THREE UP
The Brewers’ Ben Sheets gave up four hits in a dominant performance, topping the Braves 4-1. He retired the final 16 hitters for his NL-best third complete game, striking out seven with no walks.
Diamondbacks starter Dan Haren won his fifth straight start, topping the Red Sox 2-1. He yielded just two hits with one walk and five strikeouts in seven innings in his best outing of the season.
Mets owner Fred Wilpon has created a “Welcome Back Veterans” program in which teams will wear Stars & Stripes caps on the 4th of July weekend and Sept. 11. He hopes to raise $100 million.
THREE DOWN
Jeff Francis lasted just 4 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the year, in Rockies’ 8-4 loss to the Royals. He gave up seven runs, four in the first. He has allowed 19 first-inning earned runs in his 16 starts.
Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell’s one-hop throw to first baseman Kevin Youkilis before the top of fifth inning hit him under the right eye. He was taken for a “precautionary CT scan.”
The Cardinals, who were hoping to start Mark Mulder this weekend vs. Royals, likely won’t have that option. He was scratched from a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis on Monday due to back stiffness.
———-
EDITED BY JIM HARDING AND THOMAS L. OUTLAW
