Nationals notch second home series win since June
Esteban Loaiza struck out 11 and took a shutout into the eighth inning on short rest, and Preston Wilson and Brian Schneider each hit a three-run homer to lead the Washington Nationals past the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 Sunday.
Loaiza (10-10) gave up a run, four hits and four walks, and matched his career high for strikeouts. He threw 128 pitches in eight innings.
Loaiza improved to 9-2 in his career with three days' rest. He helped give the Nationals just their second home series win since the end of June. And it's only the third time since the All-Star break that Washington has managed a winning streak.
Schneider's homer came in the second off Gavin Floyd (1-2), who was called up from the minors to make his first start for the Phillies since April.
Cardinals 4, Astros 1
HOUSTON -- Jason Marquis pitched his second straight complete game and Jim Edmonds hit a go-ahead, two-run double as St. Louis kept Houston from taking over the wild-card lead.
Marquis (11-13) lost seven straight starts before a two-hit shutout in his last appearance, Aug. 27 at Washington. The right-hander limited Houston to five hits with five strikeouts and no walks in his third career complete game -- all this season.
The Astros remained tied with Florida, a half-game behind wild-card leader Philadelphia. Houston opens a three-game series in Philadelphia on Monday.
Mets 7, Marlins 1
MIAMI -- Jae Seo pitched seven strong innings, Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer and New York salvaged the finale of its three-game series against Florida.
Seo (7-1) limited the Marlins to one run and five hits. He improved to 5-0 with a 1.70 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 6.
A.J. Burnett (12-9) consistently threw 96 or 97 mph and still lost his third consecutive start. He struck out nine but allowed eight hits and departed trailing 5-1.
Burnett and Josh Beckett, both vital to the Marlins' push for a playoff berth, are a combined 0-5 in their past six starts.
The Mets are last in the NL East but only 2 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.
Reds 8, Braves 3 (12)
ATLANTA -- Jason LaRue's pinch-hit grand slam capped a five-run 12th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. connected before getting injured to help Cincinnati end a five-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta.
Austin Kearns hit an RBI double in the 12th off Dan Kolb (3-7) to give the Reds a 4-3 lead.
Griffey hit his 536th homer, tying Mickey Mantle for 12th on the career list. His 35th of the season came in the first inning off Horacio Ramirez.
Edwin Encarnacion had a one-out single in the 12th before Griffey singled him to third. Kearns followed with his double to right, scoring Encarnacion. Griffey, however, hobbled into third and left the game with a sprained right foot. He is day to day.
Sean Casey was walked intentionally before LaRue hit a 3-2 pitch from Kolb into the left-field stands.
Matt Belisle (3-6) earned the win with a scoreless 11th inning. Javier Valentin hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.
Brewers 3, Padres 2
MILWAUKEE -- Brady Clark's suicide squeeze scored pinch-runner Corey Hart in the ninth inning, giving Milwaukee a victory over San Diego.
Wes Helms hit a leadoff single against Akinori Otsuka (1-6). Hart ran for Helms and stole second, then moved to third on Chad Moeller's sacrifice.
After pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks walked, Clark bunted the second pitch. Otsuka attempted a late flip to catcher Miguel Olivo, but Hart scored standing up.
Derrick Turnbow (6-1) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.
Cubs 2, Pirates 0
PITTSBURGH -- Nomar Garciaparra homered, Jerome Williams pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and Chicago beat Pittsburgh to complete a three-game sweep.
Williams (5-7), who had lost four of five decisions and got only five outs in his previous start against the Dodgers, walked two and struck out five in 7 1-3 innings.
Ryan Dempster fanned all three batters in the ninth for his 22nd save, finishing the four-hitter.
Pittsburgh has lost four straight, nine of 10 and 14 of 18. The Pirates have also dropped eight in a row at home, their longest skid at PNC Park since it opened in 2001.
