Associated Press
PITTSBURGH ó The Pirates were assured of a record-breaking 17th straight losing season after falling 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs, who got two homers from Derrek Lee.
The Pirates dropped to 54-82 and will finish below .500, just as they have every season since 1993. The string of losing seasons is the longest for any team in the four major North American pro team sports. Only the Phillies (1933-48) have had as many as 16 losing seasons in a row.
Cardinals 3, Brewers 0
MILWAUKEE ó Chris Carpenter pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a clean double to Jody Gerut in the fifth inning, and struck out 10.
Carpenter (16-3) won his 11th straight decision and leads the majors with a 2.16 ERA. He needed 99 pitches to throw his first shutout in three years and allowed just two balls out of the infield.
Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 2
PHOENIX ó Late-season acquisitions Vicente Padilla (threw six innings) and Ronnie Belliard (finished a triple shy of the cycle) led the Dodgers.
Manny Ramirez hit a solo homer in the second inning but was tossed after flinging his bat and helmet to the ground near home plate after striking out to end the third.
Giants 9, Padres 4
SAN FRANCISCO ó Juan Uribe homered twice, tripled and drove in five runs. Brad Penny (2-0) didn’t give up a hit in his home debut until Will Venable’s triple leading off the fifth. He struck out six and walked one in seven innings.
Rockies 4, Reds 3
DENVER ó Ian Stewart broke a tiebreaking home run in the eighth, ending the Reds’ seven-game winning streak.
Troy Tulowitzki left because of a strained lower back and was listed as day-to-day.
Astros 4, Phillies 3
HOUSTON ó Hunter Pence homered and drove in three runs as the Astros completed a four-game sweep.
White Sox 5, Red Sox 1
CHICAGO ó Mark Buehrle won for the first time since pitching a perfect game on July 23, ending his eight-start drought.
Buehrle (12-7) had been 0-4 with a 5.44 ERA since his gem against Tampa Bay.
Royals 6, Angels 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Billy Butler homered twice and had four RBIs as the Royals ended a nine-game losing streak to the Angels.
Yankees 4, Rays 1 (1st)
NEW YORK ó Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in a three-run eighth.
Tampa slugger Carlos Pena broke two fingers when he was hit by a CC Sabathia pitch.
Yankees 11, Rays 1 (2nd)
NEW YORK ó Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer in the Yankees’ eight-run third.
New York had 24 hits to boost A.J. Burnett to his first win since July 27. None came from Derek Jeter, who remained three hits behind Lou Gehrig, stuck on 2,718. Gehrig holds the team record.
Twins 6, Blue Jays 3
TORONTO ó Joe Mauer got three more hits and keyed a five-run first inning.