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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Braves take over first in NL East


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel argues with umpire Larry Vanover after being ejected when a hit-by-a-pitch call was overturned in favor of the Atlanta Braves.

JOHN BAZEMORE | Associated Press

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ATLANTA — Chipper Jones knows the Philadelphia Phillies' lineup is too potent to stay quiet for long.

"At some point they're going to break out of it," he said. "You just hope it's not against you. We've been fortunate."

The Braves capitalized on another punchless Phillies' effort to move into first place in the NL East with a 9-3 victory yesterday.

Jones and Troy Glaus homered to back a strong start by Tommy Hanson. The Braves, winners of six straight, are one-half game ahead of Philadelphia, which has dropped two straight and nine of 13.

"Frustrated? Yes, we're frustrated," said Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez, who had one of three RBI doubles in the seventh. "But we're not down. This is a team of guys that are going to fight and scratch and claw."

Improving to 16-4 since May 10, the Braves have made up 7 1/2 games in the NL East since May 17, when they were in last place. Atlanta hasn't held first place in the NL East this late in a season since it won the last of 14 straight division titles in 2005.

Philadelphia, which was shut out in five of its previous eight games, had just three hits off Hanson (5-3) before the right-hander left with two outs in the seventh.

Joe Blanton (1-4) lost his second straight start.

"It just seems that everything that can go wrong does," Blanton said.

Rockies 4, Giants 0: Ubaldo Jimenez pitched a four-hitter to become the majors' first 10-game winner this year, outpitching Tim Lincecum (5-2) to lead Colorado past host San Francisco.

Clint Barmes hit a two-run single in the second inning that held up for Jimenez (10-1), who struck out nine, lowered his big league-best ERA to 0.78 and extended his career-best scoreless innings streak to 26.

Marlins 13, Brewers 5: Cody Ross hit a three-run homer to spark Florida's biggest inning this year, Cameron Maybin hit an inside-the-park home run to help turn the game into a runaway and the Marlins erased an early four-run deficit to beat visiting Milwaukee.

Chris Coghlan singled and then hit a two-run triple in what became a seven-run sixth for the Marlins, who scored four more in the seventh — the last two coming on Maybin's line drive to center that he beat without even sliding at the plate, crossing with both arms raised.

Pirates 2, Cubs 1: Pinch-hitter Bobby Crosby singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning off Sean Marshall (5-2), Garrett Jones homered and host Pittsburgh ended a five-game losing streak.

Evan Meek (3-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory and Octavio Dotel finished for his 11th save in 13 opportunities.

Nationals 14, Astros 4: Carlos Maldonado and Ryan Zimmerman hit three-run homers off Chris Sampson, long after Roy Oswalt (3-7) was ejected in the third inning, and visiting Washington put together the highest scoring inning in Nationals' history.

Zimmerman and Adam Dunn drove in four runs apiece and both chipped in during a nine-run seventh, the team's biggest inning since relocating from Montreal before the 2005 season.

Cardinals 12, Reds 4: Albert Pujols continued his torrid hitting and rookie Jaime Garcia (5-2) allowed seven hits and two earned runs over six innings for host St. Louis, which moved into a first-place tie in the NL Central with Cincinnati.

Pujols extended his streak of reaching base to nine straight plate appearances with two intentional walks and a single his first three times up. He hit into a double play in the fifth inning. Pujols added an RBI single in a five-run sixth, one day after hitting three homers at Chicago.

Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 4: A balk by Esmerling Vasquez (0-1) allowed Casey Blake to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as host Los Angeles beat Arizona.

With one out, Blake DeWitt worked the count to 2-2 before second base umpire Tim Tschida signaled balk after some frantic gyrations by Blake and Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa. Blake removed his helmet and jogged home.

Padres 18, Mets 6: Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam in the second inning and Chase Headley had a homer among his four hits as host San Diego set the scoring record for Petco Park in a victory over New York.

The previous scoring mark was set by the Padres in a 17-2 win over Atlanta in their home opener on April 12. Petco Park opened in 2004.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankees 11, Indians 2: Alex Rodriguez hit his second grand slam of the season in a six-run seventh inning, and Andy Pettitte (7-1) was nearly unhittable, helping host New York beat Cleveland.

Pettitte pitched seven innings, allowing three singles and Jhonny Peralta's 100th career homer, while striking out five without a walk.

Angels 7, Royals 1: Ervin Santana (5-3) allowed seven hits and struck out six in seven innings, and Los Angeles didn't need any late-game heroics, roughing up Luke Hochevar (5-3) early on the way to a win over host Kansas City.

Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer, Juan Rivera and Maicer Izturis each had solo shots off Hochevar, and Howie Kendrick had two RBIs.

Athletics 4, Tigers 1: Rajai Davis scored twice and Trevor Cahill (4-2) allowed one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings as Oakland beat host Detroit.

The win was Oakland's third of the four-game series and fifth out of seven during its ongoing 10-game trip. Detroit has lost five of six.

Blue Jays 3, Rays 2: Brandon Morrow (4-4) gave up one run in seven innings, and Toronto threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning to beat visiting Tampa Bay.

Evan Longoria tripled off Kevin Gregg with one out in the ninth, but he was thrown out trying to score on John Jaso's grounder to shortstop Alex Gonzalez for the second out. Gabe Kapler ended it by grounding into a fielder's choice, giving Gregg his 14th save in 16 chances.

Twins 5, Mariners 4: Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel homered on consecutive pitches and Delmon Young hit a two-run shot as Minnesota beat host Seattle

Francisco Liriano (5-3) allowed eight hits and three runs in six innings. He struck out seven to end his three-game losing streak.