Garciaparra, who missed most of the season with a groin injury, was 2-for-4 with his sixth home run. He connected leading off the second inning, his fourth homer in six games.
Rockies 7, Dodgers 6 (10)
DENVER -- Brad Hawpe drove in the winning run with a one-out single in the 10th inning, and Colorado completed a three-game sweep of Los Angeles.
Cory Sullivan had four hits, including a leadoff double in the 10th against Duaner Sanchez (4-5). Matt Holliday drove in two runs with his 15th homer, and Omar Quintanilla doubled and had two RBIs.
Scott Dohman (2-1) worked a scoreless 10th for the win.
Jeff Kent hit his 13th career grand slam and Jason Phillips drove in two runs for the Dodgers.
American League White Sox 2, Tigers 0
CHICAGO -- Jon Garland got his 17th win on his fifth try and Paul Konerko homered, sending the Chicago White Sox to a sweep of their four-game series.
After losing three straight decisions, Garland (17-8) allowed four hits in his third complete game of the season -- all shutouts. He won for the first time since Aug. 7.
Garland walked one and struck out seven, including Chris Shelton with a runner at third to end the eighth. He outpitched Jeremy Bonderman (14-12), who lost his third consecutive start despite allowing five hits in his fourth complete game this season and the sixth of his career. He struck out six and walked one.
Red Sox 5, Orioles 1
BOSTON -- David Wells pitched a complete game in his return from a six-game suspension and John Olerud hit a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning, leading Boston over Baltimore.
Wells (12-6) missed his regular turn after he lost his appeal of the suspension for arguing with umpires on July 2, but came back strong. He allowed seven hits with four strikeouts. For the seventh time in eight games, he issued no walks. And he retired his last 12 batters.
Rodrigo Lopez (13-9) retired his first 11 batters and allowed one hit through four, but lost it quickly in the fifth when the first six batters reached safely.
Olerud hit his sixth homer of the year. It came three days after he had two homers and six RBIs in a win over Tampa Bay.
Twins 7, Indians 5
MINNEAPOLIS -- Shannon Stewart drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning single and Mike Redmond delivered a three-run double in the seventh, leading Minnesota to its second straight victory over AL Central rival Cleveland.
Redmond's hit off the glove of right fielder Casey Blake broke open a game that included four lead changes through the first six innings, the last coming when Stewart's single to right-center scored two runs and put Minnesota ahead 4-3.
Jesse Crain (10-4) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth, allowing Ben Broussard's homer, for his 35th save.
Devil Rays 1, Blue Jays 0
TORONTO -- Scott Kazmir and two relievers combined on a four-hitter, leading Tampa Bay to its second straight win after it had lost five in a row.
Toby Hall drove in the lone run with a sacrifice fly in the second.
Kazmir (8-9) allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked one in seven innings. Joe Borowski pitched the eighth and Danys Baez finished for his 33rd save in 40 chances as the Devil Rays recorded their third shutout of the season. Tampa Bay still doesn't have a complete game this season.
The Blue Jays managed just two hits in Saturday's loss and have dropped 12 of their last 16. Toronto has been shut out 11 times, tied with Oakland for most in the AL.
Royals 17, Rangers 8
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Angel Berroa hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs, matching his career high, and Kansas City beat Texas to avoid a four-game sweep.
The victory was only the sixth in 34 games for the Royals, who own the worst record (44-91) in the majors. Kansas City had 18 hits in its highest-scoring game of the season.
Aaron Guiel had three hits, including his first home run since Aug. 23, 2004, and scored three runs. Emil Brown drove in a career-high four runs with a two-run homer in the eighth and a two-double in the third.
Edison Volquez (0-1) faced 15 batters and eight scored. He retired none of the six batters he faced in the third inning and four of the six hits he yielded were for extra bases.
Jimmy Gobble held the Rangers to one run and five hits over 4 1-3 innings in his first start of the season. He left with the Royals up 11-1, but was on a restrictive pitch count. He threw 61 pitches before being replaced by rookie right-hander Leo Nunez (3-2), who was credited with the win.
