Major League Baseball roundup: September 3, 2007

September 4, 2007

Padres crush Diamondbacks, pulling 1 game ahead

 * Padres 10, Diamondbacks 2: Going into this game, the first of a three-game series, the Padres and Diamondbacks were in a virtual tie, each team sitting at 14 games above .500.  The Padres were led by Brian Giles, who hit two of the five homers scored by the Padres (9, 10), and a strong showing by Greg Maddux (11-9), who gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings for the win.  Micah Owings (6-8) gave up five runs in 3 innings for the loss.  The Padres now lead the Diamondbacks by 1 game in the NL West.  The Diamondbacks lead the NL Wild Card by 3 games over the Dodgers and the Phillies.

Martinez reaches 3,000 strikeouts

 * Mets 10, Reds 4: In his first start of the year, Pedro Martinez (1-0) reached 3,000 strikeouts in the second inning, becoming only the 15th major league player to reach the milestone.  He threw four strikeouts altogether, giving up five hits and three runs (two earned) in five innings of work, getting the win.  David Wright had 3 RBI, including a two-run homer (26).  Aaron Harang (14-4) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up six runs and ten hits.  The Mets have a five-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East.

Other games

 * Red Sox 13, Blue Jays 10: After five innings, the Red Sox held a commanding 10-1 lead, but the Blue Jays scored 8 runs in the sixth inning to narrow the lead to one run, before the Red Sox were able to hold them off.  Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs for the win, while Jays pitcher Jesse Litsch pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven in the loss.  Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 32nd save.


 * Mariners 7, Yankees 1: The Mariners narrowed the Yankees' lead in the AL Wild Card race to one game, stopping their nine-game losing streak Monday.  Yuniesky Betancourt hit two doubles, driving in three runs and scoring once.  Felix Hernandez (11-7) pitched seven innings, allowing one run and five hits.  Roger Clemens (6-6) pitched four innings, giving up five runs for the loss.


 * Dodgers 11, Cubs 3: Esteban Loaiza (1-0) pitched seven innings, allowing three runs in his first start since joining the Dodgers on Wednesday.  Loaiza also knocked in the winning runs with a two-run single in the fourth inning.  Carlos Zambrano (14-12) pitched 4 1/3 innings, walking five and allowing eight runs in the loss.  The Cubs lead the Brewers by 1.5 games, and the Cardinals by 2 games, in the NL Central; all three teams lost Monday.  The Dodgers are 3 games back in the NL Wild Card race.


 * Astros 9, Brewers 7: The Brewers bullpen gave up six runs in three innings to blow a 7-4 lead.  Hunter Pence went 3-4, a home run short of the cycle, with a two-run triple in the eighth and two runs scored.  Greg Aquino (0-1) got the loss, though the only run he gave up was unearned, scoring on a passed ball.  Dave Borkowski (4-3) picked up the win, pitching 2/3 of an inning.  Chad Qualls picked up his 4th save on the season.  The Brewers remain 1.5 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central.


 * Pirates 11, Cardinals 0: The Pirates scored all eleven runs in the first five innings of the game, led by Jack Wilson, who went 4-5 with 3 RBI, 2 runs, a double and a homer (8).  Ian Snell (9-11) picked up the win, while Kip Wells (6-16) picked up the loss, giving up six runs in 3 1/3 innings.  The Cardinals remain 2 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central.


 * Indians 5, Twins 0: Ryan Garko hit a solo homer and went 2-4.  The Twins' Alexi Casilla went 4-4, but was unable to score or drive in any runs.  C.C. Sabathia (16-7) pitched eight strong innings for the win, while Johan Santana (14-11) gave up four runs in six innings for the loss.  The Indians increase their AL Central lead to six games over the Tigers, who did not play on Monday.


 * Braves 5, Phillies 1: Brian McCann knocked in the Braves' first two runs on a 4th inning double.  Lance Cormier (2-4) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run for the win.  Jamie Moyer (12-11) gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 for the loss.  The Phillies are five games behind the Mets in the NL East; the Braves are 7.5 games back.


 * Rockies 7, Giants 4: All seven Rockies runs were scored in the third inning; Chris Iannetta drove in two runs for the Rockies off a triple near the end of the inning.  Jeff Francis (15-6) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs for the win.  Matt Cain (7-14) left the game in the third inning, giving up six of the seven runs.  Manny Corpas pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 13th save.


 * Nationals 6, Marlins 3: Ryan Zimmerman's only hit of the game, a two-run double, put the Nationals in the lead in the second inning.  Jason Bergmann (3-5) gave up four hits and one run in seven innings, striking out nine batters against one walk, while Rick VandenHurk (4-5) gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings for the loss.  Chad Cordero picked up his 30th save.


 * Devil Rays 9, Orioles 7: Akinori Iwamura went 3-5, with a two-run homer in the 8th inning, and picked up a stolen base in the win.  James Shields (11-8) pitched seven innings, giving up one earned run (four total) for the win.  Jim Hoey (1-4) walked three and gave up three runs in one inning of work for the loss.


 * Angels 9, Athletics 5: The Angels were ahead 9-0, but a late rally by the Athletics closed the gap.  Gary Matthews Jr., Jeff Mathis, and Garret Anderson all hit homers, but the Athletics scored four runs in the 8th inning and one in the 9th, led by Mike Piazza, who went 3-4 in the game, and had a two-run homer in the 8th, and a sacrifice fly for the only run in the 9th.  Ervin Santana (6-12) pitched 6 1/3 innings of two-hit, scoreless ball for the win, while Chad Gaudin (10-10) gave up seven runs, six earned, in five innings of work.  The Angels have a 6.5 game lead on the Mariners, and own the best record in baseball at 81-56.


 * Royals 8, Rangers 1: Alex Gordon went 3-6 with 4 RBI, as the Royals picked up the win.  Zack Greinke (6-5) pitched five scoreless innings for the win, while Kamerin Loe (6-11) left after the third inning, giving up two runs and five hits for the loss.