Other games Devil Rays 8, Yankees 2: Carlos Pena hit a triple and a three-run homer, as the Devil Rays took two out of three from the Yankees. Jason Hammel (2-4) pitched five innings, allowing one run and five hits for the win, while Andy Pettitte, forced out of the game after Pena's homer, allowed five runs for the loss. The Yankees (76-61) remain 2 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL Wild Card race. White Sox 8, Indians 0: The White Sox racked up 18 hits; leadoff hitter Jerry Owens went 3-4, with 2 RBI, 2 walks, and a stolen base, his 23rd of the season. The Indians amassed seven walks, six by starter Jose Contreras, but failed to score any runs. Contreras (8-16) picked up the win, while White Sox pitcher Jake Westbrook (5-8) allowed four runs (three earned) in 5 innings of work for the loss. Thanks to a Tigers loss, the Indians (78-58) remain 5 1/2 games in front in the AL Central race. Royals 8, Twins 1: The Royals' Alex Gordon hit solo homers (13, 14) in the 2nd and 3rd innings, two of sixteen hits recorded by the Royals. Twins first baseman Garrett Jones went 3-3 in the game, with three of the six hits recorded by the Twins (all singles). Brian Bannister (12-7) allowed one run and six hits in eight innings of work, receiving the win. Boof Bonser (6-12) pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing five runs for the loss. Blue Jays 6, Mariners 4: Gregg Zaun (8) and Matt Stairs (18) each hit a two-run homer in the game to put Toronto ahead early. A.J. Burnett (8-7) got the win, while Jeff Weaver (6-11) left after three innings, allowing five runs for the loss. Casey Janssen recorded his fifth save of the season for the Blue Jays. Seattle (73-62) remains two games back of the Yankees in the AL Wild Card race. Rangers 8, Angels 7: Hank Blalock hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, to take the lead. Wes Littleton (3-1) pitched two hitless innings in relief for the win, while Scot Shields (3-5) got the loss, giving up four runs on the Blalock slam. C.J. Wilson picked up his 10th save. The Angels remained 6.5 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL West race. IGNORE THIS Mets 5, Braves 1: The Mets' Carlos Delgado, Lastings Milledge, and Carlos Beltran all hit solo home runs in the win. Mike Pelfrey (1-7) notched his first win of the year , giving up just one hit and one runin six innings of work. Braves starter Chuck James (9-10) gave up three earned runs en route to the loss. Pedro Feliciano pitched two perfect innings, striking out the last five batters he faced . The Mets ( 75-60) hold a 3 game lead over the Phillies, and a 6.5 game lead over the Braves ( 69-67), in the NL East . Marlins 12 , Phillies 6: The Marlins scored seven runs in the first inning, setting the pace for a 12-6 win. Marlins hitters Jeremy Hermida, Mike Jacobs, and Cody Ross each drove in two runs. Byung-Hyun Kim (8-6) pitched five innings and gave up four runs for the win, while Phillies pitcher J.D. Durbin (6-4)didn't record a single out, leaving the game in the first inning after giving up seven runs, all earned. Kevin Gregg pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings for his 27th save. With the Mets' win, the Phillies fall to 3 games back in the NL East race . Cubs 4, Astros 3: Powered by a 6th inning two-run homer by Aramis Ramirez, his 19th of the season, the Cubs beat the Astros 4-3. Jason Marquis (11-8) pitched 6 2/ 3 innings for the win, while Astros pitcher Troy Patton gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings for the loss. Ryan Dempster gave up a solo home run in the  9th inning, but held on for his 24th save. The Cubs lead the NL Central by 1.5 games over the Brewers , and 2 games over the Cardinals . Brewers 12, Pirates 3: Kevin Mench went 3-3, with a single, double and home run, scoring four runs and driving in three, in a decisive win. Dave Bush (11-9) pitched 6 innings, giving up four hits and one earnedrun for the win . Shane Youman (3-5) pitched just two innings, giving up eight earned runs for the loss. The Brewers (68-67) stay 1.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central race . Cardinals 11, Reds 3 : Cardinals' Rick Ankiel went 3-4 with a double, two runs and three RBI. Adam Wainwright pitched 5 2   /3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) for the  win, while Reds' Phil Dumatrait pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) for the loss. The Cardinals improve to 66-66, and are two games back in the NL Central race.  
