BASEBALL GAME RECAPS 9-2-08

Pedroia, Papi team up to hammer Orioles, power BoSox's easy win
Associated Press

BOSTON -- The public address announcer had already gone through the lineups and the first strains of the national anthem were about to follow when Boston's scheduled No. 4 hitter, first baseman Kevin Youkilis, was scratched with back spasms.

There was only one place for manager Terry Francona to turn: Dustin Pedroia.

The diminutive second baseman filled in at cleanup for the third time in four games and delivered a career high-tying five RBIs on Tuesday night to lead Boston to a 14-2 victory over the struggling Baltimore Orioles.

"It was a quick move tonight," Francona said. "We put Petey in the four-hole and he just continues to get hits."

Pedroia had a double, a homer and a single, and is batting .600 (18-for-30) over the last seven games to raise his AL-leading average to .330. A year after hitting eight homers and winning the AL rookie of the year award, Pedroia has 16 homers for the season.

The numbers are typical of a cleanup hitter, but not the kind that were expected from a feisty, 5-foot-9 second baseman. But with Youkilis ailing, Pedroia has gone 7-for-12 while providing protection for slugger David Ortiz.

"It's funny to see him come up after Ortiz, a big burly guy," teammate Mark Kotsay said.

Ortiz and Coco Crisp also had three hits on Tuesday, and Ortiz added four RBIs as the Red Sox won for the 10th time in 14 games. Boston cut its deficit in the AL East to four games behind Tampa Bay, which lost 7-2 to the New York Yankees; the Red Sox lead the wild-card by four games.

Jon Lester (13-5) allowed one run and six hits, striking out five and walking four in five innings.

Radhames Liz, who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, gave up nine runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings and dropped to 5-4. The Orioles lost for the 10th time in 11 games. Baltimore pitchers have allowed 55 runs and 42 walks in their last five games, all losses.

"You hope you get it out of your system," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "You've hit rock bottom and you would think that sooner or later it's going to turn for you. That's the only approach I think you can take."

Pedroia hit .374 in August, scoring 33 runs in the month and convincing Red Sox fans that he should be the AL MVP. Pedroia is doing his best to tune out the "MVP!" chants when he is in the batter's box.

"I just come to the park and do the same thing I've done all year," he said.

Ortiz hit a two-run double in the third, and Pedroia followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 4-0. With the bases loaded in the fifth, Ortiz bounced one over the right-field wall for another two runs, chasing Liz, and Pedroia followed with a three-run homer off Fernando Cabrera.

Pedroia popped up with the bases loaded in the fifth, but he drove in another run in the seventh with a double to match his career high for RBIs.

Game notes
The Orioles scratched Wednesday's starter Jeremy Guthrie due to arm fatigue. Lance Cormier will replace him. ... Youkilis was replaced at 1B by Jeff Bailey. ... RHP RHP Bartolo Colon will pitch a rehab assignment in the minors on Saturday and be penciled in for one of Boston's game in a doubleheader on Sept. 13. ... The game was the 454th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park, one short of the major league record set by Cleveland from 1995-2001. ... The Orioles also called up RHPs Bob McCrory and Kam Mickolio from Norfolk before the game. ... 3B Melvin Mora missed his fourth consecutive game with a strained left hamstring. ... The Red Sox moved to a season-high 24 games over .500.





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Indians take second straight from White Sox, losers of 5 of 6
Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- Victor Martinez hugged teammates and danced in the dugout as if he had just won the World Series.

It was a special moment for Cleveland's switch-hitter, who hit his first home run in nearly a year to help the Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3 on Tuesday night.

"It felt great to see one finally go out," Martinez said.

The White Sox remained tied with Minnesota for the AL Central lead despite losing for the fifth time in six games. Chicago will try to avoid a three-game sweep Wednesday.

"Something's missing," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It seems like we are tired. It seems like we are dead. There are a lot of things that we are missing right now.

"Maybe because we're not scoring many runs. Maybe because the starting pitching throws four innings and that's it. Maybe we're not coaching right. Maybe I'm making the wrong decisions.

"We have to find out right away because if we continue to play like that, it's going to be real tough to compete."

Fausto Carmona (8-5) pitched 5 2/3 innings to win his third straight start and Asdrubal Cabrera broke out of a 1-for-19 slump with three hits for the Indians, winners of 12 of 15.

Chicago's Nick Swisher snapped his 0-for-19 slide with an eighth-inning double.

Martinez put Cleveland ahead 2-0 in the second inning against John Danks (10-.

Jhonny Peralta walked and Martinez, activated Friday after having right elbow surgery in mid-June, hit the first pitch he saw over the wall in left. It was his first homer in 57 games and 203 at-bats since Sept. 25.

"Nobody has more fun playing this game than Victor," said backup catcher Sal Fasano, who greeted Martinez with a bearhug in the dugout. "It was a lot of fun to see him do that."

Martinez said he was teased by teammates and enjoyed every minute of it.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about [his drought]," Martinez said. "This game is all about having fun and the guys made some fun of me. It was a great feeling."

Franklin Gutierrez's two-run double made it 4-0 in the fifth.

Carmona failed to get out of the sixth when Chicago scored three runs, helped by the right-hander's wildness. Jermaine Dye walked and scored on a wild pitch. Another run scored on a sacrifice fly by Swisher. Then Carmona hit Alexei Ramirez in the hand with a pitch and pinch-hitter Jose Uribe followed with a two-out RBI double off the left-field wall to make it 4-3.

"I tried to make a perfect pitch and it sank too much," Carmona said of his wild pitch in the dirt that skipped past catcher Kelly Shoppach.

Rafael Betancourt came on to strike out Jerry Owens with runners on second and third to preserve the one-run lead.

"Betancourt did a good job to protect that lead right there," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "That was huge."

Carmona allowed three runs and five hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Danks gave up four runs and eight hits over four innings in his third straight loss.

Peralta had an RBI single off D.J. Carrasco in Cleveland's five-run seventh. Boone Logan then issued a bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Shin-Soo Choo before giving up a two-run single to Cabrera and Grady Sizemore's run-scoring single to make it 9-3.

Chicago leads the majors with 199 home runs, but did not hit any for the second consecutive game after hitting 21 in its previous 12 games.'

Game notes
Chicago OFs Carlos Quentin (sore left forearm) and Ken Griffey Jr. (lower back stiffness) did not play. ... White Sox 3B Joe Crede left in the sixth with tightness in his lower back. "We lost three guys in less than six hours," Guillen said. ... White Sox LHP Mark Buehrle returned to Chicago to be with his wife, who is ill. He is scheduled to start Friday night. ... DH Travis Hafner and LHP Aaron Laffey were not among six players called up by Cleveland from Triple-A Buffalo. Laffey was shut down with an inflamed left elbow. Hafner, out since May with a sore right shoulder, likely will keep rehabbing in the minors. ... Sizemore is the Indians' winner of the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award that recognizes good play on the field and work in the community.




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K-Rod inches closer to saves record as Angels slip past Tigers
Associated Press

DETROIT -- Chone Figgins helped the Angels overcome Miguel Cabrera's home run with a little small ball.

Figgins walked, stole a base and eventually scored on Mark Teixeira's ninth-inning sacrifice fly to give the Los Angeles Angels a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.

Torii Hunter drove in three runs for Los Angeles, which reduced its magic number to clinch the AL West to eight.

Cabrera hit his third home run in three days and drove in three runs for Detroit, which has lost seven of nine.

With the score tied at 4, Fernando Rodney (0-4) walked Figgins to lead off the ninth.

"Walking Figgins was the kiss of death," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Figgins then made a prophet out of Leyland by stealing his third base of the game. Figgins went to third on Garret Anderson's groundout, and Teixeira's fly ball to center made it 5-4.

"I just think its playing baseball," Figgins said. "My goal is to get on base, try and steal bases and score runs and let the big boys take care of business."

Cabrera hit his 31st homer with two outs in the eighth off Scot Shields (6-4) to tie the game.

Cabrera, who has nine RBI in his last three games, has driven in 109 runs. That ties him with Minnesota's Justin Morneau for second in the AL.

Cabrera's homer was the first run the Angels' bullpen allowed since Aug. 22, a span of 29 2/3 innings.

"They've been great," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "We've obviously looked at a lot of guys and see an immediate impact every day, especially our late inning relief."

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 54th save in 59 chances. The all-time record of 57 is held by Bobby Thigpen, who set it in 1990 with the Chicago White Sox.

Rodriguez allowed a leadoff single to Edgar Renteria and walked Curtis Granderson with two out, but got Placido Polanco on a fielder's choice grounder to end the game.

"The Angels always find a way to get him into the game. He wants the ball," Granderson said. "Even when he gets in trouble like tonight, he find a way to get out of it."

Hunter gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run double with the bases loaded.

Cabrera's two-out RBI single in the bottom half scored Granderson, who led off with a single and stole second.

Vladimir Guerrero doubled with one out in the third and scored on Hunter's RBI single.

The Tigers tied it at 3 in the third. Angels starter Joe Saunders hit Placido Polanco with a pitch with one out and Magglio Ordonez followed with a double. Cabrera brought Ordonez home with a double off the right-field fence.

Los Angeles took a 4-3 lead on reliever Gary Glover's error in the fifth that allowed Hunter to score. He had doubled with one out and moved to third on an error by third baseman Ryan Raburn.

Saunders allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out two.

