Pujols stops Cardinals' skid
Albert Pujols's three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning was the difference in the Cardinals' 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres last night in St. Louis, ending a seven-game losing streak during which the Cardinals' NL Central lead shriveled to 1 1/2 games.
Pujols hit a 1-and-0 pitch from Cla Meredith into the third of four decks over the left-field wall to erase a one-run deficit. He had driven in one run in the previous five games before the booming shot eased the Cardinals' frustration.
St. Louis has won only two of its past 10 games, five of the losses by one run apiece.
Astros 7, Pirates 6 -- Brad Ausmus's sacrifice fly in the 15th inning finished off Houston's comeback within a comeback as the Astros rallied from five runs down to beat host Pittsburgh for their eighth straight.
The Astros stayed 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the NL Central with four to play. The Cardinals cut their magic number for winning the division to four.
Houston, held to one hit over five extra innings by three rookie relievers, won it against Jonah Bayliss (1-1) in the 15th.
Braves 13, Mets 1 -- Three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martínez (9-8) was rocked again in his final start of the regular season, giving up eight hits, seven runs, and two homers in 2 2/3 innings.
Slowed by an ailing calf, Martínez said he has no confidence in his pitches and all but conceded he won't start in Game 1 of the NL playoffs next week -- if he's able to pitch at all in the opening round.
Martínez has a 16.97 ERA over his past four starts, giving up 22 hits and 20 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings.
Marlins 7, Reds 2 -- Anibal Sanchez became the fourth Florida rookie pitcher to win at least 10 games this year, and Hanley Ramírez hit two home runs, one inside the park, as host Florida beat Cincinnati.
Dodgers 6, Rockies 4 -- Derek Lowe (16-8) won his seventh straight decision and visiting Los Angeles held on to its one-game lead in the NL wild-card race over Philadelphia by overcoming a three-run deficit.
Phillies 8, Nationals 7 -- Visiting Philadelphia scraped out the victory on Jimmy Rollins's two-run triple with two outs in the 14th inning. In a game that lasted 4 hours 53 minutes, the teams used a combined 47 players, including 17 pitchers.
Yankees 16, Orioles 5 -- The Yankees put out their top-hitting lineup for the first time and teed off on visiting Baltimore as Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon, and Robinson Cano homered.
Chien-Ming Wang (19-6) tied Minnesota's Johan Santana for the major league lead in wins.
Blue Jays 7, Tigers 4 -- Ted Lilly pitched six strong innings and visiting Toronto hit four home runs, but Detroit held on to its one-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.
Athletics 7, Mariners 6 -- Bobby Kielty hit an RBI double in the 10th inning, Dan Johnson had a tying triple in the ninth, and AL West champion Oakland rallied at Seattle. Jay Witasick (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win and Huston Street got three outs for his 37th save in 47 chances.
Angels 6, Rangers 5 -- Tim Salmon, playing out the final week of his major league career, hit his 299th home run to spark the host Angels.
Royals 6, Twins 4 -- David DeJesus and Mike Sweeney homered as visiting Kansas City ended an eight-game losing streak. Carlos Silva (10-15) lasted just four innings for the Twins.
White Sox 2, Indians 1 -- Brandon McCarthy (4-7) struck out eight in his first start in more than four months to help visiting Chicago to a rain-shortened victory.
Diamondbacks 6, Giants 3 -- Eric Byrnes hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs to lift visiting Arizona.
Cubs 3, Brewers 2 -- Henry Blanco singled in the winning run in the ninth after pinch hitter Freddie Bynum tied the score with a solo homer earlier in the inning, leading host Chicago.
