National League
In Denver, Richard Hidalgo hit three homers and drove in five runs as Houston routed Colorado 14-4.
The Astros, who have won 10 of their last 12, remained 1 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Chicago beat the New York Mets 3-2.
Adam Everett added a three-run homer, and Jeriome Robertson (15-7) set a Houston rookie record with his 15th win. Jeff Kent and Morgan Ensberg also hit solo homers for the Astros.
Colorado starter Tsao Chin-hui (
Taiwan's first major league pitcher was greeted by the big bats of the Astros that rocked him for five runs in four-plus innings, after an ailing hamstring had kept him out of the Colorado Rockies' starting rotation for over three weeks.
The right-hander from Hualien managed to hold the Astros hitters to one run on three hits for the first three innings.
Then, trouble began after Astros shortstop Adam Everett sent a 2-1 over the left field wall.
Rockies relievers then gave up four more homers to help the Astros lineup tie a franchise-high six home runs in a single game.
"With the way the Astros hitters were hitting, it really didn't matter who was on the mound," former major leaguer and current Brother Elephants pitcher Jonathan Hurst said Tuesday.
"[Tsao] is still very young and he will learn from each mistake that he makes this year to help prepare him for next year."
Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 2
In Los Angeles, Curt Schilling (8-8) won for the first time since Aug. 17, allowing one run and eight hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts as Arizona beat Los Angeles.
* Toronto 9, Detroit 6
* Kansas City 12, Cleveland 8
* Texas 10, Seattle 5
* Anaheim 6, Oakland 5
* Montreal 5, Atlanta 4
* Cincinnati 12, Pittsburgh 4
* Philadelphia 14, Florida 0
* Cubs 3, Mets 2
* St. Louis 6, Milwaukee 5
* San Francisco 4, San Diego 2
Junior Spivey drove in two runs for Arizona, which dropped the Dodgers 2 1/2 games behind Florida in the NL wild-card race
Matt Mantei gave up a solo homer to Jeromy Burnitz in the ninth before finishing for his 24th save. Japan's Kazuhisa Ishii (9-6) gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.
American League
Brad Radke beat Esteban Loaiza for the second time in six days as the Minnesota Twins stretched their American League Central lead over the White Sox to 1 1/2 games with a 5-2 victory against Chicago. Radke (13-10) scattered eight singles over seven innings, allowing one run -- on Carl Everett's RBI single in the sixth.
"It seems like every time you need a big start out of him, he comes in and does the job," Minnesota catcher A.J. Pierzynski said of Radke, who won his fifth straight decision.
Loaiza (19-8) gave up four runs, four hits and five walks in 2 1-3 innings.
"My curve was moving too much, and they weren't swinging at it," Loaiza said. "I did my best, and we did, too. We just need to come back and win."
Torii Hunter and rookie Michael Ryan each had two hits for the Twins, who have been alone in first place for consecutive days for the first time since June 22-23.
Yankees 6, Orioles 3
In Baltimore, Roger Clemens (15-9) moved into a tie for 17th place on the career victory list with Hoss Radbourn at 308, allowing three runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in seven innings.
Alfonso Soriano hit his third homer in two nights and Hideki Matsui drove in three runs for the Yankees, who maintained their 5 1/2-game lead over second-place Boston in the AL East.
Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 38th save. New York went up 4-1 with a three-run sixth against Jason Johnson (10-8).
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