NATIONAL LEAGUE
James Loney had three RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-3 victory that gave them a one-and-a-half game lead on Arizona in the National League West.
The Diamondbacks have lost six of eight. On Aug. 29, they held a four-and-a-half game lead on Los Angeles.
PHOTO: AP
The Dodgers tied a season best with their eighth straight win, following an eight-game skid. Kuo Hong-chih (5-2) pitched one-and-a-third innings of relief for the home team’s victory.
METS 6, PHILLIES 3
In New York, Carlos Delgado hit two long homers and drove in four runs to back a big win by Johan Santana as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 for a doubleheader split on Sunday.
The NL East leaders salvaged the finale of the three-game series, giving them a two-game edge over second-place Philadelphia.
In the opener, Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer (13-7) allowed only two soft singles in seven shutout innings and Greg Dobbs hit a three-run homer off Pedro Martinez (5-4), who took the loss in Game 1, the makeup of Saturday’s rainout.
In the second game, Santana (13-7) gave up two runs and five hits in seven-and-a-third innings.
Cole Hamels (12-9) hung an 0-2 breaking ball to Delgado leading off the third and he jumped on it, hitting a drive estimated at 120m off the bottom of the right-field scoreboard.
PADRES 10, BREWERS 1
At Milwaukee, Chris Young came within four outs of a perfect game, retiring the first 23 Milwaukee batters in order before Gabe Kapler homered as San Diego beat the Brewers.
Chase Headley hit his ninth homer and Kevin Kouzmanoff hit his 21st for San Diego, which had 14 hits and broke the game open with five unearned runs off Manny Parra (10-7) in the third.
If Young had succeeded, it would have been the 18th perfect game in MLB history, and first since Arizona’s Randy Johnson accomplished the feat on May 18, 2004 over Atlanta.
REDS 4, CUBS 3
At Cincinnati, Jolbert Cabrera hit a game-ending RBI single off Chicago closer Kerry Wood to complete Cincinnati’s three-run, ninth-inning comeback. The Cubs have lost seven of their last eight games.
In other NL games, it was:
• Cardinals 3, Mariners 1
• Astros 7, Rockies 5
• Nationals 7, Braves 4, 14 innings
• Giants 11, Pirates 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, CHICAGO
Joe Saunders flashed his All-Star form while earning his first win in over a month as the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 in the American League on Sunday, avoiding a sweep.
The AL West-leading Angels moved a step closer to their fourth division title in five years, thanks to a solid effort by Saunders and a questionable decision by Jermaine Dye to catch pinch-hitter Garrett Anderson’s sacrifice fly in foul territory in the eighth.
The Angels hung on after blowing a three-run lead the previous night. Saunders (15-7) earned his first win since July 30, holding AL Central-leading Chicago to two runs and four hits in seven-and-a-third innings.
Paul Konerko homered for the third straight game and Toby Hall also went deep for the White Sox. Horacio Ramirez (1-4) got the loss.
TIGERS 7, TWINS 5
At Minneapolis, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Dusty Ryan homered to help Detroit gain the victory.
Ryan, a rookie catcher, hit a two-run homer in his first major league start. Chris Lambert (1-1) earned his first career win as the Tigers won consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 22 and Aug. 23.
Justin Morneau had four RBIs, including a two-run triple, for Minnesota, which remains two-and-a-half games behind AL Central-leading Chicago.
Cabrera’s leadoff homer in the sixth was his 1,000th career hit.
RED SOX 7, RANGERS 2
At Arlington, Texas David Ortiz hit his first home run in 20 games, Paul Byrd pitched six-and-two-thirds scoreless innings to win his fourth straight decision as Boston moved within one-and-a-half games of the AL East lead.
The Red Sox are the closest they’ve been to division-leading Tampa Bay since July 28. Six of their next nine games are against the skidding Rays, starting on Monday at Fenway Park.
Ortiz had last homered Aug. 14 and the 19-game homerless streak matched the longest in his six seasons with Boston. His 127m, two-run shot in the fifth off Brandon McCarthy (1-1) put Boston up 4-0.
BLUE JAYS 1, RAYS 0
At Toronto, rookie David Purcey struck out seven in eight innings to help Toronto extend its winning streak to eight games, matching its longest run since April 1999.
Rod Barajas hit a second-inning sacrifice fly for Toronto.
Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza (11-9) allowed one run and six hits in seven innings.
In other AL action, it was:
• Mariners 5, Yankees 2
• Indians 3, Royals 1
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