Jul 21, 2010 By Herald Standard Staff 4 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – Matt Diaz homered for the third straight game, Jair Jurrjens pitched seven strong innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Tuesday night in a matchup of first-place teams. Diaz drove in three runs with a two-run homer in the fourth and a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Jason Heyward had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in a run for the East-leading Braves (55-38), who passed the West-leading Padres (54-38) for the best record in the National League.

Chris Denorfia hit a second-inning homer for the Padres, but Jurrjens (3-3) gave up only two hits over his last five innings.

Padres second baseman David Eckstein left the game with a right calf strain.

Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.

San Diego’s Wade LeBlanc (4-8) gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.

Rockies 10, Marlins 0

MIAMI – Melvin Mora drove in five runs and Jeff Francis pitched seven crisp innings to lead Colorado to the victory.

Batting in the No. 3 spot for only the second time this season, Mora hit a bases-clearing double to highlight a six-run third inning. He also hit a two-run homer off Nate Robertson (6-8) in the fifth and finished with three hits, matching a season high.

Francis (3-3) allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked none while lowering his ERA from 5.14 to 4.63.

Robertson gave up eight runs, seven earned, and six hits in five innings for Florida, which had won three straight.

It was the Marlins’ most lopsided loss of the season.

Angels 10, Yankees 2

NEW YORK (AP) – Hideki Matsui, Maicer Izturis and Mike Napoli hit two-run homers to back a crisp effort from spot starter Sean O’Sullivan, and Los Angeles beat New York.

O’Sullivan (1-0) was starting in place of Scott Kazmir, who was put on the disabled list Sunday because of shoulder fatigue. Called up from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier Tuesday, the right-hander retired 12 in a row after giving up two runs in the first inning. In six innings, he allowed two hits, three walks and struck out four.

Rangers 8, Tigers 0

DETROIT – Tommy Hunter pitched seven scoreless innings, and Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler homered for Texas.

The AL West-leading Rangers are 5-1 since the All-Star break.

Hunter became the first Ranger to start a season 7-0, pitching only as a starter. He gave up three hits and two walks.

Indians 4, Twins 3

MINNEAPOLIS – Travis Hafner had two hits and the go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning, and Justin Masterson allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings for Cleveland.

Shelley Duncan added a bases-loaded double in the sixth for the Indians, who are 6-0 since the All-Star break.

Rafael Perez (3-0) picked up the win in relief of Masterson and Chris Perez earned his ninth save.

Blue Jays 13, Royals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Toronto’s Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 26th home run and drove in five runs to back Jesse Litsch, who picked up his first victory since 2008.

The Blue Jays have won four of their past five games, while the Royals have lost seven of eight.

Bautista hit a two-run homer in the first inning. He has homered in six of his last 13 games. His single in the second scored John Buck, who had three doubles.

Bautista’s double in a five-run eighth gave him five RBIs to match his career high.

Litsch (1-4) was 0-5 with a 7.08 ERA in eight starts since beating Baltimore on Sept. 18, 2008. He made only two starts last season before season-ending elbow surgery.

Litsch allowed one run and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings with no walks or strikeouts. He improved to 3-1 in four career starts against the Royals.