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The white-hot Rockies upped their wild-card lead to 5 1/2 games. (Denis Poroy/Associated Press) |
Roundup
Yorvit Torrealba delivered a three-run double in the ninth off Padres closer Heath Bell and the Colorado Rockies scored four times in the inning to rally past host San Diego, 4-1, last night for their eighth consecutive win.
Torrealba’s bases-loaded hit into the gap in left-center allowed the Rockies to stay two games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and move 5 1/2 games ahead of the Giants in the wild-card race. Colorado had just three hits off five Padres pitchers before they reached Bell, the NL co-leader with 37 saves, for four runs on three hits and two walks.
San Diego was on the verge of handing the Rockies a tough loss, scoring its only run on a bases-loaded walk in the first inning, but Colorado raised its record to a major-league best 10-1 in September.
Bell (5-3), who has four blown saves, gave up a leadoff walk to Todd Helton, who was replaced by Mike McCoy. Brad Hawpe singled with one out before pinch-hitter Jason Giambi walked to load the bases.
Bell struck out pinch hitter Matt Murton before Torrealba cleared the bases. Paul Phillips added an RBI single off Bell.
Rafael Betancourt (3-1) got two outs for the win and Franklin Morales pitched the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances.
Dodgers 10, Giants 3 - Hiroki Kuroda (6-6) retired 19 straight during one stretch and Casey Blake broke it open with a two-run homer as Los Angeles rolled in San Francisco.
Blake homered in the sixth and James Loney drove in three runs for the Dodgers, who now lead the Giants by 7 1/2 games in the NL West.
Kuroda (6-6), making just his second start since missing three weeks after sustaining a concussion Aug. 15, gave up two hits to start the second, then didn’t allow another until John Bowker’s one-out triple in the eighth. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
Phillies 4, Mets 2 - Cole Hamels pitched 6 2/3 effective innings and a new-look bullpen got the last seven outs for host Philadelphia.
Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Feliz had RBI singles and Shane Victorino hit a career-high three doubles for the NL East-leading Phillies, who entered with a five-game lead over Florida.
Hamels (9-9) allowed one run and seven hits, striking out six. Last year’s World Series and NLCS MVP, Hamels has pitched well in his last three starts after an up-and-down season.
Braves 1, Cardinals 0 - Jair Jurrjens worked eight scoreless innings, overcoming another light offensive showing behind him in Atlanta’s victory in St. Louis.
Jurrjens (11-10) allowed six hits while striking out seven with one walk, matching his career best for innings and helping end Joel Pineiro’s eight-game winning streak dating to July 3.
Cubs 6, Reds 4 - Geovany Soto homered for the first time since July 10, and Chicago beat Cincinnati at Wrigley Field for its first four-game winning streak in nearly two months.
Aramis Ramirez rebounded from a poor trip to go 3 for 3 with three RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago, coming off a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh, had not won four in a row since taking five straight from Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Houston from July 22-27.
Nationals 5, Marlins 3 - Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman homered and Washington won in Miami for the first time this year. Pinch hitter Mike Morse broke a tie in the sixth inning with a two-out, two-run double for the Nationals, who had lost their six previous games at Florida this season.
Astros 9, Pirates 1 - Carlos Lee hit a three-run homer and Lance Berkman added a solo shot to lead host Houston past Pittsburgh. Kaz Matsui drove in two runs and Bud Norris struck out seven in six innings for the Astros, who’ve won 11 of their last 15 home games.
Brewers 6, Diamondbacks 3 - Ryan Braun homered, doubled, and drove in three runs to help visiting Milwaukee break out of a weeklong hitting slump with a victory over Arizona.
Angels 7, White Sox 1 - Joe Saunders (13-7) won his fourth straight start by allowing just three hits over seven innings, propelling Los Angeles at home.
Royals 2, Indians 1 - Miguel Olivo homered with one out in the 12th inning after David DeJesus saved the game for Kansas City with two accurate throws, and the Royals beat host Cleveland.
Blue Jays 6, Tigers 4 - Aaron Hill had four hits and Toronto dealt host Detroit its fourth straight loss.
Athletics 12, Twins 5 - Jack Cust hit one of Oakland’s five home runs and Clayton Mortensen earned his first major league victory, beating host Minnesota.
The Mariners-Rangers game in Texas was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader tomorrow.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
