MLB ROUNDUP | Monday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Athletics 3, Rangers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth, and Joe Blanton pitched six innings to help Oakland beat Texas. Swisher homered for the third straight game -- a two-run shot off Texas reliever C.J. Wilson (1-1). It was Swisher's ninth homer of the season and gave Oakland a 2-1 lead. Chavez hit his eighth two pitches later off Wilson. Kevin Mench, who was 3-for-4, hit his fourth home run and added an RBI single for Texas. He has homered in four consecutive games. Blanton (2-2) allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings. Justin Duchscherer pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save in two chances.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Dodgers 6, Astros 2
HOUSTON -- Nomar Garciaparra hit a go-ahead grand slam off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning for his first RBIs with Los Angeles. Andy Pettitte held the Dodgers hitless until J.D. Drew homered with one out in the seventh inning to tie the score at 1. Lance Berkman's eighth-inning homer put Houston ahead again, but Lidge (0-1) couldn't hold the lead. After Kenny Lofton tripled with one out, the All-Star closer walked J.D. Drew and Jeff Kent. Garciaparra then drove a 2-2 pitch to left-center for his sixth career slam and first since June 22, 2004, with Boston against Minnesota.
Reds 4, Nationals 2
WASHINGTON -- Elizardo Ramirez pitched effectively into the eighth inning for his first major league win and Cincinnati rode some early offense. Washington fell to 1-5 at home this season, and the announced crowd of 19,264 was the smallest at 46,382-capacity RFK Stadium since baseball returned to the capital, eclipsing Sunday night's previous low of 21,569. The 23-year-old Ramirez (1-0) was called up from Triple-A Louisville to make his first appearance for the Reds since a spot start on July 4, 2005. Throwing mostly in the high 80s and low 90s, the right-hander allowed two runs and six hits, five singles, in seven-plus innings. He walked one and even got his first big league hit. The Reds, who have won five of six, did more damage against Livan Hernandez (1-3) in the opening inning alone, taking a 3-0 lead against the All-Star.
Phillies 6, Rockies 5
PHILADELPHIA -- Cory Lidle struck out 10 and Bobby Abreu drove in three runs to lead Philadelphia. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were instant hits in their new spots in Phillies' manager Charlie Manuel's latest batting order. Manuel moved Utley from the fourth or fifth spots to second and batted Howard, their best power threat, fifth after stints in the six and seven holes. Lidle (2-2) fell one strikeout shy of matching his career high and scattered six hits before he was chased with a 6-3 lead and two runners on and two outs in the seventh. Tom Gordon pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save in six chances. Josh Fogg (2-1) gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings.
Cubs 6, Marlins 3
CHICAGO -- Jacque Jones hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run eighth inning and the Cubs rallied against Florida's bullpen. Carlos Zambrano matched a career high with 12 strikeouts but remained winless in five starts this season because Chicago couldn't muster any offense until he was out of the game. Trailing 3-0 after getting just one hit off lefty Jason Vargas in the first 6 1/3 innings, the Cubs broke through in the eighth against relievers Matt Herges and Josh Johnson (1-2). David Aardsma (1-0) got the win with a scoreless eighth. Ryan Dempster closed for his fifth save.
Brewers 3, Braves 2
MILWAUKEE -- Chris Capuano pitched seven strong innings and Corey Koskie hit his first home run for the Brewers. Capuano (3-2) allowed a leadoff triple to Marcus Giles in the third, then retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced -- his only base runner coming on an error by Rickie Weeks in the sixth. Capuano gave up one run and three hits. Derrick Turnbow pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save in six chances. Braves starter Kyle Davies (1-2) pitched well allowing three runs and four hits in seven innings.
Associated Press
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