MLB ROUNDUP Thursday's games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Orioles 6, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Fernando Tatis, starting in the major leagues for the first time since June 13, 2003, had two hits, drove in a run and scored two runs for Baltimore. Tatis, who was released by Tampa Bay in spring training in 2004 and did not play professional baseball the past two seasons, doubled in the seventh and scored on a fielding error by third baseman Mark Teahen.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Nationals 6, Giants 5
WASHINGTON -- Possibly playing his final home game in D.C., Alfonso Soriano homered in his first at-bat as Washington won its sixth straight. Soriano's 32nd homer was his sixth leadoff shot of the season, tying for the major league lead. He's at the center of talks as Monday's trade deadline approaches, and the Nationals now embark on a nine-game road trip. Also a candidate to leave via trade in the coming days is Livan Hernandez (8-8). He retired the last 10 batters he faced and allowed three runs and six hits over seven innings. Chad Cordero recorded his 17th save despite giving up Eliezer Alfonzo's second homer of the game, a two-run shot in the ninth. Giants starter Matt Cain (7-7) allowed six runs on five hits and five walks over 62/3 innings. The Giants have lost four in a row.
Phillies 5, Diamondbacks 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 27 games and Cory Lidle (8-7) boosted his trade value with four-hit ball over eight innings. Mike Lieberthal homered for the first time since last September for the Phillies, who won the last two games of the three-game series. Utley hit a soft liner to center leading off the fifth inning against Diamondbacks starter Claudio Vargas (8-7) to extend the longest hitting streak in the major leagues this season and equal the third-longest streak in team history. Tom Gordon tossed a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
Marlins 6, Braves 1
ATLANTA -- Scott Olsen pitched six shutout innings, Matt Treanor hit his second career homer and Florida won a series in Atlanta for the first time since 2002. Olsen (9-4) allowed only two hits and retired the last 12 hitters he faced. He also had two singles at the plate, including a run-scoring hit in the sixth when the Marlins scored three runs to break open the game. Florida won two of three, ending a streak of 10 straight series in Atlanta that were either lost or split.
Reds 8, Astros 4
HOUSTON -- Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey, Jr. homered and Cincinnati starter Elizardo Ramirez struck out seven straight hitters. Dunn went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Ramirez (4-6) went 62/3 innings to win for the first time since June 25, allowing six hits and striking out eight. He struck out seven in a row from the third to fifth inning. Lance Berkman, Luke Scott and Eric Munson had RBI singles in the eighth off Reds reliever Billy Bray to make it 6-4, but Todd Coffey came on and struck out Adam Everett to end the inning. Dunn and Rich Aurilia added RBI singles in the ninth off Brad Lidge, ending the Houston bullpen's scoreless streak at 27 innings, the longest in the majors this season.
Cubs 5, Cardinals 4
CHICAGO -- Todd Walker and Michael Barrett hit back-to-back homers, the fourth time Chicago did it this week, and the Cubs beat St. Louis for the seventh time in 10 games this season. Before the game, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Dusty Baker will be the manager for the rest of the season. Juan Encarnacion hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs for the Cardinals.
Associated Press
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