NATIONAL LEAGUE
The Colorado Rockies closed to within two games of the National League West summit with a 5-4 victory over the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, the 10th-inning triumph coming a day after another marathon win.
PHOTO: AP
The Rockies edged the San Francisco Giants 6-4 with a 14th inning walk-off home run by Ryan Spilborghs on Monday and used a game-winning RBI single from Troy Tulowitzki in their next outing to continue the late-season pursuit of the Dodgers.
“A lot of people have said we could win the wild card, but we haven’t given up on the division,” Colorado starter Jason Hammel told reporters after allowing two runs in seven innings. “We still have a long way to go. We would like to win a couple of games by six runs, but it’s definitely fun celebrating.”
The Rockies (72-54) have won eight of their last nine to slice into a division lead that once seemed insurmountable when they trailed Los Angeles by 15.5 games on June 3.
PHOTO: AP
The Dodgers (74-52) raised hopes of a comeback victory in the three-game series opener by scoring twice in the top of the ninth, Manny Ramirez’s two-out RBI single tying the score at 4-4.
However, Dodgers reliever James McDonald issued a lead-off walk to Ian Stewart in the bottom of the 10th before the infielder advanced to third on a bunt single from Carlos Gonzalez and a throwing error by first baseman James Loney.
Tulowitzki then brought Stewart in for the winning run with a single to center field after McDonald opted to load the bases.
Hammel logged 118 pitches being leaving the game while Matt Herges was credited with the win after completing a scoreless 10th.
Following the next two games, the Rockies and Dodgers are scheduled to face each other again in the final series of the regular season on Oct. 2 to Oct. 4.
CARDINALS 1, ASTROS 0
At St Louis, Adam Wainwright allowed three hits over eight innings to become the NL’s first 15-game winner and Albert Pujols’ rare hit off Wandy Rodriguez drove in St Louis’ lone run.
Brendan Ryan scored from first on Pujols’ one-out double down the third-base line in the first inning. The Cardinals (73-54) have gone 14-3 since Aug. 7 and are a season-best 19 games above .500.
Wainwright (15-7) matched the Yankees’ C.C. Sabathia for the major league victory lead, and regained the team lead over Chris Carpenter (14-3). He retired 17 straight after Michael Bourn doubled to lead off the game, striking out five and walking none. Ryan Franklin finished for his 33rd save.
Also on Tuesday, it was:
• Giants 5, Diamondbacks 4
• Pirates 6, Phillies 4
• Marlins 2, Mets 1
• Padres 2, Braves 1, 12 innings
• Nationals 15, Cubs 6
• Reds 8, Brewers 6, 13 innings
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, BOSTON
Jason Bay hit a solo homer to break an eighth-inning tie, and Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits to go with his franchise-record 55th stolen base as the Boston Red Sox downed Chicago 6-3 on Tuesday.
Manny Delcarmen (5-2) got one out to escape a first-and-third jam in the eighth to earn the win. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 30th save.
Scott Linebrink (3-6) gave up three runs and three hits in one inning. Jayson Nix had two hits, including a solo homer, for Chicago, which lost their third straight and fell to .500 for the first time since July 29. Bay homered off Linebrink to give Boston the lead, then Nick Green singled and scored from first on Victor Martinez’s double.
Ellsbury’s single scored Martinez to make it 6-3.
RANGERS 10, YANKEES 9
At New York, rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus turned Melky Cabrera’s line drive into a game-ending double play as Texas held off New York, which scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Michael Young and Nelson Cruz homered for the Rangers, who scored seven two-out runs off Joba Chamberlain (8-4) to overcome an early four-run deficit.
Also on Tuesday, it was:
• Tigers 5, Angels 3
• Rays 7, Blue Jays 3
• Royals 6, Indians 2
• Twins 7, Orioles 6
• Mariners 4, Athletics 2, 10 innings
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