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Marlins pull to within four games of Giants for lead

Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to cap a seven-run first inning, and Mike Lowell drove in five runs to help the Florida Marlins beat the San Francisco Giants 9-1 on Tuesday night.

Florida won for the eighth time in 11 games and pulled within four games of the Giants, who began the night tied with Chicago for the NL wild-card lead.

A.J. Burnett (4-6) allowed just two hits -- both singles by Edgardo Alfonzo -- and one run in seven innings. Throwing at up to 100mph, he walked four and hit a batter, and the Giants' only run scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch.

Matt Perisho and Armando Benitez completed the three-hitter, which matched a season low for the Giants.

Lowell doubled home three runs in the first and hit a two-run homer, his 23rd, in the fourth.

The Marlins tied a franchise record with their seven-run first against left-hander Wayne Franklin (2-1), making just his second start this season to fill in for injured ace Jason Schmidt.

Padres 3, Mets 1

In New York, David Wells continued his road dominance, taking a shutout into the ninth inning and pitching San Diego past the Mets.

The only hits against the 41-year-old left-hander until the ninth were a pair of first-inning singles to Jeff Keppinger and Gerald Williams. The Mets knocked Wells out of the game with two outs on a double by Williams and Richard Hidalgo's RBI single.

Trevor Hoffman came in and struck out Mike Cameron on three pitches for his 32nd save.

It was the fifth straight road victory for Wells, whose only loss away from home came on April 19 at San Francisco. Wells (8-7) struck out four and walked none and came within one out of his 13th career shutout.

Kris Benson (10-10) was the loser.

Pirates 3, Diamondbacks 1

In Pittsburgh, Oliver Perez pitched eight sharp innings, Daryle Ward homered and the Pirates snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Arizona.

Pirates left fielder Jason Bay reached over the wall to take away a two-run homer from Alex Cintron in the first, and Perez faced few problems after that.

Perez (9-6), who entered the game leading the National League with an average of 11 strikeouts per nine innings, fanned nine and walked two. He struck out five over his last two innings.

Perez gave up five hits and Jose Mesa pitched a perfect ninth for his 34th save in 39 chances.

Edgar Gonzalez (0-7) matched his longest start of the season by working six innings. He allowed seven hits and two runs.

Other results: Dodgers 10, Expos 2; Astros 4, Phillies 2; Reds 4, Cardinals 3, 10 innings; Braves 6, Rockies 5; Cubs 13, Brewers 4

Derek Jeter homered in the first inning for his 1,000th career run, then stole a pair of bases in the ninth and scored on Hideki Matsui's two-out single to lead the New York Yankees over Cleveland 5-4 Tuesday night.

New York, which rallied from a 4-1 deficit, has won two straight after losing six of seven and remained six-and-a-half games ahead of second-place Boston in the AL East. It was the Yankees' 48th come-from-behind win, most in the major leagues.

Cleveland is on its longest skid since losing 10 straight in 1979.

Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4

In Toronto, Doug Mirabelli hit a three-run homer off Miguel Batista (9-10) in the sixth inning, and Mike Timlin pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half to help Boston beat the Blue Jays.

Manny Ramirez drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who have won seven of eight.

Other results: White Sox 9, Tigers 5; Rangers 5, Twins 4; Athletics 6, Orioles 2; Devil Rays 6, Mariners 5; Angels 7, Royals 5.
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