NATIONAL LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
PHOTO: AP
A bases-loaded single at the bottom of the ninth inning from Omar Infante and a game to forget for Phillies closer Brad Lidge gave the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 win over Philadelphia on Saturday.
Infante’s game-winner capped a two-run rally off Lidge (0-5), who picked up his eighth blown save of the year and second in five days, as the third-placed Braves climbed to within five games of the Phillies in the National League East.
Lidge committed two errors on one play to set up the rally, including a wild throw past first base into the outfield that allowed Anderson to scamper home with the tying run and Diaz to go to third.
He then intentionally walked Adam LaRoche and pinch-hitter Greg Norton to load the bases, but after striking out Ryan Church, Infante followed with his single to left field.
“I feel as good as I have in two years,” Lidge told reporters. “I don’t know what else to do, except keep getting the ball and throwing it. Eventually, they’re going to hit it at somebody, or we’re going to get the right breaks or I’m not going to make an error.”
Lidge converted all 41 save opportunities last season and then all seven in the post-season to help the Phillies win the World Series. He has a 7.27 ERA this year and remains frustrated at his inability to close out games this season.
“It’s puzzling,” Lidge said. “It doesn’t mean that it’s crazy, because this is baseball. The ball’s not bouncing the right way. Last year, it bounced the right way every time.”
Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said he still had faith in the struggling pitcher.
“We’ve got confidence in him, he’s still our closer,” Manuel said. “At the same time, we definitely want to win games, of course.”
Chipper Jones had two hits for the Braves and Brian McCann belted a two-run homer. Peter Moylan (5-2) got the win with a perfect ninth inning.
“You have got to play good in order to beat them,” Jones said. “They don’t give you games. So we feel fortunate about this one.”
Jayson Werth hit his 24th home run of the season for the Phillies, matching his career best.
D’BACKS 4, DODGERS 3, 10 INNS
In Phoenix, Arizona, Gerardo Parra’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th gave Arizona victory over a stumbling Los Angeles.
The Dodgers gave up back-to-back homers in the ninth inning to allow the Diamondbacks to draw level and force extra innings.
Los Angeles pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was hit in the head by a line drive in the sixth inning. He was carted off on a stretcher and taken to hospital for tests.
The win gave Arizona consecutive home series victories for the first time this season.
GIANTS 5, METS 4, 10 INNS
In New York, a pitching duel turned ugly when New York slugger David Wright was hit in the head by a pitch before San Francisco won in extra innings.
Giants pitcher Matt Cain and fellow All-Star Johan Santana of New York were locked in a scoreless matchup until the fourth inning, when Cain nailed Wright with a 151kph fastball. Wright was taken to hospital and treated for concussion.
Seemingly rattled, Cain gave up a run before settling down and pitching into the eighth, when the Mets tied it at 4-4.
San Francisco’s Bengie Molina, who’d been hit by Santana in retaliation, led off the 10th with a homer and the Giants hung on for a win that moved them within a game of the wild card berth.
In other NL games it was:
• Cardinals 7, Padres 4
• Brewers 6, Astros 2
• Cubs 3, Pirates 1
• Nationals 10, Reds 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, SEATTLE
Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer to spark New York’s four-run second inning as the surging Yankees beat the sloppy Seattle Mariners 5-2 in the American League on Saturday.
New York has won 12 of 13 games to open a seven-and-a-half game lead atop the AL East division and an apparently certain playoff berth after last year’s shock absence.
The Yankees’ big second inning was aided by a miscommunication between Seattle outfielders Franklin Gutierrez and Ichiro Suzuki, leaving the Mariners six-and-a-half games outside the wild card spot.
RANGERS 7, RED SOX 2
In Arlington, Texas, Julio Borbon had four hits and four of the Rangers’ record eight stolen bases as the hosts cut Boston’s wild card lead to just half a game.
The eight stolen bases matched the most in the majors this season. Boston also allowed eight against Tampa Bay in May.
Derek Holland built on the form that saw him throw a shutout on Aug. 9 against the Angels. He allowed just two runs in six-and-two-third innings.
ANGELS 5, ORIOLES 1
In Baltimore, Maryland, pitcher John Lackey allowed only one run in seven innings, steering Los Angeles past Baltimore.
The Angels scored all their runs in the third inning against Orioles rookie Brian Matusz, using three hits, three walks and an error.
It proved to be enough support for Lackey, who is 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA over his past seven starts. He struck out six.
Los Angeles clinched the season series between the teams and maintained a four-and-a-half game lead in the NL West.
RAYS 8, BLUE JAYS 3
In St Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay piled on four runs in the third inning to down Toronto and end a five-game skid.
Carl Crawford hit a two-run double during the key third inning burst that put the Rays up 4-2.
Tampa Bay moved within four games of the wild card berth.
WHITE SOX 8, ATHLETICS 1
In Oakland, California, Jayson Nix homered and drove in three runs to lift Chicago comfortably over Oakland. Chicago’s Gavin Floyd pitched seven strong innings, giving the White Sox bullpen a rest after it pitched five-and-two-third innings on Friday. Chicago remained two-and-a-half games behind AL Central leaders Detroit.
TIGERS 10, ROYALS 3
In Detroit, Michigan, the hosts won a third straight, cruising past Kansas City.
INDIANS 7, TWINS 3
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Choo Shin-soo and Grady Sizemore hit early homers to lead Cleveland over Minnesota.
Shohei Ohtani and his wife arrived in South Korea with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates yesterday ahead of their season-opening games with the San Diego Padres next week. Ohtani, wearing a black training suit and a cap backwards, was the first Dodgers player who showed up at the arrival gate of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, walked several steps behind him. As a crowd of fans, many wearing Dodgers jerseys, shouted his name and cheered slogans, Ohtani briefly waved his hand, but did not say anything before he entered a limousine bus with his wife. Fans held placards
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