NATIONAL LEAGUE
Russell Martin’s grand slam in the sixth inning sparked the stagnant Los Angeles Dodgers to a much needed 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.
With the game tied 2-2, Martin delivered a base-clearing blast to left-center field against Chicago reliever Angel Guzman as the division-leading Dodgers (72-50) kept the fast-charging Colorado Rockies at bay in the National League West division.
PHOTO: AFP
Los Angeles, who had lost nine of their previous 15 games, maintained a three-and-a-half game lead over the Rockies, who beat Washington 4-1 to record their eighth victory in 11 games.
Martin broke out of a slump of his own, having gone without a home run in his previous 21 games.
“Russell needed to have that kind of base hit in that situation,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre told reporters.
“This group pulls for each other and they know when guys are struggling. The fact that it was Russell that hit it really elevated everyone’s mood.”
Los Angeles slugger Manny Ramirez had three hits and added the team’s final run, scoring on a Casey Blake single in the seventh.
Starter Jeff Weaver, who threw five-and-a-third innings and allowed two runs, handed over to Ronald Belisario, who was credited with the win when he got the final two outs of the innings before two other Dodgers’ relief pitchers preserved the lead.
“Our pitching staff has been tremendous,” Martin said. “All year they’ve been consistent and given a collective effort and that’s what we need if we’re going to make it deep into October.”
The Cubs (61-58) fell six games behind the Rockies in the NL wild card race.
Kosuke Fukudome went 3-for-3 with a solo home run for Chicago while Aramis Ramirez had an RBI single in the third to tie the game at 2-2.
Starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny went five innings, allowing five hits and two runs before Guzman replaced him for the sixth.
CARDINALS 5, PADRES 1
At San Diego, California, Brendan Ryan hit a grand slam and Joel Pineiro won his sixth straight decision by throwing seven-and-two-third strong innings as St Louis downed the home team.
Ryan’s first career grand slam staked Pineiro (12-9) to a 4-0 lead in the second inning as the Cardinals won for the 16th time in 21 games.
The only run Pineiro allowed was a homer to rookie Kyle Blanks, who connected in the second inning for his ninth homer. Blanks homered for the third time in four games.
St Louis has won nine starts by Pineiro, who last lost on June 28, against Minnesota.
In other NL action it was:
• Phillies 12, Diamondbacks 3
• Rockies 4, Nationals 1
• Braves 3, Mets 2
• Reds 2, Giants 1, 10 inns
• Astros 4, Marlins 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, TORONTO
J.D. Drew homered twice and Jon Lester pitched eight strong innings as the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.
Victor Martinez connected for the second straight night for the Red Sox, who have hit two or more homers in six consecutive games, and nine of 10.
The Red Sox have 32 homers in August, three shy of the team record set in 2006.
Drew hit a leadoff homer in the second and a two-run drive to almost the same spot in the third. The homers, Nos. 14 and 15, came off rookie Brett Cecil.
INDIANS 11, ANGELS 3
At Cleveland, Ohio, Justin Masterson pitched into the seventh inning and rookie Matt LaPorta had a career-high three RBIs as Cleveland battered Los Angeles starter John Lackey.
In other AL action it was:
• Rangers 11, Twins 1
• Orioles 8, Rays 7
• Tigers 7, Mariners 6
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