MLB ROUNDUP | Thursday’s other games

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Marlins 8, Mets 7, 10 innings

MIAMI — The New York Mets twice blew a three-run lead, raising speculation they might be about to blow the NL East. Florida took advantage of Billy Wagner’s absence to rally in the ninth inning, then Dan Uggla hit an RBI double in the 10th that lifted the last-place Marlins. New York’s lead was cut to 11⁄2 games by second-place Philadelphia, which rallied past Washington 7-6. The Mets led by seven games on Sept. 12, but have lost six of their past seven. The game was filled with bad vibes for the Mets. Wagner was not available because of back spasms. Minus their closer, the Mets gave up three runs in the ninth that forced extra innings. Starter Tom Glavine failed to hold a 3-0 lead. Right fielder Lastings Milledge was ejected after he flied out in the seventh. Reliever Aaron Heilman was hit by a ball thrown from the stands in the eighth. The Mets scored four times in the ninth to take a 7-4 lead, keyed by pinch-hitter Marlon Anderson’s three-run double. Florida outhit the Mets 21-9. Five hits and three runs came off Jorge Sosa (9-8), who failed in a bid for his first save of the season. Jeremy Hermida led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and Miguel Cabrera doubled. Alfredo Amezaga’s grounder scored a run, and another run came home on Mike Jacobs’ infield hit. Cody Ross’ fly ball landed a foot fair for a double, and the tying run scored on Matt Treanor’s groundout. Hanley Ramirez led off the Florida 10th with an infield single, his 200th hit of the year. Uggla then doubled off the scoreboard and was mobbed by teammates as the dazed Mets walked off the field. Taylor Tankersley (6-1) pitched a scoreless 10th. Florida had lost four in a row.

Phillies 7, Nationals 6

WASHINGTON — Jimmy Rollins and the Philadelphia Phillies have been playing catch-up all season, so it made sense they would overcome one more big deficit. Rollins hit a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth inning after Jayson Werth’s pinch-hit homer helped erase a four-run hole, and the Phillies rallied to beat Washington. It was the Phillies’ seventh victory in eight games. And Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel sounded an optimistic note before the opener of a four-game series at Washington that will mark the end of baseball at RFK Stadium. The Nationals, who took of three from the Mets this week, move to a new park in 2008. “We’re still looking at the division. Things can happen. We could win three in a row, they could lose three in a row,” Manuel said, knowing his team has managed to be in the playoff chase despite never having spent a day in first place. “We’re still in it, and we’ve still got a chance.”

Astros 18, Cardinals 1

ST. LOUIS — Rookie Justin Towles went 4-for-4 with a franchise-record eight RBIs and the Houston Astros reached season highs in runs and hits. Towles hit a two-run double off Braden Looper (12-11) in the second to open the scoring. He added a two-run single in the fourth, an RBI double in the sixth and a bases-loaded walk in the eighth before hitting his first career homer in the ninth off Aaron Miles.

Rockies 9, Dodgers 4

DENVER — Matt Holliday homered again and Troy Tulowitzki also connected as Colorado completed a four-game sweep of Los Angeles. Holliday’s three-run shot was his fourth homer in the last three games, and 11th homer in 12 games. He increased his career bests to 36 home runs and 131 RBIs. Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4) gave up three runs in 61⁄3 innings for Colorado. Derek Lowe (12-13) allowed six runs and eight hits in three-plus innings for the Dodgers, who lost their fifth in a row. Andre Ethier hit a two-run homer and Andy LaRoche hit his first major league home run.

Braves 3, Brewers 1

ATLANTA — Jeff Bennett dealt a blow to his former team’s playoff chances. Making his first major league start, Bennett allowed only one run in 5 2-3 innings to lead the Braves, keeping the Brewers from moving closer to first in the NL Central. Milwaukee, trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982, slipped to 11⁄2 games behind the division-leading Cubs, who were idle. The Brewers have nine games left, one fewer than Chicago. Chipper Jones was 3-of-4 for the Braves, raising his average to .342 and passing Colorado’s Matt Holliday for the NL lead. Holliday went 1-for-4 against Los Angeles, his average slipping to .339.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals 3, White Sox 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Zack Greinke struck out a career-high 10 and allowed two hits in eight innings, leading the Royals. Greinke (7-6), making his sixth start since rejoining the rotation on Aug. 24, allowed just one runner past first base and became the first Kansas City pitcher to reach double digits in strikeouts since Odalis Perez fanned 10 against Boston on Sept. 8 last year. Joakim Soria followed with a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances as Kansas City (66-86) moved back ahead of Chicago (66-87) and out of last place in the AL Central.

Orioles 6, Rangers 3, 10 innings

ARLINGTON, Texas — Nick Markakis scored the go-ahead run on an error in the 10th inning as the Orioles beat Texas, their first meeting since the Rangers scored an AL record 39 runs in a doubleheader sweep last month. While shortstop Michael Young spun and made a nifty stop of the grounder up the middle, Markakis beat the strong throw for a leadoff infield single. After going to second on a wild pitch by John Rheinecker (3-3), who didn’t retire any of the three batters he faced, Markakis scored to break a 1-1 tie when first baseman Brad Wilkerson couldn’t field Aubrey Huff’s grounder. Melvin Mora added an RBI single and Brian Roberts hit a three-run homer off Wes Littleton, but the Orioles had to hang on as Fernando Carbrera gave up two runs in the 10th.

Associated Press