Cubs out of hibernation with 9-6 win over Marlins
TORONTO (Reuters) – Jeromy Burnitz clubbed a two-run homer
and Carlos Zambrano delivered seven sharp innings as the
Chicago Cubs snapped their season-high eight-game losing skid
with a 9-6 win over the Florida Marlins in Miami on Friday.
Zambrano (6-4) was solid on the mound giving up three runs
on six hits, striking out seven but walking six. Ryan Dempster
worked came on to get the final three outs in the ninth for his
13th save.
Florida ace Dontrelle Willis (13-4) took the loss, rocked
for a career-high eight runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings.
The Cubs took a 1-0 first inning lead on Aramis Ramirez’s
RBI double and never trailed, adding two runs in the third and
fourth innings and three more in the fifth.
Mike Lowell clubbed a three-run homer for the Marlins and
Miguel Cabrera chipped in with a solo shot in a losing cause.
In Pittsburgh, Humberto Cota’s 10th inning RBI single
lifted the Pirates to a 6-5 comeback win over the New York
Mets.
Trailing 5-1, the Pirates rallied for four runs in the
ninth inning keyed by a two-run double from Matt Lawton, Cota
singled down the left field line scoring Rob Mackowiak with the
winning run.
Tike Redman also had a pair of RBIs for Pittsburgh.
Jose Mesa (1-5) worked a perfect ninth to take credit for
the win while Braden Looper (2-4) took the loss, giving up two
runs — one earned — on three hits in one inning of relief.
In Atlanta, Ryan Langerhans stroked a ninth-inning
bases-loaded single to bring home the winning run as the Braves
edged the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 to stretch their win streak to
six games.
Andruw Jones had an RBI double to score the Braves’ other
run.
Dan Kolb (2-5) tossed a scoreless ninth to get the win
while Julio Santana (1-3) was tagged with the loss.
In Philadelphia, Carlos Baerga belted a three-run homer and
Matt Cepicky drove in three runs to power the Washington
Nationals to an 8-7 win over the slumping Phillies, who have
lost 11 of their last 15.
Jose Guillen contributed a pair of hits and RBI to the
Nationals’ effort while Brad Wilkerson had three hits and
scored twice.
Ryan Drese (3-1) worked five-plus innings giving up four
runs on six hits to earn the win while Chad Cordero pitched a
perfect ninth to notch his major league-leading 31st save.
Robinson Tejeda (1-2) was charged with the loss, pounded
for five runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.
ASTROS DOWN DODGERS
In Houston, Morgan Ensberg stroked an RBI double in the
bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Astros to a 3-2 victory
over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tied 2-2, Ensberg lined a shot into deep center bringing
across Willy Taveras, who had opened the ninth with an infield
single.
Astros starter Roger Clemens tossed eight strong innings,
giving up two runs on eight hits, but once again received
little support, Brad Lidge (3-2) taking credit for the win
after pitching a scoreless ninth.
Yhency Brazoban (2-3) was charged with the loss after
surrendering the winning run on two hits in 1/3 of an inning.
In Denver, Ryan Klesko smacked his ninth career grand slam
and Mark Sweeney added a solo shot powering the San Diego
Padres to a 12-2 rout of the Colorado Rockies.
Tim Stauffer (3-4) also turned in a solid performance on
the mound for the Padres allowing two runs on five hits,
striking out five and walking a pair over seven innings to earn
the decision.
Jamey Wright (5-9) absorbed the loss, tagged for six runs
– four earned — on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.
In Phoenix, Ken Griffey Jr. belted a game-tying three-run
homer in the eighth inning and Rich Aurilia singled in the
winning run in the ninth as the Cincinnati Reds rallied to down
the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3.
David Weathers (5-1) tossed one inning of relief for the
win while Kent Mercker worked a scoreless ninth for his second
save.
Trailing 3-0 entering the eighth, Griffey leveled the score
with his 518th career homer extending his hitting streak to 10
games.
The next inning, Aurilia singled to right bringing in Adam
Dunn with the winning run.
In San Francisco, Larry Walker had a two-run homer, Reggie
Sanders added a solo shot and Mark Mulder pitched seven shutout
innings to help the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-1 victory over
the Giants.
Mulder (10-5) was dominant, scattering four hits while
striking out one and walking one to earn the decision.
Jason Isringhausen came on in the ninth to get the final
three outs and his 24th save.