Cubs go extra mile for victory
Nomar Garciaparra scored the go-ahead run on Claudio Vargas's wild pitch in the 11th inning and Mark Grudzielanek added an RBI single to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 win over the Expos last night in Montreal.
Garciaparra hit a one-out single off Vargas (5-5) in the 11th. Sammy Sosa singled one out later and Ramon Martinez walked to load the bases.
Vargas bounced his next pitch in the dirt and past catcher Brian Schneider, allowing Garciaparra to score the game's first run.
Grudzielanek singled to center to make it 2-0, but center fielder Endy Chavez threw Martinez out at the plate to end the inning.
Astros 9, Reds 3 -- Lance Berkman hit a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning and Jeff Kent capped a five-run seventh with a grand slam as visiting Houston extended its season-best winning streak to six games.
In sweeping the three-game series against the Reds, the Astros hit 10 home runs and scored 28 runs. Houston has won 14 of its last 17 games.
Marlins 5, Mets 4 -- Paul Lo Duca hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth, Mike Lowell homered, and visiting Florida won its sixth straight.
Florida, which began the day three games behind Chicago and San Francisco in the NL wild-card race, won for the ninth time in 11 games to move seven games over .500 for the first time since June 23.
Cardinals 4, Padres 2 -- Chris Carpenter pitched seven innings of six-hit ball and St. Louis got first-inning homers by Larry Walker and Scott Rolen to beat visiting San Diego for its fifth straight victory.
Albert Pujols homered for the third straight game in the eighth and Reggie Sanders had a pair of doubles for the NL Central leaders, who have won 10 of 12 overall and will go for a sweep of the three-game series against the Padres, in contention for the wild card spot, today.
The Cardinals are 32-6 against San Diego the last six seasons, including 18-2 at home.
Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 1 -- Shea Hillenbrand hit a two-run double, Brandon Webb pitched six strong innings, and Arizona beat Los Angeles at Phoenix.
Shane Nance and Mike Koplove each pitched a scoreless inning of relief and Greg Aquino got his 10th save in 10 tries for the Diamondbacks, who have the worst record in the major leagues, but have now won three of five.
Rockies 4, Giants 1 -- Jamey Wright pitched seven innings of four-hit ball to win for the first time in seven starts, and visiting Colorado ended an eight-game losing streak.
Braves 7, Phillies 2 -- Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones each hit a solo homer and Jaret Wright pitched six strong innings to lead Atlanta at Philadelphia.
Pirates 5, Brewers 2 -- Ty Wigginton's two-out infield single drove home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th as Pittsburgh rallied past Milwaukee.
