All-Star starter Chris Carpenter outpitched Roger Clemens to become the National League's first 14-game winner on Sunday.
The St. Louis right-hander tossed a three-hitter and inadvertently played a major role in his team's big inning, leading the Cardinals to a 3-0 victory which completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros.
In his last eight starts since June 3, Carpenter (14-4) has allowed only five runs in 64 2-3 innings for a microscopic 0.70 ERA. This was his third shutout in that span, and his fourth of the season.
PHOTO: AP
Carpenter struck out nine and walked none, giving him 68 strikeouts and 11 walks in 66 2-3 innings in his last eight outings.
Clemens (7-4), the 2004 NL All-Star game starter, entered with a major league best 1.48 ERA and was almost as good. The exception was the Cardinals' three-run second, fueled by a pair of walks, Scott Rolen's RBI double and first baseman Mike Lamb's throwing error that allowed two runs to score.
Clemens lasted seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He struck out only one.
Reds 9, Rockies 4
At Cincinnati, Javier Valentin hit his first career grand slam and a three-run homer, connecting from both sides of the plate, and Sean Casey and Ken Griffey Jr. also connected as the Reds completed a three-game sweep of Colorado.
The Reds scored all nine runs with two outs, all off four homers.
Casey and Griffey Jr. homered on consecutive pitches, starting a six-run rally in the sixth off a stunned Jamey Wright (5-10). The right-hander had allowed only one hit to that point.
Griffey hit his 521st homer, moving into a tie with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 14th on the MLB career list. Griffey hit a solo homer in each game of the series.
Ramon Ortiz (5-6) gave up four runs in 6 1-3 innings.
Mets 8, Braves 1
At New York, Pedro Martinez held Atlanta to two hits over six innings and the Mets earned a split of the four-game series.
The Mets broke the game open with a four-run second inning against Mike Hampton (4-2), and Martinez (11-3) coasted to victory, throwing just 61 pitches for his ninth win in 11 decisions. He struck out five and lifted his National League-leading total to 143.
Hampton was activated from the disabled list before the game and made his first start since May 31. He lasted just two innings allowing five runs on seven hits. He has had two stints on the DL this season because of a strained left forearm.
Cubs 8, Pirates 2
At Chicago, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit solo home runs, Carlos Zambrano pitched eight solid innings and the Cubs beat Pittsburgh.
Ramirez had three hits for the Cubs, who took three of four from the Pirates during the four-game series and have won six of their last seven games.
Lee's homer was his 28th, breaking a tie with Atlanta's Andruw Jones for the NL lead. Jeromy Burnitz had three of Chicago's 15 hits and also homered for Chicago.
Zambrano (7-4) allowed one unearned run and five hits. He struck out four, walked four and drove in two runs with a double.
Kip Wells (6-10) was the loser.
Giants 4, Dodgers 1
At Los Angeles, Michael Tucker hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, Ray Durham also homered, and San Francisco beat Los Angeles to take three of four from the defending NL West champs.
Giants slugger Barry Bonds, who has been rehabilitating his right knee in Los Angeles, visited with his teammates for the first time during their four-day visit to Dodger Stadium. But he gave no timetable for his return.
Dodgers closer Yhency Brazoban (2-4) gave up Tucker's homer on a 2-2 pitch.
Scott Eyre (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the victory. He has not allowed an earned run in 20 1-3 career innings against the Dodgers, spanning 27 appearances. LaTroy Hawkins got three outs for his fifth save in nine attempts.
Jon Garland pitched six effective innings and became the American League's first 14-game winner as the Chicago White Sox completed their first four-game sweep in Cleveland in 42 years with a 4-0 win over the Indians on Sunday.
Tadahito Iguchi and A.J. Pierzynski hit home runs for Chicago, which improved to 30-5 against the AL Central and swept a four-game set in Cleveland for the first time since August 1963.
Garland (14-4) allowed seven hits and two walks. He struck out two. Neal Cotts and Cliff Politte completed the eight-hitter.
The Indians hit just .120 (3-for-25) with runners in scoring position in the series. They have lost a season-high five in a row and nine of 10. Cleveland has trailed in 35 of 36 innings since the All-Star break and has not held a lead since the fourth inning in New York on July 10 -- 41 innings overall.
Scott Elarton (6-4) gave up four runs and eight hits over 7 innings.
Royals 5, Tigers 0
At Detroit, Runelvys Hernandez allowed two hits through five innings before he was ejected after triggering a bench-clearing brawl in the sixth inning of a Kansas City win.
Three relievers finished the six-hitter for the Royals, who had three players and manager Buddy Bell ejected in the melee that started after Hernandez beaned Detroit's Carlos Guillen in the helmet, his third hit batter of the game. Guillen and two other Tigers were tossed.
Angels 2, Twins 1
At Minneapolis, John Lackey tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and Jeff DaVanon homered to lead Los Angeles over Minnesota.
Lackey (7-4) scattered five hits over seven innings and allowed just the one unearned run in a dominant performance to win for the first time in four starts.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.
The Seattle Mariners activated infielder Dave Hansen from the 15-day disabled list after Sunday's game against Baltimore, sending outfielder Chris Snelling back to Triple-A Tacoma.
Hansen, hitting .194 in 25 games, went on the disabled list on July 3. Considered one of the game's best pinch hitters, he joined the Mariners for the second time in two seasons on May 3.
Snelling was called up on July 3 when the Mariners designated Bret Boone for assignment. He appeared in four games, going hitless in five at-bats. He walked on July 6 in his first major league plate appearance since June 2002, missing the 2004 season after several injuries.
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