NATIONAL LEAGUE
A three-run homer in the ninth inning lifted the Chicago Cubs to a 6-5 win over the Florida Marlins on Friday, giving the National League’s leading team a ninth straight road victory.
PHOTO: AP
Pinch hitter Daryle Ward drove a pitch over the wall in right field for his third home run of the season and 11th career pinch-hit homer.
The Cubs are unbeaten on the road since July 22. They pushed their lead in the NL Central to 5.5 games over Milwaukee. The Marlins fell 3.5 games off the pace of NL East leader New York.
DODGERS 5, BREWERS 3
In Los Angeles, the home team won its fifth straight by sinking Milwaukee.
The result kept the Dodgers tied atop the NL West with Arizona, while the Brewers fell 5.5 games behind Chicago in the Central, and only two games ahead of St. Louis in the wildcard race.
Los Angeles starting pitcher Chad Billingsley settled down after giving up a two-run homer in the opening inning, as that was one of only two hits he conceded in seven innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 12, ASTROS 2
In Houston, Arizona crushed Houston to end the Astros’ eight-game winning streak.
Arizona starting pitcher Brandon Webb struck out six batters in eight sharp innings, allowing four hits and retiring 16 Astros on groundouts to bring up his seventh straight win and fifth in a row against Houston.
PHILLIES 1, PADRES 0
In San Diego, Philadephia’s Jamie Moyer got the better of fellow veteran Greg Maddux to down San Diego in a pitching duel.
The 45-year-old Moyer allowed just one runner to reach third base, while the 42-year-old Maddux allowed just one run.
In other games it was:
• Mets 2, Pirates 1
• Giants 5, Braves 1
• Cardinals 5, Reds 3
• Rockies 4, Nationals 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Matt Garza took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 7-0 in the American League on Friday.
A Tampa Bay lineup missing injured stars Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford hit four home runs in four-and-two-third innings off Kevin Millwood (6-7).
Garza (10-7) struck out nine and walked two while throwing 78 of 119 pitches for strikes in his third complete game and joining Andy Sonnanstine and James Shields as 10-game winners for Tampa Bay.
INDIANS 3, ANGELS 2
At Cleveland, Cliff Lee became the AL’s first 17-game winner by pitching his third complete game of the season, leading Cleveland over Los Angeles.
In other games it was:
• Twins 9, Mariners 3
• Orioles 11, Tigers 2
• Royals 4, Yankees 3
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