Houston, TX (My Sportsbook) - Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, as the
Chicago Cubs took the opener of a three-game set from the
Houston Astros, 7-2. Geovany Soto added a three-run inside-the-park homer for the Cubs, who have won five of six overall. Mark DeRosa went 2-for-4, extending his hit streak to 10 games, while Ryan Theriot and Derrek Lee each scored a run and drove one in. Ted Lilly (5-4) won his fourth straight start, as he held the Astros to two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings of work, and had six strikeouts to two walks. Chicago's bullpen gave up just three hits in 3 2/3 frames. Michael Bourn and Carlos Lee had two hits apiece and each drove in a run for Houston, which has lost three of its last four. Lance Berkman saw his 17-game hit streak come to a halt after he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Hunter Pence's hit streak ended at 16 games, after his 0- for-4 showing. Brian Moehler (1-1) got the start for Houston and absorbed the loss after he was touched for three runs on seven hits in five innings of work.
Final Score: Washington 4, Philadelphia 0
Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Tim Redding threw 6 1/3 shutout innings, and Lastings Milledge had two doubles and two runs batted in, as Washington blanked Philadelphia, 4-0, in the opener of a three-game series at Nationals Park. Redding (6-3) scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out a pair for the Nationals, who have won two in a row and shut the Phillies out for the second time this season. Washington also did it on April 2, with Redding as the starter, when he pitched seven one-hit frames. The win was also the 3000th for the Washington/Montreal franchise. The Expos notched 2,755, while this was the Nationals' 245th. Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Geoff Jenkins all had two hits for Philadelphia, which has only been shut out twice this season, both times at the hands of the Nationals. Brett Myers (2-5) struggled early, but managed to limit Washington to three runs on eight hits and three walks in six innings of work. The Phillies, though, left nine men on base and went on to lose their third straight.
Final Score: Colorado 4, San Francisco 3
Denver, CO (My Sportsbook) - Clint Barmes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, increasing his hit streak to 12 games, as the Colorado Rockies edged the San Francisco Giants, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set from Coors Field. Garrett Atkins went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Rockies, who have rattled off three wins in a row on the heels of a six-game skid. Matt Holliday also went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Yorvit Torrealba added a two- run double in the win. Jorge De La Rosa got the start for Colorado, but didn't factor in the decision, as he went 5 1/3 innings and was hit for three runs -- two earned -- on four hits. Jason Grilli (1-1) got the win after he pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up just one hit. Brian Fuentes earned his sixth save of the year as he gave up just one hit in the ninth. Randy Winn went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and finished with two RBI and two runs scored to increase his hit streak to 14 games for the Giants, who have dropped six straight contests. Fred Lewis had two triples and scored once. Rich Aurilia drove in the other run for the Giants. San Francisco starter Pat Misch gave up three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. The loss was chalked up to Vinnie Chulk (0-3), who gave up a run on a hit in two- thirds of an inning.
Final Score: St. Louis 8, San Diego 2
San Diego, CA (My Sportsbook) - Albert Pujols went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals in a rout of the San Diego Padres, 8-2, in the opener of a three-game set. Ryan Ludwick went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, and missed the cycle by a triple, for the Cardinals, who have won three in a row. Yadier Molina, Todd Wellemeyer and Cesar Izturis added an RBI each in the win. Wellemeyer (5-1) took the win after he gave up just two runs on six hits in six frames. St. Louis' bullpen was perfect through three innings of relief. Brian Giles and Khalil Greene each had two hits for the Padres, who have lost three in a row, 5- of-6 and are 5-13 over their last 18. Giles and Adrian Gonzalez accounted for the San Diego runs batted in. Jake Peavy was supposed to take the hill for San Diego, but the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is headed to the disabled list with soreness in his right elbow. Wilfredo Ledezma (0-1) got the start instead and absorbed the loss after he was touched for four runs on five hits in just four innings on the hill.
Final Score: Los Angeles 6, Cincinnati 5
Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Blake DeWitt drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, as the Los Angeles Dodgers clipped the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game set at Chavez Ravine. Brad Penny, who had his start pushed back a day due to stiffness in his right arm, gave up nine hits and five runs in six innings for the Dodgers. Takashi Saito (2-1) tossed a perfect ninth to pick up the win Matt Kemp finished 4-for-4 with a walk and a run batted in for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last six games. DeWitt drove in two runs, while Andre Ethier doubled and scored two runs. Bronson Arroyo surrendered five runs -- three earned -- on nine hits in five innings for the Reds. David Weathers (1-3) allowed the deciding run in the ninth to absorb the loss. Brandon Phillips was 4-for-5, scored two runs and knocked in a run for Cincinnati, which saw its season- high, six-game winning streak come to an end. Adam Dunn belted a two-run homer and added an RBI single. Dunn has now homered in a career-high five straight games, tying the club record shared by Ken Griffey Jr. (July 8-12, 2003), Johnny Bench (May 30-June 3, 1972) and Ted Kluszewski (August 11-15, 1954).
