Associated Press
MILWAUKEE ó Instead of the parade of taxis that usually delivers visiting players to the loading dock entrance at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, the New York Mets rode in together on a bus from their hotel.
If they haven’t been playing as a team lately, they at least could arrive as one.
Ryan Church couldn’t recall ever riding to a game on a team bus in his career. Francisco Rodriguez said it was “a little weird.”
“A little bonding time with everybody,” starter Mike Pelfrey said.
Maybe it was a coincidence, but the Mets went on to break a season-worst five-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday despite a career-high 12 strikeouts from young Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel wasn’t particularly eager to credit the bus ride, or the previous night’s postgame team meeting, as essential motivational techniques. After all, the next day’s starter is allowed to leave the game early ó so Pelfrey wasn’t even at Manuel’s clear-the-air session that lasted 28 minutes Tuesday night.
“I told him, ‘If he’d been at the meeting, he would have thrown a no-hitter,’ ” Manuel joked.
Pelfrey (6-3) gave up six hits and two walks in 72/3 innings, and Church came through with an RBI single in the sixth.
It was a frustrating afternoon all around for David Wright, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Wright slammed his glove into the bench after making a throwing error in the second inning, then flung his helmet to the ground after taking a called strike three in the third.
Wright originally was to have a day off but lobbied his way back into the lineup.
“He’s still part of the leadership, and they need to see him out there like that,” Manuel said. “After what we’ve kind of struggled with, it’s important that we see him out there.”
Cardinals 2, Giants 1 (10)
ST. LOUIS ó Colby Rasmus hit a leadoff homer in the 10th after rookie third baseman Pablo Sandoval dropped his foul pop fly earlier in the at-bat.
Marlins 5, Nationals 3
MIAMI ó Hanley Ramirez extended his RBI streak to 10 games, pinch-hitter Wes Helms beat out a potential double-play ball to put Florida ahead in the eighth inning and the Marlins remained unbeaten against Washington.
Florida improved to 9-0 against Washington. Ramirez hit a two-run double for the Marlins, making him the first shortstop in NL history with an RBI streak of double-digit games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Dodgers 1, Rockies 0
LOS ANGELES ó Rafael Furcal had a pinch hit RBI single in the eighth inning as the Dodgers won in the final game of Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
The Dodgers were 29-21 during Ramirez’s absence. He will return to the lineup Friday night for the start of a three-game series at San Diego.
Reds 1, Diamondbacks 0
CINCINNATI ó Right-hander Johnny Cueto settled in after two wild innings, and Joey Votto singled home a sixth-inning run.
Arizona, which has lost nine of 11, managed only an infield hit during six innings against Cueto (8-4) and a bunt single off the bullpen.
Cubs 4, Pirates 1
PITTSBURGH ó Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome homered to support Randy Wells’ seven effective innings.
The Cubs avoided falling three games under .500 for the first time since they were 36-39 in 2007.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 6, Orioles 5 (11)
BALTIMORE ó The Red Sox used a four-run ninth to pull even, Julio Lugo singled in the tiebreaking run in the 11th and Jonathan Papelbon became Boston’s career saves leader.
Papelbon got three outs for his 133rd save with the Red Sox, breaking the team record held by Bob Stanley.
Red Sox pitchers, including Daniel Bard, retired the final 24 batters. Ty Wigginton hit a leadoff homer in the fourth off Josh Beckett to put the Orioles up 5-1, but that would be Baltimore’s final baserunner.
Blue Jays 5, Rays 0
TORONTO ó Ricky Romero pitched four-hit ball over eighth innings to end Tampa Bay’s seven-game winning streak. Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Scott Rolen each homered.
Twins 5, Royals 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Joe Mauer went 3-for-3, raising his average to .392 and backing pitcher Glen Perkins in Minnesota’s win over the Royals.
Gil Meche, whose “dead arm” the previous two starts had created concern among the Royals, gave up three runs ó two earned ó in six innings.
Athletics 5, Tigers 1
OAKLAND, Calif. ó Jason Giambi and Jack Cust broke out of funks with two-run homers, and Dallas Braden ended a four-start winless stretch.
Giambi’s drive in the sixth was home run No. 407, tying him with Duke Snider for 43rd place. Giambi, who has been dealing with sore legs and entered the game with an AL-low .197 batting average, was in a 2-for-28 stretch before the homer after striking out in his first two at-bats.
White Sox 6, Indians 2
CLEVELAND ó Jose Contreras got a rare road win as the right-hander, shipped to the minors earlier this season, pitched eight superb innings and the White Sox won their fifth straight.
Contreras (3-7) improved to 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, a month-long demotion prompted by the 37-year-old opening the season 0-5. He was just 1-6 in his previous 10 road starts.
Cleveland has dropped 13 of 15.
Chicago catcher Juan Castro hit a three-run homer off Jeremy Sowers in a four-run sixth as the White Sox improved to 12-4 since June 13.
Yankees 4, Mariners 2
NEW YORK ó Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer, Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings and the Yankees won their seventh straight.
Rodriguez’s two-run drive came off Jarrod Washburn (4-6) in the sixth.
It was the 60th time Mariano Rivera has saved a win for Pettitte, adding to their big league record.
Rangers 9, Angels 7
ARLINGTON, Texas ó Hank Blalock’s second homer was a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning.