Mets bring down brawling Brewers
Already fighting to stay in first place, the Milwaukee Brewers are now scuffling among themselves.
Catcher Johnny Estrada and manager Ned Yost nearly tangled in a dugout tunnel late in yesterday's 12-4 loss to the New York Mets, the host Brewers' 10th defeat in 14 games.
"There was frustration expressed on a number of different sides about our style of play and about the way we've been playing," Yost said. "We handled it and took care of it like good teams do."
Damion Easley hit the first inside-the-park homer at Miller Park in five years, breaking a sixth-inning tie. The Mets scored three more times in the seventh, helped by shortstop J.J. Hardy's error and an RBI double from reliever Jorge Sosa.
When the half-inning ended, Estrada and Yost got into a heated dispute in the tunnel leading from the dugout to the clubhouse. Infielder Tony Graffanino stepped between them while pitcher Ben Sheets and pitching coach Mike Maddux stood in front of Estrada.
The next inning, Yost motioned with his finger for Estrada to come talk with him, and they disappeared out of sight down the tunnel.
Asked if such a conflict could spur a team, Yost said, "We'll see." He then abruptly walked out of his postgame news conference.
Estrada declined comment through a team spokesman. "It's our business," Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder said.
Phillies 10, Cubs 6 -- Pat Burrell homered and Jayson Werth drove in four runs as visiting Philadelphia had 16 hits and beat Chicago.
Starter Kyle Lohse, acquired in a trade Monday with Cincinnati, lasted only one inning in his Phillies debut. He was hit by a line drive off the bat off Jacque Jones, bruising a forearm, and had to leave the game.
Rockies 4, Marlins 3 -- Matt Holliday doubled home the tying run in the eighth inning and scored on Garrett Atkins's sacrifice fly, helping Colorado beat Florida in Miami.
The Rockies trailed, 3-2, when Kaz Matsui led off the eighth with an infield single against Armando Benitez (2-7) and scored on Holliday's double.
Nationals 7, Reds 3 -- Ryan Zimmerman and the rest of Washington's suddenly potent offense gave Cincinnati starter Phil Dumatrait, a former Red Sox farmhand, a rude welcome to the major leagues, beating visiting Cincinnati to cap a three-game sweep.
Zimmerman had three hits, drove in three runs and, on defense, made a slick backhanded stab while down on a knee to grab Jeff Conine's high hopper to third base leading off the seventh inning.
Giants 4, Dodgers 2 -- Barry Zito (8-10), who has struggled in his first season with San Francisco, won for just the second time in 10 starts as the Giants defeated host Los Angeles.
Padres 11, Diamondbacks 0 -- Jake Peavy struck out 10 and Morgan Ensberg hit two two-run homers in his first start with the Padres, helping host San Diego over NL West leader Arizona.
Pirates 5, Cardinals 4 -- Pinch hitter Jose Castillo singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th and Pittsburgh beat visiting St. Louis.
Astros 12, Braves 11 -- Pitcher Jason Jennings came through with a pinch-hit, two-out RBI single in the 14th inning to give host Houston the win over Atlanta.
Indians 5, Rangers 0 -- Jake Westbrook ended the longest winless stretch of his career just in time for sputtering Cleveland, which stopped a season-high, four-game losing skid.
Westbrook (2-6) picked up his first victory since April 27.
Angels 6, Athletics 4 -- After going 30 games without a homer, Vladimir Guerrero hit two in consecutive at-bats in visiting Los Angeles's victory over Oakland.
