Cubs hang on against Reds
Greg Maddux threw fewer pitches than usual, and got another milestone win. Ryan Dempster threw a lot more than usual, and got a heart-pounding save.
It takes a lot of the unusual to beat the host Cincinnati Reds these days.
Maddux beat baseball's hottest team for the third time this season, and Dempster survived a scare while closing out the Chicago Cubs' 6-5 victory last night, ending the Reds' eight-game winning streak.
``Ain't never easy," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. ``Dang, it was a tough one. We needed this one badly."
The Cubs emerged from a three-game losing streak with Henry Blanco's three RBIs and a short but solid performance by Maddux (7-5). He gave up four hits, including solo homers by Adam Dunn and Scott Hatteberg, in 5 1/3 innings.
Maddux's 325th career win broke a tie with Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton for 13th on the career list. Eddie Plank is next on the list, one victory ahead.
Maddux took a grounder off his lower right leg in the third, and Baker didn't hesitate to go to his bullpen early when the Reds threatened in the sixth. He lifted Maddux after only 66 pitches.
``I didn't like the way he was throwing in that one inning," Baker said. ``He was getting everything up."
The problems came when Dempster entered in the ninth with a 6-4 lead. Dempster, who had blown three of his last five save chances, loaded the bases with no outs, then walked Ryan Freel. Dempster struck out Felipe Lopez, got Brandon Phillips to line out, then retired Ken Griffey Jr. on a routine grounder to end it for his 10th save in 13 chances.
Nationals 9, Phillies 8 -- Pinch hitter Robert Fick, the last position player available for Washington, singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th.
Fick's one-out hit to right field scored Marlon Byrd, who beat the throw from Bobby Abreu, sliding into catcher Sal Fasano just before the ball arrived.
The Nationals used 21 players to keep their status as the hottest team in baseball. They have won eight of nine and are a major league-best 16-6 since May 18.
Mets 10, Diamondbacks 6 -- Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado each homered twice to help visiting New York beat Arizona. Beltran also doubled and singled to tie a career high with four hits.
Cardinals 10, Brewers 6 -- Scott Spiezio drove in three runs in a six-run fourth inning and visiting St. Louis overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat Milwaukee.
Astros 7, Braves 2 -- Mike Lamb homered for the second straight game and rookie Fernando Nieve (career-high nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings) shut down Atlanta after a shaky first inning to lead host Houston over the reeling Braves, who have lost for the 10th time in 12 games.
Dodgers 3, Rockies 0 -- Brad Penny (7-1) pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings to lift Los Angeles over host Colorado.
Pirates 3, Giants 2 -- Sean Casey (.472 average in San Francisco) had four hits for the second straight game, Victor Santos allowed four hits over seven innings, and visiting Pittsburgh ended a three-game losing streak.
Padres 3, Marlins 2 -- Chris Young struck out a career-high 12 and hit his first big league triple to start the winning rally, and Mike Cameron hit a two-run homer to lift host San Diego.
Twins 7, Orioles 5 -- Justin Morneau's second homer of the game, a two-run walkoff shot with two outs in the 12th inning, gave host Minnesota the win over Baltimore.
Blue Jays 10, Tigers 5 -- Vernon Wells hit a go-ahead, two-run double as part of an eight-run eighth inning and host Toronto rallied past Detroit. Down, 5-2, in the eighth, Toronto sent 12 batters to the plate.
White Sox 5, Indians 4 -- Jermaine Dye hit a solo homer and drove in the go-ahead run with a two-run single off Rafael Betancourt in the eighth inning to lead host Chicago over Cleveland.
Royals 4, Devil Rays 2 -- Mark Redman (2-4) pitched eight strong innings and Reggie Sanders hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth to lift host Kansas City.
Mariners 4, Angels 1 -- Seattle's Jarrod Washburn (4-7) beat his former Angels teammates for the second time this year, and Raul Ibanez homered in Anaheim.
