Josh Johnson pitched six scoreless innings and Jeremy Hermida drove in four runs as the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-2 Tuesday in a matchup of the two top teams in the National League East.
The Marlins, who have by far the smallest payroll in the majors, closed within 1 1/2 games of first-place Philadelphia. The New York Mets are two games behind.
PHOTO: AP
Johnson (2-0) allowed five hits and overcame four walks in his fifth start since returning from reconstructive elbow surgery in August last year. The Marlins improved to 5-0 in his starts this year.
Jamie Moyer (10-7) fell to 10-1 against the Marlins. The 45-year-old left-hander uncharacteristically struggled with his control and gave up two runs and six hits in five innings. He walked three and hit two batters.
Shane Victorino hit a two-out, two-run homer off Renyel Pinto to cut the deficit in half in the seventh.
BREWERS 8, REDS 1
At Cincinnati, Prince Fielder made amends by apologizing, then hit a two-run homer that helped Milwaukee beat Cincinnati and quickly move beyond their ugly altercation in the dugout.
The Brewers were on their best behavior a day after Fielder shoved pitcher Manny Parra in the dugout during a series-opening loss. Fielder apologized before the game on Tuesday, then helped Milwaukee’s uptight offense relax by hitting his sixth homer in his last nine games.
Right-hander Dave Bush (6-9) allowed only three hits in seven innings, retiring 17 consecutive batters at one point.
Since they were tied with the Cubs for first place in the NL Central on July 26, the Brewers have lost seven of 10. The victory on Tuesday left Milwaukee five games behind the Cubs, but still leading the NL wild-card standings.
CUBS 11, ASTROS 7
At Chicago, Alfonso Soriano hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning as Chicago rallied after blowing a five-run lead to Houston.
Soriano’s 20th homer highlighted a five-run burst and sent the NL Central-leading Cubs to their eighth win in 10 games.
The Cubs also welcomed back Kerry Wood. The All-Star closer pitched a scoreless eighth after missing three weeks with a blister on his right index finger.
Soriano drove in four runs. The Astros, who came back from a 6-1 deficit to take the lead, had their four-game winning streak stopped. Chris Sampson (5-4) took the loss.
METS 6, PADRES 5
At New York, Fernando Tatis homered twice and drove in four runs, giving New York’s mix-and-match bullpen enough breathing room to close out San Diego without injured Billy Wagner.
Mike Pelfrey (10-7) pitched effectively into the seventh inning to help the Mets end a four-game skid, hours after they put Wagner on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left forearm.
Scott Schoeneweis became the first Mets reliever besides Wagner to earn a save this season when he retired Brian Giles on his only pitch.
Kevin Kouzmanoff, Adrian Gonzalez and Jody Gerut homered for the Padres. Gerut’s three-run drive off Aaron Heilman cut it to 6-5 in the ninth.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, PIRATES 1
At Phoenix, Brandon Webb became the first 16-game winner in the major leagues, tossing a nine-hitter for his third complete game for Arizona.
Webb (16-4) carried a shutout into the ninth but surrendered a leadoff double to Freddie Sanchez and an RBI single to Doug Mientkiewicz. The Pirates put runners on second and third with one out before Webb struck out Brandon Moss and Jason Michaels to finish the game in an efficient 1 hour, 55 minutes.
Webb had his signature sinker working most of the night, getting 21 outs on grounders in his third straight win. He struck out four and walked none in his 15th career complete game.
ROCKIES 8, NATIONALS 2
At Denver, Brad Hawpe’s bases-loaded, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth sparked a six-run rally as Colorado rallied to beat Washington.
Manny Corpas (2-3) pitched one inning in relief of Jorge De La Rosa, who struck out six in seven innings, and Ian Stewart hit his fifth home run of the season for the Rockies.
Luis Ayala (1-7) pitched one-third of an inning and took the loss for the Nationals, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
The Rockies trailed 2-0 when pinch-hitter Stewart hit a two-run homer in the seventh, and they broke open the game in the eighth thanks to four walks and two hit batters by the Washington bullpen.
The Rockies sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning and had only three hits.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Jason Bay had four hits and two RBIs and Josh Beckett pitched effectively into the seventh inning to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Tuesday.
Beckett, 0-3 with a 5.31 earned run average while allowing 29 hits in 20 1-3 innings in his previous three starts, held the Royals to four hits and two runs in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Beckett (10-8) gave up an RBI double to Mark Teahen in the first, and after Alex Gordon led off the second with a single, Beckett retired 16 of the next 17 he faced. He improved to 3-0 in five career starts against Kansas City.
The Red Sox remained three games behind Tampa Bay in the American League East.
RAYS 8, INDIANS 4
At St. Petersburg, Florida, Evan Longoria, Dioner Navarro and Cliff Floyd homered to help Tampa Bay beat Cleveland.
Longoria’s two-run drive in Tampa Bay’s four-run seventh was his 22nd of the season, setting a team record for a rookie. Longoria hit two long drives that landed in foul territory then took a pitch before connecting against Rafael Betancourt.
The Rays’ Edwin Jackson (8-7) won his third consecutive start, giving up three runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.
Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run homer in the third for Cleveland.
RANGERS 8, YANKEES 6
At Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton hit his 27th homer and rookie Matt Harrison pitched into the seventh inning as Texas hung on to beat New York.
The Yankees lost their second straight to the Rangers, have dropped seven of 10 and fell 6 1/2 games behind American League East leading Tampa Bay.
In other games, it was:
• Blue Jays 4, Athletics 3
• Orioles 3, Angels 0
• Mariners 8, Twins 7
• Chicago 10, Tigers 8, 14 innings
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