NATIONAL LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, ATLANTA AND HOUSTON
PHOTO: AP
Milwaukee Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo produced a pitching gem to silence the Atlanta Braves and spoil outfielder Nate McLouth’s debut in a 4-0 victory for the visitors on Friday.
The Brewers right-hander gave up just two hits in eight sparkling innings, throwing 110 pitches as he struck out six Braves to post the fifth win in his last six decisions.
“It felt good out there,” Gallardo told reporters. “For the first couple of innings, my command was a little off because I was overthrowing a little bit. As the game went on, I was able to correct those things and keep the hitters off balance.”
PHOTO: AP
Reliever Carlos Villanueva hurled a perfect ninth to seal victory.
Atlanta never threatened to score and newly signed McLouth finished 0-for-4. The center-fielder, acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, was an All-Star last season and is expected to bring added power to the Braves’ lineup.
Facing Gallardo, however, the Braves (26-27) failed to advance a runner past second base and dropped their seventh game in the last 10 contests.
The National League Central-leading Brewers (32-23) scored two runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to give Gallardo a comfortable cushion. Rookie Mat Gamel put Milwaukee on the board with a two-RBI double and finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
“What got me here [is] my ability to hit the ball the other way,” Gamel said. “I’ve been trying to not do too much. You can’t go up there trying to do too much. It’s a game based on failure as it is. You can’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder stayed hot with two hits and one run. Fielder is 13-for-29 in his last eight games.
Atlanta ace Jair Jurrjens lost for the first time in four starts despite eight strikeouts, allowing four runs in seven innings.
ASTROS 9, PIRATES 1
In Houston, Texas, Carlos Lee hit a grand slam to lead the home team to a decisive win over Pittsburgh Pirates.
Mike Hampton (4-4) struck out five batters and allowed five hits in seven innings as he beat Pittsburgh for the ninth straight time, holding the Pirates to one run for the second time in a week.
The 36-year-old left-hander, who signed with the Astros as a free agent in December, won at Minute Maid Park for the first time in eight starts since April 2003, when he pitched for Atlanta. He also had a hit and an RBI for the Astros, who’ve won six of their last eight.
Lee’s 13th career grand slam off Evan Meek capped a seven-run sixth inning for Houston. Humberto Quintero drove in two runs with his first career triple earlier in the inning off Jeff Karstens (2-3).
METS 3, NATIONALS 1, 10 INNS
At Washington, David Wright’s two-run double, his fourth hit of the night, broke a 10th-inning tie as New York edged Washington to snap a three-game losing streak.
Luis Castillo led off the 10th with a single off Joel Hanrahan (0-3) and Carlos Beltran walked. Wright then lined a 2-2 pitch into the gap in right-center to score both runners and match single-game high for hits.
GIANTS 2, MARLINS 1
At Miami, Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer and Barry Zito ended a four-start losing skid as San Francisco held on to beat Florida.
Zito (2-6) went five-plus innings, allowing one run on four hits to get his first win since May 8 at Los Angeles. Brandon Medders and Sergio Romo combined for three scoreless innings of relief before Brian Wilson loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth.
He got Jorge Cantu to ground out for his 14th save in 17 opportunities.
DODGERS 4, PHILLIES 3
At Los Angeles, Andre Ethier hit a two-run double with the bases loaded in the ninth inning — after third baseman Pedro Feliz made a fielding error with two outs — as the Dodgers snapped Philadelphia’s seven-game winning streak.
Brad Lidge (0-3) got his fifth blown save of the season in 18 attempts, after going 41 for 41 last season and 7 for 7 in the postseason to help the Phillies win their second World Series title.
Casey Blake started the two-out rally with a single, James Loney walked and Russell Martin reached when Feliz botched his routing grounder. Ethier then lined Lidge’s next pitch into the right-field corner.
In other NL action, it was:
• Cubs 2, Reds 1
• Rockies 11, Cardinals 4
• Diamondbacks 8, Padres 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, SEATLE
The Twins ended Ichiro Suzuki’s hitting streak at 27 games and took advantage of left fielder Wladimir Balentien’s two 10th-inning miscues in a 2-1 win over Seattle on Friday.
Pinch-hitter Ken Griffey Jr fouled out against Twins closer Joe Nathan before Suzuki — with the crowd of 35,808 chanting, pleading “Eee-chee-ro!” — struck out for the final out, ending his team-record hitting streak.
Francisco Liriano pitched six strong innings to perhaps save his place in the rotation and help the Twins win for the fourth time in five games.
Matt Gurrier (2-0) allowed one hit in one-and-two-third innings, while Nathan finished for his 11th save in 13 chances.
ANGELS 2, TIGERS 1
At Detroit, Michigan, Juan Rivera’s ninth-inning single broke a scoreless deadlock, helping the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 victory over the slumping Tigers.
Torii Hunter and Kendry Morales started the ninth with singles off Fernando Rodney (0-1), and Rivera poked a single through the drawn-in infield for the game’s first run. After Erick Aybar’s sacrifice bunt, Howie Kendrick’s groundout made it 2-0.
Magglio Ordonez hit an RBI single in the ninth for the Tigers.
In other AL action, it was:
• Rangers 5, Red Sox 1
• Blue Jays 9, Royals 3
• Indians 6, White Sox 0
• Athletics 9, Orioles 1
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