HOUSTON (AP) -Geovany Soto didn't get the automatic home run he deserved, but it didn't make a difference as the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 7-2 on Monday night.
Soto was credited with an inside-the-park homer in the fourth inning despite replays showing that it should have been an automatic home run. The ball bounced just to the right of the yellow line on the wall in left-center field. Astros center fielder Michael Bourn scooped it up and threw it home, but Soto scored easily before the throw got there.
It was the second straight night that major league umpires botched a home run call. New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado was robbed of a three-run homer Sunday night. Delgado's ball was originally ruled a home run but the call was reversed, turning it into a long foul ball. The replay of that play showed it should have been a home run.
Ted Lilly (5-4) allowed four hits and two runs with six strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings for his fourth straight win.
Astros starter Brian Moehler (1-1) allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings.Nationals 4, Phillies 0
WASHINGTON (AP) - Ryan Zimmerman saved a run or two with a quick stab to stop a double down the left-field line in the first inning, charged a two-hopper barehanded to throw out the swift Shane Victorino in the fifth, then made a tough catch look routine when pinch hitter Greg Dobbs hit a foul pop-up in the seventh.
With the help of his third baseman's flawless defense, Tim Redding (6-3) threw 6 1-3 scoreless innings and the Nationals opened a seven-game homestand with a win over the Phillies.
Brett Myers (2-5) allowed eight hits and three runs with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings.Rockies 4, Giants 3
DENVER (AP) - Clint Barmes homered and Yorvit Torrealba added a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth, leading the Rockies to a win over slumping San Francisco.
The Giants have now lost a season-high six straight games.
Jason Grilli (1-0) got two outs in the sixth to earn his first win as a member of the Rockies. Brian Fuentes pitched around an opening single in the ninth for his sixth save in eight chances.
Fred Lewis had two triples for San Francisco and Randy Winn hit a solo homer in the first to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. He also had a single and an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Vinnie Chulk (0-3) took the loss.Cardinals 8, Padres 2
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Albert Pujols hit two mighty home runs, and Cesar Izturis and Ryan Ludwick also went yard in leading the Cardinals over the punchless Padres.
It was the third straight win for the Cardinals, who got to face Wil Ledezma (0-1) instead of Padres ace Jake Peavy, who could be heading for the disabled list due to soreness in his pitching elbow. The four homers were the most in a game this year for the Cardinals, who tied their season high with 16 hits.
Starter Todd Wellemeyer (5-1) hit an RBI single and held the Padres to two runs in six innings. He walked three and struck out two.Dodgers 6, Reds 5
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Rookie Blake DeWitt's bases-loaded RBI single with one out in the ninth inning helped the Dodgers end the Reds' six-game winning streak.
Russell Martin led off the ninth against David Weathers (1-3) with an infield single up the middle and continued to second when shortstop Paul Janish threw the ball over the head of first baseman Joey Votto and into the dugout.
Martin advanced on Jeff Kent's groundout, and Weathers intentionally walked James Loney and Matt Kemp before DeWitt stroked an opposite-field hit to left. He is 6-for-6 with 12 RBIs in bases-loaded situations.
Takashi Saito (2-1) pitched a perfect ninth for the victory.
Adam Dunn tied a Cincinnati club record by homering in his fifth straight game.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
