NATIONAL LEAGUE
Los Angeles newcomer Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Dodgers a 5-3 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday in a match of the top two teams in the National League West.
Two days after being acquired from Miami in a trade meant to boost the Dodgers’ offense, the slugging infielder went hitless in his first four at-bats against the Giants before the decisive homer off reliever Sergio Romo (3-2).
Ramirez’s 15th home run extended a stellar start to his Los Angeles career. He had three hits in the first two games with his new club and is batting .364 since the trade, helping the Dodgers move within two games of the Giants.
Los Angeles’ Shawn Tolleson (1-0) pitched one inning for his first win in the majors.
Brewers 6, Nationals 0
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Milwaukee’s Corey Hart and Aramis Ramirez homered to help the Brewers snap a seven-game losing skid with a 6-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday.
Hours after trading ace Zack Greinke to the Los Angeles Angels for rookie shortstop Jean Segura and two minor-league pitchers, the Brewers ended Washington’s six-game winning streak.
Milwaukee starter Mike Fiers (4-4) has been one of Milwaukee’s most consistent pitchers in recent weeks. He did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and retired 14 of his first 17 batters.
Washington’s Ross Detwiler (5-4) lasted 4-2/3 innings for the Nationals, giving up four runs.
BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 1
In Atlanta, Georgia, Brian McCann hit a three-run homer in Atlanta’s win over Philadelphia.
McCann’s shot came off Cole Hamels (11-5), who was making his first start since signing a six-year, US$144 million contract on Wednesday. The Phillies star set a career worst with six walks in his shortest start of the season. He allowed five runs in five innings.
The loss ended Philadelphia’s four-game winning streak and cost the Phillies a chance to move out of last place in the NL East.
Atlanta’s Ben Sheets (3-0) won his third straight start in his comeback from a long-term arm injury, allowing one run and one walk in six innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 11, METS 5
In Phoenix, Arizona, Josh Collmenter pitched six innings and drove in a run during Arizona’s six-run second as the Diamondbacks beat reeling New York.
Collmenter (3-2), who allowed seven hits with five strikeouts, got stronger as the game continued. He retired his final seven batters.
Willie Bloomquist had two RBI singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won six of seven.
Mets starter Jonathon Niese (7-5) allowed eight runs as New York slumped to its 13th loss in 15 games.
REDS 3, ROCKIES 0
In Denver, Colorado, Bronson Arroyo pitched effectively into the seventh inning, guiding Cincinnati past Colorado.
Arroyo (6-6) retired his first 11 batters before Gonzalez singled with two outs in the fourth.
Ryan Ludwick scored twice for the Reds, who have won 12 of 14 since the All-Star break and tied Washington for the best record in the National League.
Rockies starter Drew Pomeranz (1-6) took the loss after giving up three runs in 5-1/3 innings.
CARDINALS 9, CUBS 6
In Chicago, Illinois, Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina and Lance Berkman were part of St Louis’ power show as the Cardinals became the first team in eight years to hit a home run in each of the first five innings and went on to beat Chicago.
Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig also connected off Travis Wood (4-6), whose five homers allowed matched the Cubs record.
The previous team to homer in each of the first five innings was Houston against Colorado on Oct. 2, 2004, according to STATS LLC.
St Louis starter Lance Lynn (13-4) allowed six runs in five innings as the Cardinals won for the seventh time in eight games.
PIRATES 6, ASTROS 5
In Houston, Texas, Drew Sutton scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to propel Pittsburgh over hapless Houston.
The Astros (34-67), who own baseball’s worst record, tied the club mark with their 11th straight loss — matching a run in 1995.
Houston led 5-4 entering the ninth inning before rookie Starling Marte’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly tied it. It was the third time in four games that Houston has lost after entering the ninth with a lead.
Pirates relieverTony Watson (5-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win, and Joel Hanrahan earned the save.
Rhiner Cruz (1-1) came in for Houston with one out in the ninth inning and took the loss.
PADRES 7, MARLINS 2
In Miami, Florida, Yasmani Grandal and Yonder Alonso powered San Diego over Miami.
Grandal hit a bases-clearing triple, and Alonso drove in two runs to back the pitching of Kip Wells (2-3).
Marlins starter Carlos Zambrano (5-9) allowed five runs in five innings as slumping Miami lost for the eighth time in nine games.
San Diego scored five runs in the sixth to turn the game around.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ARLINGTON, Texas
Chicago’s Alejandro De Aza hit a two-run single before leaving the game after an outfield collision, as the White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 9-5 on Friday in a series opener between American League division leaders.
Chicago’s Chris Sale (12-3) gave up four runs in the first inning before settling, giving up only one more as he pitched into the seventh, striking out six.
The White Sox got homers from Kevin Youkilis and Alexei Ramirez in their fourth straight victory.
Texas starter Yu Darvish (11-7) gave up six runs in 6-1/3 innings.
YANKEES 10, RED SOX 3
In New York, Curtis Granderson capped the scoring with an eighth-inning grand slam as New York beat Boston in Ichiro Suzuki’s Yankees home debut.
Raul Ibanez and Russell Martin hit two-run homers. Martin’s two-run shot off Aaron Cook (2-4) scored Suzuki who went one-for-four with a single.
New York starter Phil Hughes (10-8) gave up three solo homers, but little else in seven innings to help the Yankees beat Boston for the sixth time in seven games this year.
ATHLETICS 14, ORIOLES 9
In Baltimore, Maryland, Jemile Weeks hit an RBI single to give Oakland the lead during a six-run ninth inning that lifted Oakland over Baltimore.
The Athletics led 5-0 in the second inning and 8-6 in the eighth, yet fell behind on each occasion before rallying in a see-sawing contest that featured 31 hits and lasted four hours. After Baltimore scored three runs in the eighth to go up 9-8, Oakland pounded Orioles closer Jim Johnson (1-1) in the ninth. It was the first time Baltimore had lost a game this season when leading after eight innings, having won the previous 41.
A’s reliever Jerry Blevins (4-0) was given credit for the win.
ANGELS 3, RAYS 1
In Anaheim, California, Albert Pujols had three hits, including a two-run double, as Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay for the first time in seven attempts.
Angels starter Dan Haren (8-8) won his second straight start since coming off the disabled list, allowing five hits in six-plus innings and striking out six. His strong performance came just hours after the Angels solidified their rotation with the acquisition of 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.
Rays starter Alex Cobb (4-8) gave up eight hits in seven innings.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Blue Jays 8, Tigers 3
‧ Twins 11, Indians 0
‧ Mariners 6, Royals 1
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