Sat, Jul 28, 2007 - Page 19 News List

Chase Utley breaks hand as Nationals defeat Phillies

AP , PHILADELPHIAAP, CHICAGO

Former Cleveland Indians manager and Hall of Fame player Frank Robinson throws out the first pitch before the baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday.

PHOTO: AP

Jesus Flores hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting the Washington Nationals 7-6 over the Philadelphia Phillies, who also lost All-Star second baseman Chase Utley to a broken hand on Thursday.

Ryan Howard homered and Pat Burrell had three hits and two RBIs for the Phillies, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.

Ryan Zimmerman grounded to third leading off the eighth but reached on a throwing error by Wes Helms. Jose Mesa (0-2), pitching in his 1,000th major league game, walked Austin Kearns with one out and Flores connected with two outs.

Jon Rauch (6-2) pitched two scoreless innings, and Chad Cordero finished for his 20th save in 27 chances.

Utley was hit in the fifth inning by John Lannan, who was making his major league debut. Utley finished the game, going 2-for-4, but X-rays afterward showed he broke a bone in the hand.

Reds 6, Brewers 5

At Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 588th homer, and Cincinnati rallied against All-Star closer Francisco Cordero.

After Scott Hatteberg's single off Cordero (0-3) tied it in the ninth, Javier Valentin's single in the 10th gave the Reds three victories in their four-game series against fading National League Central-leading Milwaukee.

Jared Burton (2-1) got the win after the NL's worst bullpen blew a lead of its own.

Since they opened an 8.5-game lead on June 23, the Brewers have gone 13-15 and let the Chicago Cubs get back into the race. Their lineup has been the main problem, hitting an NL-low .225 since the All-Star break.

Pirates 8, Mets 4

At New York, Josh Phelps capped a five-run sixth inning with a two-run homer, then added an RBI double in the seventh to help Pittsburgh win for just the second time in 12 games since the All-Star break.

Left-hander Paul Maholm (7-12) won for the third time in four starts, limiting New York to three runs and six hits over six-plus innings.

Astros 7, Padres 1

At Houston, Carlos Lee, Morgan Ensberg and Craig Biggio hit home runs, and Wandy Rodriguez allowed one run in seven innings to send Houston to its fifth win in seven games.

It was Biggio's second home run in three games since announcing his retirement.

Rodriguez (7-9) allowed a run and five hits to improve to 6-2 with a 1.76 ERA at home. The left-hander is 1-7 with a 7.43 ERA on the road.

Cardinals 11, Cubs 1

At St. Louis, Albert Pujols snapped an 0-for-11 slump with a three-run homer, Chris Duncan added a grand slam and St. Louis routed Chicago.

Pujols drove in five runs, tying his season high.

Chicago starter Jason Marquis (7-6) allowed six runs in five innings. He walked four and struck out just one. Marquis had beaten his former teammates in two earlier starts this season.

Dodgers 5, Rockies 4

At Denver, Brad Penny scattered five hits over six innings before leaving with an abdominal cramp and Rafael Furcal hit a two-run homer for Los Angeles.

Penny (13-1) was taken out of the game after hurting himself as he beat out an infield single in the seventh inning. He hunched over after he reached first base and the trainers sprinted out to examine him. Penny was led off the field.

Takashi Saito pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances, striking out Matt Holliday with a runner on to end it. Saito had missed the previous seven games because of a sore right shoulder.

Diamondbacks 7, Marlins 4

At Phoenix, Eric Byrnes hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Arizona a four-game sweep of Florida.

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