Pittsburgh, PA (My Sportsbook) - Terrmel Sledge snapped a tie with a two- run single in the seventh inning to lead Montreal to a 6-2 win over Pittsburgh in the first of a short two-game series at PNC Park. Brad Wilkerson and Orlando Cabrera both contributed two hits for the Expos, who scored four runs in the seventh to halt a two-game losing streak. Joe Horgan (3-0) retired one hitter in the sixth for the victory. Craig Wilson finished with two hits -- including a two-run homer -- for the Pirates, who had their 10-game home winning streak stopped and lost for the fifth time in their last 20 overall. Jason Kendall added two hits.
Final Score: Cincinnati 8, Milwaukee 4
Cincinnati, OH (My Sportsbook) - Wily Mo Pena celebrated his win as NL Player of the Week with a homer and three RBI, leading the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-4 victory over Milwaukee in the opener of a two-game series at Great American Ball Park. Aaron Harang (6-2), who threw 7 2/3 shutout innings in win over the Brewers his last time out, pitched well enough over 6 1/3 frames to earn the win. He was charged with two runs on seven hits. D'Angelo Jimenez drove in a pair of runs for the Reds. Jason LaRue added a solo homer in the victory. Gary Bennett went 4-for-4 with an RBI for the Brewers, who have alternated wins and losses in five games since the All-Star break.
Final Score: Florida 6, New York 5
Flushing, NY (My Sportsbook) - Lenny Harris singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth as Florida rallied for a 6-5 win over New York in the opener of a two-game set at Shea Stadium. Miguel Cabrera added two hits and drove in three runs for the Marlins, who ended a three-game slide and spoiled Scott Erickson's return to the majors. Erickson started for the Mets, appearing in his first game since August 31, 2002 when he was with the Baltimore Orioles. He had missed nearly two years of action because of a major arm injury and then was sidelined most of this season with a hamstring injury that forced him to Triple-A. Erickson allowed only two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits in six innings of work. The veteran righthander left the game with a 5-2 lead, but the bullpen couldn't hold on for Erickson's first win since August 7, 2002. Jose Reyes went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two stolen bases and three runs scored for the Mets, who have dropped three of five coming out of the All-Star break.
Final Score: Atlanta 4, Philadelphia 2
Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Mike Hampton tossed seven strong innings to win his third straight start, as Atlanta knocked Philadelphia out of first place in the NL East for the first time since June 28 with a 4-2 win in the opener of a two-game series. The victory gave the Braves a 49-43 record, which includes a 12-3 mark in July. Atlanta has lost just twice in its last 11 games. Hampton (5-8) yielded two runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts. His last two wins have come against the Phillies. John Smoltz pitched a perfect eighth inning and worked out of a jam in the ninth to pick up his 18 save of the season. Jim Thome homered in the loss, Philadelphia's fifth in seven games.
Final Score: St. Louis 5, Chicago 4
Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Scott Rolen's two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a brief two-game series at Wrigley Field. Rolen finished with two hits and Jim Edmonds added a home run and two RBI for the Cardinals, who extended their lead to nine games over the Cubs in the National League Central division. Edgar Renteria also homered in the win -- St. Louis' 12th in its last 14 games. Chris Carpenter (10-4) posted the win with eight strong innings of four-run ball. The righthander gave up 12 hits, struck out five and walked none to improve to 7-2 in 11 road starts this season. Moises Alou finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI for the Cubs, who have lost two in a row and eight of their last 11 games. Corey Patterson and Michael Barrett both had two hits in the loss.
Final Score: Los Angeles 7, Houston 6
Houston, TX (My Sportsbook) - Milton Bradley and Shawn Green smacked back-to- back homers in the eighth inning to put Los Angeles ahead, as the red-hot Dodgers edged the Houston Astros, 7-6, in the opener of a two-game set at Minute Maid Park. Bradley finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot for the Dodgers, winners of seven straight and 13 of their last 14 games. Giovanni Carrara (2-0) got the win despite giving up a three-run homer to Morgan Ensberg in the eighth inning that put Houston ahead 6-5. Los Angeles closer Eric Gagne worked a perfect ninth for his 26th save. Dan Miceli (3-5) gave up the consecutive homers to take the loss for the slumping Astros, who have dropped five of their last six contests.
Final Score: Colorado 13, San Diego 6
Denver, CO (My Sportsbook) - Mark Loretta finished 4-for-5 with three RBI, leading the San Diego Padres to a 13-6 win over Colorado in the opener of a two-game set at Coors Field. Ismael Valdez (9-5) threw 5 2/3 innings to pick up his third straight victory and helped his cause at the plate by going 3- for-3 with a two RBI. Terrence Long went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and drove in two runs for the Padres, winners in four of their last five. Sean Burroughs was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Jeromy Burnitz smacked a pair of home runs for the Rockies, who have lost fourth of their last six. Larry Walker ended 3-for-4 and added a solo homer.
Final Score: San Francisco 6, Arizona 1
Phoenix, AZ (My Sportsbook) - Ray Durham drove in a pair of runs during a four-run second inning to lead San Francisco over Arizona, 6-1, in the opener of a brief two-game series at Bank One Ballpark. J.T. Snow and Edgardo Alfonzo both chipped in two hits and an RBI for the Giants, who have won seven of their last 10 games. Brett Tomko (5-5) has won three of his last four starts and evened his lifetime mark versus Arizona to 4-4. Tomko pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball and yielded nine hits. Steve Finley went 3-for-4 and Luis Gonzalez homered for the Diamondbacks, who suffered their eighth straight loss.
