Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA ó Cliff Lee threw a six-hitter, Carlos Ruiz hit a three-run double and Philadelphia beat Washington 5-0 on Tuesday night.The NL East leaders have won six of eight and reduced their magic number for clinching their third consecutive division title to 12 with 19 games remaining.
Lee (7-2) struck out nine and walked three to record his second shutout and sixth complete game this season. He was 1-2 with a 9.60 ERA in his previous three starts after giving up three earned runs in his first five with Philadelphia.
Braves 6, Mets 0
ATLANTA ó Adam LaRoche had two homers, two doubles and drove in three runs, and rookie Tommy Hanson pitched seven innings for Atlanta, which won its fifth straight.
New York has lost seven of eight.
LaRoche went 4 for 4, including solo homers in the second and the sixth, giving him 25 this season ó 12 since he was acquired from Boston on July 31. He had an RBI double in the fourth, and a leadoff double in the eighth. LaRoche became the first Braves player to have four extra-base hits in a game since doing it himself during his first stint with the team, on Aug. 30, 2006.
Hanson (10-3) allowed three hits and struck out eight.
Reds 5, Astros 4
CINCINNATI ó Paul Janish drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with his third double to lead Cincinnati.
Houston reliever Sammy Gervachio (1-1) opened the seventh by hitting Corky Miller. After a sacrifice and a strikeout, Janish lined a double to right-center to help send the Astros to their third consecutive loss.
Marlins 2, Cardinals 1
ST. LOUIS ó Rookie Sean West had a season-high nine strikeouts to outpitch 18-game winner Adam Wainwright and Dan Uggla’s two-run homer in the sixth was the go-ahead hit for Florida.
Wainwright (18-8) allowed two runs in seven innings and struck out eight, not quite good enough to make him the major leagues’ first 19-game winner. He had been 6-0 with a 1.99 ERA in seven starts since Aug. 8.
The 23-year-old West (7-5) topped his previous strikeout best of seven in six strong innings. He escaped with minimal damage in the fifth when the Cardinals loaded the bases with one out. Albert Pujols settled for a sacrifice fly to give St. Louis the lead, but Matt Holliday struck out to end the inning.
Leo Nunez, the fourth Florida pitcher, worked the ninth for his 21st save.
Uggla hit his 29th homer and fourth in seven games. It was the first homer allowed in five starts by Wainwright and only the fourth in 16 outings dating to June 26.
Cubs 13, Brewers 7
CHICAGO (AP) ó Geovany Soto homered and drove in three runs, and Chicago took advantage of 12 walks.
Derrek Lee hit a two-run double and drove in three runs and Mike Fontenot had an RBI single and scored twice for the Cubs, who have won seven of eight.
In addition to issuing 12 walks, five Brewers pitchers combined to hit three batters, two with the bases loaded.
Corey Hart had a two-run double and Mike Cameron had a two-run single to cap a five-run fifth inning for the Brewers.
Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo couldn’t hold a 5-4 lead in the fifth. He gave up a solo shot to Soto to tie it.
Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg (6-6) pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
Gallardo (12-12) allowed seven runs and seven hits.