Gorzelanny shoots for fourth straight win in middle tilt with Cards

Baseball Betting Lines

07/24/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tom Gorzelanny goes after his fourth straight win this afternoon when the Chicago Cubs play the middle test of their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Gorzelanny, who is 5-5 with a 3.12 earned run average, outdueled Roy Halladay to win his third consecutive start on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, holding them to two earned runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The lefty has faced the Cardinals six times and is 1-3 against them with a 3.82 ERA.

Chicago drew first blood in this set on Friday, as Randy Wells turned in seven scoreless innings, and three different players hit home runs, propelling the Cubs to a 5-0 win. Tyler Colvin, Geovany Soto and Alfonso Soriano each reached the seats for the Cubs, who have won three of five.

Wells (5-7) won for just the second time this month after scattering five hits while fanning seven with three walks.

"He's pitching with a much better tilt on the ball, his slider's got much better rotation and sharpness to it," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella of Wells. "Now he's starting to mix in his changeups. It's just been a nice turnaround for him."

Jon Jay singled and walked twice for the Cardinals, who have lost two straight after winning eight in a row.

Jeff Suppan (0-6) was tagged in defeat for 10 hits and five runs over six full frames, walking three with no strikeouts. The veteran right-hander hasn't won a game since September 19, 2009, a span of 25 appearances.

"He still gave us a chance in a game where we didn't give ourselves a chance to win because our offense wasn't productive," Cards manager Tony La Russa said of Suppan. "He's a very competitive guy and he's just got to figure out a way to get out of this."

Getting the call for the Cardinals today will be righty Blake Hawksworth, who has won his last two starts. Hawksworth beat the Phillies on Monday, but was not overly impressive in allowing three first inning runs and 10 hits in six innings. He also walked three batters, but improved to 4-5 on the year to go along with a 4.85 ERA.

"I got us in a hole early, but they picked me up and got the 'W'," Hawksworth said after the game.

This will be Hawksworth's first start against the Cubs, but he has pitched to a 2.45 ERA in three relief outings against them.

St. Louis' offense should also get a boost this afternoon with the return of outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list after missing 23 games with a strained calf.

In 71 games for the Cardinals this season, Ludwick is batting .273 with 11 home runs and 42 runs batted in.

St. Louis took two of three from the Cubs earlier in the season at Wrigley.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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