The New York Mets took care of business against Washington, then got a big assist from the Los Angeles Dodgers to turn the tables in the NL East.
Brian Schneider homered against his former team and Carlos Delgado also went deep to help the Mets beat the Nationals 9-3 on Thursday night, finishing a three-game sweep.
Hours later on the opposite coast, Hideki Kuroda allowed only two baserunners in seven brilliant innings to help the Dodgers beat Philadelphia 3-1 and complete their first four-game sweep of the Phillies in 46 years.
The Dodgers’ sixth straight win over the Phillies kept them tied with Arizona atop the NL West, and dropped Philadelphia one game behind first-place New York in the East.
“At this time of the year, every win is huge – no matter who you play,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel, whose bullpen finally held on when handed a lead late in the game.
In other NL games, it was: San Diego 3, Milwaukee 2; Chicago 11, Atlanta 7; St. Louis 3, Florida 0; Houston 7, San Francisco 4; Arizona 6, Colorado 2; and Cincinnati 3, Pittsburgh 1.
The Mets got consistent starting pitching, timely hitting and some consistent bullpen work throughout the series for their second road sweep this season.
Oliver Perez (9-7) handed a 5-3 lead over to the Mets’ bullpen in the seventh, and Joe Smith, Duaner Sanchez and Aaron Heilman combined to throw 2 1-3 scoreless innings.
The Mets limited the Nationals to six runs in the three-game series. Washington never led.
“That’s been our weakness this year,” New York’s Carlos Beltran said. “We’ve not been able to take advantage of teams under .500. … This time, we really approached them the same way we approached the Phillies and the teams in contention.”
Washington starter Collin Balester (3-5) held the Mets hitless in the first three innings, but New York scored five runs in the next three.
“This is the big leagues and guys make adjustments,” said Washington manager Manny Acta, whose club has lost seven straight. “That second time through the lineup, it looked like they made adjustments.”
Kuroda (7-8) walked none and struck out seven, helping the Dodgers take four from the Phillies for the first time since July 1962. Los Angeles hadn’t swept a four-game series since accomplishing the feat on the road against Arizona in July 2004, and hadn’t done so at home since June 1995 against the Giants.
“He’s got the stuff. We’ve seen it a couple times this year,” catcher Russell Martin said of Kuroda. “That’s the way it was tonight. He was just executing pitch after pitch. He’s locating his fastball really well. His slider was outstanding.”
Hong-Chih Kuo worked two hitless innings for his first career save.
“Kuroda was mixing it up, throwing sliders and curveballs, mixed his fastball in and changed speeds on his fastball trying to keep hitters off-balance,” the Phillies’ Ryan Howard said. “It’s tough, man. We’ve been just in an offensive lull. Everybody’s going out there and trying. I’ve never really been a part of anything like it before.”
Brett Myers (5-10) was the hard-luck loser, allowing five hits and three runs in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.
“Myers definitely was up to the task, but their pitcher was good, too,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “We’re all right. I mean, we’re a game back. If you had asked me if I would take being a game back with 41 to play, I would have said yes. So there’s no sense in us getting all bent out of shape.”
Padres 3, Brewers 2
Jake Peavy (9-8) outpitched Ben Sheets with seven strong innings to help the Padres snap visiting Milwaukee’s eight-game winning streak.
San Diego reached Sheets (11-6) for three runs in the seventh inning after the Brewers scored in the top half against Peavy. Trevor Hoffman allowed Mike Cameron’s 20th homer in the ninth before finishing for career save No. 550, and his 26th in 29 chances this season.
Cubs 11, Braves 7
Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano homered to help visiting Chicago to a sweep of the six-game series for the first time since the rivalry between the franchises began in 1876.
Mark Kotsay went 5-for-5 and joined Albert Hall as the only Atlanta players to single, double, triple and homer in the same game. Tom Glavine (2-4) got the loss for Atlanta.
Cardinals 3, Marlins 0
At Miami, Ryan Ludwick homered and drove in all three runs, and Todd Wellemeyer (10-4) pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning for St. Louis.
Scott Olsen (6-8) gave up three runs in seven innings to lose his fourth straight.
Astros 7, Giants 4
Lance Berkman hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the host Astros to their eighth straight win.
Miguel Tejada led off the inning with a single against reliever Keiichi Yabu (3-5). The Giants then replaced Yabu with Alex Hinshaw, who allowed Berkman’s 25th home run of the year.
LaTroy Hawkins (1-0) pitched one-third of an inning for his first win as an Astro. Jose Valverde pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 30th save in 36 tries.
Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 2
At Denver, Chris Snyder and Chris Burke hit consecutive homers in a five-run fifth inning, helping Dan Haren (13-6) win for the sixth time in seven starts.
Glendon Rusch (4-4) gave up five runs and five hits in 4 2-3 innings for Colorado.
Reds 3, Pirates 1
Chris Dickerson had three hits for visiting Cincinnati and broke a sixth-inning tie with a two-out RBI double, helping Johnny Cueto (8-11) finally pick up a win.
Ian Snell (4-10) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings for Pittsburgh.
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