AROUND THE HORN \ Monday's other games
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Marlins 5, Phillies 2
MIAMI -- Dontrelle Willis became the first eight-game winner in the National League, and Carlos Delgado and Miguel Cabrera hit consecutive homers to carry Florida to its season-high fifth straight victory. Willis (8-1) allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings. The left-hander won his first seven starts before getting roughed up in a 14-5 loss to the Dodgers last Tuesday. Delgado and Cabrera each extended their hitting streaks to 12 games for the NL East-leading Marlins. Todd Jones worked the ninth for his seventh save in eight opportunities. Jon Lieber (5-4) carried a 1-0 lead into the sixth before serving up a three-run shot to Delgado.
Braves 8, Mets 6
ATLANTA -- Marcus Giles hit a three-run homer, Rafael Furcal had a bases-loaded triple and Atlanta caught a big break in the eighth inning of a victory over New York. Bouncing back from a dismal road trip, the Braves kept their lead when David Wright was called out for sliding too far out of the baseline while trying to break up a double play. Horacio Ramirez (3-3) pitched seven innings and drew a bases-loaded walk that sparked the Braves. Dan Kolb, briefly demoted from the closer's job last week after several poor outings, was booed when he came on in the ninth but managed his 11th save in 14 chances. Kolb gave up a leadoff homer to Chris Woodward, then struck out Mike Cameron with runners at second and third to end it. Kolb got all three outs on strikeouts. Kazuhisa Ishii (0-3) lasted only four innings.
Cubs 4, Astros 1
CHICAGO -- Corey Patterson and Jeromy Burnitz homered to back a strong outing by Glendon Rusch, and Chicago beat struggling Houston. The Astros' sixth straight loss dropped their road record to 2-20, worst in the major leagues. Rusch (3-1) allowed five hits in eight innings, including Brad Ausmus' first homer of the season. Ryan Dempster got three outs for his third save in four chances. Patterson, who went 3-for-3, hit a go-ahead homer in the fifth. Burnitz added a two-run drive in the sixth off Wandy Rodriguez (0-1), who was making his major league debut.
Reds 5, Nationals 3
CINCINNATI -- Slumping Jason LaRue had three hits off Esteban Loaiza, including a solo homer, for Cincinnati. Left-hander Eric Milton (3-5) went a season-high eight innings and got a pair of hits. Milton hadn't won since April 16, losing his previous four decisions. David Weathers pitched the ninth for his 15th career save, striking out two and completing only the Reds' sixth victory in 24 games. The Nationals couldn't overcome an uncharacteristically poor performance by Loaiza (1-3), who gave up a season-high 11 hits and five runs in five innings.
Brewers 2, Rockies 1
MILWAUKEE -- Chris Capuano allowed three hits in 81/3 innings, matching his longest career outing, and Milwaukee sent Colorado to its 27th loss in 31 road games dating to last season. Capuano (4-3) allowed just one unearned run -- when he balked home a runner -- and was lifted after hitting Matt Holliday with a pitch. Ricky Bottalico got two outs for his second save. The Rockies put runners on first and second in the ninth but pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe struck out looking to end the game. The Brewers broke a scoreless tie in the fourth when Bill Hall hit a two-run single through a drawn-in infield. Shawn Chacon (1-4) sprained his right ankle returning to first base on a pickoff throw and had to leave the game. He allowed two runs and three hits in four innings.
Associated Press
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