Ramírez lifts Dodgers over Mets
Randy Wolf was looking for a lucky number. All he really needed was Manny Ramírez’s bat.
Ramírez hit two RBI singles to key an early outburst against struggling starter Livan Hernandez, and Wolf pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Mets, 11-2, last night in New York. It was Wolf’s first win in eight outings.
Hoping to change his fortunes and avoid yet another no-decision, Wolf (4-3) switched Wednesday from jersey No. 21 to 43 - the digits he used to wear with Philadelphia. One night later, he got a sudden surge of run support from Ramírez & Co.
“There’s not a baseball player that’s not superstitious,’’ Wolf said. “And if they tell you they’re not, they’re lying.’’
Dropped to seventh in the batting order, slumping All-Star Orlando Hudson responded with a three-run double that capped a four-run first inning.
“When you fall behind that big that early, it’s a tough hole,’’ Mets third baseman David Wright said. “We’ve got a room full of guys who have been in tough times before. We have to turn this thing around and we are confident we can do it.’’
The only downer for the Dodgers: Hudson came out in the seventh after being hit above the left knee by Brian Stokes’s pitch. But the second baseman said he was fine and expects to play tonight in Milwaukee.
Russell Martin added a two-run single and Ramírez had a perfect night at the plate, going 2 for 2 with two walks before taking a seat in the seventh. He is 6 for 18 (.333) with two homers and seven RBIs in six games since returning from a 50-game drug suspension.
“I’m getting there. I haven’t played in two months. Got to go baby steps,’’ Ramírez said.
Giants 9, Padres 3 - Tim Lincecum carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and won his fourth straight start, baffling San Diego with his nasty changeup and a curveball nearly as impressive in host San Francisco’s victory.
Lincecum (10-2) walked Evereth Cabrera to start the game, then Will Venable with two outs in the second. After that, he retired 13 straight and struck out the side in order in the sixth. Tony Gwynn broke up the bid when he singled to left leading off the seventh on Lincecum’s 82d pitch.
Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff followed with singles and Lincecum’s night was done after consecutive two-out walks to load the bases. He left to a standing ovation, but was clearly disappointed in how quickly things turned.
Yankees 6, Twins 4 - Mark Teixeira ended a 23-game homerless drought and New York completed a season sweep of host Minnesota. The Yankees now share first place with the Red Sox in the AL East.
Teixeira connected on the first pitch of the fifth inning. It was his 21st homer of the season and first in 96 at-bats, dating to June 12 against the Mets. Mariano Rivera picked up his 23d save for the Yankees, who beat the Twins all seven times they’ve met this season.
Francisco Liriano (4-9) gave up six runs - three earned - on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Twins, who have lost 18 of their past 24 games against the Yankees.
Marlins 14, Diamondbacks 7 - Pinch-hitter Brett Carroll’s three-run homer sparked a franchise-record 10-run eighth inning, and visiting Florida stormed back from a seven-run deficit to defeat Arizona.
Florida matched the team record for the biggest comeback victory and Arizona set a club record for the largest blown lead.
Florida trailed, 7-0, after five innings but rallied with three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. Then the Marlins hit Arizona with the 10-spot in the eighth to make a winner of Kiko Calero (2-0).
Nationals 11-10; Astros 9-4 - Lance Berkman’s three-run homer was one of 16 hits used by host Houston to beat Washington.
The win came a few hours after the Astros lost the completion of a suspended game from May in 11 innings.
Rays 3, Blue Jays 2 - Rookie David Price outpitched Roy Halladay (10-3), and Carlos Peña snapped a fifth-inning tie with a two-run double that helped Tampa Bay beat slumping Toronto in St. Petersburg, Fla., for a three-game sweep.
The game was delayed for 20 minutes in the middle of the seventh when lightning struck a power substation near Tropicana Field and dimmed lighting in the stadium, which has a permanent roof.
Indians 10, White Sox 8 - Kelly Shoppach hit a grand slam and had a career-high five RBIs, and five Cleveland relievers combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings to preserve the early lead and get the win in Chicago.
Cardinals 5, Brewers 1 - Joel Pineiro scattered three hits in his third complete game this year and Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer in a five-run eighth inning, rallying visiting St. Louis past Milwaukee.
Phillies 9, Reds 6 - Jayson Werth homered for the fourth straight game, Chase Utley hit an inside-the-park homer, and host Philadelphia topped Cincinnati.
Rockies 7, Braves 6 - Pinch-hitter Garrett Atkins hit a two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning, lifting host Colorado past Atlanta for its fourth consecutive victory.
Mariners 3, Rangers 1 - Franklin Gutierrez hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give host Seattle the victory over Texas. 