Tigers starter Chris Lambert gave up three runs and six hits in four innings.

Game notes
Detroit LHP Dontrelle Willis and RHP Freddy Garcia pitched against each other in a simulated game before Tuesday night's contest. Leyland was pleased with both pitchers' progress. ... Willis spent most of the season at Class-A Lakeland working on his control and mechanics and was then sent to Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers recalled him on Monday. Garcia, who hasn't pitched in the majors since mid-2007 was signed to a minor league contract and is not on the active roster. ... Los Angeles recalled C Ryan Budde and RHPs Dustin Moseley and Darren O'Day from Triple-A Salt Lake City. ... Detroit recalled the contracts of RHP Chris Lambert and LHP Clay Rapada from Triple-A Toledo and purchased the contracts of C Dusty Ryan and INF Mike Hessman from the same team on Tuesday.




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Jays extend win streak over Twins, earn third straight victory
Associated Press

TORONTO -- Locked in a tight AL Central race, the Minnesota Twins can't afford too many nights like this.

Jose Bautista and Alex Rios had four hits each, hitting back-to-back homers Tuesday as the Toronto Blue Jays erased a four-run deficit to beat Minnesota 7-5 for their seventh straight victory over the Twins.

"This is a game we should have won," Minnesota pitcher Boof Bonser said. "We know where we are, so every game is big."

Lyle Overbay also homered for Toronto, which finished with 17 hits in winning its third straight.

Minnesota stayed tied with the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central. The Twins lost for the seventh time in 10 games and dropped to 5-7 with two games remaining on a season-long 14-game road trip.

"We didn't keep the ball in the ballpark," manager Ron Gardenhire lamented. "It's unfortunate. We came out swinging the bats pretty good, running around the bases pretty good early in the game and we just kind of gave it back to them."

Minnesota's past seven losses have been by a combined 11 runs.

"It's getting old," outfielder Denard Span said. "We've lost some tough ones this whole road trip. All the losses we've had have been ones that we should have won the game. We've got to start picking it up and start finishing games a little better."

The White Sox lost 9-3 at Cleveland, their fifth defeat in six games.

"It's more on us," Twins starter Glen Perkins said. "We can't rely on them to lose."

Down 5-1, Toronto cut the gap to one with a three-run fifth that featured a two-run homer by Bautista, his first since joining Toronto in an Aug. 21 trade with Pittsburgh. Rios followed with his 11th, giving Toronto back-to-back homers for the second time this season. Matt Stairs and Scott Rolen did it June 13 in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Rolen walked leading off the sixth and Overbay put Toronto ahead 6-5 with a two-run homer off Bonser (3-7), his 12th.

"It was right down the middle and it was supposed to be away," Bonser said about the fastball that Overbay hit to right.

Overbay is batting .328 (20-for-61) with 13 RBIs in his past 16 games and hopes to end an up-and-down season on a high note.

"Usually I'm just kind of even," Overbay said. "It seems like I've gone good and then I've gone bad and I just can't stay in the middle of it. Hopefully this month will be something I can build on."

Toronto has 102 home runs, the third-lowest total in the AL. Only Minnesota and Kansas City, with 98 each, have hit fewer.

Four left-handers came out of Toronto's bullpen to work six shutout innings, including two perfect ones by Jesse Carlson (5-1). Brian Tallet handled the fourth and fifth, Carlson the sixth and seventh, Scott Downs the eighth and B.J. Ryan closed it out for his 26th save in 29 opportunities.

"If you get some runs off [Toronto] early you'd better hold them because if you get behind, it's going to be really tough with that pitching staff and that bullpen," Gardenhire said.

Bonser, the second of six Minnesota pitchers, took the loss, allowing two runs and two hits in one inning.

Minnesota took a 3-0 lead in the third when Alexi Casilla and Joe Mauer led off with singles before Casilla scored on a single by Justin Morneau. Mauer scored and Morneau went to second on a wild pitch before Delmon Young capped the rally two outs later with a run-scoring single.

Vernon Wells had an RBI single in the bottom half, but Minnesota added two runs in the fourth to make it 5-1. Nick Punto singled, stole second and scored on Span's single. Span, who took second on the throw, stole third and scored one out later on Mauer's sacrifice fly.

Rios gave the Blue Jays an insurance run with an RBI double in the eighth off Matt Guerrier.

Blue Jays starter David Purcey allowed five runs and seven hits in three-plus innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Purcey was the seventh consecutive left-handed starter the Twins have faced, making them the first team to see seven straight southpaws since the 1991 New York Mets. The Twins have gone 3-4 in those games.

Perkins gave up four runs and 10 hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out one.

"It was just one of those nights where I didn't have anything, really," said Perkins, who has won nine of his past 10 decisions. "It was a struggle the whole night just to try and find it. From the time I stepped on the field it didn't feel quite right."

Game notes
Mauer's sacrifice fly was Minnesota's major league-leading 61st of the season. ... Minnesota LHP Jose Mijares, one of seven players added to the roster Tuesday, did not travel to Toronto because of visa problems. The Venezuela native will join the Twins when they return home Friday to open a three-game series against Detroit. ... Toronto activated OF Brad Wilkerson from the 15-day DL and recalled RHP Shaun Marcum, OF Kevin Mench, RHP Scott Richmond, C Curtis Thigpen and RHP Brian Wolfe. Marcum will return to the starting rotation Saturday against Tampa Bay, while Richmond and Wolfe will pitch out of the bullpen.




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Nady backs Mussina's solid effort to extend Yanks' playoff hopes
Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Mike Mussina is doing all he can to help the New York Yankees cling to their slim playoff chances.

The 39-year-old right-hander earned his 17th win, and the Yankees got home runs from Alex Rodriguez and Xavier Nady in a 7-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night that included a scoreless relief outing by Joba Chamberlain.

Fast Facts

• The Yankees' Mike Mussina is now three wins away from his first-ever 20-win season.

• Matt Garza failed to last past the fifth inning for the first time in four starts.

• Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hit his 21st home run with the bases empty.

• Tuesday's loss was just the seventh time the Rays lost the opening game of a home series.

-- ESPN research

"We're just trying to win ballgames any way we can. I'm trying to contribute on my day," Mussina said. "We battled to get out of some situations. We got some big hits we needed."

Chamberlain came off the disabled list for New York and pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Tampa Bay's lead in the AL East was trimmed to four games over Boston, which beat Baltimore 14-2.

Mussina (17-7) got his 267th win, passing Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for sole possession of 34th place on the career list. One thing that's eluded him, though, is a 20-win season.

"Obviously, you would like to see a guy that has been so good for so long be able to achieve that," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's kind of neat that he's chasing it."

Mussina allowed two runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings. He matched a season high with eight strikeouts, improving to 3-0 against the Rays. He also beat them on April 7 and May 14, and his 19 career wins tie him with Tim Wakefield for the most by any pitcher against Tampa Bay.

Nady hit a two-run homer off Matt Garza (11- for the third-place Yankees, who have won 10 of 16.

Rodriguez hit home run No. 548, tying Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt for 12th on the career list. The eighth-inning solo shot off Jason Hammel was his 30th of the year, giving A-Rod 11 consecutive seasons -- and 12 overall -- with 30 or more.

Meanwhile, Chamberlain made a strong return from a month stay on the DL. He entered with runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh inning and needed just one pitch to get out of the jam.

"It felt good," Chamberlain said. "My mechanics were kind of off, all over the place. But at the end of the day, there's a zero. That's what a month does physically. I came out great."

The right-hander was placed on the DL with right rotator cuff tendinitis on Aug. 6, two days after he left a start against Texas with shoulder soreness. The Yankees expect him to work out of the bullpen the rest of the season.

Chamberlain allowed one hit and walked one in 1 1/3 innings. Dan Giese, also activated from the DL on Tuesday, worked the ninth in a non-save situation.

"Joba looked good for not being out there for a while," Girardi said.

Mussina, 19-7 lifetime against Tampa Bay, gave up an RBI single to Cliff Floyd in the third and left after Gabe Gross and Shawn Riggans opened the seventh with consecutive doubles to trim New York's lead to 6-2.

Players with most consecutive
30-homer seasons
A day after Albert Pujols become one of just 17 players with at least eight consecutive 30-home run seasons, Yanks 3B Alex Rodriguez became one of only three players to have at least 11 consecutive such seasons.
No. of seasons Players
13 Barry Bonds (1992-2004)
12 Jimmie Foxx (1929-40)
11 Alex Rodriguez (1998-2008)
10 Sammy Sosa (1995-2004), Carlos Delgado (1997-2006)
Nine Jim Thome (1996-2004), Rafael Palmeiro (1995-2003), Mike Schmidt (1979-87), Eddie Mathews (1953-61), Lou Gehrig (1929-37), Manny Ramirez (1998-2006)
Eight Albert Pujols (2001-08), Jeff Bagwell (1996-2003), Mike Piazza (1995-2002), Albert Belle (1992-99)

Akinori Iwamura followed with a single, putting runners at the corners with no outs, but the Yankees' bullpen didn't allow any more damage.

Damaso Marte struck out B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena. Chamberlain entered to a standing ovation from Yankees fans among the crowd of 21,629 and got pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli to ground into a force play on a 96 mph fastball.

The Rays, who had won five in a row, are beginning a stretch of 19 consecutive games against clubs in playoff contention, including six against Boston and five more against the Yankees -- one of just two AL teams with winning records against Tampa Bay this season.

