NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia’s Raul Ibanez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in Friday’s clash of the top two teams in the National League.
Roy Halladay pitched seven strong innings, while Carlos Ruiz hit a tying homer for the Phillies, who increased their lead to three-and-a-half-games over the Braves in the NL East Division. The victory was manager Charlie Manuel’s 600th career win with the team.
Despite heavy rain throughout the day and a delay of 1 hour, 54 minutes at the start, the game was played straight through without any stoppage after the first pitch.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, CARDINALS 6
In St Louis, Missouri, leadoff man Kelly Johnson broke a seventh-inning tie with his second Grand Slam of the season as Arizona edged St Louis.
Chris Young added a two-run triple, while David Hernandez earned his fifth save in as many attempts as the stand-in closer for the Diamondbacks, who closed within two games of NL West-leading San Francisco.
Arizona starter Ian Kennedy (9-3) allowed three runs in six innings, matching his career-best victory total from last season.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the eighth against three relievers, but could not get the tying run.
In other NL games, it was:
‧ Mets 5, Giants 2
‧ Brewers 8, Reds 7
‧ Rockies 3, Nationals 2
‧ Pirates 7, Cubs 4
‧ Dodgers 1, Padres 0
‧ Marlins 6, Astros 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
Mark Trumbo hit a walkoff homer leading off the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners in the American League.
Erick Aybar hit a leadoff homer, while Vernon Wells also went long and Hank Conger hit a tying homer in the seventh inning as the Angels big bats overcame Seattle.
Trumbo delivered Los Angeles’ first game-ending homer of the season against David Pauley (5-2), who had just escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.
Mike Trout went 0 for 3 in the prized Los Angeles prospect’s major league debut, but the 19-year-old made a spectacular sprinting catch to end Seattle’s ninth inning. The Angels promoted Trout for the final three games before the All-Star break.
All-Star selection Jordan Walden (2-2) pitched the ninth to take the win for Los Angeles, who have won 14 of their past 16 against the Mariners.
RANGERS 8, ATHLETICS 5
In Arlington, Texas, the home team’s winning streak reached five games with a win over Oakland in a game and a stadium heavy with the memories of the previous day when a fan fell to his death.
Josh Hamilton, who tossed the ball to the fan on Thursday, had another worrying moment when a foul ball of his bat hit a fan in the face. The teenage male fan had blood on his face and was tended to by stadium personnel before he walked away, smiling while he held a compress to his head.
C.J. Wilson (9-3) won his fifth straight decision to tie the team lead in wins, allowing five hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Mike Napoli his a first-inning Grand Slam, while Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre also homered off Gio Gonzalez (8-6), Oakland’s lone All-Star.
In other AL games, it was:
‧ Red Sox 10, Orioles 3
‧ Blue Jays 11, Indians 7
‧ Tigers 6, Royals 4
‧ Twins 8, White Sox 5
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