National League East by 1½ games and have won six of their past eight.

Braves Rays Betting

When: 4:10 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Peachtree TV (Atlanta), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Atlanta RH Randall Delgado (2-3, 3.79 ERA) vs. Tampa Bay RH Alex Cobb (2011: 3-2, 3.42)

Delgado has pitched far better than his record indicates. The 22-year-old has allowed only three runs over 20 1/3 innings in his past three starts, but is 0-1 with two no-decisions thanks in large part to poor run support. Delgado has not won since beating the Mets on April 17. Cobb made nine starts for Tampa Bay last season, striking out 37 in 52 2/3 innings. He was 1-4 with a 4.14 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Durham this season.

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1. Since losing their first four games this season – all on the road – the Braves are 25-11 overall and 15-4 on the road.

2. Cobb struck out eight in five shutout innings for Triple-A Durham in his last start.

3. Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman drove in two runs in Friday’s series opener, giving him 32 for the season.

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Baltimore Orioles visit the Washington Nationals – MLB Betting

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The Baltimore Orioles are making themselves at home on the road – even though their eighth consecutive win in such a scenario wasn’t too far from Camden Yards. Nick Markakis’ solo homer in the 11th inning provided just enough pop to give Baltimore a 2-1 triumph over the Washington Nationals in Friday’s opener of the Beltway Series. The American League East-leading Orioles have won four in a row and seven of nine heading into Saturday’s contest.

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Adam Jones may have saw his consecutive homers streak end at three contests, but recorded his third 10-game hitting streak of the season with an RBI infield single in the first inning. Ian Desmond did homer, but that was all Washington could muster en route to its fourth loss in seven games.

Orioles Nationals Betting

When: 7:15 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jason Hammel (4-1, 2.68 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (3-2, 2.75)

Hammel has won all three career decisions versus Washington, handcuffing the team with a 1.18 WHIP and .248 batting average against. The 29-year-old has improved upon the latter two numbers against every team in 2012 – posting a 1.10 WHIP and .214 batting average against. Hammel’s last outing was not indicative of that, however, as he yielded five runs in as many innings in a no-decision versus the New York Yankees on Monday.

Detwiler matched Hammel’s effort Monday by posting the same statistics in a no-decision versus San Diego. The sixth overall pick of the 2007 draft, Detwiler dropped his lone career decision to Baltimore. In two starts against the Orioles, he has allowed six runs on 10 hits in 11 innings.

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1. Baltimore isn’t just belting the ball out of the park – it’s doing it with timely effectiveness. The Orioles lead the majors with 62 homers – 27 of which have come in the seventh inning or later. Perhaps it’s no surprise that Baltimore has won 13 of 16 games decided in the seventh inning or later.

2. Ryan Zimmerman, who had two hits in the series opener, is 5-for-14 with a homer and three RBIs in his career versus Hammel.

3. With Friday’s heroics fresh in his mind, Markakis could continue to swing a hot bat when he faces Detwiler. The Orioles’ star is 3-for-6 with an RBI in his career against him.

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Bet on MLB – Boston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies

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Interleague play in a National League ballpark can create some interesting lineups and one might be on display when the Boston Red Sox visit the red-hot Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Without the designated hitter, David Ortiz did not start against Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels on Friday but is expected to play first base Saturday with right-hander Joe Blanton on the mound. Manager Bobby Valentine said gold glove first baseman Adrian Gonzalez would probably shift to right field and it would be wise to keep him in the lineup. Gonzalez is 7-for-16 with two homers and four RBIs lifetime against Blanton.

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The Phillies have won six straight games while the Red Sox have lost two of three after winning five in a row.

It could shape up to be a pitchers’ duel as the Red Sox’ Jon Lester is coming off his best start of the season while Blanton has three wins and a no-decision in his last four outings. Red-hot Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, who had a two-run single in Philadelphia’s 6-4 victory on Friday and is 11 for his last 17, is 0-for-7 against Lester. Ruiz has 19 RBIs in 16 May games and has five multi-hit games in his last eight.

Red Sox Phillies Betting

When: 7:15 PM ET, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (2-3, 3.71 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Joe Blanton (4-3, 2.96)

Lester pitched a complete game in the Red Sox’ 6-1 victory over Seattle in his last outing on Monday. In three career starts against Philadelphia, Lester is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 21 innings. The Phillies’ roster is batting .209 against him, with former American Leaguer Ty Wigginton having the most experience and success at 8-for-20 with a homer, two RBIs and four walks.

Blanton allowed one run, six hits and struck out seven in seven innings in a 5-1 victory over Houston on Monday in his last outing. Blanton is 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 10 career starts against Boston, including 1-1 and a no-decision in three outings with Philadelphia. The Red Sox’ roster is batting .307 against him, with Ortiz 8-for-26 with two homers and three RBIs.

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1. Boston’s Daniel Nava hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues – against Blanton – in the Red Sox’ 10-2 victory June 12, 2010.

2. The Red Sox’ Cody Ross, who has homered in two straight games, was 7-for-20 with three homers and five RBIs to help the Giants defeat the Phillies in the 2010 NL Championship Series in six games.

3. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel returns to the dugout after a one-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation with umpire Bob Davidson in Tuesday’s game against Houston.

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