Major League Baseball
Wright’s bat lifts Mets past Padres NEW YORK (AP) – David Wright hit a pair of run-scoring singles and New York beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 Tuesday night in the return to Shea Stadium of former Mets catcher Mike Piazza.
Piazza, who signed with the Padres in the offseason, went 1-for-4 and received loud cheers from the moment he exited the dugout for pregame stretching to his last at-bat in the eighth inning.
Wright went 3-for-4 and swiped one of New York’s three bases against Piazza in a matchup of division leaders. Carlos Beltran also doubled three times to tie a Mets record.
Steve Trachsel (11-5) allowed five hits in 5 2-3 innings to win his second straight start, and Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 25th save. Woody Williams allowed all three runs and eight hits in six innings.
Reds 10, Cardinals 3
CINCINNATI – Outfielder Ryan Freel had three hits and made a down-and-dirty catch on Albert Pujols’ warning track drive with two on in the fifth that inspired a capacity crowd of 40,094, the Reds’ fifth sellout of the season.
Second-place Cincinnati matched its season high with 17 hits and emphatically evened the series with the NL Central leaders at one game apiece, moving to 31/2 games back.
After Freel’s catch preserved the lead, Adam Dunn had a bases-loaded single in the seventh, completing his three-RBI game. Rich Aurilia homered and drove in three, as well.
Eric Milton (8-7) gave up two runs – one earned – and five hits in six innings. Jason Marquis (12-10) lasted only 2 2-3 innings in his third straight loss, allowing four runs and nine hits.
Braves 3, Phillies 1
ATLANTA – Tim Hudson (9-10) pitched his best game in nearly two months, striking out eight in seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and driving in a run.
The game was scoreless in the fifth when Matt Diaz led off with a triple off the right-field wall against Cole Hamels (4-6). Scott Thorman failed to get the runner home, grounding out to third, before Hudson drove in Diaz by getting down the second of two straight squeeze attempts. Matt Diaz hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Thorman added an RBI doubled against Geoff Geary.
Marlins 4, Nationals 2
WASHINGTON – Miguel Cabrera had three hits and an RBI, and Dan Uggla hit his 17th homer to back Ricky Nolasco (10-7), who gave up two runs and five hits with no walks in 6 1-3 innings. Joe Borowski pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Washington made three errors behind starter Tony Armas Jr. (7-8), and two led to unearned runs. Ryan Church and Nick Johnson homered for Washington.
Twins 4, Tigers 2
DETROIT – Brad Radke won for the seventh time in eighth decisions, lifting the Minnesota Twins over Detroit 4-2 Tuesday night and stopping the Tigers’ four-game winning streak.
Joe Mauer, whose third-inning groundout tied the game, doubled off Nate Robertson (10-8) for a 3-2 lead in the fifth, helping the Twins to their fifth win in six games.
Radke (11-8) gave up two runs and nine hits in seven innings, walking one. He is 7-1 in his last 12 starts. Joe Nathan gave up a two-out walk to Brandon Inge and a single to Curtis Granderson in the ninth, then retired Placido Polanco on a flyout for his 24th save.
Angels 5, Indians 4
CLEVELAND – Pinch-hitter Adam Kennedy’s two-out single off Rafael Betancourt (0-4) scored Vladimir Guerrero with the go-ahead run in the eighth following a double steal, and Los Angeles won its fourth straight.
Brendan Donnelly (2-0) pitched 1 1-3 innings in relief of Jered Weaver, who recorded his third straight no-decision after winning his first seven starts.
Scot Shields worked the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez closed for his 28th save, retiring pinch-hitter Todd Hollandsworth on a game-ending grounder with a runner on second.
Grady Sizemore hit a solo homer for Cleveland, which has lost six one-run games since July 30.
Orioles 8, Blue Jays 4
TORONTO – Nick Markakis homered and had a career-high four RBIs, Daniel Cabrera (5-7) got his first major league win since June 10 and Miguel Tejada also homered for the Orioles, who sent Toronto to its 11th loss in 15 games.
Down 2-1 in the seventh, Baltimore scored four runs after starter Shaun Marcum was replaced by Scott Schoeneweis (2-2). Markakis hit a tying single with two outs, and Melvin Mora had a three-run double off Justin Speier. Markakis added a three-run homer off Francisco Rosario in the eighth.
Cabrera allowed two runs – one earned – and five hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. Cabrera, who leads the AL with 76 walks, was sent him to the minors on July 14 and was recalled before the game.