Tom Glavine snapped a personal slump, allowing just four hits in seven-plus innings, and Cliff Floyd hit two long home runs as the New York Mets defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 on Friday.
Glavine (2-4) had allowed 19 runs and 29 hits in 14 innings over his last three starts. But against the team with the National League's best record, he was masterful, retiring 12 straight at one point to earn his 264th victory. Only Roger Clemens (330) and Greg Maddux (307) have more among active pitchers.
"It's big to resurrect yourself," Glavine said. "I felt good warming up but I felt good warming up in my last three starts so I didn't pay much attention to that."
Floyd hit his ninth and 10th homers of the season off of Jason Marquis (5-2), who allowed one other hit, a leadoff single by Jose Reyes in the first.
"I didn't know what to do," Floyd said. "I was grabbing my helmet. I never had one. When I was in Florida, there weren't enough fans in the stands to ask for one."
Roberto Hernandez relieved Glavine and pitched out of a jam in the eighth. Braden Looper worked the ninth for his ninth save.
Phillies 12, Reds 2
At Philadelphia, Todd Pratt hit a three-run homer and tied a career high with five RBIs, and Brett Myers tossed seven strong innings to lift Philadelphia.
Pratt, the backup catcher making his eighth start of the season, also tied a career high in hits, going 4-for-4. The Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak and Bobby Abreu's team-record streak of home runs in five straight games was snapped.
Myers (3-2) made his fourth straight start without allowing more than five hits. He gave up five hits, struck out eight and walked three.
He easily outdueled former teammate Eric Milton (2-4), who gave up eight runs, eight hits and allowed his league-high 14th homer of the year.
Brewers 4, Pirates 3
At Pittsburgh, Geoff Jenkins doubled in the decisive run on a two-strike, two-out pitch in the ninth from Pittsburgh closer Jose Mesa, and Milwaukee won for the 11th time in 14 games.
Mesa (0-1), 12-for-12 in save opportunities, was pitching in a non-save situation for the first time this season when Jenkins lined a 1-2 pitch into the right-field corner.
Pittsburgh was coming off a 7-3 road trip that was its best of 10 games or longer in 15 years.
Chris Capuano (3-2) pitched a career-high eight innings, giving up three runs and seven hits, striking out six and walking three. Derrick Turnbow pitched the ninth for his sixth save.
Cubs 6, Nationals 3
At Washington, Aramis Ramirez led off the eighth inning with a tiebreaking homer before two errors allowed Chicago to tack on three unearned runs, and the Cubs won their third straight.
The teams were tied at 2 after seven innings, but Washington's normally reliable defense and bullpen failed it.
Ramirez hit a 2-2 pitch off reliever Luis Ayala (2-2) for his seventh home run, putting Chicago ahead 3-2.
The Nationals loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth. But Todd Wellemeyer, Chicago's sixth pitcher, got Jose Guillen to fly out for his first save since 2003.
Will Ohman (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh for Washington.
Rockies 18, Diamondbacks 3
In Denver, Clint Barmes hit two homers, had a career-high five RBIs for Colorado and made a leaping grab at shortstop to help Jeff Francis beat Arizona and win for the first time in a night game.
Barmes finished 3-for-6, hitting a solo homer in the fourth inning, a three-run shot in fifth and a run-scoring double in Colorado's nine-run seventh. The rookie speared Tony Clark's liner in the fifth, saving at least two runs for Francis (3-1).
Garrett Atkins also homered and Matt Holliday finished 4-for-5 for Colorado, which scored its most runs since getting 20 against Arizona on Sept. 23, 2003. The Rockies had a season-high 19 hits, 11 for extra bases.
Arizona starter Brad Halsey (2-2) wasn't quite as effective in his first career start at the hitter-friendly field. He allowed eight runs -- four earned -- eight hits and walked four in 4 2-3 innings.
Padres 3, Marlins 2
In San Diego, Ramon Hernandez doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and San Diego beat Josh Beckett and Florida for the Padres' 11th win in 14 games.
Adam Eaton (5-1) won his third straight start for the Padres, who beat the Marlins for just the fifth time in 19 games since 2002. Ryan Klesko had three hits and an RBI.
Beckett (5-3) struck out nine in 6 2-3 innings, but lost for the third time on the road this season. He also lost to the Padres for the first time in four career starts.
Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances this season and the 403rd of his career.
Dodgers 7, Braves 4
In Los Angeles, Milton Bradley answered Adam LaRoche's eighth-inning grand slam with one of his own in the bottom half, and Los Angeles beat Atlanta to win a matchup of first-place teams.
Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver breezed through the first six innings on 79 pitches, taking a three-hitter and a 2-0 lead into the eighth. But LaRoche homered on Weaver's 119th and final pitch.
Bradley hit his second home run of the game off Chris Reitsma (1-1). It was Bradley's 10th of the season and his third career slam. His five RBIs tied a career high.
Giovanni Carrara (4-0) got the victory, striking out Andruw Jones, to end the eighth. Yhency Brazoban, in his final outing as closer before Eric Gagne returns from the disabled list on Saturday, got three outs for his 11th save in 12 attempts.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at