NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, DENVER, COLORADO
Yorvit Torrealba’s sacrifice fly scored Troy Tulowitzki from third base with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Colorado Rockies edged St Louis 2-1 in the National League on Friday.
That prevented the Cardinals from becoming the first team in the majors to clinch their division and kept the Rockies three-and-a-half games ahead of Atlanta in the NL wild-card race.
It also ruined former Rockies slugger Matt Holliday’s homecoming.
Todd Helton led off the ninth with a walk from Trevor Miller (4-1), who was replaced by Kyle McClellan. Tulowitzki reached on a fielder’s choice, and pinch-hitter Jason Giambi’s single put runners at the corners.
Torrealba lofted a ball to right, and Ryan Ludwick’s throw home was nowhere close.
PIRATES 3, DODGERS 1
At Pittsburgh, Brandon Moss’ two-run single gave Pittsburgh an early lead as the Pirates, stuck in their worst slump since 1984, used five pitchers to beat Los Angeles.
The Dodgers’ magic number for repeating as the NL West champion remained at four, partly because they are only 2-2 this week against the majors’ two worst clubs, the Nationals and Pirates.
BRAVES 4, NATIONALS 1
At Washington, Javier Vazquez allowed a run and three hits in his third complete game of the season, leading Atlanta past Washington.
His performance enabled the Braves to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. Atlanta has won four straight and 12 of 14.
Vazquez (15-9) allowed a leadoff home run to Josh Bard, his sixth, in the eighth inning. Vazquez also gave a leadoff single to Willie Harris in the first and a one-out double to Ryan Zimmerman in the fourth. He retired 11 straight between Zimmerman’s double and Bard’s homer.
In other NL play, it was:
• Mets 6, Marlins 5
• Brewers 8, Phillies 4
• Reds 10, Astros 4
• Padres 4, Diamondbacks 0
• Cubs 3, Giants 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, NEW YORK
At Toronto, Roy Halladay struck out nine batters and allowed just seven hits, and Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer as Toronto beat Seattle.
Halladay (16-10) turned in a gem in what could be his final home start with the Blue Jays, tying Kansas City’s Zack Greinke for the major league lead with his third shutout. He got a standing ovation from the crowd of 20,668 when he took the mound for the ninth, then tipped his cap as he walked off to even louder cheers after it was done.
INDIANS 4, ORIOLES 2
At Cleveland, Fausto Carmona pitched six strong innings as Cleveland ended its 11-game losing streak with a victory over Baltimore.
The Indians improved to 4-19 this month and avoided tying the franchise record of 12 straight losses set in 1931. Luis Valbuena homered to open the fifth and key a three-run inning against David Hernandez (4-9).
In other AL play, it was:
• White Sox 2, Tigers 0
• Rangers 8, Rays 3
• Twins 9, Royals 4
• Athletics 3, Angels 0
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