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Baseball: Smoltz flirts with no-hitter
By The Associated Press
Saturday, September 08, 2007 | No comments posted.
ATLANTA — John Smoltz has accomplished plenty in his career. A no-hitter will have to wait.
The 40-year-old Smoltz didn’t allow a hit through seven innings, but Washington’s Ronnie Belliard led off the eighth with a clean single to right in the Atlanta Braves’ 7-1 win over the Nationals on Friday night.
The only pitcher in baseball history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves, Smoltz had the crowd on its feet when he walked slowly to the mound to begin the eighth. He got ahead in the count 1-2, but Belliard lined the next pitch in front of Jeff Francoeur to end Smoltz’s attempt at his first career no-hitter.
Smoltz (13-7) then walked off to a standing ovation, having struck out 10 and walked two.
Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer and the Nationals helped Atlanta’s cause with a ghastly display of defense, committing five throwing errors. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had three of them himself.
Marlins 6, Phillies 3
PHILADELPHIA — Miguel Olivo homered, Byung-Hyun Kim struck out seven over six innings and Florida handed Philadelphia its fifth loss in seven games.
Pat Burrell’s three-run homer was the only offense for the Phillies, who trail the first-place New York Mets by six games in the NL East and San Diego by three games in the wild-card standings.
A fielding error by left fielder Burrell and throwing error by first baseman Ryan Howard led to three unearned runs in a four-run fourth inning for Florida.
Kim (9-6) gave up three runs and seven hits. Three relievers held the Phillies scoreless over two innings, before Kevin Gregg worked the ninth for his 29th save in 32 chances.
J.D. Durbin (6-5) allowed five runs — two earned — and five hits in 4 1-3 innings.
Pirates 6, Cubs 1
PITTSBURGH — Tom Gorzelanny allowed one run over seven effective innings and Jack Wilson homered while driving in three runs as Pittsburgh handed Chicago its fourth loss in five games.
Gorzelanny (14-7) limited the Cubs to six hits, striking out three and walking two. The left-hander won for the fifth time in six decisions and has allowed just two earned run in 22 innings over three career starts — a 0.82 ERA — against Chicago.
The Cubs remain tied with Milwaukee atop the NL Central.
Reds 11, Brewers 4
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati scored six runs in the first inning, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 593rd homer in the second and Cincinnati breezed past Milwaukee.
Bronson Arroyo (8-14) gave up three runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings, striking out eight.
Dave Bush (11-10) got just three outs in the shortest of his 99 career starts, allowing eight runs and nine hits. Not exactly what was needed by Milwaukee, which remained tied with the Cubs for the NL Central lead. Prince Fielder had one of Milwaukee’s few highlights, hitting his NL-leading 42nd homer.
Mets 11, Astros 3
NEW YORK— Lastings Milledge made a diving catch to help thwart a potential rally, then hit a three-run homer that punctuated New York’s rout.
Carlos Beltran homered and drove in two runs, David Wright delivered another big hit and the NL East leaders backed Mike Pelfrey with a relentless offensive outburst as they returned home from a 5-5 road trip with a rousing victory. Coupled with the Phillies’ loss to Florida, New York’s win increased its NL East lead to six games.
Pelfrey (2-7) allowed two runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings for his fourth career victory.
Diamondbacks 4, Cardinals 2
PHOENIX — Brandon Webb earned his 15th victory and Arizona kept St. Louis from moving into a first-place tie in the NL Central.
Webb (15-10), who had lost his last two after winning six in a row, gave up two runs, including Jim Edmonds’ solo homer, on four hits in six innings. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his major-league best 43rd save in 50 chances.
Eric Byrnes was 2-for-4 including a double that drove in the tying run from first in Arizona’s two-run sixth. The Diamondbacks went on to score the go-ahead run when second baseman Aaron Miles tripped on what should have been the inning-ending double play.
Rockies 10, Padres 4
DENVER — Kaz Matsui hit a two-run homer and the Colorado Rockies used a bevy of relievers after starter Elmer Dessens left with an injury.
Troy Tulowitzki had two doubles, scored once and drove in two runs. He’s hitting .364 since Aug. 7, raising his season average to .293.
The Rockies closed within three games of the wild card-leading Padres, and remained five games back of Arizona in the NL West. Colorado hasn’t been this close to the division leader at the start of September since 1997.
Giants 5, Dodgers 4
SAN FRANCISCO — Dan Ortmeier hit a game-winning solo home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, and San Francisco ended an 11-game home losing streak to Los Angeles.
The Dodgers blew a chance to gain a game on the Padres in the NL West and wild-card standings, staying 2 1/2 games back of San Diego in both races after the Padres lost 10-4 at Colorado.
James Loney hit his second solo homer of the game to tie it in the top of the ninth, then Ortmeier answered with his fifth homer of the year, a shot into the seats in right-center off loser Jonathan Broxton (4-3).
