Drew, Beltre both hit for cycle
PHOENIX (AP) – Stephen Drew became the first player to hit for the cycle in Chase Field, and newly acquired David Eckstein singled home the winning run to help the Arizona Diamondbacks rally past the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 on Monday. Adam Dunn, Chris Young and Mark Reynolds also homered for the slumping Diamondbacks, who overcame a poor start by Randy Johnson.
Batting leadoff, Drew singled in the first, tripled in the third and homered in the fifth against St. Louis Cardinals starter Joel Pineiro. He hit a ground-rule double in the seventh against reliever Kyle McClellan (2-7) as the Chase Field crowd rose for a standing ovation.
Drew added another double in the eighth for his fifth hit, matching a career high and becoming the 12th Diamondbacks player to have five hits in a game.
Mariners 12, Rangers 6
ARLINGTON, Texas – Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle and had five hits to help Seattle win their fourth straight game, beating Texas.
Beltre, who had the third five-hit game of his career, became the fourth Mariners player to hit for the cycle with an RBI triple off Josh Rupe in the eighth.
Beltre homered in the second, had an RBI single in the fourth and singled in the sixth off Rangers starter Matt Harrison. He doubled off Rangers reliever Luis Mendoza (3-7) in Seattle’s four-run seventh.
Sean Green (4-4) pitched three scoreless innings for the win.
Astros 3, Cubs 0
CHICAGO – Roy Oswalt allowed four hits and came within two outs of a shutout and the Houston ran its winning streak to six games.
The Cubs have lost three straight, all at home – their first three-game skid at Wrigley Field since August of last year. They remained 41/2 game ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central after Milwaukee lost 4-2 to the Mets.
Oswalt (13-9), who has won seven of his last eight decisions, took a two-hit shutout into the ninth. But pinch-hitter Daryle Ward and Alfonso Soriano hit back-to-back singles with one out before Jose Valverde was summoned from the bullpen, earning his 38th save in 44 chances.
Mets 4, Brewers 2
MILWAUKEE – Carlos Delgado’s two-run home run off Eric Gagne in the eighth inning propelled New York to a victory over the Brewers.
Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets pitched five scoreless innings but was taken out of the game as a precaution due to “very slight” tightness in his left groin.
Nationals 7, Phillies 4
WASHINGTON – Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run home run and the Nationals won their seventh straight game.
Starter Tim Redding didn’t allow a hit in the first five innings for the Nationals, who are on their best streak since a 10-game stretch in June 2005.
The Phillies dropped two games behind the Mets in the NL East.
Rockies 4, Giants 0
DENVER – Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven shutout innings and had an RBI single, Willy Taveras stole three bases and scored twice and Colorado shut out San Francisco.
De La Rosa (8-7) was sharp for the fifth straight start, allowing four hits, striking out six and walking one. He didn’t allow a runner past first base and twice erased leadoff singles by inducing double plays.
Marlins 4, Braves 3
MIAMI – Jorge Cantu homered and John Baker hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to drive in the winning run in the ninth, helping Florida beat Atlanta.
Baker’s fly ball to shallow left drove in Dan Uggla, who beat left fielder Brandon Jones’ throw to the plate.
Indians 5, White Sox 0
CLEVELAND – Cliff Lee became Cleveland’s first 20-game winner in 34 years, pitching a five-hitter for his second career shutout to lead the Indians to a win over the Chicago White Sox.
Lee (20-2) is the first Indians pitcher to reach 20 wins since Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry went 21-13 in 1974. The left-hander’s milestone win – his ninth straight victory – came exactly one year to the day that he was recalled from the minor leagues.
Yankees 13, Tigers 9
DETROIT – Alex Rodriguez sparked a scoring barrage with a two-run single in the first inning and added an RBI in each of the next two frames to help New York take a nine-run lead before winning by four.
Rodriguez’s four RBIs helped the Yankees take an 11-2 lead, but they were ahead by just two runs following five innings after giving up homers to Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge.
Derek Jeter drove in one of two runs in the sixth, padding the lead to 13-9.
Red Sox 7, Orioles 4
BOSTON – Dustin Pedroia’s two-run single capped a four-run sixth inning, Paul Byrd pitched seven efficient innings and the Red Sox beat the struggling Orioles.
The Red Sox pulled to five games behind the idle Rays. Boston increased its lead to three games in the wild card race.
Baltimore, swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay over the weekend when its pitchers allowed 34 runs, lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Garrett Olson (8-7) gave up six runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings.
Byrd (10-11), making his fourth start for Boston since being acquired for a player to be named or cash from Cleveland on Aug. 12, gave up four runs and seven hits. Javier Lopez worked a perfect eighth before Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 35th save.
Copyright Associated Press 2008