"I know they've hit a few tough moments this year. But they are the Yankees. They are very talented and they beat us again," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We'll put it behind us and play them again."

Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui all drove in one run apiece against Garza, who yielded six runs and five hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander had allowed four runs combined in his previous three starts.

Game notes
The Yankees are 8-5 against Tampa Bay. Cleveland is the other AL team with a winning record (5-2) against the AL East leaders. ... Rays closer Troy Percival, out since Aug. 14 because of cartilage damage in his right knee, was reinstated from the disabled list. C John Jaso (Triple-A Durham) and RHP Juan Salas (Double-A Montgomery) were recalled from the minors. ... Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, in the final year of his contract, met with team co-chairmen Hank and Hal Steinbrenner at the club's complex in Tampa. He said an extension was not discussed.






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Hamilton helps McCarthy win for first time in over a year
Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Brandon McCarthy gave the Texas Rangers what they hope is a preview for 2009.

McCarthy pitched six strong innings for his first win in more than 13 months, Josh Hamilton drove in three runs and the Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Tuesday night.

McCarthy (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits in his third start of the season. He struck out four without a walk in a 104-pitch outing.

The Rangers planned on having McCarthy as a mainstay of their rotation, but he went on the 60-day disabled list on March 30 with right forearm inflammation after pitching an inning in a spring training game. He didn't begin throwing in the bullpen until June 21.

"It's important," said McCarthy, whose last victory was on July 31, 2007 at Cleveland. "But I don't put any more importance on this September than other Septembers. I don't care what the situation is, I just want to pitch well."

Texas dealt top left-handed prospect John Danks to the Chicago White Sox for McCarthy in December 2006, but McCarthy's been able to make only 25 starts in two seasons with Texas because of injuries.

"He's a big part of our team," Rangers catcher Gerald Laird said. "We gave up a good prospect for him and I know he wants to produce. It's good to see him pitching so well."

Rangers manager Ron Washington said the next step for McCarthy is to be more efficient.

"He competes hard," Washington said. "Once he controls his pitch count, you'll see him go deeper in games."

Frank Francisco struck out the side in the ninth for his third save in nine chances. Texas had lost 10 of its previous 12 at home and four of five overall.

Hamilton, who increased his major league-leading RBI total to 121, Laird and Milton Bradley all had three hits for Texas, while Hank Blalock had two RBIs to help the Rangers end the Mariners' season-best four-game winning streak.

Yuniesky Betancourt homered for the Mariners.

Seattle starter Ryan Feierabend (0-2) gave up five runs and 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings.

"Ryan threw the ball pretty good," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "It's a tough lineup and he battled and did a good job. He made a lot of good pitches and kept us in the game. He probably doesn't feel it was his best game but he gave his team a chance to win."

Texas grabbed the lead in the first on Hamilton's two-run single after Seattle got a run in the top of the inning on Raul Ibanez's sacrifice fly.

"[Hamilton] is an RBI machine who continues to do what he's done all year no matter what you throw at him," Riggleman said. "But our guys came back and battled and gave us the opportunity to make something happen there in the ninth."

The Rangers went in front 3-1 in the second when Nelson Cruz tripled and scored on Laird's single. Blalock's third-inning RBI double gave Texas a 4-1 lead.

McCarthy retired 10 straight hitters until Betancourt's two-out homer in the fifth pulled Seattle within 4-2.

Blalock's RBI single in the sixth made it 5-2.

Seattle rallied with a two-run eighth on Ibanez's run-scoring single and Jose Lopez's RBI double to get within 6-4.

Game notes
The Mariners called up seven players from Triple-A Tacoma in a two-day span, but Riggleman isn't a fan of expanded rosters on Sept. 1. "You play the game one way for five months, and then the last month of the season the rules are changed," Riggleman said. "I've never liked it. Some teams are playing with 28, some with 38. No other sport does it that way." ... Seattle C Kenji Johjima was out of the starting lineup after getting spiked on the hand during a slide into first base during Monday night's game. He's day-to-day. ... The Rangers extended their minor-league agreement with Class-A Spokane. ... The crowd of 14,521 was the smallest of the season at Texas. The previous low was 14,563 on May 1 against Kansas City.





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AL's worst in August square off as Royals take first of three-game set
Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Billy Butler discovered that what used to work still does.

Driving in four runs for the second time in three games, Kansas City's barrel-chested designated hitter went 3-for-4 while powering Kansas City past Oakland 5-2 on Tuesday night.

"I got the mentality of 'I'm going to let it rip and I'm going to stay through it,'" said Butler, who hit a three-run homer. "I don't care if I get jammed. I'm going to keep my hands inside. It's given me the ability to let balls get deeper and recognize pitches more instead of trying to hit them all out."

After falling into some bad habits, Butler had gone into a prolonged slump, even earning a brief stint back in the minors.

"That's just the way I've always hit," he said. "I got away from that earlier this year."

Zack Greinke (10-9) allowed two runs in seven innings for his first win in five starts, walking one and striking out eight. Greinke, who hadn't won since Aug. 2, had his most strikeouts since ringing up a season-best 11 against the A's on July 28.

Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his 34th save, and his first since Aug. 15.

Butler homered to left in the first for a 3-0 lead. Mike Aviles was walked by rookie Gio Gonzalez (1-3) and Jose Guillen reached on left fielder Aaron Cunningham's error.

"In that situation, I'm looking for a ball up, to get in the air," Butler said. "That was a ball I was sitting on and I just happened to not miss it. The next time I could very easily foul that ball off. But when you're going good, you're going good. So I didn't miss it."

It was only the third victory in 15 games for the Royals, who were an AL-worst 7-20 in August. Oakland's 10-20 record was second-worst.

"It might be the worst month since I've been here," Greinke said. "It was a pretty bad month."

Daric Barton drove in two runs for Oakland and lacked only a double for the cycle. He had an RBI triple in the second, a solo homer in the fifth and a single off Soria in the ninth. He was 3-for-3 with a walk.

"I'd probably rather pitch to [Butler] than Barton, whatever's going on with him right now," Greinke said. "He had a great game. He hit a home run that almost went out of the stadium foul, too. He did everything."

Since August turned to September, Barton has turned his game around much as Butler has with his. After going 4-for-40, he has hit in 10 of his last 11 games.

"When I feel good, I feel good," Barton said. "So far, so good in September this year."

The A's had runners at second and third with one out in the fifth but Greinke got Rajai Davis and Ryan Sweeney on ground balls.

"The key there is getting that second out," Greinke said.

Butler had two home runs and four RBIs in Detroit on Saturday night and has hit in eight straight games.

"He's a powerful kid and has a good swing," said Gonzalez, who went four innings in his sixth major league start and gave up only two hits -- home runs by Butler and Ryan Shealy.

"You just tip your hat to a swing like that. I made a mistake pitch [on the homer] and he did what he had to do," Gonzalez said. "After that, I just kept the ball down and away."

Shealy, a September callup from Triple-A Omaha, hit a 3-2 offering from Gonzalez over the fence in right for his first major league homer since June 6, 2007.

"He kept nailing that same spot and I kept fouling them off," Shealy said. "That one was up a little bit more and caught more of the plate and I was able to get enough of it."

Game notes
Oakland LHP Josh Outman made his major league debut, going two scoreless innings with two hits and two strikeouts. He threw 32 pitches, 23 strikes. ... The A's have scored six runs or fewer in their last 38 games, one short of the franchise record set by the Philadelphia A's in 1924. ... The Royals have beaten Oakland five straight times.





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LaRoche, Moss homers back Snell as Bucs beat Reds
LaRoche, Moss Homer As Pirates Knock Off Reds, 3-2
Photo Wire

Pittsburgh Pirates' Brandon Moss rounds the bases past Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger, right, after Moss hit a solo home run in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, in Cincinnati. The Pirates won 3-2. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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Regular Season Series
Pittsburgh leads 8-5 (as of Tue 9/2)
Fri 4/11 @PIT 1, CIN 0 Recap
Sat 4/12 @PIT 4, CIN 3 Recap
Sun 4/13 @PIT 9, CIN 1 Recap
Tue 5/27 @CIN 9, PIT 6 Recap
Wed 5/28 @CIN 9, PIT 1 Recap
Thu 5/29 PIT 7, @CIN 2 Recap
Mon 6/30 @CIN 4, PIT 3 Recap
Tue 7/1 PIT 6, @CIN 5 Recap
Wed 7/2 PIT 9, @CIN 5 Recap
Tue 8/12 CIN 5, @PIT 1 Recap
Wed 8/13 @PIT 5, CIN 2 Recap
Thu 8/14 CIN 3, @PIT 1 Recap
>Tue 9/2 PIT 3, @CIN 2 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 PIT (Ohlendorf) @ CIN (Volquez) 7:10 PM ET
Sep 4, 2008 PIT (Gorzelanny) @ CIN (Fogg) 12:35 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Reds | Pirates
Scoring Summary
PIT CIN
1st C Dickerson homered to right. 0 1
2nd B Moss homered to right. 1 1
2nd An LaRoche homered to left. 2 1
2nd C Patterson singled to right, J Bruce scored. 2 2
3rd N McLouth grounded out to shortstop, I Snell scored, N Morgan to third. 3 2
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 18,024 (42.9% full)
Game Time: 2:50
Weather: 92 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind: 7 mph
Umpires: Home Plate - Paul Schrieber, First Base - Kerwin Danley, Second Base - Wally Bell, Third Base - Laz Diaz
Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) -- It's too early to say if Pittsburgh's three-way deal at the trade deadline is paying off, but the Pirates can dream, can't they?

