WASHINGTON — David Freese homered, drove in three runs and had a go-ahead single in the ninth inning Saturday as the St. Louis Cardinals ended a four-game skid with a wild 10-9 win over the Washington Nationals. WASHINGTON — David
WASHINGTON — David Freese homered, drove in three runs and had a go-ahead single in the ninth inning Saturday as the St. Louis Cardinals ended a four-game skid with a wild 10-9 win over the Washington Nationals.
Matt Holliday also homered, and Matt Carpenter smacked a three-run double for the Cardinals, who had scored only one run during their four losses while allowing 32. Freese, John Jay and Allen Craig each had three of the Cardinals’ 14 hits.
The NL East-leading Nationals led 6-2 in the second inning and, after falling behind by two runs in the fourth, rallied for three in the sixth to take a 9-8 lead. Adam LaRoche and Danny Espinosa each homered for Washington.
St. Louis tied it in the eighth on Carlos Beltran’s pinch-hit single off Nationals reliever Sean Burnett. Craig led off the ninth with a single against Drew Storen (1-1). One out later he stole second base and later raced home on Freese’s looping hit over the Nationals infield.
GIANTS 5, CUBS 2
CHICAGO — Tim Lincecum pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning, and Xavier Nady had a three-run double in his first game of the season, helping the NL West-leading Giants beat the Cubs.
Lincecum (8-14) allowed two runs on David DeJesus’ seventh homer and struck out seven over 6 1/3 innings in a solid effort on a breezy day.
Nady, promoted from Triple-A Fresno when major league rosters expanded Saturday, hit a bases-loaded smash past third and into the left-field corner to give San Francisco a 4-0 lead in the first.
PHILLIES 5, BRAVES 1
ATLANTA — Cliff Lee took advantage of some rare run support, throwing seven scoreless innings to lead the Phillies past the slumping Braves.
Jimmy Rollins hit his 16th homer for the Phillies, who got off to a good September start after a strong August. The wild card-leading Braves are heading in the opposite direction with three straight losses and only four wins in their past 14 games, rekindling memories of their historic collapse last season.
BREWERS 3, PIRATES 2
MILWAUKEE — Corey Hart homered to lead off the ninth inning and lift the Brewers to a win over the Pirates.
The win was the Brewers’ second straight over the Pirates and the team’s 10th win in its last 12 games. The Pirates lost for the ninth time in the last 12 games as Pittsburgh continues to try to stay in the National League Wild Card playoff race.
Leading off the ninth inning, Hart hit the second pitch he saw from Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan (4-1) for his 26th home run of the season into the Brewers bullpen in left field. It was his third career game-ending home run.
METS 5, MARLINS 3
MIAMI — Kelly Shoppach hit a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in a four-run ninth inning, clearing the bases when center fielder Justin Ruggiano misplayed the ball, lifting the Mets to a victory over the Marlins.
The Mets had been frustrated most of the night by Josh Johnson, who was on the verge of snapping a personal four-game losing streak. Johnson allowed a run and three hits in eight innings and held the Mets hitless until the fifth. He left leading 3-1.
ASTROS 2, REDS 1
HOUSTON — Cincinnati second baseman Wilson Valdez’s error on a routine grounder by Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Astros to a win over the Reds.
Pinch-hitter Matt Downs doubled off the left field wall with two outs in the ninth. Sean Marshall (4-5) intentionally walked Matt Dominguez before hitting pinch-hitter Brandon Barnes to load the bases.
Altuve hit the ball directly at Valdez, who was playing second after Brandon Phillips was ejected in the previous inning, and it rolled between his legs — allowing Downs to trot home and Houston to break a six-game skid.
ROCKIES 9, PADRES 1
DENVER — Jhoulys Chacin pitched seven strong innings, Dexter Fowler hit his first career grand slam, and the Rockies beat the Padres.
Tyler Colvin also homered and doubled to drive in three runs to help the Rockies cool off the Padres, who had won 10 of their previous 11.
Chacin (2-4) allowed one run on five hits for his second win since coming back Aug. 21 after spending more than three months on the DL because of inflammation in his pitching (right) shoulder.
DODGERS 2, D’BACKS 1
LOS ANGELES — Josh Beckett pitched 6 2/3 strong innings for his first victory since being traded to the Dodgers, and Andre Ethier hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning to help Los Angeles beat the Diamondbacks, snapping an eight-game skid against their NL West rival.
Beckett allowed one run and six hits, struck out nine and walked one to end a career-high five-game losing streak that began on July 20, when he was still with Boston. He lost his first start since being traded to the Dodgers.
