The Cubs own the best record in the majors and it sure looks as if they're the top team in their own town, too.
Jim Edmonds homered twice, Mike Fontenot went deep and Aramis Ramirez added a three-run shot, all during a nine-run fourth inning on Saturday that helped the Cubs beat the White Sox 11-7 to win for the second straight day in the meeting of first-place teams.
The Cubs hit back-to-back homers twice in the fourth inning — the second straight day they’ve hit consecutive homers against their city rivals — and finished with 15 hits. They’ve now won 13 straight at Wrigley Field, where they are 31-8 this season.
PHOTO: AP
The White Sox led 4-1 after two-run homers from Jermaine Dye and DeWayne Wise, before the Cubs jumped all over Jose Contreras (6-6), combining eight hits, including the four homers, into their biggest inning of the season.
The outburst made it easy for Jason Marquis (6-3) to win his fourth straight start and fifth straight decision. He gave up eight hits and five runs in seven innings and also collected two hits.
Rockies 7, Mets 1
At Denver, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe homered on Pedro Martinez’s first two pitches in the fifth inning, touching off a six-run burst that led the Rockies over New York.
Martinez (2-1) cruised through the first four innings before the Rockies broke loose.
Ubaldo Jimenez (2-7) pitched eight strong innings for his first win in more than two months. He limited the Mets to one run and two hits — he also singled twice and scored a run.
Martinez lasted just 4 1-3 innings, his shortest outing since coming off the disabled list June 3. He’d struck out five before Atkins homered over the left-field wall and Hawpe hit a drive to right.
Cardinals 9, Red Sox 3
At Boston, Troy Glaus hit a grand slam and St. Louis rocked Daisuke Matsuzaka in his return from the disabled list.
On the DL since May 30 because of a mild strain in his rotator cuff, Matsuzaka (8-1) was tagged for seven runs in one-plus inning.
It was shortest outing of his brief major league career.
Mitchell Boggs (2-0) pitched effectively into the sixth inning in his third big league start. Aaron Miles and Rick Ankiel also homered for St. Louis.
The Cardinals had scored just four runs in their previous three games before defeating Boston 5-4 on Friday night.
J.D. Drew homered for the Red Sox, who lost for just the fourth time in 24 home games.
Indians 7, Dodgers 2, 11 innings
At Los Angeles, pitcher C.C. Sabathia hit a tape-measure home run and struck out 10, highlighting Cleveland’s win over the Dodgers.
Jamey Carroll opened a six-run 11th with a single and capped the burst with a sacrifice fly.
Sabathia launched a home run estimated at 440 feet and improved to 12-for-40 (.300) lifetime as a hitter. He has two career homers and seven RBIs. He allowed one run and five hits over seven innings, and improved his league-leading strikeout total to 107.
Cory Wade (0-1) took the loss.
Masahide Kobayashi (4-3) pitched a perfect 10th inning for the victory and Scott Elarton finished up, allowing an RBI double by James Loney.
Angels 6, Phillies 2
At Philadelphia, Erick Aybar hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning and Vladimir Guerrero connected twice to back another strong performance by Joe Saunders, and Los Angeles beat Philadelphia.
Saunders (11-3) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings.
He had 15 career victories entering this season, but is now tied with Arizona’s Brandon Webb for most wins in the majors.
The left-hander hadn’t allowed a runner past first base until running into trouble with two outs in the seventh. But the Angels quickly answered off Brett Myers (3-9).
Chone Figgins singled with two outs and Aybar followed with a drive to right field for his third career homer in 393 at-bats.
The Angels have won the first two games in this interleague matchup of division leaders. Since sweeping a three-game series in Atlanta earlier this month, the Phillies are 3-8, including their first four-game losing streak of the season.
Reds 6, Yankees 0
At New York, Edwin Encarnacion broke up an unlikely pitchers’ duel with a two-run single in the seventh inning and Cincinnati beat New York.
Encarnacion’s two-out hit off Dan Giese (1-2) gave Cincinnati the lead and Corey Patterson followed with a drive to right off Jose Veras for his 100th career homer. Brandon Phillips tacked on a two-run single in the eighth.
Daryl Thompson worked five innings in his major league debut for Cincinnati, which has won the first two games in its first trip to the Bronx since it swept New York in the 1976 World Series.
Thompson and Giese locked up in the first matchup of pitchers making their first major league start at Yankee Stadium since Boston’s Tony Welzer faced New York’s Myles Thompson on April 22, 1926, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Rays 4, Astros 3
At St. Petersburg, Florida, pinch-hitter Gabe Gross doubled with the bases loaded, driving in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Tampa Bay its sixth win in eight games, pulling the Rays within a half-game of Boston in the AL East.
With Houston leading 3-2 in the ninth, Astros manager Cecil Cooper turned to Doug Brocail (2-3) instead of calling on closer Jose Valverde to finish the game. It turned out to be the wrong move; Brocail failed to record an out.
Brewers 3, Orioles 2
At Milwaukee, Corey Hart hit a two-run homer, Seth McClung continued his superb June and Milwaukee snapped Baltimore’s four-game winning streak.
The Brewers won for the fifth time in six games overall and for the 11th time in their last 14 home games.
McClung (5-3), a one-time reliever, struck out six and improved to 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA this month. He gave up two runs and three hits with five walks in 6 2-3 innings, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters.
Daniel Cabrera (5-3), who had struggled with 17 walks over his previous five starts, struck out a season-high eight in six innings and didn’t allow a free pass until the fifth. He gave up three runs and seven hits with three walks in all.
Pirates 6, Blue Jays 3
At Pittsburgh, Jason Bay, Raul Chavez and Jose Bautista each hit two-run homers, helping Pittsburgh extend Toronto’s season-high losing streak to seven games.
In other games it was:
• Twins 6, Diamondbacks 1
• Royals 5, Giants 3
• Rangers 13, Nationals 3
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