MLB roundup: Cubs earn split in Windy City series

CHICAGO (AP) - Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto hit consecutive homers to tie the game in a four-run eighth inning, then Alfonso Soriano singled home the winning run in the ninth to give the Chicago Cubs a 6-5 victory over the White Sox on Thursday.

The late comeback gave the Cubs a two-game split in a rain-shortened set at Wrigley Field. They are 34-34 against their crosstown rivals in interleague play.

Pinch-hitter Reed Johnson started the ninth with a single, moved up on a sacrifice and scored on Soriano's two-out single off Matt Thornton (4-2). Soriano was 14 for 102 and 0 for 15 before singling in his final two at-bats.

Kevin Gregg (1-1) got the win with a scoreless ninth.

With the Cubs trailing 5-1, Lee hit a three-run homer in the eighth and Soto followed with a shot off Scott Linebrink. All four runs were unearned after an error on second baseman Chris Getz.

Blue Jays 8, Phillies 7

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pinch-hitter Rod Barajas led off the ninth inning with a tiebreaking homer and Toronto beat Philadelphia to complete a three-game sweep of the World Series champions.

Raul Chavez and Adam Lind also homered for the injury-riddled Blue Jays, who were 0-6 in interleague play when they arrived in Philadelphia.

Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins, John Mayberry Jr. and pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs went deep for the Phillies, who dropped to 13-19 at home hours after putting slugger Raul Ibanez on the disabled list.

The NL East leaders are a major league-best 23-9 on the road.

After the Phillies rallied for two runs in the eighth, Barajas drove one out to straightaway center off Ryan Madson (2-2). Barajas, who played for the Phillies in 2007, had a key hit in each game of the series. He was booed whenever he came to the plate.

Jason Frasor (5-0) got one out for the win and Jeremy Accardo recorded two outs to earn his first save of the season on the day he was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas. The Blue Jays used seven relievers after Brad Mills lasted 3 2-3 innings in his major league debut.

Nationals 3, Yankees 0

NEW YORK (AP) - Craig Stammen and the Nationals really dampened the Yankees' day.

After waiting out a 5 1/2-hour rain delay at the start, Stammen earned his first major league victory, Julian Tavarez provided key relief and the last-place Nationals beat New York in the first game without a homer at the new Yankee Stadium.

Boosted by Ryan Zimmerman's three hits off Joba Chamberlain (3-2) and a bunch of nifty plays, Washington posted its first two-game winning streak since taking three straight May 7-9. Behind Stammen (1-2), the Nationals became the last team in the majors to pitch a shutout this season.

Stammen threw 6 1-3 neat innings - and nobody managed to clear the fences. There had been a whopping 119 home runs through 34 games at the majors' newest launching pad.

Mike MacDougal pitched the ninth for his second save in two nights - his first two in the majors since 2006 with Kansas City.

Rockies 4, Rays 3

DENVER, (AP) - Clint Barmes hit a two-run homer to help Ubaldo Jimenez win his third straight start in Colorado's victory over Tampa Bay.

Todd Helton and Carlos Gonzalez added solo homers for the surging Rockies, who have won 13 of 14. They took the final two in this three-game series after Tampa Bay snapped their 11-game winning streak Tuesday.

Jimenez (6-6) allowed one run in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out seven and worked out of several jams.

Manuel Corpas pitched a scoreless eighth and Huston Street earned his 15th save in 16 opportunities despite giving up a two-run single to Ben Zobrist in the ninth. The Rockies are 7-2 in interleague play.

Matt Garza (4-5) fell to 0-3 in his last six starts.

Padres 4, Mariners 3, 10 innings

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Adrian Gonzalez matched his career high with four hits, including a homer, and scored the winning run with two outs in the 10th as San Diego beat Seattle to end its major league-record interleague losing streak at 13.

Gonzalez doubled off Miguel Batista (3-2) and scored on Kevin Kouzmanoff's single. Gonzalez also homered in the sixth, his first in 13 games, to tie Albert Pujols for the major league lead with 23.

Heath Bell (3-1) threw two innings for the win.

The Padres had lost 10 straight games to Seattle in San Diego, and 16 of 20 overall against the Mariners.

Seattle's Franklin Gutierrez hit two homers for the first time in his career.

Twins 5, Pirates 1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Nick Blackburn pitched a six-hitter for his first career complete game, leading Minnesota over Pittsburgh.

