Burnitz blast inspires Cubs big win over Braves

TORONTO (Reuters) – Jeromy Burnitz belted a grand slam home
run and pitcher Jerome Williams helped his own cause with a
pair of hits to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 10-1 mauling of the
Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.

Williams (4-6) worked 7 2/3 innings to earn the decision,
yielding just one run on three hits but also contributed at the
plate with his first career multi-hit game with a run scored.

Michael Barrett and Neifi Perez each had a pair of hits and
two RBIs as the Cubs struck for four runs in each of the third
and fourth innings.

Burnitz did all the damage in fourth with one swing of the
bat, connecting on his eighth career grand slam and 19th
homerun of the season.

John Thomson (3-4) took the loss after surrendering five
runs and seven hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work.

Andruw Jones had a solo homer for the Braves becoming the
first player this year to reach 40 round-trippers.

In Washington, Luke Hudson limited Washington to four hits
over a career-best seven innings and the Cincinnati Reds batted
around in a four-run third to beat the Nationals 6-2.

Hudson (5-6), who had never lasted beyond the sixth inning
in 21 previous starts, gave up solo homers to Vinny Castilla
and Jose Guillen to account for Washington’s runs.

He struck out five and allowed four hits before handing
over to Brian Shackelford and David Weathers, who each pitched
a no-hit inning of relief as the Reds won their fourth game in
five.

In Pittsburgh, Nate McLouth belted a homer and Ty Wigginton
drove in three runs as the Pirates eased to a 10-0 victory over
the St Louis Cardinals.

Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke — a rookie who has posted a
6-0 record — left the game after pitching two perfect innings
when he sprained his left ankle running the bases.

Salomon Torres (4-4) took over and pitched three no-hit
frames until Yadier Molina led off the sixth with a single to
left.

He picked up the win after allowing three hits in 3 2/3
innings.

In Milwaukee, the Brewers exploded for six runs in the
fourth inning to ease past the Florida Marlins 11-2.

Chris Capuano (14-8) allowed two earned runs on eight hits
over the same number of innings, walking one and striking out
eight for the win.

Loser Josh Beckett (12-7) did not make it out of the
fourth, allowing seven runs and eight hits in just 3 1/3
innings. He also allowed Carlos Lee’s 28th homer to lead off
the second.

In Phoenix, Ramon Castro drove in a career-high five runs
and Mike Jacobs homered for the second time in three games
since he was brought up from the minor leagues to lead the New
York Mets to a 14-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Victor Zambrano (7-10) allowed six hits in eight innings as
the Mets won for the sixth time in eight games.

In other games, Jake Peavy won a pitching duel with Roger
Clemens in the San Diego Padres’s 2-0 home win against the
Houston Astros, the Philadelphia Phillies thumped the Giants
10-2 in San Francisco and Jeff Weaver shone for the Dodgers in
an 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles.