Dodgers 5, Nationals 4
Los Angeles - Derek Lowe won despite giving up three homers, Ramon Martinez hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly, and Los Angeles gained ground in the NL West.
Los Angeles closed within 51â2 games of division-leading Arizona and remained 31â2 games back of San Diego in the wild-card race.
The Dodgers trailed 4-2 before they scored three runs in the sixth inning, capped off by Martinez's sacrifice fly.
Lowe (11-11) gave up three homers in a game for the first time in more than two years.
The right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out five and walked one for his third consecutive win.
Phillies 9, Mets 2
Philadelphia - Chase Utley had three hits, including a solo homer, in his first game since having hand surgery one month ago, and the Phillies won the opener of a pivotal four-game series.
J.D. Durbin had a career-high six strikeouts in 61â3 innings, Pat Burrell and pinch-hitter Tadahito Iguchi hit two-run homers, and Jayson Werth was 4-for-4, helping the Phillies move within five games of the NL East-leading Mets.
Braves 13, Marlins 2
Miami - Brian McCann hit his second grand slam in a week, and Atlanta rebounded from a tough weekend in St. Louis to rout slumping Florida.
The Braves won for the second time in seven games after losing two of three over the weekend to the Cardinals. The Marlins lost for the 12th time in their last 13.
Matt Diaz hit a solo homer, doubled twice, singled and scored three runs. Chipper Jones had three hits and scored three runs, and Kelly Johnson hit a solo homer.
Giants 4, Rockies 1
San Francisco - Rich Aurilia singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning for the second straight day, and San Francisco won its fifth straight.
Kevin Frandsen added a two-run double to give the Giants their 10th win in 12 games.
Brad Hawpe hit a home run for the Rockies, who had their three-game winning streak stopped.
Padres 3, Diamondbacks 1
San Diego - Geoff Blum hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, and ace Jake Peavy was brilliant again with 11 strikeouts, leading San Diego past Arizona and trimming the Diamondbacks' lead in the NL West to two games.
Milton Bradley also homered for San Diego.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.