NATIONAL LEAGUE
Joe Mather hit a go-ahead single during a three-run rally in the eighth inning Friday and Chicago ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over Colorado.
The Rockies had matched a season best with a five-game winning streak.
Photo: AFP
Chicago trailed 3-2 going into the eighth before Brett Jackson led off with his second homer of the season. Pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena doubled with one out and Mather, batting in the leadoff spot usually occupied by David DeJesus, followed with an RBI single against reliever Matt Belisle (3-5).
Mather scored on reliever Matt Reynolds’ throwing error.
James Russell (6-1) got two outs for the win and Carlos Marmol closed for his 16th save.
Photo: Reuters
Chris Nelson hit his sixth homer for the Cubs and Carlos Gonzalez hit his 21st and first since July 23.
Alfonso Soriano and Welington Castillo hit solo home runs for the Cubs.
BREWERS 6, PIRATES 5
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mike Fiers pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Aramis Ramirez had a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh and Milwaukee held on to win their fourth straight.
Fiers (7-6) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. The rookie allowed three runs and five hits in 6-2/3 innings.
Ramirez went two-for-four and scored two runs. He cleared the bases with a two-out double to right-center in the seventh, breaking a 2-2 tie. Ramirez then scored on Corey Hart’s single.
The Pirates rallied for two runs in the ninth off closer John Axford, but Kameron Loe struck out pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez to with two men on to end the game.
Loe’s save was his second in two weeks, the fourth of his career.
Rod Barajas homered for the Pirates, who have lost four straight.
The Brewers won on the road for only the second time since the All-Star break.
They had lost 14 of their previous 15 road games.
Wandy Rodriguez (8-13) fell to 0-4 as a starter with the Pirates — he earned a win by pitching the 18th and 19th innings last Sunday in St Louis — since being acquired for three prospects in a trade with Houston July 24.
Rodriguez allowed three runs, six hits and four walks in 6-2/3 innings. He had three strikeouts.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Phillies 4, Nationals 2
‧ Astros 3, Mets 1
‧ Cardinals 8, Reds 5
‧ Padres 5, Diamondbacks 0
‧ Giants 5, Braves 3
‧ Dodgers 11, Marlins 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ARLINGTON, Texas
Matt Harrison took a no-hit bid into the seventh and went eight innings for his career-high 15th victory and Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle for the Texas Rangers in an 8-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Harrison (15-7) did not allow a hit until Trevor Plouffe lined a solid single to left with two outs in the seventh. That came right after left fielder David Murphy made a diving catch on Ryan Doumit’s sinking liner to keep the no-hit bid intact, though Murphy had no chance to get to the next ball hit his way.
Beltre’s second career cycle came two nights after he hit three homers in a game against Baltimore.
Over the past four games, Beltre is 12-of-18 with five homers, three doubles and a triple.
ATHLETICS 5, RAYS 4
In St Petersburgh, Florida, Jonny Gomes’ two-run home run in the eighth inning lifted the Athletics to a victory over the Rays.
Gomes’ homer off Joel Peralta (1-6) broke a 3-3 tie and sent the Rays to their second loss in eight games. Ryan Cook (6-2) earned the win in relief for the A’s, who have won seven of nine. Luke Scott’s pinch-hit double got a run back for the Rays in the ninth before Grant Balfour finished for his 13th save.
Gomes, who played for the Rays from 2003-2008, has hit safely in all eight of his games against his former team with three homers in 26 at-bats.
RED SOX 4, ROYALS 3
In Boston, Massachusetts, Pedro Ciriaco put Boston ahead with a two-run double in the seventh inning, Jon Lester had his third straight solid start and the Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Royals.
The victory capped a day in which the Red Sox and the Dodgers discussed a major trade that would send Adrian Gonzalez, Boston’s best hitter, to Los Angeles.
Minutes before the game, Gonzalez was scratched from the lineup.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Yankees 3, Indians 1
‧ Angels 2, Tigers 1
‧ Orioles 6, Blue Jays 4
‧ White Sox 9, Mariners 8
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