By The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Greg Maddux allowed one run in six-plus innings to earn his 327th career victory, leading the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Saturday.

Maddux (9-11) yielded five hits, struck out six and didn’t walk a batter to win consecutive starts after a personal six-game losing streak.

Maddux was sharp on the muggy, 95-degree day, retiring 10 straight between the third and sixth inning. With the possibility that Maddux could be departing Chicago before Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline, the sellout crowd of 41,302 gave the right-hander a standing ovation when he left the field in the seventh after giving up a leadoff double to Scott Rolen. The usually stoic Maddux tipped his hat to the crowd.

NL Central-leading St. Louis dropped to 3-9 against the Cubs this season. The Cardinals have lost the first three games of the four-game series and seven straight overall at Wrigley Field dating to last season.

Michael Barrett was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Cubs, who have won five of their last six. Ryan Dempster allowed Chris Duncan’s RBI single and struck out Aaron Miles with the bases loaded in the ninth for his 20th save in 25 chances.

Mets 11, Braves 3

ATLANTA – Carlos Beltran homered twice and Orlando Hernandez allowed only three hits in eight innings for the Mets.

Hernandez (7-8) didn’t give up an earned run – the Braves took advantage of two New York errors – and he also picked up the first two RBIs of his career during a seven-run sixth that broke open a 3-all game.

Beltran capped the big inning with a three-run homer off Chad Paronto, who had just replaced starter Tim Hudson. The Mets center fielder also hit a two-run shot in the first and now has 30 homers for the year.

Dodgers 7, Nationals 5

LOS ANGELES – Russell Martin homered and drove in four runs to help the Dodgers get the win.

Rafael Furcal also homered for Los Angeles, and Derek Lowe (8-7) won for the first time since July 3 after going 0-3 in his previous four starts.

Washington closed to 7-5 in the sixth when Joe Beimel walked Felipe Lopez with the bases loaded.

Astros 4, Diamondbacks 1

HOUSTON – Roy Oswalt matched a season high with eight strikeouts and dominated Arizona again to lead the Astros to the victory.

Oswalt (8-7) allowed six hits in eight innings, improving to 5-0 in five career starts against the Diamondbacks. He won for just the third time since June 14.

Chris Snyder homered for Arizona in the fifth, the first run the Diamondbacks had scored on Oswalt in 21 innings – and two years. Oswalt then retired 10 straight before Eric Byrnes singled with one out in the eighth.

Phillies 12, Marlins 3

PHILADELPHIA – Ryan Howard hit his NL-leading 34th homer and Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 29 games for the Phillies.

Utley singled, homered and drove in three runs, and Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand also connected, helping the Phillies send Dontrelle Willis to his earliest exit in 2 years.

Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (3-5) allowed three runs and five hits, striking out seven in 7 1-3 innings, the longest start in his brief career.

Padres 4, Rockies 2

DENVER – Mike Cameron hit a two-run triple for San Diego and Chris Young worked five innings to stretch his road unbeaten streak to 19 games.

Khalil Greene hit his 15th homer and Eric Young his third, helping NL West-leading San Diego beat the Rockies after losing two close games at Coors Field to start the four-game series.

American League
Devil Rays 19, Yankees 6

NEW YORK – Tomas Perez tied a major league record with four doubles and went 5-for-5 to lead the Devil Rays to the win.

Damon Hollins homered and drove in a career-best five runs for the Devil Rays, who matched a franchise mark for runs. They earned their first road win this month and emphatically ended New York’s four-game winning streak.

Jonny Gomes, Jorge Cantu and Travis Lee also homered as Tampa Bay equaled a season high with 17 hits.

Athletics 7, Blue Jays 4

OAKLAND, Calif. – Barry Zito settled down after giving up a first-inning grand slam and Jay Payton drove in three runs to move the Athletics back into first place in the AL West.

Troy Glaus hit a grand slam off Zito (11-7) in the first but the left-hander settled down after that and allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings.

White Sox 13, Orioles 11

BALTIMORE – Tadahito Iguchi homered to cap a seven-run third inning and A.J. Pierzynski went 5-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs for the White Sox.

Pierzynski’s five hits were a career high. Jermaine Dye also hit his 27th home run for Chicago.

Jon Garland (11-3) allowed six runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings, but benefited from a rare offensive outburst by his teammates to win his seventh straight decision.

Mariners 3, Indians 1

CLEVELAND – Jarrod Washburn won for the first time in seven weeks and Ben Broussard homered against his former team to lead Seattle.

Washburn (5-10) allowed one run and five hits over 6 1-3 innings to earn his first win in eight starts since June 9. J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 25 chances.

Tigers 8, Twins 6

MINNEAPOLIS – Curtis Granderson homered and drove in three runs, and Nate Robertson (10-6) became Detroit’s fourth 10-game winner.

Justin Morneau and Josh Rabe each hit two-run homers for Minnesota, which had the potential winning run at the plate in the ninth after trailing 6-0.

. But Todd Jones struck out Michael Cuddyer with runners at the corners to record his 29th save in 32 opportunities.

Brad Radke (9-8) took the loss for Minnesota, which has lost two straight at home for the first time since May 14-15 against the White Sox.

Copy the Story Link