INTERLEAGUE PLAY
Raul Ibanez tied the game with a three-run homer, pinch-hitter Eric Chavez came through with a go-ahead shot moments later and the New York Yankees rallied past the New York Mets 4-3 on Saturday night to stop a three-game skid.
Riding the long ball again, the Yankees won for the fourth time in five Subway Series matchups this season. The finale is quite an attraction, too, with R.A. Dickey coming off consecutive one-hitters to face Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia in a much-anticipated pitching duel last night.
Photo: AFP
Daniel Murphy, who has not homered all season, nearly won this one for the Mets in the ninth inning. With a runner aboard, he hit a deep drive into the right-field corner that was caught just in front of the fence for the final out.
Reds 6, Twins 0
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Johnny Cueto remained unbeaten this month by pitching seven innings and driving in a pair of runs with a squeeze bunt and a bases-loaded groundout on Saturday, leading the Reds to a slump-breaking 6-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Cueto (9-3) allowed three hits and fanned a season-high nine while improving to 4-0 in four starts this month. The right-hander has allowed only five runs for a 1.47 ERA on the month.
The Reds ended their season-high losing streak at four games.
Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer off left-hander Brian Duensing (1-3).
Phillies 7, Rays 6
In Philadelphia, pinch-hitter Jim Thome hit a home run leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Phillies over Tampa Bay after Jonathan Papelbon blew his first save in 18 chances this season.
Juan Pierre and Jimmy Rollins also homered for the Phillies, helping manager Charlie Manuel earn his 900th career win.
Thome connected off Jake McGee (2-2) for home run No. 609, tying Sammy Sosa for seventh place on baseball’s career list.
Tampa Bay’s Jeff Keppinger was five for five with three RBIs in his first game after he missed 29 because of a broken toe.
Papelbon (2-2) allowed his first earned runs in a save situation this season.
Cardinals 8, Royals 2
In Kansas City, Missouri, Matt Holliday and Allen Craig paced another big game for the St Louis offense, while Adam Wainwright took advantage of the robust run support in the Cardinals’ victory over the Royals.
Holliday finished four for five and drove in a pair of runs, pushing his stat line against Kansas City to 13 for 22 with two homers and eight RBIs in five games this season. Craig added a two-run homer and finished with three RBIs for the Cardinals.
Wainwright (6-7) only allowed a bunt single and a broken-bat base hit in the first five innings. He ended up allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over seven.
Luis Mendoza (2-4) was responsible for the Cardinals’ first four runs.
Blue Jays 7, Marlins 1
In Miami, Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking homer in the top of the ninth and Colby Rasmus had a grand slam later in the inning, as Toronto handed the Marlins their sixth straight loss.
Encarnacion led off the ninth with his 21st home run off Steve Cishek (4-1) to break a one-all tie.
After Jeff Mathis laid down a bunt that Cishek mishandled allowing Reed Johnson to score for a 3-1 lead, Rasmus connected on his third career grand slam off Edward Mujica.
Darren Oliver (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the Blue Jays, who have won six of eight.
Rockies 11, Rangers 7
In Arlington, Texas, Tyler Colvin and Chris Nelson had consecutive two-out, two-run singles in an early outburst for Colorado, and the Rockies held on for a victory that ended the Texas Rangers’ seven-game winning streak.
Before Colorado’s four-run third against Colby Lewis (6-6), the Rangers had not even allowed more than three runs in a game during their winning streak. Wil Nieves and Dexter Fowler — the Nos. 8 and 9 batters — homered on consecutive pitches in the fifth off reliever Michael Kirkman for three more runs and an 11-1 lead.
Rex Brothers (3-2), the third Colorado pitcher, threw two scoreless innings despite allowing leadoff doubles in both.
Pirates 4, Tigers 1
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brad Lincoln allowed two hits and a run in six innings, Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer and the Pirates beat Detroit for their sixth win in seven games.
Lincoln (4-2) carried a no-hitter through five innings before Ramon Santiago singled to lead off the sixth.
Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera homered to lead off the seventh and end Lincoln’s afternoon. Lincoln had a career-high seven strikeouts and one walk.
McCutchen continued a torrid pace with his 13th homer. He came into the game with 14 hits in his previous 25 at-bats.
Astros 8, Indians 1
In Houston, Texas, rookie Dallas Keuchel pitched a complete game, while J.D Martinez and Jordan Schafer hit consecutive homers in Houston’s four-run fifth inning, leading the Astros over Cleveland.
Keuchel (1-0) allowed six hits and struck out three for his first win in his second major league start.
Cleveland starter Jeanmar Gomez (4-7) got off to a great start, but was undone by his fifth inning struggles. He allowed six hits and five runs in 5-2/3 innings.
Jose Altuve added a solo homer in the eighth inning, while Chris Johnson finished with two RBIs and a pair of doubles for Houston.
Dodgers 3, Angels 1
In Anaheim, California, Chris Capuano outdueled Ervin Santana with seven gritty innings, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Angels and help end the NL West leaders’ four-game losing streak.
Capuano (9-2) allowed a run and seven hits, struck out four and walked none, while lowering his ERA from 2.71 to 2.51.
The left-hander worked with runners on base in every inning except the second, giving up a leadoff hit in each of his last four innings. Ronald Belisario pitched a scoreless eighth, while Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 15 chances.
Red Sox 8, Braves 4
In Boston, Will Middlebrooks had a solo homer among his three hits and drove in two runs, Franklin Morales gave Boston another decent start in place of Josh Beckett and the Red Sox beat Atlanta.
Dustin Pedroia added three hits, a walk and had two RBIs for Boston, which won for the eighth time in 10 games to ensure a -winning interleague record for the eighth straight season. The Red Sox improved to 10-7 against NL opponents.
Morales (1-1) gave up three runs — two earned — on seven hits, striking out eight and walking one. He fanned a career-best nine in five innings last Sunday night against the Chicago Cubs.
White Sox 8, Brewers 6
In Chicago, Dayan Viciedo homered and drove in four runs, Alex Rios delivered a tie-breaking single in the seventh inning, and the Chicago White Sox rallied to beat Milwaukee.
With the game tied 6-6, Gordon Beckham led off the seventh with a single and stole second. After an intentional walk to Paul Konerko, Rios put Chicago up for good.
Addison Reed got Corey Hart to ground into a force out to leave the bases loaded in the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances. The Brewers stranded 10 runners.
Viciedo, who entered 7-for-53 (.132) with one extra-base hit and one multi-hit game this month, had three hits including a two-run homer that gave the White Sox a 4-2 lead in the fourth.
In other interleague play, it was:
‧ Giants 9, Athletics 8
‧ Mariners 5, Padres 1
In National League play, it was:
‧ Diamondbacks 10, Cubs 5
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