Rookies Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche, two of the players acquired by Pittsburgh in a six-player deal on July 31, hit back-to-back home runs to help the last-place Pirates snap a 10-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

"Basically, we've been pressing the last few games," said Moss, who had a career-high three hits and is hitting .366 (15-for-41) with four home runs and six RBI in his last 11 games. "It's hard enough playing baseball and winning games without pressing. It's a roller-coaster with ups and downs, and we've been on a prolonged down."

Moss and LaRoche were both acquired in a three-way trade on July 31 that sent left fielder Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox to the Dodgers and left fielder Jason Bay from the Pirates to Boston.

The homers helped right-hander Ian Snell win for the second time in three starts. Snell (6-10) lasted six innings, giving up seven hits and two runs -- one earned. He struck out five.

Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 23 opportunities.

Chris Dickerson gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead in the first inning with his fifth homer of the season and second leading off a game for the Reds.

Moss, sent to the Pirates from the Red Sox, hit his sixth home run since joining the Pirates in the second, and LaRoche followed with his fifth overall to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead.

"Brandon's made a lot of strides, I think," Pirates manager John Russell said, adding that hitting coach Don Long has been working with him on not chasing pitches.

"He's even laying off strikes -- pitches that aren't good hitting pitches -- and that's helping him center the ball. Andy's coming along as well."

The home runs were the 30th and 31st homers allowed by Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang, who trails only Houston's Brandon Backe in the National League. Harang missed almost a month with a strained right forearm.

"His velocity's still not quite where you want it to be," manager Dusty Baker said. "He's given up a few of those home runs, but when they're solo like that, they usually don't hurt you."

Jay Bruce led off the second with a single, stole second and moved to third on catcher Ryan Doumit's throwing error as Ryan Hanigan was striking out. Bruce scored on Corey Patterson's soft lined single to right field.

The Pirates regained the lead in the third on Snell's leadoff walk, Nyjer Morgan's double and Nate McLouth's RBI groundout.

Harang (4-15) allowed five hits and three runs with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings.

"I threw a hanging breaking ball to LaRoche," Harang said. "A couple of pitches to Moss didn't go the way I was hoping they would go. I was trying to tie him up with fastballs, but one caught too much of the plate. If there's a happy zone for left-handers, that's it."

Adam LaRoche came close to hitting Pittsburgh's third homer of the night in the sixth, but Patterson went back to the center field wall, leaped, reached above the fence and pulled LaRoche's drive back into the ballpark.

Game notes
Pittsburgh SS Luis Cruz singled to left field in the first inning in his first major league plate appearance. The Pirates purchased his contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. ... RHP Ross Ohlendorf, one of nine players Pittsburgh recalled on Tuesday, was scheduled to make his first career major league start Wednesday. LHP Zach Duke's start was pushed back to Friday at San Francisco. ... The Reds activated RHP Jared Burton from the 15-day disabled list. The reliever hadn't pitched since July 10 because of a strained muscle in his right side. ... The Reds also recalled RHP Ramon Ramirez on Tuesday.




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Rollins backs Hamels to power Phils past suddenly hot Nats
Phillies Shut Out Nationals, 4-0
Photo Wire

Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores grimaces in pain after he was injured in a play at the plate with Philadelphia Phillies Chase Utley during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, in Washington. At right is manager Manny Acta. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

· View photo | View gallery
Regular Season Series
Philadelphia leads 9-5 (as of Tue 9/2)
Mon 3/31 WAS 11, @PHI 6 Recap
Wed 4/2 WAS 1, @PHI 0 Recap
Thu 4/3 @PHI 8, WAS 7 Recap
Mon 5/19 @WAS 4, PHI 0 Recap
Tue 5/20 PHI 1, @WAS 0 Recap
Wed 5/21 PHI 12, @WAS 2 Recap
Tue 7/29 PHI 2, @WAS 1 Recap
Wed 7/30 PHI 8, @WAS 5 Recap
Thu 7/31 PHI 8, @WAS 4 Recap
Tue 8/19 @PHI 5, WAS 4 Recap
Wed 8/20 @PHI 4, WAS 0 Recap
Thu 8/21 WAS 4, @PHI 3 Recap
Mon 9/1 @WAS 7, PHI 4 Recap
>Tue 9/2 PHI 4, @WAS 0 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 PHI (Blanton) @ WAS (Perez) 7:10 PM ET
Sep 26, 2008 WAS @ PHI 7:05 PM ET
Sep 27, 2008 WAS @ PHI 7:05 PM ET
Sep 28, 2008 WAS @ PHI 1:35 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Nationals | Phillies
Scoring Summary
PHI WAS
3rd J Rollins singled to left, C Ruiz scored, J Rollins to second advancing on throw. 1 0
3rd C Utley singled to left center, J Rollins scored. 2 0
7th J Rollins singled to right, P Feliz scored, C Ruiz to third. 3 0
7th C Utley grounded into double play, second to first to shortstop to pitcher, C Ruiz scored, J Rollins out at second. 4 0
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 23,150 (56.2% full)
Game Time: 2:43
Weather: 87 degrees, clear
Wind: 6 mph
Umpires: Home Plate - Scott Barry, First Base - Brian Gorman, Second Base - Gerry Davis, Third Base - Bruce Dreckman
Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Almost every time Cole Hamels has taken the mound this season, the Philadelphia Phillies have been able to count on him to pitch deep into the game.

The left-hander did it again Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals, pitching into the eighth inning and allowing five hits in a 4-0 victory that ended the Nationals' seven-game winning streak.

In 29 starts this season, Hamels (12- has pitched at least seven innings 23 times -- the most in the majors. He has a 3.01 ERA in 203 innings.

"He gets a quality start pretty much every time out," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "He gives you a chance to win. His record doesn't necessarily indicate that, but his ERA does. Sometimes good pitchers run into bad luck. There have been games we have blown, games that we just haven't scored, and then there are games like tonight, where all it takes is one or two runs and he can work with it."

Rollins gave Hamels most of what he had to work with with two RBI-singles and a walk.

The Phillies remained two games behind first-place New York in NL East.

Washington's winning streak was its longest since a 10-game run in 2005, but it ended as J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge finished the six-hitter. The Nationals have been shut out 20 times, seven more than any other major league team.

"Coming out of a game is disappointing in a sense, because whenever you start one you want to finish," said Hamels, who pitched 7 1/3 innings Tuesday. "But the bullpen, all year I've had the confidence in them and they were able to get the job done -- and did fabulous."

John Lannan (8-13) took the loss, giving up two runs and five hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four.

"It's definitely a tough lineup," Lannan said. "That's why they're battling for first place with the Mets right now. They're tough from top to bottom. You don't really get any breaks."

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores was carted off the field in the third inning after Philadelphia's Chase Utley barreled into him on a play at the plate.

"When I saw him in the type of pain that he was, I was very worried," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "I felt really bad for the kid, but X-rays were negative and it just looks like an ankle sprain right now. We'll have an MRI tomorrow and we'll find out more about it, but the good news is that the X-rays didn't show anything."

The collision came as Utley was attempting to steal home with two outs. With runners on first and third, Lannan made a pickoff throw to first and Utley broke for home.

Utley arrived at the plate just after the throw from first baseman Ronnie Belliard and crashed hard into Flores. After he tagged out Utley, Flores stayed on the ground near home plate for several minutes as his left leg was attended to by trainers and medical personnel.

Eventually, Flores was placed on a stretcher and carted off the field. He was replaced by Wil Nieves.

"His cleat just got stuck in front of home plate and that's why his ankle wouldn't give in, but we didn't think it was a dirty play," Acta said.

Utley said he was just trying to generate some offense. He knew Lannan has a slow move to first, and once he reached third he was planning to go home on a pickoff attempt. When Lannan made the move, Utley went.

"I felt like I got a good jump, Belliard made a quick throw home, and there you have it," Utley said. "I thought the only option I had at that point to be safe was to try and knock the ball loose. ... My intention was definitely not to hurt him, my intention was to knock the ball loose."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he supported the decision to break for home, and had no problem with how Utley finished the play.

"It's not old school, it's good school," Manuel said.

The collision was the second play at the plate for Flores on Tuesday.

Earlier in the third inning, Rollins singled home Carlos Ruiz from second. The throw from left fielder Willie Harris was in time but slightly to the right of Flores, who missed the ball as he tried for a sweep tag on Ruiz. Rollins, who went to second on the throw, scored on Utley's single.

The Phillies tacked on two more runs in the seventh, the first on another RBI single by Rollins. Ruiz then scored as Rollins was caught in a rundown between first and second during an inning-ending double play.

Game notes
Nationals SS Cristian Guzman was named co-NL Player of the Week Tuesday. Guzman, who hit for the cycle Thursday against the Dodgers, has at least two hits in seven straight games, but was given a rest Tuesday. ... Nationals LHP Mike Hinckley made his major league debut in the seventh. He pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings, striking out two.




