NATIONAL LEAGUE
Carlos Zambrano outpitched fellow ace Ben Sheets again, and Chicago scored five runs in the sixth to beat the Brewers 7-1 on Tuesday, ensuring the Cubs will leave Milwaukee leading the National League Central.
Zambrano (12-4) threw eight scoreless innings, striking out a season-high nine while scattering five hits and two walks to lift the Cubs to their sixth win in the last eight games in Milwaukee.
In a much-hyped series between the NL’s top teams, Chicago pushed its division lead to three games and left the Brewers, losers of four of their last five, empty after pitching aces CC Sabathia and Sheets.
Chicago got to Sheets (10-4) with seven straight hits to start the sixth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate to break open a 1-0 game.
Derrek Lee singled, Aramis Ramirez, who had four hits, doubled and Kosuke Fukudome tripled.
METS 4, MARLINS 1
At Miami, Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer and New York’s Oliver Perez pitched six innings for his first victory in a month.
Florida, which had six hits, fell two games behind the NL East leaders.
The Mets were nursing a one-run lead in the eighth when cleanup hitter Delgado faked a bunt, then hit his 23rd homer three pitches later. Nick Evans had two hits and scored New York’s first two runs.
Perez (7-6), who left with a 2-1 lead, earned his first victory since June 29. He allowed five hits and walked three but shut out Florida over his final 5 1-3 innings.
Scott Olsen (6-6) gave up six hits and two runs in 5 2-3 innings.
PHILLIES 2, NATIONALS 1
At Washington, Brett Myers won for only the second time in 15 outings for Philadelphia and Chase Utley backed him with a two-run homer to beat Washington.
It was Myers’ second start since being demoted to the minors for four appearances to try to revive his confidence and shake a season-long funk. The right-hander threw seven-plus innings and didn’t allow an earned run, improving to 4-9.
Utley , provided all the offense Philadelphia needed by driving a 1-0 pitch from Collin Balester (1-3) over the wall in right after Jimmy Rollins singled in the third.
Utley’s 26th homer was his first since July 7, snapping a 14-game drought.
CARDINALS 8, BRAVES 3
At Atlanta, Albert Pujols homered to tie the game and scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error before St. Louis broke it open with a five-run ninth against Atlanta.
Pujols hit a towering drive leading off the sixth, tying the score at 2 with his 21st homer. He started the eighth with a double off Rafael Soriano (0-1). After Ryan Ludwick lined out, Pujols took off for third on a surprise stolen base attempt.
Corky Miller’s throw sailed into left field, allowing Pujols to score and give the win to Ryan Franklin (4-4). The Cardinals made it a laugher in the ninth off Mike Gonzalez, though only one of the five runs he surrendered in two-thirds of an inning was earned.
Just before the game, the Braves traded slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels.
PIRATES 6, ROCKIES 4
At Pittsburgh, Luis Rivas had three hits, three RBIs and finished a home run short of the cycle as Pittsburgh rallied for a second straight game to beat Colorado.
Nate McLouth and Jason Bay both had two hits for the Pirates, who came back from a 4-0 deficit.
Jason Davis (1-0), making his first appearance since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, pitched a scoreless sixth and Tyler Yates earned his first save of the season.
Brad Hawpe had three hits and two runs, and Ian Stewart had two hits and two RBIs for the Rockies.
ASTROS 6, REDS 2
At Houston, Carlos Lee hit his 12th career grand slam and Brian Moehler came within one out of a complete game for Houston.
Moehler (6-4) allowed seven hits and struck out three in 8 2-3 innings, his longest outing of the season. Jeff Keppinger doubled and scored in the ninth for Cincinnati.
Wesley Wright relieved with two on and two outs and struck out Joey Votto for his first save.
Miguel Tejada added a solo homer and Hunter Pence had an RBI triple for the Astros, who have won their last eight games against the Reds. The Astros have won three straight overall and four of five.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, PADRES 0
At San Diego, Doug Davis gave up a single with two outs in the seventh to break up his bid for a perfect game in Arizona’s win over San Diego.
The Padres had not come close to reaching base against Davis through 6 2-3 innings before Brian Giles hit a line drive to center field on a 2-2 pitch.
Davis (4-5), who underwent surgery for cancer earlier this season, combined with two relievers on a two-hitter for the NL-West leading Diamondbacks.
The Padres struck out eight times, hit into 10 groundouts and popped up twice against Davis, who left with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth.
Romero drove in two runs in Arizona’s three-run sixth off Clay Hensley (1-2).
DODGERS 2, GIANTS 0
At Los Angeles, Jason Johnson pitched six sharp innings in his first major league start in nearly two years and James Loney singled in the go-ahead run as Los Angeles blanked San Francisco.
Johnson (1-0), who spent most of the season in Triple-A, scattered five hits while walking none and striking out three before being relieved by Park Chan-ho to start the seventh. The right-hander, who has pitched for eight major league teams starting in 1997, was making his first start since Aug. 18, 2006, when he pitched for Boston.
The victory was his first since May 28, 2006, when he was pitching for Cleveland.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, BOSTON
John Lackey came within two outs of a no-hitter, pitching Los Angeles past Boston 6-2 on Tuesday on a big day for the American League West leaders.
Hours after the Angels acquired slugger Mark Teixeira in a trade with Atlanta, Lackey didn’t allow a hit until Dustin Pedroia grounded a sharp single through the left side with one out in the ninth.
Kevin Youkilis followed with a home run to spoil the shutout bid, but Lackey finished the two-hitter to help the Angels (66-40) improve on what was already the best record in baseball.
The right-hander nearly became the first visiting pitcher in 50 years to toss a no-hitter at Fenway, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Lackey (9-2) struck out four and walked two in his 12th career complete game and second this year. He missed the first six weeks of the season with a strained triceps.
Garret Anderson hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Angels a 4-0 lead.
ORIOLES 7, YANKEES 6
At New York, Daniel Cabrera pitched into the eighth inning before being ejected, and Aubrey Huff had four RBIs for Baltimore, which beat New York for its third straight win.
The Yankees scored three runs in the ninth to pull within one but George Sherrill struck out Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit with a runner on second to end the game.
In other games, it was:
• Rays 3, Blue Jays 0
• Tigers 8, Indians 5
• Twins 6, White Sox 5
• Rangers 11, Mariners 10
• Royals 5, Athletics 2
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