Rafael Furcal’s homer decides a 13-inning pitcher’s duel.
By The Associated Press

MIAMI – Rafael Furcal’s leadoff homer in the 13th inning helped the Atlanta Braves avoid a three-game sweep with a 2-1 win over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night.

Marlins rookie left-hander Dontrelle Willis allowed only one run in eight innings, but failed to match a club record by winning his eighth straight start, leaving with the score tied 1-1.

Gary Sheffield had three hits for the Braves, who managed just three runs in 30 innings in this series against Florida before Furcal connected off Armando Almanza (4-5) for his 11th homer of the season.

Giants 4, Cardinals 1

ST. LOUIS – Barry Bonds homered twice and scored three times, leading rookie Jerome Williams and the San Francisco Giants over the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1.

The NL West-leading Giants have won three straight in a series that ends Thursday. The Cardinals lead the NL in hitting, but have been held to exactly one run for three games in a row.

Reds 4, Pirates 3

PITTSBURGH – Barry Larkin’s two-out single drove in the go-ahead run during yet another Cincinnati ninth-inning rally, and the Reds – twice within a strike of losing – came back to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3.

The Reds won it with three consecutive hits on full-count pitches by Pirates closer Mike Williams – Ray Olmedo’s single, pinch-hitter Reggie Taylor’s tying double down the right-field line and Larkin’s single to short right field.

Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 2

DENVER – Jason Jennings allowed only two hits in 6 2-3 scoreless innings, Jay Payton had three RBIs and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 .

Jennings (8-6) walked four and struck out three to win for the fifth time in his last six starts.

Expos 11, Mets 4

NEW YORK – Brian Schneider and Edwards Guzman had two RBIs apiece as the Montreal Expos used a pair of five-run innings to beat the sloppy New York Mets 11-4.

Livan Hernandez (7-6) settled down after a shaky start, holding New York scoreless over his final five innings .

Cubs 1, Phillies 0

PHILADELPHIA – Sammy Sosa homered on the first pitch of the ninth inning and four Chicago pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Cubs snapped the Philadelphia Phillies’ seven-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory.

Matt Clement, Mark Guthrie, Kyle Farnsworth and Joe Borowski combined on the Cubs’ first one-hitter since May 25, 2001, when Kerry Wood beat Milwuakee.

American League

Blue Jays 8, Tigers 2

DETROIT – Roy Halladay won his 12th straight decision and Carlos Delgado hit two solo home runs as the Toronto Blue Jays broke a four-game losing streak, beating the Detroit Tigers 8-2.

Delgado raised his RBIs total to 91 and Vernon Wells drove in four runs as the Blue Jays broke loose on the day they held a hitters’ meeting.

Royals 8, Indians 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Darrell May gave up six hits in his third career complete game to lead Kansas City to an 8-2 victory over Cleveland.

Raul Ibanez drove in three runs without getting a hit while Carlos Beltran and Desi Relaford each had three hits and two RBIs for the Royals.

White Sox 8, Twins 6

CHICAGO – Roberto Alomar scored the winning run in his White Sox debut, trotting home on Frank Thomas’ second homer of the game to give Chicago an 8-6 victory in 12 innings over the Minnesota Twins. Pinch-hitter Paul Konerko hit a tying, solo homer with two outs in the 11th for the White Sox.

Then in the 12th, Alomar walked with one out and Thomas homered with two outs.

Halladay (12-2) didn’t need a lot of support. He has not lost in 15 starts since April 15 – his streak is the second-longest in team history,

to Roger Clemens’ 15-game string in 1998.

Halladay allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out three.

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