Waechter pitches in for Rays
Doug Waechter won for the first time since August and Damon Hollins hit a three-run homer during a five-run fifth inning to help the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 10-5, yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Waechter had gone 0-8 with seven no-decisions during that span.
``It's nice to know that the team won, not just me getting the win," Waechter said.
Waechter (1-4) gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings, winning for the first time since Aug. 27.
Despite losing the finale, the Blue Jays have won four straight series.
The Devil Rays hit three homers off Gustavo Chacin (6-2) in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. Toby Hall and Russell Branyan had consecutive solo shots before Hollins's three-run homer.
Julio Lugo had a three-run homer in a four-run seventh that extended the Tampa Bay lead to 10-5.
Padres 1, Pirates 0 -- Chris Young flirted with a no-hitter for the second consecutive start and visiting San Diego beat Pittsburgh.
Five days after taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning, Young held the Pirates hitless through 5 1/3 innings before pinch hitter Jose Hernandez lined a single into left field.
Brian Giles singled home Dave Roberts in the third inning for the game's only run.
Giants 7, Mets 6 -- Pedro Feliz hit an RBI single in the 12th and San Francisco finally held off host New York, overcoming a breakout performance by prize prospect Lastings Milledge.
With the Mets down to their final strike in the 10th, Milledge hit his first career homer off closer Armando Benitez, tying it, 6-6. The 21-year-old rookie also hit a go-ahead double and made a sliding catch in right field in his fifth major league game.
Steve Finley had three hits and a key sacrifice for the Giants, who took two of three in a tight series.
Cardinals 9, Cubs 6 -- Host St. Louis had plenty of offense in its first game without the injured Albert Pujols, getting a successful return from Jim Edmonds in a victory over Chicago.
Edmonds, limited to one pinch-hit at-bat in the last seven games by an abdominal injury, was 3 for 3 with an RBI double after entering the game in a 3-for-29 slump. The eight-time Gold Glove center fielder played first base for only the 45th time in his career.
Athletics 5, Twins 1 -- Rich Harden struck out six in his first start back from the disabled list, sparking host Oakland's win over Minnesota.
Dan Johnson homered for the A's. Harden allowed four hits and three walks while working the first four innings on a pitch count. Brad Halsey (3-2) took it from there, allowing two hits in five innings to get the win.
Rangers 10, White Sox 2 -- Gerald Laird homered twice and drove in four runs to lead visiting Texas past Chicago.
John Rheinecker (2-0) pitched eight innings, giving up seven hits and two runs to beat White Sox ace Mark Buehrle (6-4).
Phillies 6, Dodgers 4 -- Chase Utley homered, then doubled home the go-ahead run in the eighth, helping Philadelphia salvage a split of the four-game series in Los Angeles.
Angels 14, Indians 2 -- John Lackey allowed two hits in seven innings for his first win in seven starts and Vladimir Guerrero hit one of three homers off Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia to lead visiting Los Angeles.
Reds 6, Astros 4 -- Ryan Freel hit his second homer of the game in the 11th, lifting Cincinnati to its first three-game sweep in Houston since 1999.
Diamondbacks 9, Braves 3 -- Tony Clark homered twice and Arizona became the first team to sweep a four-game series at Atlanta since the Phillies in 1995.
Nationals 8, Brewers 4 -- Alfonso Soriano hit a grand slam and a solo homer to lead visiting Washington past Milwaukee, completing a three-game sweep and handing the Brewers their eighth straight loss.
Marlins 4, Rockies 3 -- Rookie righthander Scott Olsen pitched a strong 6 2/3 innings, helping Florida complete a three-game sweep at Coors Field.
Royals 9, Mariners 4 -- Reggie Sanders had three RBIs and Kansas City snapped a nine-game losing streak at Safeco Field.