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Marlins nearly come back from 7-run deficit as Braves win scoring fest
Braves OutSlug Marlins, 16-14
Also See
· Fish recall pro baseball's HR leader from Triple-A
· Braves' Jones twists knee, scratched from game
Photo Wire

Atlanta Braves Omar Infante watches his hit in the sixth inning against the Florida Marlins during a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 in Miami. Infante had four hits and two RBIs as the Braves defeated the Marlins 16-14. (AP Photo/Steve Mitchell)

· View photo | View gallery
Regular Season Series
Atlanta leads 10-7 (as of Tue 9/2)
Tue 4/15 @FLA 4, ATL 0 Recap
Wed 4/16 @FLA 6, ATL 5 Recap
Thu 4/17 ATL 8, @FLA 0 Recap
Wed 4/23 FLA 7, @ATL 2 Recap
Thu 4/24 @ATL 7, FLA 4 Recap
Mon 6/2 @ATL 7, FLA 5 Recap
Tue 6/3 @ATL 5, FLA 4 Recap
Wed 6/4 FLA 6, @ATL 4 Recap
Thu 6/5 @ATL 7, FLA 5 Recap
Mon 7/21 ATL 4, @FLA 0 Recap
Tue 7/22 @FLA 4, ATL 0 Recap
Wed 7/23 ATL 9, @FLA 4 Recap
Tue 8/26 @ATL 10, FLA 9 Recap
Wed 8/27 FLA 4, @ATL 1 Recap
Thu 8/28 @ATL 4, FLA 2 Recap
Mon 9/1 @FLA 4, ATL 3 Recap
>Tue 9/2 ATL 16, @FLA 14 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 ATL (Campillo) @ FLA (Volstad) 1:10 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Marlins | Braves
Scoring Summary
ATL FLA
1st J Anderson homered to right. 1 0
1st J Cantu hit sacrifice fly to left, H Ramirez scored. 1 1
1st M Jacobs homered to right center. 1 2
1st L Gonzalez doubled to deep center, D Uggla scored. 1 3
3rd O Infante singled to left, Y Escobar scored, B McCann to second. 2 3
3rd K Johnson doubled to deep right, B McCann scored, O Infante to third. 3 3
3rd J Francoeur homered to left, O Infante and K Johnson scored. 6 3
4th M Prado singled to center, J Anderson scored. 7 3
4th O Infante doubled to deep left, M Prado scored, B McCann to third. 8 3
4th K Johnson doubled to left, B McCann and O Infante scored. 10 3
4th A Amezaga tripled to deep right, C Ross, D McPherson and H Ramirez scored. 10 6
4th M Jacobs singled to center, A Amezaga scored. 10 7
4th D Uggla homered to left center, M Jacobs scored. 10 9
5th P Lo Duca singled to center, C Ross scored, J Baker to second. 10 10
5th J Baker scored, P Lo Duca to third, H Ramirez to second on wild pitch by B Boyer. 10 11
5th A Amezaga singled to center, P Lo Duca and H Ramirez scored, A Amezaga to second on throwing error by center fielder J Anderson. 10 13
6th B Jones singled to right, O Infante and K Johnson scored, J Francoeur to second. 12 13
6th G Norton doubled to deep left, J Francoeur and B Jones scored. 14 13
8th J Baker singled to right, B Carroll scored, C Ross to second. 14 14
9th R Gotay doubled to deep center, M Prado scored. 15 14
9th K Johnson singled to right, R Gotay scored, O Infante to second. 16 14
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Dolphin Stadium, Miami, FL
Attendance: 14,092 (38.8% full)
Game Time: 3:44
Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind: 15 mph
Umpires: Home Plate - Sam Holbrook, First Base - Mark Wegner, Second Base - Jeff Kellogg, Third Base - Chad Fairchild
Associated Press

MIAMI -- Long out of contention for the NL East title, the Atlanta Braves are making sure the Florida Marlins join them.

Pinch-hitter Ruben Gotay had an RBI double in the ninth inning and the Braves spoiled a seven-run Marlins rally to beat Florida 16-14 on Tuesday night.

"We were mad after we lost the lead," Gotay said. "It's not easy to sit there and watch your team lose the lead and wait on the bench for one at-bat. I was just happy I could do my part and keep the hitting going."

Kelly Johnson had four hits and four RBIs, and Omar Infante had four hits and two RBIs for the Braves, who had a season high in runs. Atlanta, which snapped a four-game losing streak, scored 14 runs against the Reds on May 4.

Alfredo Amezaga had a career-high five RBIs for the Marlins, who have not won consecutive games since July 30-31. The Marlins are eight games behind first-place New York in the NL East.

"We were ready to swing the bats -- them and us," Amezaga said. "They were luckier than us."

No lead was safe in the game that featured 30 runs, 36 hits and 14 pitchers.

"If you're going to play one of those, it's best to come out on top," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "We couldn't stop them one inning. Luckily, they couldn't stop us either."

MIAMI -- Long out of contention for the NL East title, the Atlanta Braves are making sure the Florida Marlins join them.

Pinch-hitter Ruben Gotay had an RBI double in the ninth inning and the Braves spoiled a seven-run Marlins rally to beat Florida 16-14 on Tuesday night.

"We were mad after we lost the lead," Gotay said. "It's not easy to sit there and watch your team lose the lead and wait on the bench for one at-bat. I was just happy I could do my part and keep the hitting going."

Kelly Johnson had four hits and four RBIs, and Omar Infante had four hits and two RBIs for the Braves, who had a season high in runs. Atlanta, which snapped a four-game losing streak, scored 14 runs against the Reds on May 4.

Alfredo Amezega had a career-high five RBIs for the Marlins, who have not won consecutive games since July 30-31. The Marlins are eight games behind first-place New York in the NL East.

"We were ready to swing the bats -- them and us," Amezega said. "They were luckier than us."

No lead was safe in the game that featured 30 runs, 36 hits and 14 pitchers.

"If you're going to play one of those, it's best to come out on top," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "We couldn't stop them one inning. Luckily, they couldn't stop us either."

Florida came back from a 10-3 deficit to take a 13-10 lead, and had it held, it would have been by far the biggest comeback win this season for Florida. The Marlins had rallied from three-run deficits five times this season.

With the score tied at 14 in the ninth, Gotay singled in Martin Prado for the go-ahead run. Johnson added an RBI single off reliever Matt Lindstrom (3-3).

"Anytime you see 30 runs put up on the board something's fishy," Lindstrom said. "Things like that don't happen very often."

Mike Gonzalez pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in as many chances.

Mike Jacobs hit his 28th homer in a three-run first as the Marlins took a 3-1 lead.

Jeff Francoeur's three-run homer in the third put the Braves ahead 6-3. It was the 11th of the season for Francoeur.

The Braves hit three doubles in the fourth off reliever Mark Hendrickson, part of a four-run inning that stretched the lead to 10-3.

Amezega had a bases-clearing triple, and Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer to cap a six-run Marlins fourth that made it 10-9. The home run was Uggla's 29th.

Florida tied the game 10-all on an RBI pinch hit by Paul Lo Duca, and John Baker scored on a wild pitch by reliever Blaine Boyer in the fifth to put the Marlins ahead 11-10. Amezega's two-run single later in the inning gave Florida a 13-10 lead.

Greg Norton's two-run double off reliever Joe Nelson helped Atlanta retake the lead, 14-13, in a four-run sixth.

Baker hit an RBI single in the eighth off Jorge Julio (1-0) to tie the game at 14. It was the first appearance of the year for Julio, who was called up earlier Tuesday from Triple-A Richmond.

Florida starter Anibal Sanchez was roughed up in his second straight outing, both against Atlanta. He lasted three innings, giving up six runs and eight hits.

Braves starter Charlie Morton went 3 1/3 innings and left the game with a 10-7 lead.

Game notes
Braves 3B Chipper Jones, who was scratched with a twisted right knee, said after the game he injured himself taking fielding practice. He said he should be fine in a few days. Infante started in his place and had two throwing errors. ... Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez stole his 30th and 31st bases of the season in the first inning after reaching on an error by Infante. Ramirez has stolen at least 30 bases in three straight seasons.





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Beltran homers, Mets 'pen solid in win over Brewers in 10
Mets Need 10 Innings To Beat Brewers, 6-5
Also See
· Brewers' Sheets won't miss start after groin injury
Photo Wire

New York Mets' Daniel Murphy scores the game-winning run past Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jason Kendall during the 10th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, in Milwaukee. Murphy scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Endy Chavez. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

· View photo | View gallery
Regular Season Series
New York leads 3-2 (as of Tue 9/2)
Fri 4/11 @NYM 4, MIL 2 Recap
Sat 4/12 MIL 5, @NYM 3 Recap
Sun 4/13 MIL 9, @NYM 7 Recap
Mon 9/1 NYM 4, @MIL 2 Recap
>Tue 9/2 NYM 6, @MIL 5 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 NYM (Perez) @ MIL (Bush) 2:05 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Brewers | Mets
Scoring Summary
NYM MIL
1st R Weeks homered to left. 0 1
2nd F Tatis doubled to right, C Beltran scored, C Delgado to third. 1 1
2nd D Easley grounded out to shortstop, C Delgado scored. 2 1
3rd C Beltran homered to left, N Evans and D Wright scored. 5 1
4th M Parra doubled to right center, B Hall and J Kendall scored. 5 3
4th J Hardy singled to left, M Parra scored, R Weeks to second. 5 4
4th C Hart singled to center, R Weeks scored, J Hardy thrown out at home, P Fielder to second. 5 5
10th E Chavez hit sacrifice fly to right, D Murphy scored. 6 5
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
Attendance: 36,587 (86.3% full)
Game Time: 3:21
Weather: 87 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind: 10 mph
Umpires: Home Plate - Paul Nauert, First Base - Tom Hallion, Second Base - Brian Onora, Third Base - Ed Rapuano
Associated Press

MILWAUKEE -- Now that major league rosters have expanded, the New York Mets have a bunch of new arms in their suspect bullpen.

