NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
Neil Walker hit a two-run homer and Brian Burres limited Atlanta to one run over six innings in his first start in more than three months as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the slumping Braves 3-1 on Monday.
Despite losing its fourth in five games, Atlanta was assured of remaining in first place in the National League East for at least another day when Philadelphia split their day-night doubleheader with Florida.
Atlanta had won five of its previous six against the Pirates, who lead the majors with 91 losses. However, the Braves did almost nothing against Burres (3-3), who limited them to David Ross’ sacrifice fly during his first start since losing to Atlanta 6-3 on May 29.
Joel Hanrahan pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
PADRES 4, DODGERS 2
In San Diego, California, Nick Hundley homered and drove in two runs and Tim Stauffer filled in for ailing ace Mat Latos as the NL West-leading San Diego Padres snapped their 10-game losing streak with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Padres kept their one-game division lead over the San Francisco Giants, who won at Arizona.
The losing streak was San Diego’s longest since a franchise-record 13-game slide in May 1994. The free-fall trimmed five-and-a-half games from the Padres’ lead and dropped them from having the best record in the NL to the third-best.
With Stauffer going only four innings in an emergency start, Adams (3-1) got the win by allowing just a walk in one-and-two-thirds innings while striking out three. Heath Bell pitched a perfect ninth for his 38th save in 41 chances.
Latos was scratched due to stomach flu.
In other NL action, it was:
• Marlins 7, Phillies 1, 1st game
• Phillies 7, Marlins 4, 2nd game
• Rockies 10, Reds 5
• Giants 2, D-backs 0, 11 inns
• Cardinals 8, Brewers 6
• Cubs 5, Astros 4
• Nationals 13, Mets 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
A.J. Pierzynski hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning and finished with three RBIs as the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Monday for their seventh straight win.
Chris Sale (1-1) earned his first major league victory, finishing with two-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. Jose Valverde (2-4) took the loss.
Manny Ramirez led off the Chicago 10th with a single and went to second when left fielder Ryan Raburn stumbled and made an error.
Pinch-runner Alejandro De Aza took third on a single by pinch-hitter Alex Rios, and Pierzynski looped an RBI single.
The White Sox stayed three-and-a-half games behind American League Central-leading Minnesota.
TWINS 5, ROYALS 4
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jason Kubel hit a go-ahead homer and Jim Thome launched his 585th career home run moments later, powering Minnesota past Kansas City.
The fifth-inning shots by Kubel and Thome kept the Twins three-and-a-half games ahead of Chicago in the AL Central.
Thome’s blast hit off the top of the American flagpole beyond the right-field bleachers at Target Field. He is one homer shy of Frank Robinson for eighth all-time.
ORIOLES 4, YANKEES 3
In New York, Brian Matusz won his fourth straight start and Brian Roberts hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning off struggling A.J. Burnett to lead Baltimore over New York.
Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in two runs to reach 100 RBIs for the 13th straight season and record 14th time overall. He surpassed Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx, who each reached 100 RBIs 13 times.
Baltimore had been 0-6 at Yankee Stadium, but the AL-worst Orioles came to New York for the first time under Buck Showalter and won their third in a row, improving to 20-13 under their new manager.
In other AL action, it was:
• Red Sox 12, Rays 5
• Blue Jays 7, Rangers 2
• Athletics 6, Mariners 2
• Indians 3, Angels 2
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