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Valentin's RBI helps Mets edge Cubs

Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior delivers against the New York Mets during the first inning of their game at Shea Stadium on Wednesday in New York. PHOTO: AP

National League

Jose Valentin hit an RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning, and the New York Mets edged the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Wednesday to snap a three-game skid.

Mark Prior threw 5 2/3 hitless innings before departing after 103 pitches. He matched zeros with Mets rookie John Maine, who tossed seven innings of three-hit ball.

Prior and reliever Will Ohman held the Mets without a hit for six innings before Valentin blooped a one-out single off Roberto Novoa in the seventh.

Carlos Beltran singled with two outs in the 10th off ex-Met Glendon Rusch (3-8), and Carlos Delgado followed with a cue-shot double past third. After David Wright was intentionally walked to load the bases, Valentin lined a 1-2 pitch to center.

Pirates 8, Brewers 4

At Milwaukee, Jason Bay homered to spark a three-run, fifth-inning rally and Pittsburgh beat All-Star Chris Capuano and Milwaukee.

Capuano (10-6) gave up six runs and 11 hits in five innings and threw two wild pitches. He has lost two straight decisions after winning the previous five.

The Oakland Athletics' Frank Thomas hits a solo home run off Boston's Kyle Snyder in the fourth inning of their baseball game on Wednesday in Oakland, California. PHOTO: AP

Cardinals 6, Rockies 1

At Denver, Jeff Suppan delivered another masterful outing against Colorado, going six innings and giving up five hits, and Aaron Miles hit his first home run of the season in St. Louis' win.

Padres 10, Dodgers 3

At Los Angeles, Jake Peavy homered, doubled, drove in four runs, and won his first game in almost two months, leading San Diego over slumping Los Angeles.

Peavy (5-10) threw 129 pitches over seven innings on another oppressively hot day at Dodger Stadium, allowing two runs and five hits. The right-hander came in 0-5 with a 6.61 ERA in eight starts since beating St. Louis 10-8 on May 28.

Phillies 6, Diamondbacks 4

At Philadelphia, Chase Utley hit a three-run homer to extend his hitting streak to 26 games and David Dellucci hit a solo shot to help Philadelphia beat Arizona.

Utley's 19th homer of the season in the second inning tied him for the fourth-longest hitting streak in Phillies history and the longest in the majors this season. Utley hit a 1-2 pitch off starter Brandon Webb (11-4).

Braves 6, Marlins 5

At Atlanta, Andruw Jones, who missed three games with a sore back, led off the eighth inning with a tying homer and Adam LaRoche followed with a two-out shot that gave Atlanta a victory over Florida.

Nationals 4, Giants 3

At Washington, Austin Kearns' bases-loaded sacrifice fly off San Francisco closer Armando Benitez capped a two-run rally in the ninth inning and lifted Washington to its fifth consecutive victory.

Benitez (4-2) came on to start the ninth with a 3-2 lead. But the right-hander walked leadoff batter Robert Fick, and after striking out Alfonso Soriano, gave up an infield single to Felipe Lopez. Ryan Zimmerman's RBI single tied the game.

Astros 8, Reds 5

At Houston, Lance Berkman homered twice and Craig Biggio added a solo shot as Houston rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Cincinnati.

Berkman's first homer, a three-run shot, capped a six-run fifth inning off Bronson Arroyo (9-7). Berkman added a solo homer in the seventh for his fourth multihomer game of the season.

American League

Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer each hit two-run homers, and the surging Minnesota Twins beat plummeting Chicago 7-4 to complete a three-game sweep and move into a second-place tie with the White Sox.

Tigers 4, Indians 1

At Cleveland, rookie Justin Verlander outpitched C.C. Sabathia, and the Detroit kept up its domination of the AL Central.

Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run double in the sixth inning to break up the scoreless pitcher's duel.

Angels 15, Devil Rays 6

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Juan Rivera hit a pair of two-run doubles, including one during a 10-run second inning, and Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay.

Maicer Izturis had two hits and drove in three runs in the second, when the Angels took a 12-4 lead. The 10 runs and nine hits in the inning were season highs for Los Angeles.

Athletics 5, Red Sox 1

At Oakland, California, Frank Thomas homered twice and drove in four runs to help Dan Haren win for the first time in six weeks, and Oakland avoided a three-game sweep by beating Boston.

Thomas hit a solo homer in the fourth and a three-run shot in the fifth, both off Kyle Snyder, for his 21st and 22nd of the year. It marked the second two-homer game this season for the Big Hurt and 28th of his career.

Orioles 4, Royals 3

At Kansas City, Missouri, Adam Loewen earned his first major league victory and Jeff Conine homered in his first four-hit game of the season as Baltimore defeated Kansas City.

Yankees 8, Rangers 7

At Arlington, Texas, Jason Giambi hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and New York beat Texas to complete another three-game sweep.

After the Rangers scored four times in the eighth to go ahead 7-6, Derek Jeter led off the ninth with a single up the middle against closer Akinori Otsuka (2-4). Giambi followed with his 29th homer, a towering shot that landed in the seats in right.
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