It appears they plan to use 'em, too.

Fast Facts

• The Mets bullpen threw seven shutout innings in relief of Jonathon Niese, who allowed five runs in his major league debut.

• New York has won three straight and 16 of 21, while Milwaukee lost their second straight to fall to 25-12 in one-run games.

• Carlos Beltran hit his fifth homer in his last nine games.

-- ESPN research

Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer, Endy Chavez drove in the decisive run in the 10th inning and New York beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 Tuesday night thanks to a stellar effort from its much-maligned bullpen.

Six relievers combined for seven shutout innings, helping the NL East leaders remain two games ahead of second-place Philadelphia. The Mets improved to 5-2 on their eight-game road trip against playoff contenders, winning for the 16th time in 21 games overall.

"When you have a number of pitchers like we have, and we have put most of them in somewhat stressful situations, you're not afraid now to call them in those times," manager Jerry Manuel said. "And you figure if you keep them short, keep them having some success, then the next time they go out there, they feel very confident about themselves. That's the plan. Sometimes it goes well. Sometimes it doesn't."

Milwaukee's wild-card lead was cut to 4 1/2 games over the Phillies.

Still missing injured closer Billy Wagner, New York goes for a three-game sweep Wednesday in this potential postseason preview.

"We just have to keep playing good baseball down the stretch and put ourselves into position to win games, and we'll win our share," Manuel said.

Pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy opened the 10th with a single off Salomon Torres (6-4) and went to third when catcher Jason Kendall made a throwing error on Jose Reyes' sacrifice bunt.

"It was a really, really tough play," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "Reyes is one of the fastest players in the league, so Kendall had to rush the throw. And it's one of the toughest plays for a second baseman to make covering first. Kendall had to hurry and he just threw it on the foul side of the base."

Murphy scored easily on Chavez's sacrifice fly to right.

"I was just trying to put the ball in play and make something happen," Chavez said.

Joe Smith (3-3) got the final out in the ninth and Luis Ayala pitched the 10th for his fifth save in six opportunities since coming to the Mets in a trade with Washington.

Ayala gave up a two-out double to pinch-hitter Brad Nelson, his first major league hit, and walked pinch-hitter Gabe Kapler before striking out Weeks.

"[The bullpen] came out and pitched the ball well," said Weeks, who matched a career high with four hits. "You've got to tip your cap to them."

New York lefty Jonathon Niese lasted three-plus innings in his big league debut. The 21-year-old Niese, starting in place of injured John Maine, gave up five earned runs and seven hits to go with four walks and two strikeouts.

"It's the first one," Manuel said. "You almost have to kind of throw that one out for him. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt. It was obviously a tremendous experience for him. The fact that we end up winning the game is the most important thing."

Weeks hit Niese's second pitch for a home run to left. Niese then walked the next two batters but got out of the inning by stranding runners at second and third.

New York took a 2-1 lead in the second on a run-scoring double by Fernando Tatis and an RBI groundout by Damion Easley.

Beltran, who left Monday's game in the eighth with a bruised knee, gave the Mets a 5-1 lead with his 22nd homer in the third. New York has homered in 13 straight games.

Milwaukee tied the score at 5 in the fourth after Niese gave up hits to the first five batters.

Brewers starter Manny Parra hit a two-run double and J.J. Hardy drove in a run with a single that ended Niese's night. Nelson Figueroa struck out Ryan Braun but walked Prince Fielder before Corey Hart tied the game with a single. Hardy, however, was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw from Beltran in center.

Parra tossed five-plus innings, giving up five runs -- four earned -- and six hits. He struck out six but has just one win in his last eight starts.

Game notes
Niese was a seventh-round draft pick in 2005. ... Milwaukee RHP Ben Sheets is expected to make his next start Saturday against San Diego. He left Monday's game after five innings with tightness in his groin. ... Beltran has five homers in his last nine games. ... The Brewers' streak of 22 consecutive sellouts, a franchise record, came to an end. ... The Mets have not committed an error in 35 of their last 40 games.





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Blum homers as Astros win in 11 for 7th straight victory
Astros Top Cubs, 9-7, In Extra Innings
Photo Wire

Houston Astros closer Jose Valverde celebrates after the Astros defeated the Chicago Cubs 9-7 in a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

· View photo | View gallery
Regular Season Series
Houston leads 8-6 (as of Tue 9/2)
Fri 4/4 HOU 4, @CHC 3 Recap
Sat 4/5 @CHC 9, HOU 7 Recap
Sun 4/6 @CHC 3, HOU 2 Recap
Mon 5/19 CHC 7, @HOU 2 Recap
Tue 5/20 @HOU 4, CHC 2 Recap
Wed 5/21 @HOU 5, CHC 3 Recap
Fri 7/18 @HOU 2, CHC 1 Recap
Sat 7/19 @HOU 4, CHC 1 Recap
Sun 7/20 CHC 9, @HOU 0 Recap
Mon 8/4 HOU 2, @CHC 0 Recap
Tue 8/5 @CHC 11, HOU 7 Recap
Wed 8/6 @CHC 11, HOU 4 Recap
Mon 9/1 HOU 3, @CHC 0 Recap
>Tue 9/2 HOU 9, @CHC 7 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 HOU (Wolf) @ CHC (Dempster) 8:05 PM ET
Sep 12, 2008 CHC @ HOU 8:05 PM ET
Sep 13, 2008 CHC @ HOU 7:05 PM ET
Sep 14, 2008 CHC @ HOU 2:05 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Cubs | Astros
Scoring Summary
HOU CHC
1st A Soriano homered to left center. 0 1
2nd D Newhan grounded out to second, G Blum scored, H Pence to third. 1 1
4th M DeRosa homered to left. 1 2
4th G Soto homered to center. 1 3
5th M Tejada singled to right, H Quintero and M Bourn scored, T Wigginton to third. 3 3
6th D Newhan singled to right, H Pence scored. 4 3
6th M Bourn singled to center, D Newhan and H Quintero scored, R Abercrombie to second. 6 3
6th M Tejada grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, R Abercrombie scored, T Wigginton out at second, M Bourn to third. 7 3
6th R Theriot doubled to right, J Edmonds and G Soto scored. 7 5
6th M Fontenot singled to center, R Theriot scored. 7 6
7th J Edmonds homered to left. 7 7
11th G Blum homered to right, L Berkman scored. 9 7
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Attendance: 39,846 (96.9% full)
Game Time: 4:17
Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind: 6 mph
Umpires: Home Plate - Fieldin Culbreth, First Base - Jim Reynolds, Second Base - Tim Timmons, Third Base - Gary Cederstrom
Associated Press

CHICAGO -- No one knew Carlos Zambrano was hurting.

The Chicago Cubs starting pitcher left after five innings on a hot and muggy Tuesday night, more than two hours before Geoff Blum won it for the Houston Astros with a two-run homer in the 11th inning.

Fast Facts

• The Cubs bullpen allowed six runs in six innings as Chicago lost four straight for the first time since June 26-29.

• Geoff Blum's first regular-season game-winning homer in extra innings (he had one in the 2005 World Series) gave the Astros their seventh straight victory.

• After going three games without an extra-base hit, the Cubs had four homers and three doubles.

-- ESPN research

Zambrano's short outing was almost forgotten after the Astros' wild 9-7 win.

So it was a bit of a surprise when Cubs manager Lou Piniella revealed that Zambrano left because of arm problems. Zambrano will have his right arm examined Wednesday.

Any absence could affect the Cubs, who are trying to hold on to first place in the NL Central, not to mention the best record in the league. With starter Rich Harden being skipped for precautionary reasons this week, this is news the Cubs didn't need to hear.

"He told our pitching coach he wasn't feeling good," Piniella said. "It has to be in his arm. I just don't know. We'll let you know tomorrow when we find out."

Blum's two-run homer off Kerry Wood sent the Astros to their seventh straight victory, one shy of their season high.

"That's what we've been doing lately," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Getting it from everywhere and everybody. Just contributions up and down the lineup."

The first-place Cubs, who have lost four straight, all at home, remained 4½ games ahead of Milwaukee in the NL Central.

"We're in a stretch right now where things aren't going our way," Piniella said. "We've just got to battle through it. What can you do?"

Zambrano was coming off a poor August and was pushed back two days with arm fatigue. He didn't overpower the Astros, rarely hitting 90 mph, and gave up three runs, five hits and three walks in five innings. He was pulled after 86 pitches.

Zambrano was unavailable for comment, and his teammates were almost speechless about a possible injury.

"I had no idea," catcher Geovany Soto said. "I still don't know what's going on. To be honest with you, I think he was a little better than his last couple outings."

Wood (4-3) walked Lance Berkman and Blum sent the first pitch into the bleachers in right for his 14th homer. Wood struck out four in two innings.

"Lance worked a pretty big walk in that situation," Blum said. "I was guessing that with Lance's ability to steal a base and get into scoring position with one out, it might give me an opportunity to get a fastball. I guessed right."

The Cubs had 15 hits and eight walks, but they also hit into four double plays and stranded 12 runners. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez committed errors in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings.

