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Dodgers move in on Diamondbacks

New York Mets catcher Ramon Castro grabs his leg after being bowled over by the Houston Astros’ Mark Loretta, No. 8, and Hunter Pence, who tied up the baseball game in the ninth inning on Saturday, in Houston. Castro left the game limping. The Astros went on to win 5-4 in 10 innings. PHOTO: AP

NATIONAL LEAGUE

The Los Angeles Dodgers closed within two games of Arizona in the National League West by beating the Diamondbacks 4-2 on Saturday.

New Dodger acquisitions Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake hit their first home runs as National Leaguers to complement a strong pitching effort by Hiroki Kuroda.

Kuroda allowed just one run in 7 1-3 innings, striking out six and walking none — a marked contrast to recent form that saw him give up 20 earned runs in 18-and-a-third innings.

Ramirez, playing his second game since the Dodgers obtained him from Boston on Thursday, drove the first pitch he saw deep into the seats in left-center in the first inning for a 2-0 lead.

Phillies 2, Cardinals 1

In St. Louis, pitcher Joe Blanton won his first game since joining Philadelphia, steering the in-form Phillies past St. Louis.

The former Oakland pitcher gave up only four hits and struck out five in seven innings.

The NL East-leading Philadelphia needed just two solo homers to get the victory.

Oakland Athletics center fielder Carlos Gonzalez makes a diving catch on a ball hit by the Boston Red Sox’s Jason Varitek during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

The Phillies have homered in 11 straight games, and have won six of seven.

Greg Dobbs, who leads the majors with 20 pinch hits, hit his fourth homer of the season on the first pitch of the third inning.

In the fourth, Ryan Howard hit his 31st for his major league leading 96th RBI.

Marlins 5, Rockies 3

In Miami, pitcher Ricky Nolasco struck out a career-high 13 batters to guide Florida over Colorado.

Nolasco allowed just four hits over eight innings and did not walk a batter to earn his first win in five appearances.

Jeff Baker finished with three RBIs. His two-run homer in the second inning put Florida ahead, and he drove in another run in the third.

Brewers 4, Braves 2

In Atlanta, Milwaukee equaled a club record of nine straight road wins by beating Atlanta.

C.C. Sabathia pitched deep into the game in another terrific outing for the Brewers, who stayed four games off NL Central leader Chicago.

Sabathia struck out nine in 8 1-3 innings, allowing only two runs. He has a 1.88 ERA in six starts with Milwaukee, which acquired him from Cleveland last month.

Prince Fielder led off the seventh inning with his 24th homer of the season, tying the game 1-1. Milwaukee added a further run in the seventh before Fielder hit a two-run homer in the eighth.

Cubs 5, Pirates 1

In Chicago, the home team won its sixth game in seven by beating Pittsburgh.

Reed Johnson had three hits and Geovany Soto drove in two runs for the NL Central-leading Cubs.

Giants 2, Padres 0

In San Diego, Barry Zito pitched a season-high eight innings to shut down San Diego and steer San Francisco to a narrow victory.

Zito, a former Cy Young award winner who has the most losses in the majors this year after a dire start to the season, gave up only three hits in a pitching duel against San Diego ace Jake Peavy. Each pitcher allowed just two hits through the first six innings.

The game was scoreless until the seventh when the Giants broke through.

Astros 5, Mets 4, 10 innings

In Houston, Lance Berkman sprinted to home plate on a lined sacrifice fly to give Houston a dramatic win over New York.

The Astros won after leveling the game with a memorable play in the bottom of the ninth.

New York was leading 4-2 when Houston loaded the bases with one out.

A lined single to left field brought home two runners at one, with Mark Loretta right on the heels of Hunter Pence.

Both crashed into the New York catcher in a play at the plate to score and put the Mets backstop out of the game with an ankle injury.

Nationals 10, Reds 6

In Washington, infielder Pete Orr picked up his first RBIs in more than 15 months as Washington beat Cincinnati.

Orr slapped a pinch-hit, two-run single into left field in the seventh inning to put Washington ahead to stay.

His single capped a four-run inning and gave the Nationals something they haven’t had since June — consecutive wins at home.

Orr has only 20 RBIs in 399 career at-bats.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Results from Saturday’s games:

• KANSAS CITY 9, WHITE SOX 7

• CLEVELAND 5, MINNESOTA 1

• BOSTON 12, OAKLAND 2

• NY YANKEES 8, LA ANGELS 2

• TAMPA BAY 9, DETROIT 3

• TORONTO 6, TEXAS 4

• BALTIMORE 3, SEATTLE 1