Last Updated on July 1, 2007 9:52 pm by admin
CINCINNATI (AP) -Ryan Ludwick hit two home runs on Sunday to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to an 11-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, who fired low-key manager Jerry Narron afterward.
The Reds remained stuck with the worst record in the majors at 31-51, on pace to lose 100 games for the first time since 1982. Advance scout Pete Mackanin, who managed the Reds’ Triple-A team in Nashville from 1990-92, was chosen interim manager.
Reliever Troy Percival (2-0) pitched out of a threat in the fourth for his second win of the series.
Reds rookie Homer Bailey (2-2) got hit hard for the second straight start. The defining moment came in the third, when Ludwick hit a knee-high fastball to center.
Nationals 3, Pirates 2
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jesus Flores’ first major league home run, a two-run drive in the seventh inning, gave slumping Washington a three-run lead and the Nationals ended a five-game losing streak by holding on against Pittsburgh.
Mike Bacsik (2-5) won for the first time since May 24, shutting out the Pirates on three hits until being pulled during a two-run Pittsburgh seventh aided by his own throwing error.
Jon Rauch struck out Xavier Nady and Jason Bay during a scoreless eighth, and Chad Cordero pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 20 opportunities.
Paul Maholm (4-11) lasted seven innings for the fourth consecutive start, giving up nine hits and three runs.
Phillies 5, Mets 3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer, Kyle Kendrick pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Phillies salvaged the finale of a four-game series.
Kendrick (3-0) gave up two runs and six hits in a career-high 6 2-3 innings. Kendrick walked three and didn’t strike out a batter.
J.C. Romero got the final out of the seventh and Brian Sanches pitched a scoreless eighth. Mike Zagurski got two outs in the ninth before Ruben Gotay’s RBI single off Antonio Alfonseca cut it to 5-3. Alfonseca then retired Julio Franco for his sixth save in seven chances.
Rollins provided the big hit off starter Mike Pelfrey (0-6) in the third inning. The shortstop was 1-for-14 in the series before his 14th homer gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead.
Cubs 5, Brewers 1
CHICAGO (AP) – Jason Marquis allowed four hits in seven innings to win for the first time in almost two months, and the Chicago Cubs won for the eighth in nine games.
Aramis Ramirez doubled in two runs in the first inning, and Derrek Lee and Mark DeRosa added RBI singles in the third as the Cubs took a 4-0 lead.
That was enough for Marquis (6-4), who won for the first time since beating Pittsburgh 1-0 on May 9. He allowed one run, struck out five and walked one. His lone mistake was Corey Hart’s leadoff homer in the sixth.
Milwaukee’s Dave Bush (6-7) lasted six innings, allowing four runs and six hits. He struck out five and walked two after winning his previous two starts and picking up a win in relief.
Astros 12, Rockies 0
HOUSTON (AP) – Lance Berkman homered and had four RBIs, and Wandy Rodriguez won for just the third time in eight starts.
Berkman’s two-run homer off Tom Martin in the sixth was his first of the season batting right-handed. Earlier, he had a two-run double batting left-handed against Colorado starter Rodrigo Lopez (4-2).
Rodriguez (5-7) allowed three hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking two. He threw 117 pitches, matching a season high.
Luke Scott added a two-run homer and Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Chris Burke also drove in runs for the Astros, who took three of four in the weekend series with Colorado. The Rockies have lost 10 of their last 14.
Marlins 6, Braves 5, 10 innings
MIAMI (AP) – Josh Willingham had a career-best five hits, including a game-ending single in the 10th inning for Florida.
Miguel Olivo tied it with a leadoff homer against Braves closer Bob Wickman in the bottom of the ninth. Yunel Escobar’s two-run single off Kevin Gregg with two outs in the top half gave Atlanta a 5-4 lead.
Miguel Cabrera singled to start the 10th and advanced when Rafael Soriano (2-1) threw wildly to second for an error after fielding Jason Wood’s bunt. Brett Carroll then ran for Cabrera.
Willingham lined Soriano’s 1-0 pitch down the left-field line to score Carroll from second.
Lee Gardner (2-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.
Giants 13, Diamondbacks 0
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Rookie Tim Lincecum struck out a career-high 12 batters over seven innings, Barry Bonds doubled in two runs and the Giants’ offense came alive against Arizona.
Bonds walked twice before recording his 377th double and 2,900th career hit. Bengie Molina added a three-run homer and Ryan Klesko drove in four runs.
Lincecum (3-2) ended a six-start winless stretch with his first victory since May 22 against Houston. The hard-throwing right-hander, the Giants’ top pick at 10th overall last year out of Washington, didn’t walk a batter for the first time.
Micah Owings (5-3) lasted only four innings, allowing seven earned runs and eight hits.
Dodgers 5, Padres 0
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Chad Billingsley pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Matt Kemp and Rafael Furcal homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers stopped a five-game losing skid to the Padres.
Billingsley (5-0) won for the first time as a starter this season, matching a career high by striking out nine. He did not walk a batter. The right-hander’s four other wins came in relief.
Justin Germano (5-2) gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings, walked three and struck out three.