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Rafael Palmeiro knocks in seven RBIs

Texas Rangers' Rafael Palmeiro hits a grand slam on a pitch from Seattle Mariners' Arthur Rhodes during the seventh inning in Seattle on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Rafael Palmeiro hit a grand slam and a three-run homer for career-high seven RBIs to lead the Texas Rangers over the Seattle Mariners 10-1 Monday.

"It's a great place to play," Palmeiro said. "For some reason, you know, there's ballparks that you feel good in and there's ballparks that you feel bad in. This is one of those ballparks that I happen to feel good in."

With 514 homers, Palmeiro moved into 15th place on the career list, two ahead of Ernie Banks. Palmeiro hit a three-run homer off Ryan Franklin (7-9) in a four-run first, then hit his 11th career slam off Arthur Rhodes in the seventh. It was Palmeiro's 32nd multihomer game, his second this season.

"Arthur Rhodes is as good as they come," Palmeiro said. "It's as good as it gets. I got a good pitch to hit and was able to hit it. I didn't miss it. I didn't foul it back. I hit it."

Joaquin Benoit (6-5), pitching on three days' rest for the first time in his two-year major league career, didn't allow a hit until Japan's Ichiro Suzuki singled to right leading off the sixth. Benoit struck out seven in seven innings, allowing two hits and two walks.

New York Mets pitcher Seo Jae-weong throws to first on a pickoff attempt in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Shea Stadium in New York on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Angels 2, Athletics 1

In Anaheim, California, Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson hit run-scoring singles in the eighth as Anaheim avoided a four-game sweep to Oakland.

After sharp performances by Oakland's Barry Zito and Anaheim's Jarrod Washburn, the game was still scoreless when David Eckstein drew a two-out walk in the eighth from Ricardo Rincon (6-4).

Darin Erstad sent Eckstein to third with a single that stopped an 0-for-14 slide and Chad Bradford relieved. Salmon then bounced an 0-2 pitch off the pitcher's glove for an infield hit that put Anaheim ahead, and Anderson followed a run-scoring single to center.

All-Star reliever Brendan Donnelly (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Troy Percival got three outs for his 23rd save, allowing a leadoff homer in the ninth to Erubiel Durazo.

Reggie Sanders hit a two-run home run and Jeff Suppan pitched his third complete game and second shutout of the season Monday to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0.

Suppan (10-7) won his fifth consecutive decision, allowing seven hits. He struck out five and walked one. The 10 wins matched a career high set in 2001 when Suppan pitched for the Kansas City Royals.

"Today was just one of those days where I trying to change speeds on everything," Suppan said.

"I was trying to throw my curveballs slower than slow. I kept my changeups down. I tried to use my fastball effectively."

Brett Tomko (6-7) gave up three runs on eight hits in seven innings. Tomko remained winless at Busch Stadium. In 10 home starts, he is 0-4. Tomko leads in the National League in hits allowed with 177 and runs allowed with 93 and is tied for second in the league with 24 home runs allowed.

"It would have been nice to get a win," Tomko said.

"I've gone on the road and given up five runs and gotten wins. I give up three today and don't get a win."

Sanders gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Matt Stairs, playing his 1,000th major league game, led off with a double.

Sanders then hit a 2-0 pitch 449 feet into the upper deck in left field. In the four games series with St. Louis, Sanders had a double, a triple and two homers for five RBIs.

Braves 10, Expos 8

In Montreal, Marcus Giles homered twice, hitting his second career grand slam, and had a career-high six RBIs and four hits as Atlanta beat Montreal.

Giles, who tied a major league record Sunday by hitting doubles in his first four at-bats, had Atlanta's fifth slam this season, a drive off Javier Vazquez (8-7) that capped a five-run sixth.

Vladimir Guerrero homered twice off Mike Hampton (7-5), including a 151-meter (502-foot) drive off the base of Olympic Stadium's middle deck. Hampton won his fourth straight start, allowing five runs -- four earned -- and eight hits before he was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing.

John Smoltz gave up a two-run single to Orlando Cabrera and an RBI single to Guerrero, then got his major league-high 38th save when Wil Cordero hit into a game-ending double play.

Marlins 3, Diamondbacks 2

In Miami, Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs and Mark Redman (9-4) gave up one run and six hits in 7 1-3 innings as Florida edged Arizona.

Florida has won seven of its past eight games, closing within one game of Philadelphia, the NL wild-card leader.

Miguel Batista (7-6) struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings for Arizona, which lost for the eighth time in 10 games and dropped 11 games behind first-place San Francisco in the NL West.

Florida first baseman Derrek Lee left in the eighth inning after partially dislocating a joint in his right shoulder.

Brewers 4, Mets 2

In New York, Scott Podsednik hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the ninth inning off John Franco as Milwaukee defeated New York.

The tiebreaker came Eddie Perez drew a one-out walk from David Weathers (1-5) and Royce Clayton bunted.

Reliever Leo Estrella (3-2) pitched 1 2-3 perfect innings for the win, while Dan Kolb pitched the ninth for his third save.
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