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Loaiza (10-10) gave up a run, four hits and four walks, and matched his career high for strikeouts. He threw 128 pitches in eight innings.
Loaiza improved to 9-2 in his career with three days' rest. He helped give the Nationals just their second home series win since the end of June. And it's only the third time since the All-Star break that Washington has managed a winning streak.
Schneider's homer came in the second off Gavin Floyd (1-2), who was called up from the minors to make his first start for the Phillies since April.
Cardinals 4, Astros 1
HOUSTON -- Jason Marquis pitched his second straight complete game and Jim Edmonds hit a go-ahead, two-run double as St. Louis kept Houston from taking over the wild-card lead.
Marquis (11-13) lost seven straight starts before a two-hit shutout in his last appearance, Aug. 27 at Washington. The right-hander limited Houston to five hits with five strikeouts and no walks in his third career complete game -- all this season.
The Astros remained tied with Florida, a half-game behind wild-card leader Philadelphia. Houston opens a three-game series in Philadelphia on Monday.
Mets 7, Marlins 1
MIAMI -- Jae Seo pitched seven strong innings, Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer and New York salvaged the finale of its three-game series against Florida.
Seo (7-1) limited the Marlins to one run and five hits. He improved to 5-0 with a 1.70 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 6.
A.J. Burnett (12-9) consistently threw 96 or 97 mph and still lost his third consecutive start. He struck out nine but allowed eight hits and departed trailing 5-1.
Burnett and Josh Beckett, both vital to the Marlins' push for a playoff berth, are a combined 0-5 in their past six starts.
The Mets are last in the NL East but only 2 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.
Reds 8, Braves 3 (12)
ATLANTA -- Jason LaRue's pinch-hit grand slam capped a five-run 12th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. connected before getting injured to help Cincinnati end a five-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta.
Austin Kearns hit an RBI double in the 12th off Dan Kolb (3-7) to give the Reds a 4-3 lead.
Griffey hit his 536th homer, tying Mickey Mantle for 12th on the career list. His 35th of the season came in the first inning off Horacio Ramirez.
Edwin Encarnacion had a one-out single in the 12th before Griffey singled him to third. Kearns followed with his double to right, scoring Encarnacion. Griffey, however, hobbled into third and left the game with a sprained right foot. He is day to day.
Sean Casey was walked intentionally before LaRue hit a 3-2 pitch from Kolb into the left-field stands.
Matt Belisle (3-6) earned the win with a scoreless 11th inning. Javier Valentin hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.
Brewers 3, Padres 2
MILWAUKEE -- Brady Clark's suicide squeeze scored pinch-runner Corey Hart in the ninth inning, giving Milwaukee a victory over San Diego.
Wes Helms hit a leadoff single against Akinori Otsuka (1-6). Hart ran for Helms and stole second, then moved to third on Chad Moeller's sacrifice.
After pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks walked, Clark bunted the second pitch. Otsuka attempted a late flip to catcher Miguel Olivo, but Hart scored standing up.
Derrick Turnbow (6-1) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.
Cubs 2, Pirates 0
PITTSBURGH -- Nomar Garciaparra homered, Jerome Williams pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and Chicago beat Pittsburgh to complete a three-game sweep.
Williams (5-7), who had lost four of five decisions and got only five outs in his previous start against the Dodgers, walked two and struck out five in 7 1-3 innings.
Ryan Dempster fanned all three batters in the ninth for his 22nd save, finishing the four-hitter.
Pittsburgh has lost four straight, nine of 10 and 14 of 18. The Pirates have also dropped eight in a row at home, their longest skid at PNC Park since it opened in 2001.
Garciaparra, who missed most of the season with a groin injury, was 2-for-4 with his sixth home run. He connected leading off the second inning, his fourth homer in six games.
