The San Diego Padres dropped out of the lead in the National League West after a 4-0 defeat by the St Louis Cardinals on Thursday in the opener of a key four-game series.
St Louis’ Jake Westbrook (2-3) pitched eight scoreless innings in his longest outing since he was signed from Cleveland in July.
The Cardinals got all four runs in the sixth inning, snapping a three-game skid and retaining faint hopes of a playoff spot, seven games off the NL Central lead and a wild-card berth.
Padres starter Tim Stauffer (4-4) allowed four runs in five-plus innings.
Giants 10, Dodgers 2
In San Francisco, the hosts took over the NL West lead with a strong win over Los Angeles.
Aubrey Huff hit a three-run homer and Buster Posey had a solo shot.
Jonathan Sanchez (11-8) struck out 12 as the Giants took a half-game lead on the Padres. San Francisco is in sole possession of first place for the first time since May 6.
Dodgers starter Ted Lilly (8-11) was done after three-and-a-third innings.
In other NL games it was:
• Diamondbacks 3, Reds 1
• Mets 6, Pirates 2
AP, CHICAGO
Delmon Young hit his 18th homer and Carl Pavano got his 17th win as the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 8-5 on Thursday night to complete the three-game sweep.
Paul Konerko hit a solo homer in the third against Pavano (17-11) after being drilled in the face by a pitch in the first inning.
A.J. Pierzynski and Alexei Ramirez also went deep, but the Twins walked away with their 11th win in 12 games.
Minnesota lead the White Sox by nine in the AL Central.
Young hit a two-run homer off Mark Buehrle (12-11) in the fifth to make it 6-2.
Matt Capps worked the ninth for his 39th save overall.
In the other AL game it was:
• Indians 3, Angels 2, 11 innings
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