MLB ROUNDUP Tuesday’s other games

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Dodgers 3, Reds 1

CINCINNATI — Right-hander Chad Billingsley took a shutout into the seventh inning and the Dodgers held on for a victory over the Reds that ended a five-game losing streak. Billingsley (5-7) provided a huge boost on an otherwise ominous day for the Dodgers’ rotation. Brad Penny went on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder and Hiroki Kuroda was sent back to Los Angeles for tests on his sore shoulder. Takashi Saito struck out a pair in the ninth while getting his ninth save in 12 chances. Juan Pierre and Russell Martin had run-scoring doubles off Johnny Cueto (5-7), who regained his control but couldn’t get the Reds out of their rut.

INTERLEAGUE

Yankees 8, Padres 0

NEW YORK — Jason Giambi homered twice and Andy Pettitte looked particularly sharp in an easy outing as the Yankees beat the sloppy Padres to match a season high with their fifth straight victory. Alex Rodriguez also connected off an ineffective Randy Wolf (5-5) for the surging Yankees (38-33), who have won 10 of 13 to move a season-best five games above .500. New York has outscored its opponents 35-6 during the five-game winning streak.

Twins 2, Nationals 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Livan Hernandez finally found a way to keep opposing hitters off base, earning his first victory in over a month in Minnesota’s win over the Nationals. Hernandez (7-4), who is on pace to become the first pitcher since Atlanta’s Phil Niekro in 1979 to allow more than 300 hits in a season, allowed one run on just five hits in seven efficient innings. He needed just 77 pitches for his first win since May 12. Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Joe Mauer went 2-for-3 with a double and Joe Nathan picked up his 18th save in 20 chances for the Twins. John Lannan (4-8) posted his fourth straight quality start for Washington, allowing five hits and striking out three in seven innings.

Orioles 6, Astros 5

BALTIMORE — Melvin Mora hit a two-run double in the eighth inning to cap yet another improbable rally by the Orioles and doom the sinking Astros to their sixth straight defeat. The Orioles trailed 5-3 before rebounding to earn their third comeback victory in four games. It was the major-league leading 16th time this season that Baltimore rallied from a two-run deficit to win. A home run by Nick Markakis got the Orioles to 5-4 in the seventh before the Orioles went ahead in the eighth. After Adam Jones hit a leadoff single off Doug Brocail (2-2) and Brian Roberts drew a one-out walk, Jose Valverde struck out Markakis before Mora hit a 3-2 pitch into the gap in right-center. Jim Johnson (2-2) worked a scoreless eighth and George Sherrill got three straight outs for his 23rd save.

Brewers 7, Blue Jays 0

MILWAUKEE — Manny Parra scattered four hits in seven scoreless innings and Ryan Braun hit two of Milwaukee’s five homers, lifting the Brewers over the Blue Jays. Prince Fielder, Russell Branyan and even Craig Counsell homered for Milwaukee, which improved to 2-2 on the current nine-game homestand and won its eighth straight at home against Toronto even though the last game came in 1997. Parra (6-2) struck out five and worked around four walks for his fifth straight win. Dustin McGowan (5-5) took the loss for Toronto.

Royals 2, Cardinals 1

ST. LOUIS — Mike Aviles homered to snap an eighth-inning tie and Kyle Davies worked seven sharp innings in the Royals’ victory over the Cardinals. David DeJesus contributed his sixth RBI in two games for the Royals, 29-42 overall but a robust 5-2 in interleague play while taking two of three from Florida and Arizona. Davies (3-0) allowed one run on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks, allowing only three runners to advance to scoring position. Joakim Soria worked the ninth for his 16th save. Ron Villone (1-2) took the loss.

Rays 3, Cubs 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cliff Floyd and Evan Longoria hit solo home runs, helping the Rays spoil Lou Piniella’s return to Tropicana Field with a victory over the Cubs. Floyd’s shot to right field off Ryan Dempster traveled an estimated 429 feet. Longoria led off the sixth with his 11th of the season, snapping a 1-all tie against Neal Cotts (0-1). Grant Balfour (1-0) pitched 11‚Ñ3 innings in relief of Scott Kazmir to get the win. The starter held the Cubs to one run and three hits in 42‚Ñ3 innings, and the Rays bullpen limited the team with baseball’s best record to three hits the rest of the way.

Troy Percival worked an eventful ninth for his 16th save in 18 opportunities.

Rangers 7, Braves 5

ARLINGTON, Texas — Josh Hamilton put Texas ahead to stay with his American League-best 19th homer and Milton Bradley added a two-run single on which he got hurt in the Rangers’ victory over the Braves. Hamilton’s towering 412-foot solo shot into the second deck of right-field seats came in the first off Tim Hudson (7-5), who is winless his last five starts. Mark Teixeira, sent from Texas to Atlanta in a trade deadline deal last July, was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a walk in his first game against the team which drafted him fifth overall in 2001. Vicente Padilla (9-3) allowed two hits over six innings with four strikeouts. C.J. Wilson worked the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances.

Associated Press