Wright's slam propels Mets
David Wright hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Tom Glavine won his 10th game of the season, and the Mets routed the Baltimore Orioles, 9-4, yesterday in New York to avoid a three-game sweep.
``I think that this was important for us," Wright said. ``I think it's important to not get complacent."
The Mets, who own a 9 1/2-game lead in the NL East, haven't lost three straight all season. They are 18-8 in their last 26 games.
Reserve catcher Ramon Castro also homered and knocked in two runs for the Mets, who won the final eight games of a 9-1 road trip before dropping their last two games to Baltimore.
Glavine (10-2) lasted six innings plus, improving to 8-0 in his past 10 starts and earning his 285th career win. The 40-year-old lefthander allowed four runs and nine hits, striking out six and walking none.
Wright hit his grand slam in the fifth off rookie Adam Loewen (0-2), and added an RBI single in the seventh when the Mets took control for good with four runs with the help of three Baltimore errors.
Loewen retired his first two batters in the fifth, then ran into trouble. Jose Reyes singled, and Loewen hit Eli Marrero and Carlos Beltran. Wright, who finished with three hits, drove the next delivery over the left-field fence for his third career slam and a 4-1 lead, chasing Loewen.
Nick Markakis's leadoff double in the seventh ended Glavine's outing, and Brian Roberts's RBI ground out trimmed the lead to 5-4 before New York pulled away.
Tigers 12, Cubs 3 -- Mark Prior made a forgettable season debut for Chicago, allowing four of visiting Detroit's franchise-record eight homers, while Tigers starter Kenny Rogers won his 10th game of the season and the 200th of his career.
Chris Shelton and Brandon Inge both homered twice for Detroit to back Rogers (10-3), who gave up two runs and four hits over eight innings. Prior, who missed the last 2 1/2 months with a strain in his right shoulder, lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs, matching his career high.
A's 5, Dodgers 2 -- Joe Blanton pitched into the ninth, Bobby Kielty hit a two-run triple, and host Oakland won its 10th in a row -- the longest streak in the majors this season.
Blanton (7-6) allowed nine hits, struck out three, and walked one in an impressive 96-pitch performance before Huston Street got the final three outs for his 17th save. Street blew the save Saturday night, when the A's kept their winning streak alive with a 5-4, 17-inning victory.
White Sox 8, Reds 1 -- Jon Garland hit the first homer by a White Sox pitcher in 35 years and worked into the ninth to cap Chicago's weekend sweep of host Cincinnati.
Garland (6-3), who allowed only four singles, hit a two-run shot in the eighth off Esteban Yan. Steve Kealey was the team's last pitcher to homer (Sept. 6, 1971). Jermaine Dye also went deep for Chicago.
Padres 7, Angels 3 -- Bartolo Colon lost his first start in two months for host Los Angeles, allowing solo homers to San Diego's Mike Cameron and Adrian Gonzalez.
Colon (0-3) retired 10 batters in a row during one stretch before getting tagged for three runs in the fourth, when the Padres took a 4-2 lead. Colon gave up four runs -- two earned -- and nine hits in seven innings. He hadn't pitched since April 15 because of right shoulder inflammation.
Marlins 4, Blue Jays 1 -- At Miami, Dan Uggla had three hits and knocked in the go-ahead run as Florida picked up its eighth consecutive win by sending Toronto's Roy Halladay (8-2) to his first loss in 12 starts.
Twins 8, Pirates 2 -- Justin Morneau had a three-run double during Minnesota's four-run eighth and the Twins wrapped up a three-game sweep in Pittsburgh for their seventh win in a row.
Phillies 8, Devil Rays 5 -- Host Philadelphia snapped its season-worst six-game skid behind Ryan Howard, who hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs.
Brewers 6, Indians 3 -- Carlos Lee's first career walkoff homer, a three-run blast in the ninth, gave Milwaukee a three-game sweep of Cleveland.
Rangers 10, Diamondbacks 7 -- Michael Young singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth and matched his career high with five hits as Texas swept its three-game set with visiting Arizona.
Mariners 5, Giants 1 -- Adrian Beltre homered and doubled home another run, and Jamie Moyer (4-6) stymied San Francisco over eight innings in his 500th career start as host Seattle capped a three-game sweep.
Royals 7, Astros 4 -- Doug Mientkiewicz's three-run homer in the top of the ninth lifted Kansas City after Houston had rallied from a late three-run deficit.
Cardinals 4, Rockies 1 -- In the only non-interleague game, Chris Carpenter (6-3) worked seven sharp innings, and Scott Rolen sparked host St. Louis with a two-run homer in the first.
