The Braves overcame two large deficits and pulled out a shocking 9-8 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Matt Diaz's three-run double with two outs in the ninth inning on Wednesday.
The Braves, who trailed 5-0 and 8-2, made a game of it with four runs in the eighth -- though their chances looked slim when Brett Myers (3-6) retired the first two hitters in the ninth. But Jeff Francoeur and Martin Prado hustled to beat out infield hits, and Yunel Escobar walked to load the bases.
That brought up Diaz, who went the opposite way with a liner that skidded off the glove of right fielder Chris Roberson.
PHOTO: AP
Reds 7, Mets 0
In Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips broke Cincinnati's record for homers by a second baseman, and Cincinnati ended New York's five-game winning streak.
Right-hander Tom Shearn (2-0), a 30-year-old rookie relishing his long-awaited trip to the big leagues, gave up only three hits in six innings to a Mets lineup missing five of its regulars.
Cubs 8, Dodgers 2
At Chicago, Ted Lilly got his first win in nearly a month and Aramis Ramirez homered to keep Chicago a half game ahead of Milwaukee in the National League Central.
Lilly (14-7) allowed two runs and six hits in six solid innings to win for the first time since Aug. 9 and tie Carlos Zambrano for the team lead in wins.
Ramirez hit his 20th homer, a two-run shot in the third for a 3-0 lead against lefty Eric Stults (1-3).
Diamondbacks 9, Padres 6
At Phoenix, San Diego ace Jake Peavy, pitching on three days' rest, gave up eight runs and Arizona took a one-game lead over San Diego in the NL West.
The eight earned runs matched a career high for Peavy, who lasted only four innings, his shortest start since July 21 last year.
Victor Martinez had two hits and two RBIs to back a quality start from Fausto Carmona, and the Cleveland Indians beat Minnesota 6-2 on Wednesday for its second sweep of the Twins in the last 10 games.
Carmona (15-8) allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings to help Major League Baseball's American League Central Division leaders to their 11th win in 12 games. Minnesota now trails the Indians by 12.5 games.
Athletics 6, Angels 2
At Anaheim, California, Joe Blanton settled down after a rocky start and Mark Ellis hit a three-run homer for Oakland.
Donnie Murphy had a career-high three hits and two RBIs for Oakland, including a homer leading off the seventh inning to chase Joe Saunders. Ellis also singled in a run.
Yankees 10, Mariners 2
At New York, Alex Rodriguez talked his way into the lineup, then homered twice in an eight-run seventh inning that helped New York open a three-game lead over Seattle in the AL wild-card race.
He walked and popped out in his first two plate appearances against Jarrod Washburn (9-13). Then, with the Yankees trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Rodriguez hit a 3-2 fastball over the retired numbers behind the fence in left-center. He later homered off Brandon Morrow.
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