THREE UP
Dan Haren is the new ace for the Athletics, and he proved it again by winning his sixth straight decision, a 6-1 victory over the Rangers. Haren, acquired from the Cardinals for Mark Mulder in Dec. 2004, gave up four hits in eight innings to lower his AL-leading ERA to 1.64.
Padres pitcher Chris Young continued his dominance against the Pirates, allowing four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings in a 9-0 win. The Pirates have only seven hits in 23 2/3 career innings against Young. The Padres have allowed just 65 runs over 26 games in May.
Barry Zito, who was interested in joining the Mets as free agent during the off-season, outpitched Tom Glaive over seven sharp innings to help snap the Giants’ four-game losing streak in a 3-0 victory in New York. Zito allowed nine hits, walked two and struck out four.
THREE DOWN
The bridge that the Brewers built between themselves and the rest of the NL Central is crumbling after a 9-2 loss to the Braves. The Brewers have dropped 14 of 19, dropping six consecutive series as their lead has shrunk to 5 1/2 games over second-place Pittsburgh.
The Phillies’ Michael Bourn was just 180 feet from tying the game against the Diamondbacks. He stole second with Ryan Howard pinch-hitting. Howard hit a soft liner to second baseman Orlando Hudson, who doubled off Bourn, ending the rally and the 4-3 loss.
Usually the Astros wait until the second half to start cooking, but they’re in danger of being buried well before then. The Astros lost their 10th straight, a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Reds. The franchise-record is 11 in August 1995.
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Compiled by Mike Pankow
