Mon, Sep 29, 2008 page19

• Phillies win NL East over Washington

  STRONG INNINGS Ryan Shealy hit a two-run single as the Royals handed the Twins a second straight defeat, while at St. Louis, Albert Pujols hit his 37th home run

  • AP
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  NATIONAL LEAGUE

  Jimmy Rollins made a sliding stop with the bases loaded to start a game-ending double play as the Philadelphia Phillies clinched their second consecutive National League East title by holding off the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Saturday.

  Rollins went to his knees to snare Ryan Zimmerman’s sharp grounder. He made a flip to second base with his glove and rejoiced when Chase Utley’s relay throw completed the double play.

  

  Minnesota Twins’ Alexi Casilla dives safely back to first on a pickoff-attempt by Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche in the first inning of their baseball game on Saturday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  PHOTO: AP

  Brad Lidge barely escaped the ninth, getting help from Rollins at shortstop to earn his 41st save in 41 tries. Players rushed the field after Rollins’ sensational play and everyone piled on near second base, beginning the party.

  Jamie Moyer (16-7) allowed one run and six hits in six innings, matching Hall of Famer Phil Niekro for most wins by a pitcher 45 or older. Niekro, a knuckleballer, had 16 wins at 45 and 46 while pitching for the New York Yankees in 1984-1985.

  METS 2, MARLINS 0

  At New York, Johan Santana pitched a three-hitter on short rest, leading New York to a victory over Florida and a tie in the NL wild-card race.

  Santana (16-7) gave the Mets just their third win in eight games and, coupled with the Brewers’ loss to the Cubs, a chance to reach the postseason. New York and Milwaukee are tied for the wild card, though the Mets were eliminated from the NL East when the Phillies won.

  Only once before had Santana pitched on three days’ rest, and that was in the 2004 AL playoffs. He needed a career-high 125 pitches in his last outing, and he threw 117 in keeping the Mets’ shaky relievers in the bullpen.

  
  

  CUBS 7, BREWERS 3
  

  At Milwaukee, Ben Sheets was roughed up in his return from an injury, and Milwaukee fell back into a tie with the Mets for the NL wild card with one game left in the season.

  Sheets (13-9) tried to put aside nagging elbow soreness to make his first start since Sept. 17, but gave up four runs in only two-and-one-third innings against the Cubs.

  Milwaukee’s lineup couldn’t manage much of anything against Ted Lilly (17-9), who held the Brewers hitless until Ryan Braun led off the seventh with a double.

  Now the Brewers go into the final game of the season tied with the New York Mets for the wild card. Milwaukee’s CC Sabathia is expected to face right-hander Angel Guzman.

  DIAMONDBACKS 6, ROCKIES 4

  At Phoenix, Stephen Drew’s two-run single in the eighth inning off Manny Corpas (3-4) gave Arizona the win, but too late for Brandon Webb to earn his 23rd win.

  Webb hoped to solidify his bid for a second NL Cy Young pitching award, but could not hold a two-run lead that he gave himself with a two-run double in the fourth. The 2006 Cy Young winner allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings. He walked two, hit two and struck out seven.

  Brandon Lyon (3-5) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Chad Qualls got three outs in the ninth for his ninth save in 17 chances.

  CARDINALS 8, REDS 5

  At St. Louis, Albert Pujols hit his 37th home run and reached 100 runs for the seventh time in his first eight seasons in St. Louis’ victory over Concinnati.

  Todd Wellemeyer pitched into the seventh inning and Troy Glaus’ two-run homer left him two RBIs shy of 100 for the Cardinals, who have won five straight. Felipe Lopez also homered for St. Louis, which has taken 11 of its last 13 at home against the Reds.

  Aaron Harang (6-17) allowed six runs — four earned — in five innings to end a late-season run of six quality starts in seven outings.

  Wellemeyer (13-9) ended a three-game losing streak and finished his first full season in the rotation on a positive note, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.

  In other games, it was:

  • Braves 11, Astros 5

  • Padres 3, Pirates 2

  AMERICAN LEAGUE

  AP, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

  Ryan Shealy hit a two-run single to give Kansas City the lead in the seventh inning as the surging Royals handed the suddenly sputtering Minnesota Twins a second straight defeat, 4-2 on Saturday.

  The Twins led Chicago by a half-game in the American League Central when play began, but thanks to a bunch of missed chances by the batters and a letdown by the bullpen they faced another white-knuckle night keeping tabs on the White Sox — who hosted Cleveland later on Saturday.

  The loss was Minnesota’s 74th of the season, one more than Chicago had going its game on Saturday night. So if the White Sox win out, they win the division title.

  Gil Meche (14-11) pitched into the seventh, getting two innings to end on double plays. The Twins left 11 runners on base and grounded into two more against Royals relievers.

  INDIANS 12, WHITE SOX 6

  At Chicago, Zach Jackson pitched seven strong innings and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run double off struggling Javier Vazquez in a six-run fifth as Cleveland handed Chicago its fifth straight loss.

  The Indians built a 7-1 lead and put the game away with four runs in the ninth off Chicago’s beleaguered bullpen. Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez had RBI singles, and pinch-hitter Franklin Gutierrez added a two-run single.

  Paul Konerko hit a pair of homers for the White Sox. Pitching on three days’ rest, Vazquez (12-16) was hit hard for a third consecutive start and failed to make it out of the fifth.

  Chicago got a break before Saturday’s game even started when Cleveland scratched 22-game winner Cliff Lee from his scheduled start yesterday because of a stiff neck. He’ll be replaced by Bryan Bullington.

  If the margin between Minnesota and Chicago stays at a half-game after yesterday, the White Sox will play Detroit today in a makeup game at US Cellular Field.

  In other games, it was

  • Tigers 4, Rays 3

  • Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1, 7 innings

  • Mariners 7, Athletics 3

  • Rangers 8, Angels 4
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