Other games White Sox 8, Indians 0: The White Sox racked up 18 hits; leadoff hitter Jerry Owens went 3-4, with 2 RBI, 2 walks, and a stolen base, his 23rd of the season. The Indians amassed seven walks, six by starter Jose Contreras, but failed to score any runs. Contreras (8-16) picked up the win, while White Sox pitcher Jake Westbrook (5-8) allowed four runs (three earned) in 5 innings of work for the loss. Thanks to a Tigers loss, the Indians (78-58) remain 5 1/2 games in front in the AL Central race. Devil Rays 8, Yankees 2: Carlos Pena hit a triple and a three-run homer, as the Devil Rays took two out of three from the Yankees. Jason Hammel (2-4) pitched five innings, allowing one run and five hits for the win, while Andy Pettitte, forced out of the game after Pena's homer, allowed five runs for the loss. The Yankees (76-61) remain 2 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL Wild Card race. Mets 3, Braves 2: David Wright hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, which proved to be the deciding factor in the game. Pitcher Tom Glavine (12-6) pitched six innings , giving up one run and five hits; Glavine was also responsible for the Mets' first run, on a sacrifice fly in the 2nd inning. John Smoltz (12-7) got the loss, giving up three earned runs in seven innings. Billy Wagner allowed one earned run in the ninth inning, but held on for the save, his 30th of the season . The Mets ( 76-60) are 4 games ahead of the Phillies, and 7.5 games ahead of the Braves ( 69-68) . Marlins 7 , Phillies 6: Cody Ross hit two home runs (9, 10), a two-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot in the sixth. Justin Miller (5-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win, while Kane Davis (0-1) gave up two runs and three hits in the loss. The Phillies are four games back of the Mets in the NL East . Cubs 6, Astros 5: The Cubs came back from a 5-1 deficit, led by Derrek Lee, who went 3-4 with a home run and 3 RBI. Matt Murton hit a home run in a pinch-hit at-bat in the 7th inning. Carlos Marmol (5-1) got the win, facing one batter in the eighth inning. Chad Qualls (6-4) got the loss, giving up two runs on the Lee home run in the eighth. Ryan Dempster threw a perfect 9th , striking out two of the three batters he faced, for his 25th save. The Cubs are 1.5 games ahead of the Brewers and 2 games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central . Brewers 7, Pirates 4: Ryan Braun went 3-4 with a homer and 3 RBI, and Prince Fielder hit his 40th home run of the year, a two-run shot. Jeff Suppan (9-11) gave up four runs (two earned) for the win , while Pirates reliever Franquelis Osoria (0-1) gave up three runs in two innings for the loss. Francisco Cordero picked up his 39th save. The Brewers are 1.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central . Cardinals 3, Reds 2 : Cardinals' Rick Ankiel hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, and drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Braden Looper (12-10) pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits. Bronson Arroyo (7-14) gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings for the loss. Jason Isringhausen gave up a run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly, but picked up his 28th save. The Cardinals are 2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central race. Royals 8, Twins 1: The Royals' Alex Gordon hit solo homers (13, 14) in the 2nd and 3rd innings, two of sixteen hits recorded by the Royals. Twins first baseman Garrett Jones went 3-3 in the game, with three of the six hits recorded by the Twins (all singles). Brian Bannister (12-7) allowed one run and six hits in eight innings of work, receiving the win. Boof Bonser (6-12) pitched 1 2 /3 innings, allowing five runs for the loss. Blue Jays 6, Mariners 4: Gregg Zaun (8) and Matt Stairs (18) each hit a two-run homer in the game to put Toronto ahead early. The loss is Seattle's ninth in a row. A.J. Burnett (8-7) got the win, while Jeff Weaver (6-11) left after three innings, allowing five runs for the loss. Casey Janssen recorded his fifth save of the season for the Blue Jays. Seattle (73-62) remains two games back of the Yankees in the AL Wild Card race. Rangers 8, Angels 7: Hank Blalock hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, to take the lead. Wes Littleton (3-1) pitched two hitless innings in relief for the win, while Scot Shields (3-5) got the loss, giving up four runs on the Blalock slam. C.J. Wilson picked up his 10th save. The Angels remained 6.5 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL West race. IGNORE THIS
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Devil Rays 8, Yankees 2: Carlos Pena hit a triple and a three-run homer, as the Devil Rays took two out of three from the Yankees. Jason Hammel (2-4) pitched five innings, allowing one run and five hits for the win, while Andy Pettitte, forced out of the game after Pena's homer, allowed five runs for the loss. The Yankees (76-61) remain 2 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL Wild Card race.
