NATIONAL LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
The Philadelphia Phillies got their offense on track with an 8-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Philadelphia (10-5) had scored just four times in three consecutive losses before winning two in a row over the Braves (8-7) to move ahead in the National League East.
The Phillies took a 5-0 lead after three innings, while 47-year-old Jamie Moyer pitched six innings and allowed two unearned runs to get the win.
“I’m kind of amused and amazed at how we handle things,” Moyer (2-1) told reporters. “It’s an even keel, there’s no real excitement. I like that. I think we handle things well as a team.”
Atlanta starter Derek Lowe suffered his first loss of the season, allowing five runs and two walks in five innings.
Philadelphia scored twice in the first inning, before adding three in the third, where Juan Castro had an RBI single and finished three-for-five.
The Braves scored twice in the fifth inning on Phillies’ throwing errors, but the visitors replied with three late runs on two RBIs from Shane Victorino.
A day after Roy Halladay pitched a complete game shut out, Moyer followed with another strong pitching effort that silenced the Atlanta batting lineup.
The Braves did not record an earned run in the 23 innings pitched by the three Philadelphia starters during the series.
“It’s worrisome,” said Atlanta veteran Chipper Jones, who went two-for-four. “We’ve got certain guys that are swinging the bat well and certain sections of the lineup that are swinging the bat well, and others that are just struggling right now. We’ve got to stand by them and help them get through this period.”
BREWERS 20, PIRATES 0
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Milwaukee Brewers piled up 25 hits in a thrashing of Pittsburgh in the most-lopsided loss in Pirates history.
Milwaukee matched a club mark for margin of victory and set a record for their biggest shutout win.
Prince Fielder hit his first home run of the season and Jim Edmonds, Ryan Braun and George Kottaras also connected — they were among 10 players with an RBI. The Brewers finished with 12 extra-base hits.
Milwaukee led 10-0 after five innings, then scored six runs in the seventh inning and four more in the ninth. The rout came a day after the Brewers beat up Pittsburgh 8-0.
Edmonds doubled twice and singled, while Braun added a double and single to drive in five runs. Rickie Weeks doubled twice, singled and scored four times.
Randy Wolf (2-1) pitched six sharp innings and three relievers finished up. The Brewers won their fourth in a row and handed Pittsburgh their third straight loss.
ROCKIES 2, NATIONALS 0
In Washington, Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez followed up his no-hitter by tossing seven-and-a-third shutout innings, while Miguel Olivo and Ian Stewart hit solo homers for the first runs allowed this season by Washington’s Livan Hernandez.
Overpowering at times, Jimenez (4-0) allowed five hits, struck out five and got 15 of his 22 outs via grounders, while lowering his ERA to 0.95. He is responsible for half of the Rockies’ wins this season.
Hernandez (2-1) gave up only four hits across eight innings, but made two crucial mistakes.
METS 5, CUBS 2
In New York, Johan Santana fought through mild trouble for six innings to keep the game scoreless, before David Wright came through with an RBI double to help New York beat Chicago for their first series win of the season.
Jeff Francoeur broke an 0-for-24 slump with an RBI single in the Mets’ four-run sixth inning, helped by second baseman Mike Fontenot’s error. Ike Davis had three hits and New York took three of four from the Cubs after dropping their first four series this season.
Santana (2-1) allowed a run and eight hits in six-and-a-third innings.
Francisco Rodriguez got five outs for his first save of the year.
MARLINS 5, ASTROS 1
In Houston, Texas, Anibal Sanchez pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Cody Ross drove in two runs as Florida snapped Houston’s four-game winning streak.
Sanchez (1-1) allowed nine hits in six-and-two-third innings and struck out only one, but the Astros stranded eight runners and didn’t score until the seventh. Chris Leroux pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Leo Nunez struck out the side in the ninth.
The Marlins capitalized on errors by left fielder Carlos Lee and third baseman Geoff Blum. Lee’s miscue in the first inning helped Florida take a 3-0 lead against Felipe Paulino (0-2).
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
The New York Yankees turned their first triple play for 42 years, yet were beaten 4-2 by the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, ending a six-game American League winning streak.
Oakland’s Kurt Suzuki, who earlier had hit a three-run homer, hit a sharp grounder to Alex Rodriguez, who stepped on third base and threw to Robinson Cano at second. Cano’s relay to first baseman Nick Johnson just beat Suzuki.
The Yankees had gone 6,632 consecutive regular-season games without a triple play, dating to 1968 when Mickey Mantle caught the final out.
Earlier, Oakland pitcher Dallas Braden (3-0) had to be restrained by his manager from confronting Rodriguez after the top of the sixth inning. Braden was upset that Rodriguez had cut across the pitcher’s mound while returning to first base after a foul ball, a supposed breach of baseball etiquette. Braden threw his glove against a wall and kicked a stack of paper cups when he went into the dugout.
The A’s managed only four hits, but benefited from Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia (2-1) tying a career-worst six walks.
INDIANS 8, TWINS 1
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cleveland finally got some hits in their victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The Indians, who were last in the league in batting average and slugging percentage entering the game, matched their season-high with eight runs.
Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot (2-1) followed his first major league win with six impressive innings, holding the Twins to no earned runs.
It was the worst of four starts this season for Twins pitcher Scott Baker (2-2).
RAYS 10, WHITE SOX 2
In Chicago, Tampa Bay completed their most successful road trip in history by thrashing Chicago.
The Rays have never finished a season with a winning record away from Tropicana Field, but they went 9-1 on their first trip this year, outscoring their opponents (Baltimore, Boston and Chicago) by a total of 69 to 23.
Thursday’s other results:
• Tigers 5, Angels 4
• Rangers 3, Red Sox 0
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