Associated Press
The National League roundup …
NEW YORK ó Aubrey Huff ended an 0-for-20 slump with a leadoff homer in the 10th inning and San Francisco snapped out of its offensive slumber, beating New York 7-6 on Tuesday night.
Nate Schierholtz homered for the Giants, who had lost eight of 11. The defending World Series champions, shut out three times in their previous six games, entered with the second-worst offense in the National League.
Javier Lopez (1-0) and Francisco Rodriguez escaped dicey jams in the ninth before Huff sent a 2-0 pitch from Taylor Buchholz (1-1) off the facing of the right-field overhang for his third home run.
Phillies 4, Nationals 1
PHILADELPHIA ó Cole Hamels pitched a five-hitter for Philadelphia and Raul Ibanez doubled twice as he stopped an 0-for-35 slump.
Jayson Werth was 0 for 3 with a walk in his first game in Philadelphia since signing a $126 million, seven-year deal with the Nationals. Werth was mostly booed when he came to the plate in the first, but he turned the jeers into cheers when he took off his helmet and tipped it to the crowd.
Hamels (4-1) struck out six and walked one in his eighth career complete game.
Astros 10, Reds 4
CINCINNATI ó Left-hander J.A. Happ singled home a run during Houstonís six-run fourth inning ó its biggest of the season ó and Cincinnati has its first losing record in nearly a year.
The defending NL Central champs fell to 14-15, the first time they have been below .500 since they had an identical mark last May 7.
The Astros sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth, knocking Mike Leake (3-1) out of the game. It was the right-handerís first start since he settled his shoplifting case.
Cardinals 7, Marlins 5
ST. LOUIS ó Daniel Descalso hit his first career home run, a go-ahead three-run shot in the seventh inning, to lead St. Louis.
Matt Holliday hit a two-run homer in the first and had two hits, dropping his National League-leading average one point to .409.
Albert Pujols was 0 for 5 with his league-leading 10th double play ball and stranded six runners his first three at-bats, dropping his average to .231. Pujols is mired in a 4-for-25 slump (.160) and hasnít had an extra base hit in nine games.
Gaby Sanchez had four singles, matching his career best for hits, one off Fernando Salas (1-0) in the seventh to put Florida ahead 5-4.
Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez had a season-high six walks in 4 1-3 innings.
The Associated Press
05/03/11 23:47