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Royals
Devil Rays
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Twins 1: The Royals' Alex Gordon hit solo homers (13, 14) in the 2nd and 3rd innings, two of sixteen hits recorded by the Royals. Twins first baseman Garrett Jones went 3-3 in the game, with three of the six hits recorded by the Twins (all singles). Brian Bannister (12-7) allowed one run and six hits in eight innings of work, receiving the win. Boof Bonser (6-12) pitched 1 2/3
Yankees 2: Carlos Pena hit a triple and a three-run homer, as the Devil Rays took two out of three from the Yankees. Jason Hammel (2-4) pitched five
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five runs for the loss.
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Blue Jays 6, Mariners 4: Gregg Zaun (8) and Matt Stairs (18) each hit a two-run homer in the game to put Toronto ahead early. A.J. Burnett (8-7) got the
one run and five hits for the
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Jeff Weaver (6-11) left after three innings, allowing
Andy Pettitte, forced out of the game after Pena's homer, allowed
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Casey Janssen recorded his fifth save of the season for the Blue Jays. Seattle (73-62) remains two games back of the Yankees in the AL Wild Card race.
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Rangers 8, Angels 7: Hank Blalock hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, to take the lead. Wes Littleton (3-1) pitched two hitless innings in relief for the win, while Scot Shields (3-5) got the loss, giving up four runs on the Blalock slam. C.J. Wilson picked up his 10th save. The Angels remained 6.5
The Yankees (76-61) remain 2
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West
Wild Card
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IGNORE THIS
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Mets 5, Braves 1: The Mets' Carlos Delgado, Lastings Milledge, and Carlos Beltran all hit solo home runs in the win. Mike Pelfrey (1-7) notched his first win of the year
Mets 3, Braves 2: David Wright hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, which proved to be the deciding factor in the game. Pitcher Tom Glavine (12-6) pitched six innings
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just one hit and one runin six innings of work. Braves starter Chuck James (9-10) gave
one run and five hits; Glavine was also responsible for the Mets' first run, on a sacrifice fly in the 2nd inning. John Smoltz (12-7) got the loss, giving
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en route to the loss. Pedro Feliciano pitched two perfect innings, striking out the last five batters he faced
in seven innings. Billy Wagner allowed one earned run in the ninth inning, but held on for the save, his 30th of the season
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75-60) hold a 3 game lead over
76-60) are 4 games ahead of
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a 6.5 game lead over
7.5 games ahead of
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69-67), in the NL East
69-68)
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12
7
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The Marlins scored seven runs in the first inning, setting the pace for a 12-6 win. Marlins hitters Jeremy Hermida, Mike Jacobs, and Cody Ross each drove in two runs. Byung-Hyun Kim (8-6) pitched five innings and gave up four runs for the win, while Phillies pitcher J.D. Durbin (6-4)didn't record a single out, leaving the game in the first inning after giving up seven runs, all earned. Kevin Gregg
Cody Ross hit two home runs (9, 10), a two-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot in the sixth. Justin Miller (5-0)
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hitless innings for his 27th save. With the Mets' win,
innings for
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Phillies fall to 3 games back
win, while Kane Davis (0-1) gave up two runs and three hits in the loss. The Phillies are four games back of the Mets
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race
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4, Astros 3: Powered by a 6th inning two-run homer by Aramis Ramirez, his 19th of the season, the Cubs beat the Astros 4-3. Jason Marquis (11-8) pitched 6 2/
