Thome, White Sox spoil Pujols's return
Jim Thome homered in the seventh inning for the only hit off rookie Anthony Reyes, sending Freddy Garcia and the White Sox to a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals last night in Chicago.
The defending World Series champions won their seventh straight and finished a three-game sweep of the NL Central leaders, shut out despite the return of Albert Pujols.
Reyes retired his first 13 batters against a team that had 33 runs in the first two games of the series.
In just his fourth major league start, the 24-year-old Reyes (1-1) tossed a one-hitter that wasn't good enough for a victory. He struck out six and walked none in his first career complete game.
The Cardinals welcomed the return of Pujols. The star slugger came off the disabled list and played for the first time since straining a muscle on his side June 3. Pujols played first base and went 0 for 4.
Blue Jays 3, Braves 2 -- Horacio Ramirez held the Blue Jays to one run in 6 2/3 innings, but Atlanta's bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead as Toronto rallied at Turner Field.
With the loss, the Braves have been swept in three straight series of at least three games for the first time since 1977. They have lost 10 straight games for the first time since an 0-10 start to the 1988 season.
Toronto welcomed back starter A.J. Burnett, who was pitching for the first time since April 21. He gave up only five hits and two runs in six innings. Burnett, who struck out seven, showed no signs of the soreness in his right elbow that caused him to go on the disabled list April 22.
Marlins 8, Orioles 5 -- Refusing to be walked, Miguel Cabrera reached across the plate and hit an intentional ball from Todd Williams for a 10th-inning RBI single, helping Florida rally past Baltimore at Camden Yards.
The Marlins trailed, 5-1, in the ninth before coming back against Baltimore closer Chris Ray, who was 18 for 18 in save situations this season.
Then, with the score tied at 5 in the 10th, Hanley Ramírez led off with an infield hit against Williams (1-3). Ramírez took second on a ground out, bringing Cabrera to the plate.
With catcher Ramon Hernandez standing upright and calling for an intentional walk, Cabrera stepped into the soft, outside pitch and drove it to center, scoring Ramirez with the go-ahead run.
Dodgers, 4 Mariners 2 -- Derek Lowe pitched a seven-hitter to win his fifth straight decision, Cesar Izturis got three hits and scored twice in his first start since last August, and host Los Angeles beat Seattle to snap a five-game losing streak.
Lowe (6-3) walked none and struck out six in the Dodgers' first complete game of the season.
Izturis was activated Tuesday, and played in his first game that night since Aug. 22. He underwent Tommy John surgery Sept. 16 to repair degenerative arthritis in his right elbow.
Royals 15, Pirates 7 -- Emil Brown and Tony Graffanino drove in three runs apiece, sending host Kansas City to a three-game sweep of hapless Pittsburgh.
Rangers 5, Padres 3 -- Michael Young got the go-ahead hit and Texas beat San Diego to avoid a series sweep and a losing homestand.
Devil Rays 4, Diamondbacks 1 -- At St. Petersburg, Fla., Scott Kazmir took a two-hitter into the eighth inning and Aubrey Huff homered and drove in three runs to lead Tampa Bay past struggling Arizona.
Mets 6, Reds 2 -- David Wright hit a pair of two-run homers and Pedro Martínez won for the second time since April 28 as host New York beat Cincinnati.
