Sanchez outduels Clemens
Rookie Anibal Sanchez has been alive a little longer than Roger Clemens has been in the major leagues.
The 22-year-old Sanchez, who was about 3 months old when Clemens made his major league debut in 1984, outpitched the seven-time Cy Young Award winner last night to lead the host Florida Marlins to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros.
Sanchez said he wasn't nervous facing the 43-year-old Clemens. But he said his wife was probably nervous for him, just like when he won his major league debut in Yankee Stadium June 25. Sanchez said his relatives were monitoring the game on the Internet from Venezuela.
``Today, everybody talked to me because everybody knows who is Roger Clemens. I don't know who was more excited," Sanchez said. ``I'm really happy. He's a great pitcher and I have a lot of respect for him."
Sanchez (2-0) was making his third career start and first at Dolphin Stadium. He didn't allow a hit until pinch hitter Willy Taveras singled to lead off the sixth. Sanchez pitched seven shutout innings, giving up two hits, striking out two, and walking one.
Clemens (1-3), making his fifth start of the season, lasted five innings, giving up two runs and seven hits with seven strikeouts.
``I'm not here to be just OK," Clemens said.
Mets 6, Cubs 3 -- Steve Trachsel won his seventh straight start, and New York used a four-run fourth inning to win at Chicago.
Trachsel (9-4) gave up two runs on three hits in six innings. The former Cub hasn't lost since May 17, a span of 10 starts.
Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 3 -- Johnny Estrada hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Arizona.
Luis Gonzalez doubled to lead off the ninth against Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow (4-5). Estrada drilled Turnbow's next delivery 392 feet into the seats in right field for his seventh homer.
Giants 5, Phillies 3 -- Barry Bonds made a significant contribution to host San Francisco's victory without getting a hit.
The 41-year-old slugger walked twice, scoring both times, stole a base, and made a sliding catch in left field to help Matt Morris (8-7) to the win.
Cardinals 5, Dodgers 0 -- Chris Carpenter (8-4) threw a two-hitter and David Eckstein had four hits to help host St. Louis to its fifth straight victory.
Reds 3, Rockies 1 -- Adam Dunn homered in the first inning and Aaron Harang became Cincinnati's first 10-game winner, leading the rejuvenated Reds over visiting Colorado.
Pirates 7, Nationals 4 -- Jason Bay drove in two runs and Jose Bautista homered among his three hits, helping host Pittsburgh beat Washington.
Angels 4, Devil Rays 0 -- John Lackey (8-5) pitched a five-hitter for his second consecutive shutout, Vladimir Guerrero was 3 for 4 with a tiebreaking home run, and host Los Angeles picked up where it left off before the All-Star break.
The two-time defending AL West champions, who were nine games under .500 and a season-worst seven games out of first place June 30, are 9-1 since and only 2 1/2 games behind the division leaders.
Rangers 2, Orioles 1 -- Kevin Millwood (9-5) and three relievers combined on a six-hitter, and Texas capitalized on one shaky inning by Kris Benson (9-8) to slip past host Baltimore.
After scoring 15 runs one night earlier, the Rangers got their only runs on fourth-inning sacrifice flies by Michael Young and Mark Teixeira.
Mariners 5, Blue Jays 3 -- Gil Meche won his fifth straight decision and Adrian Beltre drove in two runs to lead Seattle at Toronto.
Meche (9-4) allowed three runs and six hits, striking out five and walking one in six innings.
Twins 3, Indians 2 -- Jason Tyner's RBI single in the 10th inning lifted host Minnesota over Cleveland.
Torii Hunter got things going in the 10th with a one-out single off Edward Mujica (0-1). He advanced to third on a single by Jason Kubel, and Tyner followed with a rope to right field that scored Hunter.
Tigers 10, Royals 9 -- Carlos Guillen hit a game-winning homer off Jeremy Affeldt with one out in the ninth inning, lifting host Detroit over Kansas City.