Rockies 7, Dodgers 6 (10)
DENVER -- Brad Hawpe drove in the winning run with a one-out single in the 10th inning, and Colorado completed a three-game sweep of Los Angeles.
Cory Sullivan had four hits, including a leadoff double in the 10th against Duaner Sanchez (4-5). Matt Holliday drove in two runs with his 15th homer, and Omar Quintanilla doubled and had two RBIs.
Scott Dohman (2-1) worked a scoreless 10th for the win.
Jeff Kent hit his 13th career grand slam and Jason Phillips drove in two runs for the Dodgers.
American League White Sox 2, Tigers 0
CHICAGO -- Jon Garland got his 17th win on his fifth try and Paul Konerko homered, sending the Chicago White Sox to a sweep of their four-game series.
After losing three straight decisions, Garland (17-8) allowed four hits in his third complete game of the season -- all shutouts. He won for the first time since Aug. 7.
Garland walked one and struck out seven, including Chris Shelton with a runner at third to end the eighth. He outpitched Jeremy Bonderman (14-12), who lost his third consecutive start despite allowing five hits in his fourth complete game this season and the sixth of his career. He struck out six and walked one.
Red Sox 5, Orioles 1
BOSTON -- David Wells pitched a complete game in his return from a six-game suspension and John Olerud hit a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning, leading Boston over Baltimore.
Wells (12-6) missed his regular turn after he lost his appeal of the suspension for arguing with umpires on July 2, but came back strong. He allowed seven hits with four strikeouts. For the seventh time in eight games, he issued no walks. And he retired his last 12 batters.
Rodrigo Lopez (13-9) retired his first 11 batters and allowed one hit through four, but lost it quickly in the fifth when the first six batters reached safely.
Olerud hit his sixth homer of the year. It came three days after he had two homers and six RBIs in a win over Tampa Bay.
Twins 7, Indians 5
MINNEAPOLIS -- Shannon Stewart drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning single and Mike Redmond delivered a three-run double in the seventh, leading Minnesota to its second straight victory over AL Central rival Cleveland.
Redmond's hit off the glove of right fielder Casey Blake broke open a game that included four lead changes through the first six innings, the last coming when Stewart's single to right-center scored two runs and put Minnesota ahead 4-3.
Jesse Crain (10-4) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth, allowing Ben Broussard's homer, for his 35th save.
Devil Rays 1, Blue Jays 0
TORONTO -- Scott Kazmir and two relievers combined on a four-hitter, leading Tampa Bay to its second straight win after it had lost five in a row.
Toby Hall drove in the lone run with a sacrifice fly in the second.
Kazmir (8-9) allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked one in seven innings. Joe Borowski pitched the eighth and Danys Baez finished for his 33rd save in 40 chances as the Devil Rays recorded their third shutout of the season. Tampa Bay still doesn't have a complete game this season.
The Blue Jays managed just two hits in Saturday's loss and have dropped 12 of their last 16. Toronto has been shut out 11 times, tied with Oakland for most in the AL.
Royals 17, Rangers 8
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Angel Berroa hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs, matching his career high, and Kansas City beat Texas to avoid a four-game sweep.
The victory was only the sixth in 34 games for the Royals, who own the worst record (44-91) in the majors. Kansas City had 18 hits in its highest-scoring game of the season.
Aaron Guiel had three hits, including his first home run since Aug. 23, 2004, and scored three runs. Emil Brown drove in a career-high four runs with a two-run homer in the eighth and a two-double in the third.
Edison Volquez (0-1) faced 15 batters and eight scored. He retired none of the six batters he faced in the third inning and four of the six hits he yielded were for extra bases.
Jimmy Gobble held the Rangers to one run and five hits over 4 1-3 innings in his first start of the season. He left with the Royals up 11-1, but was on a restrictive pitch count. He threw 61 pitches before being replaced by rookie right-hander Leo Nunez (3-2), who was credited with the win.
Source: http://www.azdailysun.com/
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