National League

Dodgers 6, Pirates 5

Pittsburgh – In only a few minutes, Derek Lowe went from flirting with a no-hitter to hanging on merely to win a game that the Los Angeles Dodgers appeared to have long since wrapped up.

Lowe was so dominating for six innings that his manager began thinking he might throw a second career no-hitter, only nearly to squander a five-run lead before the Dodgers held on to beat the Pirates.

“It was a shock all of a sudden to go from one extreme to the next so quick, but we won,” Lowe said. “That’s what counts.”

Lowe (6-5) didn’t allow a hit until Freddy Sanchez singled up the middle with none out in the seventh.

“You don’t worry about no-hitters until the ninth inning,” Lowe said. “It was a long way away.”

Marlins 6, Braves 4

Atlanta – The Florida Marlins scored four runs off Tim Hudson during a strange fifth inning and went on to beat the Braves.

Florida sent eight hitters to the plate against Hudson (6-4) in the fifth, benefiting from a couple of walks, an error by left fielder Willie Harris and a strikeout that didn’t result in an out.

Wes Obermueller (2-3) hung around long enough for the win, giving up eight hits and three runs in five innings.

Giants 8, Phillies 1

Philadelphia – Barry Zito allowed only an unearned run over six innings, and Ryan Klesko hit a three-run homer to lead the Giants.

Zito (6-5) pitched out of trouble throughout the afternoon to win his third straight start.

Cubs 7, Brewers 2

Milwaukee – Alfonso Soriano had five hits, including a three-run homer, to help the Cubs beat the Brewers.

The win was the second in a row for the Cubs since manager Lou Piniella was ejected Saturday in Chicago after a dirt-kicking tantrum against an umpire following a close play at third base.

American League

White Sox 6, Yankees 4

Chicago – Jon Garland (4-3) pitched into the ninth inning.

Angels 16, Twins 3

Anaheim, Calif. – Gary Matthews Jr. had four hits.

Mariners 7, Orioles 4

Seattle – Ichiro Suzuki highlighted a four-run, two-out rally in the eighth with an RBI double, and Seattle beat Baltimore.

Athletics 5, Red Sox 4 (11)

Oakland, Calif. – Eric Chavez hit a two-out homer in the 11th inning, and Mark Ellis hit for the cycle as Oakland recovered from Boston’s dramatic ninth-inning rally for a tumultuous victory.

Chavez left no doubt on his eighth homer of the season, this one off Kyle Snyder (1-1), ending a game with a homer for just the second time in his career. Santiago Casilla (1-0) earned his first major-league victory for the A’s.