If the Philadelphia Phillies are going to make another remarkable run to swipe the NL East crown from the New York Mets, they’re going to need 45-year-old Jamie Moyer to pitch like an ace.
He did just that Thursday night.
Moyer worked effectively into the sixth inning on three days’ rest, helping the host Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3.
“As I got deeper, I think I got a little tired a little quicker,” Moyer said. “I’m here, I’m healthy. Sometimes you have to step up.”
The Phillies, who have 15 games left, pulled within three of the NL East-leading Mets and the wild card-leading Brewers by roughing up Ben Sheets (13-8), who had a 20-inning scoreless streak snapped in the first. Last season the Phillies overcame a seven-game deficit with 17 games to go.
Riding an ace of their own, the Houston Astros beat the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 for their 14th win in 15 games, pulling them three back of the Brewers.
the career list with 244 wins.
“He’s been consistent all year,” manager Charlie Manuel said of Moyer, the oldest player in the majors. “Goes to show you the old man can still pitch.”
In other NL games, it was: Atlanta 8, Colorado 4; Chicago Cubs 3, St. Louis 2; and San Diego 11, San Francisco 3.
Ryan Howard connected in the first to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. He launched a first-pitch fastball into the bushes beyond the center-field wall for his fourth homer in six games.
Howard nearly hit another two-run shot, settling for an RBI double when his drive to center bounced off the top of the wall. It was his major league-leading 129th RBI. Pedro Feliz lined a two-out double just over right fielder Corey Hart’s head to make it 4-1.
“I have to produce runs,” Howard said. “Whatever I can do to get the team going and provide a spark, I try to do.”
But Prince Fielder hit a two-run drive in the sixth to make it 4-3 and end Moyer’s night. Fielder’s homer was his first since Aug. 13, but slumping Milwaukee lost for the eighth time in 11 games.
“This series has no more importance or value than the last series, but every day is important, every game is important,” Brewers manager Ned Yost said. “It’s must-win, that must be your mind-set in September.”
Brad Lidge finished for his 36th save in as many chances.
Astros 6, Pirates 0
At Houston, Roy Oswalt threw a three-hitter for his second straight complete-game shutout and set a Houston record for consecutive scoreless innings.
Oswalt (15-9), who had two RBIs, hasn’t allowed a run in 32 1-3 innings, passing the record of 31 set by J.R. Richard in 1980. He needed only 90 pitches to finish his sixth career shutout and 15th complete game.
It’s uncertain when the Astros will play again. The first two games of their weekend series against Chicago were postponed and Sunday’s matchup could be next with Hurricane Ike closing in on Texas.
Cubs 3, Cardinals 2
At St. Louis, Rich Harden (5-1) worked six solid innings and Kerry Wood got Albert Pujols to pop up with two men on for the final out.
Pujols drove in his 100th run with a sixth-inning double, becoming only the third player in major league history to reach the milestone in his first eight seasons. Al Simmons did it his first 11 seasons, and Ted Williams also did it his first eight.
Ryan Theriot, Derrek Lee and Mike Fontenot had RBIs for the Cubs, who lead Milwaukee in the NL Central by 5 1/2 games with 16 to play. The Cardinals remained 4 1/2 games behind the Brewers for the NL wild card.
Braves 8, Rockies 4
d a three-game sweep.
The Rockies, who have lost five straight, fell 8 1/2 games behind Los Angeles in the NL West.
Braves rookie Jair Jurrjens (13-9) set a career high with 10 strikeouts.
Padres 11, Giants 3
At San Diego, San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez homered twice and drove in four runs to set career highs with 31 homers and 103 RBIs.
Gonzalez, the Padres’ only All-Star this season, joined Fred McGriff (1991-92) and Phil Nevin (2000-01) as the only players in franchise history with consecutive seasons with 30 homers and 100 RBIs.
Gonzalez hit a three-run homer off Matt Cain (8-12) with no outs in a five-run first. He homered off Pat Misch leading off the seventh.
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