NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee threw seven impressive innings to guide the Phillies to a 9-2 win over Arizona in Wednesday’s clash of National League divisional leaders, ending the Diamondbacks’ winning streak at seven games.
Lee (13-7) allowed three hits, striking out seven.
Photo: Reuters
Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff homer and Wilson Valdez hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh for the Phillies.
Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders (8-10) pitched well before unraveling in the seventh. He gave up five runs in six-plus innings as Arizona saw their NL West lead sliced to 2.5 games.
GIANTS 7, BRAVES 5
Photo: AFP
In Atlanta, San Francisco barely avoided another loss, getting the victory on the Braves’ final at-bat.
The Giants broke it open with four runs in the fourth, one of them driven in by pitcher Matt Cain (10-9) on a sacrifice fly, but Cain did his best work on the mound, striking out nine and giving up only one unearned run in the first.
After Cain left, the Braves scored four runs in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate, but Brian McCann struck out swinging against Jeremy Affeldt.
San Francisco pounded Jair Jurrjens (12-5), taking advantage of a pitcher who wasn’t sharp in his first start coming off the disabled list. He surrendered five runs in six innings.
BREWERS 3, DODGERS 1
In Milwaukee, Zack Greinke won his fifth straight start, helping Milwaukee beat Los Angeles and notch their 19th victory in 21 games.
The NL Central-leading Brewers remained seven games ahead of St Louis in the NL Central.
Jerry Hairston’s two-out single in the sixth helped Greinke (12-4) become the first Brewers pitcher in franchise history to win his first nine home decisions with the club.
Dodgers rookie Nathan Eovaldi (1-1) was the loser.
CARDINALS 7, PIRATES 2
In Pittsburgh, Allen Craig homered twice to break out of a slump and lead St Louis over Pittsburgh.
Craig went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals.
Craig was hitless in his past 11 at-bats before he connected for a two-run homer against Paul Maholm (6-14) in the first. He added a solo shot in the seventh.
St Louis starter Kyle Lohse (11-7) picked up his 99th career victory by pitching seven solid innings, allowing two runs, striking out seven and walking one.
REDS 2, NATIONALS 1
In Washington, Johnny Cueto pitched into the ninth inning to guide Cincinnati to a narrow win over Washington.
Cueto (9-5) held the Nationals scoreless until the ninth. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Joey Votto homered and Ramon Hernandez drove in a run for the Reds on a groundout.
Nationals starter Ross Detwiler (1-3) pitched six innings, allowing one run.
METS 7, PADRES 3
In San Diego, New York sealed their first series win in San Diego in nine years.
David Wright hit a three-run homer off Mat Latos (6-12) in the third inning. He also turned a tricky play at third base that resulted in the final out of the third to thwart a San Diego rally. Angel Pagan had three RBIs for the Mets.
New York rookie Dillon Gee (11-4) limited the Padres to one run over 6-2/3 innings. He also made a sparkling fielding play in the third inning that resulted in an inning-ending double play.
ROCKIES 12, MARLINS 5
In Denver, Aaron Cook pitched effectively into the eighth inning as Colorado overpowered Florida.
Carlos Gonzalez hit a three-run homer and a run-scoring single while Chris Iannetta also drove in four runs with a double and a single.
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco (9-9) went three innings, matching his second-shortest outing of the season, and allowed a career-worst 11 runs. That was the most runs ever allowed by a Marlins starter in team history.
Cook (3-7) had received only four runs of support in his previous four outings, but there was no such problem on this night. He was staked to a 5-0 lead in the first and saw the Rockies add another six runs in the third inning.
ASTROS 4, CUBS 3
In Houston, the hosts took the series between the two worst teams in the NL.
Matt Downs hit a go-ahead two-run single, and Brian Bogusevic had a two-run double for the Astros.
Bud Norris (6-8) allowed three runs in his first win in seven weeks, and Mark Melancon wriggled out of a jam in the ninth inning for the save.
Cubs starter Casey Coleman (2-5) was recalled from the minors to fill in for the injured Carlos Zambrano, and allowed a career-worst 10 hits.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, BOSTON
David Price pitched eight scoreless innings to guide Tampa Bay to a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in the American League on Wednesday, keeping a pulse in the Rays’ faint playoff hopes.
Price (11-10) struck out six as the Rays held Boston to three hits for the third straight game.
B.J. Upton hit a leadoff homer in the fourth inning and Evan Longoria added a two-out solo homer in the fifth.
Boston starter John Lackey (11-9) allowed four runs in 6-2/3 innings to take the loss as the Red Sox missed a chance to move back ahead of New York in the AL East race.
ATHLETICS 6, ORIOLES 5
In Oakland, a throw by David DeJesus reached the plate just in time to get Baltimore pinch-runner Blake Davis and end the game, giving Oakland the narrowest of wins over the Orioles.
DeJesus misfielded Nick Markakis’ single, but recovered to make a strong throw to Kurt Suzuki, who tagged Davis. It also preserved Andrew Bailey’s save after he gave up three hits in the ninth.
Suzuki also hit two solo homers; the second multihomer game of his career. He connected in the second and sixth against Alfredo Simon (3-6). Brandon Allen tripled and scored on the same play and also had a sacrifice fly for the A’s.
Oakland starter Brandon McCarthy (6-6) allowed four runs in six-plus innings.
ROYALS 5, YANKEES 4
In Kansas City, the hosts survived a nerve-wracking ninth inning to hang on and beat New York.
The Yankees loaded the bases with one out in the ninth and made it 5-4 on Robinson Cano’s sacrifice fly. After a passed ball, Joakim Soria reloaded the bases with another walk. Then Jorge Posada, on his 40th birthday, took a called third strike to end it. The wobbly Soria got his 22nd save in 29 opportunities.
Earlier, Alex Gordon hit a three-run home run, and Billy Butler added a contested solo shot to give the Royals an early lead.
Kansas City starter Bruce Chen (8-5) went six innings. His three wins have been the Royals’ only victories over the past 13 games.
INDIANS 4, WHITE SOX 1
In Chicago, Cleveland beat Chicago to stay in second place in the AL Central.
Fausto Carmona pitched 8-1/3 impressive innings, while Shin-soo Choo had three hits and an RBI and Carlos Santana singled, doubled and scored a run.
White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (10-6) allowed a season-worst 12 hits over 7-1/3 innings.
TWINS 6, TIGERS 5
In Detroit, Justin Morneau’s bases-loaded single in the ninth inning lifted Minnesota over first-placed Detroit.
With the game tied 4-4, Rene Tosoni led off the top of the ninth with a single off Jose Valverde (2-4). Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Ben Revere both reached base when the Tigers misplayed sacrifice bunts.
Valverde struck out two batters, but Morneau hit a ball up the middle to make it 6-4.
Joe Nathan allowed a run in the bottom of the inning, but still picked up his 11th save. He is 33 for 33 in save opportunities against Detroit.
Twins reliever Matt Capps (4-6) got the win after finishing the eighth inning.
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