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 4, Orioles 0
BALTIMORE — Jon Lester allowed four hits in seven innings to win his third straight start, and the Boston Red Sox handed an angry Daniel Cabrera his 15th loss of the season, barely avoiding a brawl Friday night in a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Both teams charged from the dugouts and bullpens in the fourth inning after Cabrera threw a fastball behind the ear of Dustin Pedroia immediately after a balk produced a run to put the Red Sox up 3-0. No punches were thrown, and Cabrera (9-15) was ejected from the game before order was finally restored.
The fracas deflected some of the focus from Lester (4-0), who pitched brilliantly in his eighth start since returning to the majors following a bout with lymphoma. The left-hander struck out four, walked two and allowed only one runner past second base.
Tigers 6, Mariners 1
DETROIT — Curtis Granderson’s homer put him in elite company and Justin Verlander gave up one run over eight innings as Detroit got its first three-game winning streak in nearly two months.
Granderson hit his 20th home run in the seventh inning, making him just the sixth player since 1900 with at least 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles in one season. George Brett, in 1979 for Kansas City, was the last player to pull off the feat and Willie Mays also did it.
Blue Jays 7, Devil Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dustin McGowan struck out a career-high 12 in eight innings and Gregg Zaun hit a three-run homer to lead Toronto.
McGowan (10-8) gave up two runs on four hits and a walk. He has won two straight starts, giving up just three runs in 16 innings over the stretch.
Yankees 3, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada homered to help New York remain three games in front of Detroit in the AL wild-card race.
Rodriguez, limited to a designated hitter role Wednesday, returned to third base and homered for the sixth time in nine games, raising his major league-leading total to 49.
Joba Chamberlain pitched two scoreless innings as his disabled father watched him pitch in the majors for the first time. The Yankees’ rookie has not allowed a run in 11 games and 14 1-3 innings since making his major league debut on Aug. 7.
Rangers 5, Athletics 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Edinson Volquez pitched two-hit ball over six scoreless innings, and Frank Catalanotto homered, tripled and drove in three runs to lead Texas.
Dan Haren (14-7) allowed 15 runners in 4 2-3 innings, giving up five runs and 12 hits. Haren, who threw 100 pitches, has won once in his last seven starts.
White Sox 11, Twins 10, 13 innings
CHICAGO — Jim Thome helped the White Sox erase a six-run deficit in the ninth and make some major league history.
Thome’s 496th career homer highlighted a six-run ninth that tied the game after the Twins scored six runs of their own in the top of the inning.
It was the first time two big league teams each scored six runs in the ninth to remain tied.
Angels 3, Indians 2, 10 innings
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kendry Morales lined a single past a drawn-in infield to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning, after Los Angeles closer Francisco Rodriguez blew the save for John Lackey in the ninth.
The Angels increase their West Division lead to a season-best nine games over Seattle, and their magic number for clinching their third division title in four years is 14.
The 40-year-old Smoltz didn’t allow a hit through seven innings, but Washington’s Ronnie Belliard led off the eighth with a clean single to right in the Atlanta Braves’ 7-1 win over the Nationals on Friday night.
The only pitcher in baseball history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves, Smoltz had the crowd on its feet when he walked slowly to the mound to begin the eighth. He got ahead in the count 1-2, but Belliard lined the next pitch in front of Jeff Francoeur to end Smoltz’s attempt at his first career no-hitter.
Smoltz (13-7) then walked off to a standing ovation, having struck out 10 and walked two.
Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer and the Nationals helped Atlanta’s cause with a ghastly display of defense, committing five throwing errors. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had three of them himself.
Marlins 6, Phillies 3
PHILADELPHIA — Miguel Olivo homered, Byung-Hyun Kim struck out seven over six innings and Florida handed Philadelphia its fifth loss in seven games.
Pat Burrell’s three-run homer was the only offense for the Phillies, who trail the first-place New York Mets by six games in the NL East and San Diego by three games in the wild-card standings.
A fielding error by left fielder Burrell and throwing error by first baseman Ryan Howard led to three unearned runs in a four-run fourth inning for Florida.
Kim (9-6) gave up three runs and seven hits. Three relievers held the Phillies scoreless over two innings, before Kevin Gregg worked the ninth for his 29th save in 32 chances.
J.D. Durbin (6-5) allowed five runs — two earned — and five hits in 4 1-3 innings.
Pirates 6, Cubs 1
PITTSBURGH — Tom Gorzelanny allowed one run over seven effective innings and Jack Wilson homered while driving in three runs as Pittsburgh handed Chicago its fourth loss in five games.
Gorzelanny (14-7) limited the Cubs to six hits, striking out three and walking two. The left-hander won for the fifth time in six decisions and has allowed just two earned run in 22 innings over three career starts — a 0.82 ERA — against Chicago.
The Cubs remain tied with Milwaukee atop the NL Central.
Reds 11, Brewers 4
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati scored six runs in the first inning, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 593rd homer in the second and Cincinnati breezed past Milwaukee.
Bronson Arroyo (8-14) gave up three runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings, striking out eight.
Dave Bush (11-10) got just three outs in the shortest of his 99 career starts, allowing eight runs and nine hits. Not exactly what was needed by Milwaukee, which remained tied with the Cubs for the NL Central lead. Prince Fielder had one of Milwaukee’s few highlights, hitting his NL-leading 42nd homer.
