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| Los Angeles starting pitcher Greg Maddux walks into the dugout after Philadelphia’s Chris Coste hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning Friday. Associated Press Photo. |
NL: Phillies give Maddux rude return to Dodgers’ rotation
By The Associated Press
Saturday, August 23, 2008 8:29 AM PDT
PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Chris Coste hit home runs, and Philadelphia pounded Greg Maddux in his first start for the Dodgers in an 8-1 victory Friday night.
The Phillies snapped a six-game losing streak to the Dodgers and remained 21⁄2 games behind first-place New York in the NL East.
Maddux, who was traded from San Diego on Tuesday, allowed seven runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings. He remained at 353 wins, one shy of tying Roger Clemens for eighth on the career list.
Howard hit his 34th homer to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Howard entered the at-bat 3-for-36 with 18 strikeouts and one homer in his last 14 games.
The Phillies scored four runs in the sixth to knock Maddux (6-10) out of the game. Coste’s three-run homer capped the inning as the Phillies scored their most runs this month.
Kyle Kendrick (11-7) allowed a first-inning homer by Andre Ethier and went 5 2-3 innings giving up two other hits.
Mets 3, Astros 0
NEW YORK — Johan Santana allowed eight hits in seven innings, and New York took advantage of the only two mistakes made by Roy Oswalt.
Brian Schneider hit a two-run homer and David Wright had an RBI single for the Mets, who have won 10 of 11.
Schneider’s fifth homer made it 3-0 in the second. Oswalt’s other mistake was a wild pitch that set up Wright’s RBI single in the first.
Santana (12-7) won his third straight start and fifth straight decision.
Nationals 13, Cubs 5
CHICAGO — Willie Harris hit his first career grand slam and a two-run homer, and Washington overcame a four-run deficit to beat Chicago.
The Nationals entered the game with the worst record in the majors while the Cubs had the best. Washington won its second straight following a 12-game losing streak.
Harris hit his slam off reliever Neal Cotts (0-2) to cap a six-run sixth inning that put the Nationals ahead 6-4. He added a two-run shot in the ninth off Chad Gaudin for his first multihomer game in the majors.
Cardinals 18, Braves 3
ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright worked six dominant innings in his first start since early June, and Albert Pujols had three hits and three RBIs for St. Louis.
Wainwright (7-3) had been out with a sprained middle finger on his right hand. He added a career-high three hits and an RBI as the Cardinals set season bests for runs and hits (26). The right-hander allowed five hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
Brewers 10, Pirates 4
MILWAUKEE — Mike Cameron homered to cap a six-run seventh inning and Dave Bush tossed seven sharp innings for Milwaukee.
J.J. Hardy homered for Milwaukee, which is 41⁄2 games behind first-place Chicago in the NL Central.
Marlins 5, Diamondbacks 4
PHOENIX — Wes Helms tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the eighth and Cody Ross followed with a solo homer to help Florida rally.
The comeback spoiled a 13-strikeout performance by Arizona’s Randy Johnson, who pitched seven strong innings but was denied career victory No. 295. The Diamondbacks maintained a two-game lead over Los Angeles in the NL West.
Reds 8, Rockies 5
DENVER — Brandon Phillips homered for Cincinnati and Aaron Harang pitched out of a bases loaded jam to get his first win in more than two months.
Jeff Keppinger and Joey Votto both had three hits for the Reds, while Phillips had two.
Harang (4-13) scattered six hits over six innings to get his first win since beating Boston on June 13. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 25th save.
Giants 5, Padres 0
SAN FRANCISCO — Tim Lincecum pitched eight innings to earn his 14th victory of the year and Travis Ishikawa hit a three-run homer for San Francisco.
Bengie Molina had two hits and two RBIs for the Giants, who won their third straight and sixth of seven.
Lincecum (14-3) gave up four hits and struck out eight to extend his major league-leading total to 200. The right-hander walked three and didn’t allow a runner to reach third.
Keiichi Yabu worked a perfect ninth to complete the shutout.
Cha Seung Baek (4-8) had a career-high eight strikeouts but lost on the road for the first time this year. |
