MLB ROUNDUP

MLB ROUNDUP

Saturday’s other games

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 7, Pirates 3

PITTSBURGH — Adam Wainwright recovered from a shaky start to pitch seven sharp innings and Rick Ankiel homered and had three RBIs as St. Louis won its fourth straight. Wainright (14-12) only retired two batters while giving up four hits and three runs in the first inning, but then allowed only two baserunners the rest of the contest. He gave up six hits, walked one and struck out four. Ankiel, Albert Pujols and Gary Bennett each had three hits for the defending World Series champions. Ronny Paulino reached base three times for Pittsburgh, which has lost three in a row and 12 of 14.

Mets 13, Marlins 0

NEW YORK — John Maine flirted with the first no-hitter in Mets history before allowing an infield single to Paul Hoover with two outs in the eighth inning, and New York snapped out of its September doldrums by routing Florida in a fight-filled game. Maine (15-10) finished with 14 strikeouts, the most by a Mets pitcher in eight years, and departed to a raucous ovation long after Florida catcher Miguel Olivo charged across the diamond and threw a punch at Jose Reyes in the fifth — setting off a bench-clearing brawl. Once order was restored, the Mets stayed alive in the playoff race by snapping a five-game skid that cost them their NL East lead.

Nationals 4, Phillies 2

PHILADELPHIA — Matt Chico pitched six solid innings and Washington got in Philadelphia’s way, leaving the NL East all even with one game to go. If Philadelphia and the Mets are still tied after today, there will be a one-game playoff Monday at Citizens Bank Park to determine the East winner. Both clubs would be eliminated from wild-card contention if San Diego wins its final game against Milwaukee.

Brewers 4, Padres 3, 11 innings

MILWAUKEE — The San Diego Padres are still waiting to clinch a playoff spot — and they can blame a familiar name. Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a tying, two-out triple off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning, and Vinny Rottino singled in Ryan Braun off Joe Thatcher (2-2) in the 11th for Milwaukee.

Cubs 4, Reds 0

CINCINNATI — Rich Hill allowed only one hit in six innings and Matt Murton and Ronny Cedeno hit solo homers as the NL Central champions tuned up for the playoffs.

Astros 3, Braves 2

HOUSTON — Craig Biggio caught the first two innings in the next-to-last game of his 20-year career. Biggio revisited his primary position from his first four seasons in the majors. He had not been behind the plate since switching to second base in 1992.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 6, Twins 4

BOSTON — J.D. Drew connected for a go-ahead, three-run homer one day after missing the celebration of Boston’s first division title in 12 years. Continuing his surge after a long slump, Drew lined a full-count pitch from Nick Blackburn into the right-center field stands to lift the Red Sox over the Minnesota Twins. Drew singled in the second, tripled and scored in the fourth and finished 3-for-4 with his 11th homer.

Yankees 11, Orioles 10

BALTIMORE — Shelley Duncan homered to cap a 10-run fourth inning, and a host of New York Yankees backups feasted on Baltimore Orioles pitching. The Yankees trailed 6-1 before nine straight batters reached to open the fourth. Duncan, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano each had two RBIs in the inning. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (15-9) struggled in his tuneup for Game 2 of the divisional series at Cleveland. The left-hander yielded nine runs and eight hits — including two home runs — in five innings.

Angels 3, Athletics 2

OAKLAND, Calif. — With manager Mike Scioscia resting many of his banged-up regulars, Kelvim Escobar earned his career-best 18th victory. It was the defending division champion Athletics’ fifth straight defeat and 10th in 11 games. Juan Rivera and Erick Aybar each hit RBI singles and Jeff Mathis added a sacrifice fly for the Angels, who saw Bartolo Colon make his first relief appearance in 10 years.

White Sox 3, Tigers 2

CHICAGO — Jim Thome hit career homer No. 507, Juan Uribe singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Blue Jays 5, Devil Rays 3

TORONTO — Adam Lind hit a three-run homer, John-Ford Griffin added a solo shot. The Blue Jays have won 10 of 15, while Tampa Bay has lost 13 of 17.

Associated Press