Mets 11, Astros 3
NEW YORK— Lastings Milledge made a diving catch to help thwart a potential rally, then hit a three-run homer that punctuated New York’s rout.
Carlos Beltran homered and drove in two runs, David Wright delivered another big hit and the NL East leaders backed Mike Pelfrey with a relentless offensive outburst as they returned home from a 5-5 road trip with a rousing victory. Coupled with the Phillies’ loss to Florida, New York’s win increased its NL East lead to six games.
Pelfrey (2-7) allowed two runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings for his fourth career victory.
Diamondbacks 4, Cardinals 2
PHOENIX — Brandon Webb earned his 15th victory and Arizona kept St. Louis from moving into a first-place tie in the NL Central.
Webb (15-10), who had lost his last two after winning six in a row, gave up two runs, including Jim Edmonds’ solo homer, on four hits in six innings. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his major-league best 43rd save in 50 chances.
Eric Byrnes was 2-for-4 including a double that drove in the tying run from first in Arizona’s two-run sixth. The Diamondbacks went on to score the go-ahead run when second baseman Aaron Miles tripped on what should have been the inning-ending double play.
Rockies 10, Padres 4
DENVER — Kaz Matsui hit a two-run homer and the Colorado Rockies used a bevy of relievers after starter Elmer Dessens left with an injury.
Troy Tulowitzki had two doubles, scored once and drove in two runs. He’s hitting .364 since Aug. 7, raising his season average to .293.
The Rockies closed within three games of the wild card-leading Padres, and remained five games back of Arizona in the NL West. Colorado hasn’t been this close to the division leader at the start of September since 1997.
Giants 5, Dodgers 4
SAN FRANCISCO — Dan Ortmeier hit a game-winning solo home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, and San Francisco ended an 11-game home losing streak to Los Angeles.
The Dodgers blew a chance to gain a game on the Padres in the NL West and wild-card standings, staying 2 1/2 games back of San Diego in both races after the Padres lost 10-4 at Colorado.
James Loney hit his second solo homer of the game to tie it in the top of the ninth, then Ortmeier answered with his fifth homer of the year, a shot into the seats in right-center off loser Jonathan Broxton (4-3).
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 4, Orioles 0
BALTIMORE — Jon Lester allowed four hits in seven innings to win his third straight start, and the Boston Red Sox handed an angry Daniel Cabrera his 15th loss of the season, barely avoiding a brawl Friday night in a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Both teams charged from the dugouts and bullpens in the fourth inning after Cabrera threw a fastball behind the ear of Dustin Pedroia immediately after a balk produced a run to put the Red Sox up 3-0. No punches were thrown, and Cabrera (9-15) was ejected from the game before order was finally restored.
The fracas deflected some of the focus from Lester (4-0), who pitched brilliantly in his eighth start since returning to the majors following a bout with lymphoma. The left-hander struck out four, walked two and allowed only one runner past second base.
Tigers 6, Mariners 1
DETROIT — Curtis Granderson’s homer put him in elite company and Justin Verlander gave up one run over eight innings as Detroit got its first three-game winning streak in nearly two months.
Granderson hit his 20th home run in the seventh inning, making him just the sixth player since 1900 with at least 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles in one season. George Brett, in 1979 for Kansas City, was the last player to pull off the feat and Willie Mays also did it.
Blue Jays 7, Devil Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dustin McGowan struck out a career-high 12 in eight innings and Gregg Zaun hit a three-run homer to lead Toronto.
McGowan (10-8) gave up two runs on four hits and a walk. He has won two straight starts, giving up just three runs in 16 innings over the stretch.
Yankees 3, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada homered to help New York remain three games in front of Detroit in the AL wild-card race.
Rodriguez, limited to a designated hitter role Wednesday, returned to third base and homered for the sixth time in nine games, raising his major league-leading total to 49.
Joba Chamberlain pitched two scoreless innings as his disabled father watched him pitch in the majors for the first time. The Yankees’ rookie has not allowed a run in 11 games and 14 1-3 innings since making his major league debut on Aug. 7.
Rangers 5, Athletics 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Edinson Volquez pitched two-hit ball over six scoreless innings, and Frank Catalanotto homered, tripled and drove in three runs to lead Texas.
Dan Haren (14-7) allowed 15 runners in 4 2-3 innings, giving up five runs and 12 hits. Haren, who threw 100 pitches, has won once in his last seven starts.
White Sox 11, Twins 10, 13 innings
CHICAGO — Jim Thome helped the White Sox erase a six-run deficit in the ninth and make some major league history.
Thome’s 496th career homer highlighted a six-run ninth that tied the game after the Twins scored six runs of their own in the top of the inning.
It was the first time two big league teams each scored six runs in the ninth to remain tied.
Angels 3, Indians 2, 10 innings
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kendry Morales lined a single past a drawn-in infield to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning, after Los Angeles closer Francisco Rodriguez blew the save for John Lackey in the ninth.
The Angels increase their West Division lead to a season-best nine games over Seattle, and their magic number for clinching their third division title in four years is 14.
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