"We squandered some opportunities, but we scored seven runs, which is ample enough to win," Piniella said. "Houston's playing well, give them credit."

Wesley Wright (4-3) went two scoreless innings and Jose Valverde worked the 11th for his 39th save, ending a game that took 4 hours, 17 minutes.

Houston scored four runs in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead.

Miguel Tejada tied the game 3-3 with a two-run single off Zambrano, who didn't let on he wasn't feeling well. Bob Howry didn't have a lot of time before replacing Zambrano for the sixth and six batters later, he was booed off the field.

Hunter Pence started the carnage with a triple off the wall in center and David Newhan followed with a single. Humberto Quintero singled and Howry walked pinch-hitter Reggie Abercrombie. Michael Bourn hit a two-run single through a drawn-in infield, ending Howry's night, and the Astros scored one more on Tejada's double play grounder.

Houston is 7½ games behind Milwaukee in the wild-card race.

"We're going to keep believing and we're going to keep fighting every day," said Pence, who went 4-for-6, falling a homer shy of the cycle.

The Cubs scratched back in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Astros' lead to 7-6. Ryan Theriot hit a two-run double and scored from third on Mike Fontenot's single.

Jim Edmonds snapped a 1-for-14 slump with a solo homer in the seventh to tie it 7-7.

The Cubs had gone three games without an extra-base hit. Alfonso Soriano reversed that trend in the first with his fourth leadoff homer of the season, and the Cubs added three solo homers and three doubles.

"We had a very good offense today," Soriano said. "I hope we come back with more energy tomorrow."

Backe gave up the three solo homers in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed nine hits and walked two.

Game notes
Slumping Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome didn't start Tuesday, but entered as a pinch-hitter, walking once and getting a hit. He won't play Wednesday against lefty Randy Wolf, but the left-handed hitter should be back in the starting lineup this weekend, Piniella said. ... The Astros activated 2B Kaz Matsui from the 15-day DL, but he won't play until the weekend. Houston also brought up C J.R. Towles, RHP Alberto Arias and IF Edwin Maysonet. ... Cubs RHP Angel Guzman pitched for the first time since June 1, 2007, after undergoing Tommy John surgery. ... The Cubs set a club record, surpassing 3 million fans in 74 games, beating the previous record, set last year, by one game.




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Spilborghs' walk-off single in 12th clips Giants
Rockies Top Giants, 6-5, In 12 Innings
Regular Season Series
Colorado leads 8-6 (as of Tue 9/2)
Mon 4/28 @SF 4, COL 0 Recap
Tue 4/29 COL 3, @SF 2 Recap
Wed 4/30 @SF 3, COL 2 Recap
Mon 5/19 @COL 4, SF 3 Recap
Tue 5/20 SF 6, @COL 5 Recap
Wed 5/21 SF 3, @COL 2 Recap
Tue 6/10 @COL 10, SF 5 Recap
Wed 6/11 @COL 1, SF 0 Recap
Thu 6/12 SF 10, @COL 7 Recap
Mon 8/25 COL 4, @SF 2 Recap
Tue 8/26 COL 7, @SF 2 Recap
Wed 8/27 @SF 4, COL 1 Recap
Mon 9/1 @COL 4, SF 0 Recap
>Tue 9/2 @COL 6, SF 5 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 SF (Zito) @ COL (Cook) 3:05 PM ET
Sep 23, 2008 COL @ SF 10:15 PM ET
Sep 24, 2008 COL @ SF 10:15 PM ET
Sep 25, 2008 COL @ SF 10:15 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Rockies | Giants
Scoring Summary
SFO COL
4th M Holliday singled to center, O Quintanilla scored. 0 1
4th B Hawpe doubled to deep right, M Holliday scored, B Hawpe to third on error by second baseman E Burriss. 0 2
4th C Iannetta singled to center, B Hawpe scored. 0 3
4th T Tulowitzki homered to left, C Iannetta scored. 0 5
5th O Vizquel doubled to deep right, P Sandoval and E Burriss scored. 2 5
6th E Burriss singled to center, N Schierholtz and B Molina scored, P Sandoval to third. 4 5
6th O Vizquel singled to left, P Sandoval scored, E Burriss to second. 5 5
12th R Spilborghs singled to deep right, O Quintanilla scored, M Holliday to second. 5 6
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Coors Field, Denver, CO
Attendance: 23,710 (47% full)
Game Time: 3:52
Weather: 63 degrees, cloudy
Wind: 3 mph
Umpires: Home Plate - Mike Reilly, First Base - Andy Fletcher, Second Base - Bob Davidson, Third Base - Alfonso Marquez
Associated Press

DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies are trying to duplicate their incredible run to the 2007 World Series. Ryan Spilborghs gave them a reason to believe they can do it again.

Spilborghs singled home Omar Quintanilla with one out in the bottom of the 12th and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on Tuesday night.

The win, coupled with Arizona's 8-2 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday, moved the Rockies to within five games of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

"We're right about where we were last year, ready for another crazy run," Spilborghs said.

While the Rockies are still eight games under .500, their position in the division is almost exactly the same as it was last year. Through games of Sept. 2, 2007, the Rockies were five games behind Arizona and San Diego, in fourth place. This year, they're in third.

Colorado won 14 of their final 15 regular season games last year to win the NL wild card, and advanced to the World Series by winning seven straight.

"We're going to play until they shut the lights off and we come up short," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

Quintanilla started the winning rally with a single off of Keiichi Yabu (3-6), and Matt Holliday walked. Giants closer Brian Wilson came on and Spilborghs lined a single down the right-field line to end the game.

"I'm confident in those situations," said Spilborghs, who has three game-winning hits this season. "If you get a hit, you're a hero. If you don't, you keep grinding. I feel like I can't fail."

Troy Tulowitzki homered for the Rockies, his sixth of the year.

"Tough loss," Wilson said. "You don't like to lose. Ever. We haven't given up. That's what makes it so tough to lose."

Jason Grilli (3-1), the sixth Colorado reliever, struck out four and walked one in three innings of relief for the Rockies, who have won seven of 10.

"I'm not typically going three innings," Grilli said. "I felt good enough, and I kept telling myself, 'Don't give in and I'm not losing this game. I'm not to be the guy in the loss column in this one."

Randy Winn and Omar Vizquel had three hits each for the Giants, who have lost five straight and seven of their last eight.

"We hit a few hard balls after we tied the game, but couldn't find a hole," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "They did and that was the difference."

Tim Lincecum dominated Colorado for the first three innings, striking out four and not allowing a hit, but he faltered in the fourth when he gave up five runs and threw two wild pitches.

Quintanilla, who led off the fourth with a single, scored on Holliday's single. Brad Hawpe doubled down the right-field line to drive in Holliday, and Chris Iannetta's single up the middle made it 3-0.

After Garrett Atkins flew out to right and Ian Stewart struck out, Tulowitzki hit a high changeup into the left-field seats to make it 5-0.

"I made a bad pitch to Tulowitzki," Lincecum said. "It was set up for a changeup on the outside and I left it fat in the middle of the plate."

Lincecum struck out six and walked two in five innings.

The Giants got two back in the fifth on Vizquel's double to right made it 5-2. They tied it in the sixth and chased Colorado starter Livan Hernandez.

Nate Schierholtz, called up before the game, led off with a single and one out later Bengie Molina walked. Glendon Rusch relieved Hernandez and walked Pablo Sandoval.

Luis Vizcaino replaced Rusch, struck out pinch-hitter Fred Lewis and had an 0-2 count on Emmanuel Burriss before Burriss singled home two runs. Vizquel singled to tie it before Vizcaino struck out pinch-hitter John Bowker to end the inning.

Hernandez gave up five hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. He didn't strike out a batter and walked two.

Game notes
Former Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. was in attendance. ... Holliday's RBI in the fourth inning was his first since Aug. 23, a span of nine games.




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Wainwright K's seven over five-plus as Cards drop D-backs
Home Runs Lift Cardinals Over Diamondbacks, 8-2
Also See
· Cards OF Mather out for season with broken hand
Photo Wire

Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds walks back to the dugout after he was called out on strikes against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, in Phoenix. The Cardinals won 8-2. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

· View photo | View gallery
Regular Season Series
Series tied 1-1 (as of Tue 9/2)
Mon 9/1 @ARI 8, STL 6 Recap
>Tue 9/2 STL 8, @ARI 2 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 STL (Lohse) @ ARI (Davis) 3:40 PM ET
Sep 22, 2008 ARI @ STL 8:15 PM ET
Sep 23, 2008 ARI @ STL 8:15 PM ET
Sep 24, 2008 ARI @ STL 8:15 PM ET
Sep 25, 2008 ARI @ STL 2:15 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Diamondbacks | Cardinals
Scoring Summary
STL ARI
3rd T Glaus homered to left, C Izturis scored. 2 0
4th Y Molina homered to left, R Ankiel scored. 4 0
4th F Lopez homered to right. 5 0
6th A Wainwright doubled to left, R Ludwick and Y Molina scored, F Lopez to third. 7 0
6th S Schumaker grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, F Lopez scored, C Izturis out at second, A Wainwright to third. 8 0
6th D Eckstein singled to right, J Salazar scored. 8 1
8th A Dunn singled to right, C Jackson scored. 8 2
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Attendance: 27,568 (56.2% full)
Game Time: 3:06
Weather: indoors
Umpires: Home Plate - Ron Kulpa, First Base - Dale Scott, Second Base - Bill Hohn, Third Base - Dan Iassogna
Associated Press

PHOENIX -- Adam Wainwright refuses to count St. Louis out of the playoff race. If he hadn't missed 2 1/2 months of the season, his Cardinals might be a whole lot closer.

