NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
PHOTO: AP
Andre Ethier hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, providing a stunning climax to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves in the National League on Thursday.
Ethier went long off Atlanta closer Rafael Soriano to record his major league-leading fifth walkoff hit of the season.
With the Dodgers trailing 4-2, Juan Pierre led off the ninth with an infield hit. Rafael Furcal’s hit-and-run single sent Pierre to third, and Ethier drove a pitch over the right-field fence for his 23rd homer of the season. He raised his team-leading RBI total to 72 — five shy of his career best.
PHOTO: AP
Soriano had his third blown save in 19 attempts as the Dodgers improved their best record in the majors to 67-42.
PHILLIES 3, ROCKIES 1
In Philadelphia, Cliff Lee pitched seven impressive innings in his home debut, steering Philadelphia past Colorado. Lee allowed just one run and striking out nine in his first home start since the Phillies acquired him from Cleveland last week.
Paul Bako hit a tiebreaking homer for Philadelphia, who opened a seven-game lead in the NL East.
PADRES 8, METS 3
In San Diego, the hosts drove another nail into New York’s playoff hopes. The Padres took a 7-0 lead en route to beating the Mets for the sixth straight time at home.
D’BACKS 11, PIRATES 6, 12 INNINGS
In Pittsburgh, Arizona piled on five runs in the third extra inning, winning a fifth straight game by overcoming Pittsburgh. The Pirates have lost five straight.
NATIONALS 12, MARLINS 8
In Washington, the hosts rallied from a six-run deficit to beat Florida and extend their unlikely winning streak. Ryan Zimmerman finished a double short of the cycle for the Nationals, who broke an 8-8 tie with four runs in the eight inning.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Bruce Chen won in the major leagues for the first time since 2005 and Billy Butler hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning as Kansas City downed Seattle 8-2 on Thursday.
Chen, who had lost his past 13 decisions, earned his first victory since Oct. 2, 2005, while with Baltimore. Chen (1-6) held the Mariners to two runs, despite giving up 10 hits and a walk in 6-2/3 innings, matching his longest outing this season.
Butler’s home run was his season-high 13th and he had his team-leading 14th multi-RBI game. The first inning included a two-run double by Mark Teahen and a run-scoring double by Yuniesky Betancourt.
INDIANS 2, TWINS 1
At Cleveland, Trevor Crowe hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning as Cleveland edged Minnesota.
Crowe’s slicing line drive into the left-center gap off Nick Blackburn (8-6) scored Travis Hafner from second base as Cleveland won for the ninth time in 13 games. The switch-hitting Crowe has batted .375 with four RBIs in six games since his recall from Triple-A Columbus.
Orlando Cabrera had two hits, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games for Minnesota.
In Thursday’s other American League games, it was:
• Tigers 7, Orioles 3
• Angels 9, White Sox 5
• Rangers 6, Athletics 4
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