Associated Press
The NL roundup…
PHILADELPHIA ó Jay Bruce hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the ninth inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 Tuesday night to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Reds had lost eight straight against NL East-leading Philadelphia, including a three-game sweep in last yearís division playoff series.
Bruce came in swinging a hot bat. He had four homers in the last five games and was tied for the NL lead with 12. But he struck out three times and popped out in his first four at-bats before clearing the bases against Ryan Madson (2-1).
Rockies 12, Diamondbacks 4, 1st game
Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 2, 2nd game
DENVER ó Carlos Gonzalez homered twice and Colorado became the first team to decipher Josh Collmenterís tomahawk-pitching style, rallying past Arizona despite losing pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to a torn elbow ligament in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
Then the Rockies lost the nightcap when Joe Saunders (1-5) snapped his six-game losing streak and Kelly Johnson hit a solo homer and had one of three RBI doubles off Jhoulys Chacin (5-3) in the sixth inning.
Colorado manager Jim Tracy was ejected in the third inning of Game 2 after arguing a call at home plate.
Dodgers 5, Astros 4
HOUSTON ó Jerry Sands hit a grand slam and Jay Gibbons also homered as Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Houston.
Astros starter J.A. Happ (3-6) walked Jamey Carroll with two outs in the third inning before a single by James Loney. Matt Kemp reached on an error by second baseman Bill Hall to set up the slam by Sands.
The home run by Gibbons in the second put Los Angeles up 1-0.
Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley (3-4) yielded five hits and four runs with nine strikeouts in six innings to get his first win this month. Javy Guerra pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.
Cubs 11, Mets 1
CHICAGO ó Ryan Dempster pitched seven effective innings, Starlin Castro had three hits and two RBIs and Chicago pounded the stumbling New York Mets.
The Cubs kicked off a nine-game homestand with their 11th victory in their past 12 games against NL East teams, hours after putting right-hander Matt Garza on the 15-day disabled list with elbow stiffness.
Brewers 7, Nationals 6
MILWAUKEE ó Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning and Brandon Boggs collided into catcher Wilson Ramos to score the go-ahead run, rallying Milwaukee past Washington.
The Brewers have won 12 of 15 overall and have their longest winning streak in the 11-year history of Miller Park at eight games, though this one certainly didnít come easily.
Corey Hart homered again a night after smacking three, Lucroy hit another and Rickie Weeks added a two-run shot in the seventh.
Mike McClendon (2-0) worked two scoreless innings and John Axford converted his 10th straight save to give him 13 for the season. Michael Morse, who hit his first grand slam earlier in the game, flied out with the bases loaded to end it.
The Nationals have lost six of seven on this road trip, but appeared to be in control after taking a 6-2 lead in the fourth. Henry Rodriguez (1-1) was the losing pitcher.
The Associated Press
05/25/11 00:11