Wainwright helped himself by doubling in two runs, and Troy Glaus hit one of St. Louis' three homers Tuesday night in an 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Yadier Molina and Felipe Lopez hit back-to-back shots to give Wainwright an early 5-0 lead. That made it seven home runs in two games for the Cardinals against the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has lost seven of nine, dropping its NL West lead to 1 1/2 games over the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat San Diego 8-4.

"Our focus has to continue to be on us and we just have to play better," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.

St. Louis is 5 1/2 back of Milwaukee in the wild-card race.

"There's no sports writer, no fan that's telling me we're out of this thing," Wainwright said. "Until the last game of the season I'm battling like we're going to be ready for the playoffs."

On Monday, the Diamondbacks rallied from four runs down to win 8-6. This time the deficit reached 8-0, and there was no big comeback.

Wainwright (8-3), in his third start since returning from the disabled list, shut out the Diamondbacks through five before giving up a run in the sixth. He struck out seven and walked two, yielding three hits in 5 1/3 innings.

He was bothered by back spasms in the hotel before the game, and needed some therapy from trainers before taking the mound. He said his back stiffened again when he ran the bases in the top of the fifth, leading to his exit soon thereafter.

Wainwright said making his start was never a question, though.

"I do this several times a year so I knew I could get through it," he said. "It kind of works in my favor because there is no way I can pop out of my pitches too early. I made sure I stayed through my delivery the whole time."

Wainwright returned 10 days ago after being sidelined since June 8 with a right middle finger sprain. He is 2-0 in three starts since.

"I don't know how we stayed in it without him, to be honest with you," manager Tony La Russa said.

Five Cardinals relievers, including Chris Carpenter, finished the seven-hitter.

Yusmeiro Petit (3-4) gave up five runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings, the fourth Arizona starting pitcher in a row to have a rough outing.

"Sometimes it's contagious," Melvin said. "The next guy tries doubly hard to give you a good, solid outing. It certainly isn't characteristic of our staff, our rotation."

Glaus, 2-for-13 through four games of a six-game road trip, was moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, just ahead of Albert Pujols, to try to get the big slugger going.

"I've done it a few times in the past," Glaus said. "I enjoy it. I mean, it's always nice when you've got Albert hitting behind you."

It worked. Glaus singled in the first, then lined Petit's 2-1 pitch into the left-field stands. His 22nd home run put St. Louis up 2-0 in the third.

The Cardinals added three in the fourth on consecutive homers by Molina and Lopez.

With no outs in the sixth, the Diamondbacks intentionally walked Lopez to get to Wainwright, who lined a double down the left-field line on the first pitch to make it 7-0.

Arizona scored in the sixth on an RBI single by David Eckstein after Jeff Salazar tripled.

After going 5-for-5 and hitting for the cycle on Monday, Arizona's Stephen Drew went 0-for-4.

Game notes
Arizona OF Justin Upton was a late scratch from the lineup because of a headache. He was hit behind the ear Monday on a pickoff attempt by the Cardinals' Brad Thompson. ... The Diamondbacks have allowed 28 runs in their last four games, all at home. ... Carpenter came on in the seventh for St. Louis, his first relief appearance since Oct. 1, 2000, and threw a scoreless inning despite giving up two hits. He had been out since Aug. 10 with a right shoulder sprain.




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After eight-game funk, Dodgers win fourth in row, cut into D-backs' lead
Dodgers Double Up Padres, 8-4
Also See
· Dodgers' Kent has surgery, might play this month
Photo Wire

Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw pitches in the second inning of an MLB baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Dodgers won 8-4. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

· View photo | View gallery
Regular Season Series
Los Angeles leads 6-5 (as of Tue 9/2)
Fri 4/4 LA 7, @SD 1 Recap
Sat 4/5 @SD 4, LA 1 Recap
Sun 4/6 LA 3, @SD 2 Recap
Fri 4/11 SD 7, @LA 5 Recap
Sat 4/12 @LA 11, SD 1 Recap
Sun 4/13 SD 1, @LA 0 Recap
Tue 6/10 LA 7, @SD 2 Recap
Wed 6/11 @SD 4, LA 1 Recap
Thu 6/12 @SD 9, LA 0 Recap
Mon 9/1 @LA 5, SD 2 Recap
>Tue 9/2 @LA 8, SD 4 Box Score
Sep 3, 2008 SD (LeBlanc) @ LA (Kuroda) 10:10 PM ET
Sep 8, 2008 LA (Kershaw) @ SD (Baek) 10:05 PM ET
Sep 9, 2008 LA (Kuroda) @ SD (LeBlanc) 10:05 PM ET
Sep 10, 2008 LA @ SD 10:05 PM ET
Sep 23, 2008 SD @ LA 10:10 PM ET
Sep 24, 2008 SD @ LA 10:10 PM ET
Sep 25, 2008 SD @ LA 10:10 PM ET
· Complete Schedule: Dodgers | Padres
Scoring Summary
SDG LAD
1st M Ramirez homered to left center, A Ethier scored. 0 2
3rd M Ramirez hit sacrifice fly to left, A Ethier scored. 0 3
4th B DeWitt homered to right. 0 4
4th J Loney singled to center, A Berroa and C Kershaw scored, A Ethier to third. 0 6
4th R Martin singled to center, A Ethier scored, J Loney to second. 0 7
6th A Ethier homered to center. 0 8
7th N Hundley grounded out to third, C Headley scored. 1 8
8th L Rodriguez doubled to deep right center, S Kazmar scored, B Giles to third. 2 8
8th K Kouzmanoff singled to center, B Giles and L Rodriguez scored. 4 8
· View complete Play-By-Play
Game Information
Stadium: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 39,330 (70.2% full)
Game Time: 2:44
Weather: 73 degrees, clear
Wind: 6 mph
Umpires: Home Plate - Jerry Meals, First Base - Gary Darling, Second Base - Paul Emmel, Third Base - Bill Miller
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs and the resurgent Los Angeles Dodgers closed in on Arizona in the NL West with an 8-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

Andre Ethier had three hits including a homer, and rookie Clayton Kershaw allowed a run and three hits in seven innings to help the Dodgers win their fourth straight and reduce the Diamondbacks' NL West lead to 1½ games.

The four wins come after an eight-game losing streak.

Kershaw, who struck out six, was pulled after walking his first two batters in the eighth. Both runners scored when Ramon Troncoso gave up an RBI double to Luis Rodriguez and a two-run single to Kevin Kouzmanoff, slashing the Padres' deficit to 8-4. But lefty Joe Beimel retired the next three batters and pitched a scoreless ninth to end it.

Ramirez, moved down to third in the order last week because of Jeff Kent's ailing left knee, opened the scoring in the first with a home run into the pavilion seats in left-center after a single by Ethier.

Ramirez's 520th career home run put him one behind Ted Williams, Willie McCovey and injured Oakland A's DH Frank Thomas, who are tied for 17th place. The 12-time All-Star has 30 this season, 10 since the trade that sent him from Boston to Los Angeles on July 31.

The next time Ramirez came up, after Ethier's leadoff triple in the third, Baek's first pitch to the 12-time All-Star sent Ramirez bailing out of the batter's box. Umpire Jerry Meals immediately issued a warning to both dugouts.

The Padres didn't get their first hit until Chase Headley singled leading off the fifth. San Diego has lost eight straight road games.

Ethier, whose wife Maggie is expecting the couple's first child this month, hit his team-high 19th homer and scored three runs. He came up in the eighth needing a double to join Wes Parker as the only Dodgers to hit for the cycle since the franchise moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958. But Ethier grounded out to second.

Cha Seung Baek (4-9) lost his fourth straight decision. The right-hander made 71 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs and eight hits in his first career start against the Dodgers.

Kershaw (3-5) was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to make this start after major league rosters were expanded to a maximum of 40 players on Monday. The 20-year-old left-hander had been winless in his previous four starts.

James Loney extended his hitting streak to 13 games with two hits, including a two-run single that chased Baek in the fourth. Russell Martin greeted Dirk Hayhurst with an RBI single for a 7-0 lead.

Kent, who is on the disabled list for the eighth time in his big league career, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee early Tuesday morning. Trainer Stan Conte said the outpatient procedure to clean out debris from the cartilage tear took 20 minutes, adding that no additional problems were discovered.

Game notes
Dodgers CF Juan Pierre pulled up while running out a grounder to third in the seventh inning and left the game. ... Ramirez reached the 30-homer mark for the 12th time. The only players who have done it more often were Hank Aaron (15), Barry Bonds (14), Babe Ruth (13) and Mike Schmidt (13). ... Ramirez has 1,701 RBIs, one behind Reggie Jackson for 21st place all-time and one away from his 12th 100-RBI campaign. The record is 13, shared by Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. ... Ambres joined the Padres Tuesday after his contract was purchased from Triple-A Portland. C Luke Carlin also was promoted from the PCL club. ... Loney is the Dodgers' representative among the 30 finalists -- one from each team -- for the Roberto Clemente Award. The Padres' finalist is closer Trevor Hoffman. The only Dodger to win it was Steve Garvey in 1981, and the only Padres player was Tony Gwynn in 1999. The award is presented annually to the MLB player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community.




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