Blackburn (6-2) struck out two and walked one. Michael Cuddyer and Brian Buscher homered for the Twins, who took two of three from the Pirates.

Zach Duke (7-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings for the Pirates, who lost their 13th straight road series to an AL opponent. The last time Pittsburgh won on the road in interleague play was at Tampa Bay in 2003.

Blackburn has not lost since May 5. Since then, the right-hander has pitched at least seven innings in eight of nine starts.

Orioles 5, Mets 4

BALTIMORE (AP) - Aubrey Huff drove in the winning run with a ninth-inning single off Francisco Rodriguez, capping a two-run rally that carried Baltimore past New York.

Rodriguez entered with a 0.56 ERA and 16 saves in 17 tries - the only blemish coming when second baseman Luis Castillo dropped a ninth-inning popup Friday night against the Yankees.

After Matt Wieters hit a leadoff double and Nolan Reimold walked, Brian Roberts laid down a bunt, and the throw to third by catcher Omir Santos was too late to nail pinch-runner Felix Pie.

Rodriguez (1-2) then walked Adam Jones to force in a run. One out later, Huff delivered his second straight game-deciding hit. Rodriguez had not yielded an earned run since April 27.

Matt Albers (1-2) pitched the ninth for the Orioles, who were 0-34 when trailing after eight innings.

Baltimore took two of three from the Mets, who have lost 10 of 14.

Marlins 2, Red Sox 1

BOSTON (AP) - Dan Uggla and Ronny Paulino homered in the second inning, and Ricky Nolasco pitched five solid innings before the game was called because of rain, giving the Marlins a victory over the Red Sox.

Nolasco (3-6) limited Boston to Kevin Youkilis' homer in the first, striking out five for his first victory in five starts since May 8. The only other Red Sox batter to reach was when David Ortiz hit a high popup that third baseman Emilio Bonifacio dropped for an error when he collided with Uggla behind second base.

The Marlins avoided a sweep in the interleague series after being outscored 14-3 in the first two games.

Diamondbacks 12, Royals 5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Chris Young had four hits and Dan Haren earned his sixth victory in seven decisions to help the Diamondbacks beat the Royals.

Gerardo Parra homered, tripled and drove in three runs and Justin Upton contributed three hits, including two doubles, as the Diamondbacks collected a 16 hits, one shy of their season high. Eric Byrnes also homered. Every Diamondbacks starter except Mark Reynolds had at least one hit.

Haren (6-4), who has lost only once in his past 11 starts, limited the Royals to two runs on seven hits. Astros 5, Rangers 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Hunter Pence led off the eighth inning with a tiebreaking homer and the Astros beat the Rangers to avoid a season sweep.

Pence, who grew up in Arlington watching the Rangers play, hit the first pitch of the inning from Jason Jennings (2-2) over the center-field wall. Michael Bourn added a two-out RBI triple to make it 5-3.

After losing five in a row against AL West-leading Texas, the Astros avoided being swept in a season series of at least six games for the first time in franchise history.

Alberto Arias (1-0) got the win and Jose Valverde worked the ninth for his third save in five chances.

Tigers 6, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Rookie Rick Porcello won for the seventh time in nine starts and the Tigers shook off an offensive drought with a four-run first inning, beating the Cardinals to avoid a three-game sweep.

Placido Polanco and Marcus Thames homered in the eighth for the Tigers, who had scored three runs or less in their previous seven games. Detroit ended a four-game losing streak and won for the first time in six games at 4-year-old Busch Stadium counting three losses to end the 2006 World Series.

Porcello (8-4) allowed three runs in 5 2-3 innings.

National League

Braves 7, Reds 0

CINCINNATI (AP) - Tommy Hanson allowed three hits in six impressive innings and Nate McLouth homered and drove in four runs, leading Atlanta past punchless Cincinnati.

One of baseball's top pitching prospects, Hanson got his first major league hit and RBI. Matt Diaz also homered for the Braves, who snapped a four-game skid and avoided a sweep in Cincinnati.

Hanson (2-0) walked four and hit a batter with a pitch. He escaped two jams in his third career start.

Peter Moylan, Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano each pitched an inning to finish the five-hitter, Atlanta's fourth shutout this season.

Reds lefty Matt Maloney (0-2) also was making his third career start, and he's allowed six hits each time. He gave up six runs in 5 2-3 innings.