Associated Press
The National League roundup …
CINCINNATI (AP) ó Manny Ramirez hit the first of Los Angeles’ four homers, and the Dodgers blew a four-run lead Saturday before powering their way to an 11-4 victory that ended the Cincinnati Reds’ longest winning streak of the season at five games.
Ramirez connected on a two-run shot in the first inning off left-hander Matt Maloney (0-3), his first homer since Aug. 11. Rafael Furcal hit a tiebreaking solo shot in the fifth, and Matt Kemp and Orlando Hudson homered as the Dodgers pulled away.
Jeff Weaver (6-4) bailed out starter Charlie Haeger, who had a bad day with his knuckleball. Haeger squandered a 4-0 lead in less than three innings.
The NL West leaders improved to 21-4 against Cincinnati since 2006, their best mark against any NL team.
Giants 5, Rockies 3SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ó Barry Zito carried a shutout into the ninth inning, Pablo Sandoval homered and San Francisco moved within a game of Colorado for the NL wild-card lead by winning for the fourth time in five games.
Brad Hawpe homered and pinch-hitter Seth Smith drove in two runs for the Rockies, who lost their fourth straight ó tying their longest slide this season.
Zito (9-11) allowed one run and eight hits over 8 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out seven.
Jason Marquis (14-9) gave up five runs and nine hits over six innings.
Hawpe’s homer ended the Giants’ streak of 22 innings without allowing an earned run, including the last 14 against the Rockies.
Smith singled home two runs in the ninth and pinch-hitter Todd Helton singled before Brian Wilson retired Clint Barmes for his 32nd save in 38 chances.
Braves 9, Phillies 1, 8 inningsPHILADELPHIA (AP) ó Garret Anderson hit a three-run homer and three other Braves went deep in a rain-shortened game, helping Atlanta hand Cliff Lee his first loss with Philadelphia.
The game was called with the Phillies due up in the eighth inning after a 43-minute delay caused by torrential rain. The game started 24 minutes late due to a rain delay.
Lee (5-1) was making his sixth start with the NL East leaders since being traded from Cleveland on July 29. He went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his first five.
Matt Diaz and Yunel Escobar also homered off Lee, who yielded six runs and 10 hits in five innings. Prior to the Braves’ power surge, Lee hadn’t allowed a homer in 43 innings with Philadelphia.
Chipper Jones added a two-run shot in the sixth. He had been in a 3 for 42 skid.
Derek Lowe (13-9) improved to 6-1 in his career against the Phillies and 4-0 at Citizens Bank Park.
Chase Utley hit his 28th homer for Philadelphia.
Cubs 11, Mets 4CHICAGO (AP) ó Jake Fox hit his first career grand slam and Milton Bradley extended his hitting tear to help Chicago beat New York.
Fox finished with a career-high five RBIs. His bases-loaded homer finished Mets starter Bobby Parnell (3-7) during a six-run fifth inning, and he added an RBI double off Lance Broadway in the seventh.
Bradley, who was 3 for 3 on Friday, got hits in his first three at-bats and finished 3 for 4 with a walk. Booed earlier in the week, he is 11 for 20 with four walks during the first five games of the Cubs’ homestand.
Ryan Dempster (8-7) allowed four runs over six innings to get the win.
Diamondbacks 9, Astros 0PHOENIX (AP) ó Mark Reynolds hit his 40th homer and Jon Garland threw seven sharp innings as Arizona routed Houston.
With his two-run shot in the third inning, Reynolds became the second Diamondbacks player in the franchise’s 12-year history to homer 40 times in a season. The first was Luis Gonzalez, honored in a pregame ceremony after announcing his retirement following 19 big league seasons.
Gonzalez will join Arizona’s front office as an assistant to president and CEO Derrick Hall.
Garland (8-11) was masterful, giving up only five hits and a walk. He struck out five and did not let a runner reach third.
Justin Upton had three hits, including his 21st homer, and Miguel Montero had a three-run double for the Diamondbacks, who have scored 34 runs in their last three games.
Arizona roughed up Houston starter Bud Norris (3-3) for the second time in six days.
Cardinals 9, Nationals 4ST. LOUIS (AP) ó Matt Holliday and Colby Rasmus each hit a three-run homer to power the surging St. Louis Cardinals past Washington.
Holliday is hitting .376 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs since joining the Cardinals on July 24. The NL Central leaders are 24-9 during that stretch, including a 17-4 mark over their last 21 games.
St. Louis is a season-high 21 games over .500 at 76-55.
Albert Pujols doubled twice and scored two runs. Skip Schumaker added three hits, including two doubles.
Cardinals starter Mitchell Boggs (2-2) went six innings, allowing eight hits and three runs.
Adam Dunn hit his 35th homer and Ryan Zimmerman drove in two runs for the Nationals. Craig Stammen (4-7) lasted 4 2-3 innings.
Brewers 7, Pirates 3MILWAUKEE (AP) ó Pinch-hitter Jody Gerut doubled to drive in the go-ahead run and Milwaukee took advantage of Kevin Hart’s wildness for its 20th straight win over Pittsburgh at Miller Park.
Andy LaRoche homered for the Pirates, but they couldn’t end the longest winning streak by one team over another at home since the Indians beat the Orioles franchise 27 consecutive times at Cleveland Municipal Stadium from 1952-54.
In this one, Hart (4-4) was wild at costly moments and his defense let him down to keep Pittsburgh winless in Milwaukee since May 3, 2007. The Pirates get a final chance Sunday to snap the skid before next season.
Claudio Vargas (1-0) got the win in relief of Yovani Gallardo.
Padres 7, Marlins 4MIAMI (AP) ó Tony Gwynn Jr.’s two-run triple broke an eighth-inning tie, Oscar Salazar had three hits and San Diego beat reeling Florida.
Will Venable hit his ninth home run and scored twice for the Padres, who improved to 9-59 when trailing after six innings.
Ronny Paulino hit his eighth homer and drove in three runs for Florida, which has dropped seven of 10. Wes Helms had two hits for the Marlins ó who have given up 26 runs and 44 hits in their last three games, all losses.
Adam Russell (1-0) worked a scoreless seventh for the win. Heath Bell earned his 31st save in 34 chances.
Luis Ayala (0-3), just recalled from the minors, retired only one of his six batters.