6, Astros 5: The Cubs came back from a 5-1 deficit, led by Derrek Lee, who went 3-4 with a home run and
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innings for
RBI. Matt Murton hit a home run in a pinch-hit at-bat in the 7th inning. Carlos Marmol (5-1) got
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while Astros pitcher Troy Patton gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings for the loss. Ryan Dempster gave up a solo
facing one batter in the eighth inning. Chad Qualls (6-4) got the loss, giving up two runs on the Lee
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eighth. Ryan Dempster threw a perfect
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inning, but held on for his 24th
, striking out two of the three batters he faced, for his 25th
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lead the NL Central by
are
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over the Brewers ,
ahead of the Brewers
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over the Cardinals
ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central
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12, Pirates 3: Kevin Mench went 3-3, with a single, double and home run, scoring four runs and driving in three, in a decisive win. Dave Bush (11-9) pitched 6 innings, giving up four hits and one earnedrun
7, Pirates 4: Ryan Braun went 3-4 with a homer and 3 RBI, and Prince Fielder hit his 40th home run of the year, a two-run shot. Jeff Suppan (9-11) gave up four runs (two earned)
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. Shane Youman (3-5) pitched just two innings, giving up eight earned runs
, while Pirates reliever Franquelis Osoria (0-1) gave up three runs in two innings
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The Brewers (68-67) stay
Francisco Cordero picked up his 39th save. The Brewers are
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race
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11, Reds 3
3, Reds 2
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went 3-4 with a double, two runs and three RBI. Adam Wainwright pitched 5
hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, and drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Braden Looper (12-10) pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits. Bronson Arroyo (7-14) gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings for the loss. Jason Isringhausen gave up a run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly, but picked up his 28th save. The Cardinals are
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games behind the Cubs in the NL Central race.
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Royals 8, Twins 1: The Royals' Alex Gordon hit solo homers (13, 14) in the 2nd and 3rd innings, two of sixteen hits recorded by the Royals. Twins first baseman Garrett Jones went 3-3 in the game, with three of the six hits recorded by the Twins (all singles). Brian Bannister (12-7) allowed one run and six hits in eight innings of work, receiving the win. Boof Bonser (6-12) pitched 1 2
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two runs (one earned) for the
five runs for the loss.
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Blue Jays 6, Mariners 4: Gregg Zaun (8) and Matt Stairs (18) each hit a two-run homer in the game to put Toronto ahead early. The loss is Seattle's ninth in a row. A.J. Burnett (8-7) got the
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Reds' Phil Dumatrait pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) for the loss. The Cardinals improve to 66-66, and are two games back in the NL Central race.
Jeff Weaver (6-11) left after three innings, allowing five runs for the loss. Casey Janssen recorded his fifth save of the season for the Blue Jays. Seattle (73-62) remains two games back of the Yankees in the AL Wild Card race.
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Rangers 8, Angels 7: Hank Blalock hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, to take the lead. Wes Littleton (3-1) pitched two hitless innings in relief for the win, while Scot Shields (3-5) got the loss, giving up four runs on the Blalock slam. C.J. Wilson picked up his 10th save. The Angels remained 6.5 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL West race.
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IGNORE THIS