08/07/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks' inability to generate offense almost made them a part of history last time out. The team tries to get its bats going tonight in the opener of a four-game set with the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field.
Arizona is hitting just .251 as a team this year, 13th in the National League, and its 514 runs scored rank 10th in the league. The Diamondbacks have managed to hold onto first place in the NL West, however, thanks to a 3.88 team earned run average that is third best in the Senior Circuit.
Still, Arizona nearly found its way into the history books on Wednesday, as Pittsburgh's Jeff Karstens took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the club before Chris Young doubled with two outs. The Diamondbacks managed just one more hit the rest of the way, a two-out single by Stephen Drew in the ninth, en route to a 2-0 setback.
Coincidentally, Randy Johnson (9-8), the last man to threw a perfect game in the majors, was on the mound yesterday and took the loss after allowing seven hits and two runs over 7 1/3 innings. He also fanned seven without a walk, but couldn't prevent Arizona from losing for the third time in five games.
The Diamondbacks still lead second-place Los Angeles by 2 1/2 games in the standings.
Yusmeiro Petit starts for Arizona tonight and makes his second start since replacing Micah Owings in the rotation. Petit faced the Dodgers on Saturday and took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits -- including two homers -- over five innings of work.
In 12 games, including three starts, this year, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.03 ERA.
The 23-year-old Petit is 0-1 with an 8.03 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance lifetime versus the Braves. He last faced them on August 19 of last year in Atlanta and was drilled for six runs in 3 2/3 innings during a loss.
The Braves enter this set having lost four of their last six, including Wednesday's 3-2 defeat in San Francisco. Yunel Escobar and Mark Kotsay had an RBI each in Atlanta's 26th straight one-run loss on the road.
Brian McCann went 3-for-4 and scored a run, making him 4-for-12 (.333) with a double and two runs scored in three games since returning from a mild concussion suffered on July 27. The All-Star catcher is hitting just .208 (10- for-48) in his career against Arizona with a homer and six RBI.
Chuck James (2-5) allowed three runs on five hits in four innings en route to the loss.
Charlie Morton follows with tonight's start and although he has lost his last three outings, he did pitch well last time out. Morton dropped to 2-5 with a 6.56 ERA on the year after allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings versus Milwaukee on Saturday, ending up on the wrong end of a 4-2 decision.
The 24-year-old right-handed rookie has never faced Arizona in his career.
These two clubs split a four-game series in Atlanta from May 23-26.
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Red-hot Rays roll into Seattle >>
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London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fulham has finally completed the signing of
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The 27-year-old has opted to return to the ca
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
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