Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Ted Lilly struck out 10 in eight strong innings and doubled home a pair of runs, as the
Chicago Cubs built a substantial lead early and went on to defeat the
Florida Marlins, 6-1. Lilly (3-2) allowed only one run on five hits without walking a batter for the Cubs, who have inched one game above .500 with two consecutive wins over Florida. With the victory, Lilly has now defeated all 30 MLB teams, having previously been 0-4 against the Marlins. Ryan Theriot homered for the second straight game and added a triple, while Derrek Lee also went deep for Chicago. Micah Hoffpauir and Alfonso Soriano both had a pair of hits and scored once in the victory. Cody Ross' solo homer was the only offense for the Marlins, who have lost nine of their last 12 after starting the season 11-1. Florida starter Anibal Sanchez (1-3) was tagged for six runs on nine hits and four walks in four innings, with five strikeouts, to absorb the loss. No Marlins starter has recorded a victory in 15 consecutive games, dating back to April 16, when Sanchez defeated the Braves.
Final Score: Washington 6, St. Louis 1
Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Shairon Martis allowed only one run over nine innings, and Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 21 games, as the Washington Nationals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-1, at Nationals Park. Martis (3-0) yielded just five hits while striking out six without issuing a walk in his first career complete game for the Nationals, who had lost four of five coming into the game. Zimmerman finished the game 2-for-4 to extend his Nationals record hitting streak. Adam Dunn blasted a three-run homer to pace the offense, while Austin Kearns and Anderson Hernandez each had a pair of hits and an RBI each in the win. Cardinals starter Joel Piniero (4-1) failed to become the NL's first five-game winner, giving up four runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and a walk while fanning four in seven innings. Albert Pujols was given the day off after hitting two homers in the last two games, and highly-regarded prospect Colby Rasmus provided the only offense with his first career home run for St. Louis, which had won three in a row.
Final Score: Philadelphia 6, New York 5 (10 innings)
Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Sean Green walked Shane Victorino to force in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies edged New York, 6-5, in the second of three games with the Mets. Green (0-2) started the 10th for the Mets, replacing J.J. Putz, who had thrown two scoreless frames. He started well, getting leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins to ground out. But Pedro Feliz reached base after tapping a slow roller to third, and Green hit pinch-hitter Matt Stairs before pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs flied out. Pinch-hitter Chris Coste walked to load the bases, and Victorino worked a full count before Green threw the sixth pitch of the at-bat low for ball four, forcing in Feliz to end the game. Jack Taschner (1-0) took the win after holding the Mets scoreless in the top of the 10th. New York rallied to put men on first and third with one out against Taschner, but Carlos Beltran hit into an inning-ending double play to leave the contest tied. Raul Ibanez had two hits, including a game-tying solo homer in the sixth inning for the Phillies, who halted a two-game slide. Philadelphia dropped the opener of this series, 7-4, on Friday. In addition to working the game-winning walk, Victorino doubled and tripled. Daniel Murphy and Ramon Castro hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning for the Mets, who have lost three of four overall. Neither team's starter factored into the decision. The Mets' Oliver Perez allowed four runs on five hits and six walks, and was pulled after just 2 1/3 innings. Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer gave up five runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 frames.
Final Score: Houston 5, Atlanta 1
Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Lance Berkman hit a solo home run to help the Houston Astros take a 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves in the second of a three-game set at Turner Field. Hunter Pence went 3-for-4 with a run scored while Ivan Rodriguez had two hits, scored once and drove in a run for the Astros, who have won four of their last six games. Roy Oswalt started on the mound, but pitched only one inning due to a lengthy rain delay. He walked a batter and struck out two. Tim Byrdak (1-0) got the win for throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Jeff Francoeur scored the lone run while Jordan Schafer and Kelly Johnson each had two hits for the Braves, who have dropped four of six games. Jair Jurrjens gave up one run on four hits in two innings of starting action. Buddy Carlyle (0-1) was on the mound after the rain delay and took the loss for yielding three runs -- one earned -- on four hits in three innings.
Final Score: Colorado 5, San Francisco 1
San Francisco, CA (My Sportsbook) - Jason Marquis came within three outs of a shutout, but settled for his fifth career complete game, as the Colorado Rockies defeated San Francisco, 5-1, in the middle test of a three-game series at AT&T Park. Marquis (4-1) gave up the five hits, the last one a leadoff home run by Pablo Sandoval in the ninth inning, struck out four and walked a batter. Ryan Spilborghs smacked a home run to begin the game and added a two- run blast in the fifth for the Rockies, who have won four of their last six games. Garrett Atkins had an RBI single in the third and Brad Hawpe clubbed a solo shot in the sixth. Matt Cain (2-1) lasted six innings for the Giants, yielding five runs on seven hits and four walks in a losing cause. Emmanuel Burriss collected two hits and walked for San Francisco, which lost for just the third time in its last 11 outings.
Final Score: Arizona 4, Milwaukee 1
Milwaukee, WI (My Sportsbook) - Dan Haren continued his superb start to the 2009 campaign, tossing eight innings of one-run ball, as Arizona bested the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-1, at Miller Park. Haren (3-3), coming off a complete game victory against the Cubs, lowered his earned-run average this season to a miniscule 1.47. The right-hander struck out 11 and gave up just four hits and two walks in another dominant outing. Justin Upton went 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored, while Chris Snyder added two hits and a pair of RBI for Arizona, which has won three of four. The Brewers, with star outfielder Ryan Braun on the bench nursing a bad back, registered just five hits in the club's second straight loss following a four-game win streak. Prince Fielder knocked in the team's lone run. Braden Looper (2-1) was solid in his seven-inning start for Milwaukee, allowing four runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 8, Cincinnati 6
Pittsburgh, PA (My Sportsbook) - Andy LaRoche and Ramon Vazquez each had two RBI to help the Pittsburgh Pirates take an 8-6 decision over the Cincinnati Reds in the second of a three-game set at PNC Park. Nate McLouth went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI while Nyjer Morgan scored twice for the Pirates, who snapped a four-game slide. Ross Ohlendorf (3-2) got the win as he gave up just three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in six innings. Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer while Adam Rosales had three hits, one run scored and one driven in for the Reds, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Micah Owings (1-3) was charged with the loss for giving up five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Final Score: Los Angeles 2, San Diego 1 (10 innings)
Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Andre Ethier hit the winning bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and the Dodgers remained unbeaten at home to tie a franchise record in a 2-1 triumph over the San Diego Padres. Russell Martin had three hits for the Dodgers, who moved to 9-0 at home. That ties for the best home start to a season in franchise history, equaling the 1946 team, when it was located in Brooklyn. Rafael Furcal had two hits and scored the winning run for Los Angeles, which has been victorious in the opening three contests of this series. Padres starter Chris Young allowed six hits and a run over seven innings, while Dodgers starter Randy Wolf gave up two hits and a run over 5 1/3 frames. Luke Gregerson (0-2) was saddled with the loss, while Guillermo Mota (2-0) got credit for the win.
