Last Updated on June 26, 2007 9:33 pm by admin
ATLANTA (AP) -Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered twice, slumping Andruw Jones went deep for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks to lead the Atlanta Braves past the Washington Nationals 6-2 on Tuesday night.
Saltalamacchia hit solo shots in the third and fifth innings, the first multihomer game of the rookie’s young career. But the most encouraging swing for the Braves came later in the fifth.
Jones was mired in a 1-for-31 slump that had knocked his average below .200. He had gone 53 at-bats without managing even an extra-base hit since his last homer: June 9 off Jason Marquis of the Chicago Cubs.
With two outs and two runners aboard, Jones got hold of a 3-1 pitch from Mike Bacsik (1-5). Jones leisurely tossed his bat aside as he watched the three-run shot sail into the left-field seats for his 12th homer this season.
Atlanta starter Buddy Carlyle (2-2) allowed a run in seven innings and Bob Wickman got the final two outs for his 14th save.
Phillies 11, Reds 4
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Carlos Ruiz drove in a career-best four runs and stole home, and Philadelphia moved to four games over .500, matching its season high.
Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Chase Utley homered for the Phillies, who finished with 16 hits and gave Kyle Kendrick plenty of support in his third start since replacing injured Freddy Garcia in the rotation.
Kendrick (2-0) allowed four runs and six hits in six innings. Fellow rookie Homer Bailey (2-1) lasted just 1 2-3 innings, allowing six runs and six hits.
Josh Hamilton and Adam Dunn hit solo homers for the Reds, who have the NL’s worst record (29-48).
Pirates 3, Marlins 2
MIAMI (AP) – Paul Maholm gave up three hits and two runs in 7 2-3 innings and Pittsburgh snapped a five-game losing streak.
Maholm (4-10), who celebrated his 25th birthday on Monday, retired 15 straight batters after giving up a solo home run to Dan Uggla in the third inning. Matt Capps pitched the ninth for his sixth save.
Dontrelle Willis (7-7) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings for the Marlins in his fifth consecutive loss.
Jack Wilson had a solo homer and two RBI for the Pirates.