NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cliff Lee threw seven sharp innings and John Mayberry Jr and Hunter Pence each hit a two-run homer, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 10-0 on Monday.
The Phillies rocked Dillon Gee (11-5) to earn their major league-best 82nd win. They have a comfortable lead over Atlanta in pursuit of their fifth straight NL East title.
Photo: AFP
Lee (14-7) allowed three hits, walked three and struck out seven. The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner is 4-0 with a 0.58 ERA this month.
David Herndon pitched the last two innings to complete the five-hitter and record Philadelphia’s 17th shutout.
NATIONALS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1
Photo: AFP
In Washington, Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer, Ross Detwiler took a four-hitter into the seventh inning and the Nationals beat Arizona to extend the Diamondbacks’ losing streak to a season-high six games.
Henry Blanco homered for the Diamondbacks, who have scored only seven runs in their last six games. Mired in its longest skid since a seven-game run in July last year, Arizona now lead second-place San Francisco by just one game in the NL West.
BREWERS 8, PIRATES 1, GAME 1
PIRATES 9, BREWERS 2, GAME 2
In Pittsburgh, Ryan Doumit homered and drove in two runs as Pittsburgh ended more than a year of futility against Milwaukee with a win in the second game of a doubleheader.
The Brewers took the opener for their 13th straight victory over Pittsburgh, but the Pirates pounded Milwaukee ace Zack Greinke in the second game.
BRAVES 3, CUBS 0
In Chicago, Jair Jurrjens pitched in and out of trouble for 6-1/3 innings, Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman homered and Atlanta beat Chicago for their fifth straight win.
Jurrjens (13-5) allowed eight hits and walked five. The Cubs stranded 11 runners in the first six innings.
Uggla’s two shots gave him 30 home runs for the fifth straight season. No other second baseman in the history of the major leagues has reached 30 homers more than three times overall.
Jonny Venters walked the first two batters in the ninth, but got the last three outs for his fifth save.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Dodgers 2, Cardinals 1
‧ Rockies 9, Astros 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Justin Verlander is this season’s first 19-game winner and Alex Avila hit his 15th homer, as the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Monday.
Verlander (19-5) won his seventh consecutive start, giving up one run and three hits in seven innings. The 19 wins match his career high, set in 2009.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the second when Avila hit a two-run shot off Jeff Niemann (8-5). The All-Star catcher is 25-for-59 (.424) with five homers and 14 RBIs this month.
Niemann, who was 7-0 in his 10 previous start, allowed four runs and six hits over 7-1/3 innings.
Tampa Bay center fielder B.J. Upton left with a right shoulder strain after running into the wall on Delmon Young’s eighth-inning double.
RANGERS 4, RED SOX 0
In Arlington, Texas, C.J. Wilson threw 6-2/3 scoreless innings for his 13th victory and Mike Napoli hit a three-run homer, as AL West-leading Texas returned home with a victory over Boston.
Wilson (13-5) struck out four, while limiting the Red Sox to four singles.
Napoli’s 21st homer, in the sixth off Erik Bedard (4-9), extended the Rangers’ 1-0 lead and his hitting streak to a season-best 11.
Bedard is 0-2 in his four starts for the Red Sox since being acquired July 31 in a trade from Seattle. The left-hander struck out four and allowed seven hits over six innings.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Mariners 3, Indians 2
‧ Orioles 4, Twins 1
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