BASEBALL Florida beats Atlanta Braves, 5-3

Sunday, August 20, 2006 The Phillies defeated the Nationals, 11-2, and the Brewers topped the Astros, 6-4. ASSOCIATED PRESS MIAMI — Brian McCann had three hits and three RBIs, Chipper Jones doubled twice and the Florida Marlins defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Saturday night. Jeff Francoeur and Edgar Renteria added RBI singles to back Braves starter Chuck James (6-3). The rookie left-hander allowed two runs — one earned — and five hits, while striking out five in six innings. He improved to 4-1 on the road. Bob Wickman allowed two hits in the ninth but earned his eighth save in as many opportunities since joining the Braves. Florida starter Ricky Nolasco (11-8) gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings. Atlanta took a 4-2 lead in the seventh when McCann lined a single to right off reliever Taylor Tankersley to score Renteria from second. McCann finished 3-for-5. Miguel Cabrera's two-out double scored Dan Uggla to make the score 4-3 in the seventh. Cabrera's hit capped a 10-pitch at-bat. He finished 3-for-5. ATLANTAFLORIDA abrhbiabrhbi Orr 2b4020HaRmz ss4010 Rnteria ss4111Uggla 2b4110 CJones 3b5220MiCbr 3b5131 AJones cf2100Wlnhm lf4000 McCnn c5033Helms 1b2010 Frncur rf4011Jacobs 1b1000 LaRche 1b4010CRoss rf3000 Diaz lf4010Brwski p0000 Lngrhn lf0000Olivo c4111 James p2000Abrcrm cf3000 Prnto p0000Tnkrsly p0000 MGiles ph1110Hrmida rf1000 DBaez p0000Nolasco p2010 Wckmn p0000Mssngr p0000 Amzga cf2000 Totals355125Totals35382 Atlanta101010110—5 Florida001001100—3 E—CJones (16), Willingham (6). LOB—Atlanta 10, Florida 9. 2B—CJones 2 (24), McCann (22), MiCabrera 2 (41). 3B—Orr (4). HR—Olivo (14). CS—HaRamirez (9). S—Orr, James. IPHRERBBSO Atlanta James W,6-3652135 Paronto111111 DBaez100001 Wickman S,8120000 Florida Nolasco L,11-8693322 Messenger1-301120 Tankersley1 2-331100 Borowski100000 HBP—by Nolasco (AJones). Umpires—Home, Bob Davidson; First, Mark Wegner; Second, Marvin Hudson; Third, Jerry Layne. T—2:58. A—21,428. Phillies 11, Nationals 2 PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard sparked an eight-run inning with his NL-best 43rd home run and rookie Cole Hamels struck out seven in six strong innings as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 11-2 on Saturday night. Shane Victorino had three hits and three RBIs, Jimmy Rollins had three hits and Howard finished with three RBIs for the Phillies, who remained 21/2 games back of Cincinnati in the NL wild-card race. Philadelphia broke the game open with an eight-run second that included a two-run single by Hamels. Alfonso Soriano hit his career-high 40th home run and became the 10th player in major league history with at least 40 homers and at least 30 steals in a season. Alex Escobar also homered for the Nationals. WASHINGTONPHILA abrhbiabrhbi ASrano lf4111Rollins ss5231 FLopez ss3000Geary p0000 Hughs p0000Castro p0000 BCstro 2b1010Vctrno rf5233 Zmrmn 3b4000Utley 2b2101 NJhnsn 1b2010Howard 1b5123 MrAnd 1b2010Burrell lf3110 Kearns rf2000Robrsn lf0000 Vidro 2b3010Rwand cf4110 Schrder p1000Coste c4020 Escbar cf4121Nunez 3b4100 Schndr c4000Hamels p2212 ROrtiz p0000Sndoval ss1000 RWgnr p2010 DJcksn ss1000 Totals33282Totals35111310 Washington000020000—2 Philadelphia08003000x—11 E—Kearns (5). DP—Washington 1, Philadelphia 2. LOB—Washington 7, Philadelphia 9. 2B—NJohnson (37), Vidro (17), Rollins (33), Victorino (14), Burrell (18). HR—ASoriano (40), Escobar (4), Howard (43). SF—Utley. IPHRERBBSO Washington ROrtiz L,9-111 2-358831 RWagner2 1-340011 Hughes243320 Schroder200005 Philadelphia Hamels W,6-6652217 Geary230001 Castro100000 HBP—by Geary (Kearns), by Geary (DJackson), by ROrtiz (Rowand), by ROrtiz (Utley). Umpires—Home, Paul Nauert; First, Charlie Reliford; Second, Larry Vanover; Third, Greg Gibson. T—2:40. A—34,881. Brewers 6, Astros 4 MILWAUKEE — Dave Bush pitched seven solid innings and capped a rally with a two-run single to lead the Brewers. Bush (9-9) allowed four runs and eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Francisco Cordero, who has not allowed a run since being acquired July 28 from Texas in the Carlos Lee deal, worked the ninth for his ninth save. HOUSTONMILWAUKEE abrhbiabrhbi Tveras cf4221BClark cf2100 Biggio 2b3000Cirillo 2b5020 Lamb 1b4012Fildr 1b2101 Qualls p0000BHall ss1101 Brkmn rf4020Mench lf4110 Scott lf4020CHart rf4121 Huff 3b4000DaBell 3b3001 AEvrtt ss3000FCdero p0000 Ensbrg ph0000DMiller c4000 Munson c4111Bush p3012 WRdgz p1000Cpllan p0000 Sprger p0000Grffnno 2b0100 Lane ph1110 Nieve p0000 Lidge p0000 Wheelr p0000 OPlmro rf2010 Totals344104Totals28666 Houston100010020—4 Milwaukee00040101x—6 DP—Houston 1, Milwaukee 1. LOB—Houston 5, Milwaukee 12. 2B—Taveras (13), Scott (14), Cirillo (13). HR—Munson (5). SB—Taveras 2 (24). S—Biggio. SF—Fielder. IPHRERBBSO Houston WRodriguez L,9-73 2-334444 Springer1-300000 Nieve110020 Lidge111131 Wheeler100003 Qualls111120 Milwaukee Bush W,9-9784405 Capellan2-300001 FCordero S,91 1-320012 Bush pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. HBP—by Qualls (BClark), by Springer (BClark). Umpires—Home, Hunter Wendelstedt; First, Sam Holbrook; Second, Randy Marsh; Third, Angel Hernandez. T—2:55. A—42,347.