Click here to subscribe today or Login.
First Posted: 6/17/2013
PHILADELPHIA — Domonic Brown hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 5-4 on Monday night.
The Nationals tied it at 4 when Chad Tracy hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth off closer Jonathan Papelbon (1-0). It was the first blown save for Papelbon, who had converted his previous 13 chances.
Ben Revere led off the Phillies’ ninth with a single against Fernando Abad (0-2). Revere was running on Jimmy Rollins’ one-out single and easily reached third base.
Abad struck out pinch-hitter Steven Lerud for the second out before Brown fisted the winning hit to center. Papelbon was the first player to greet Brown in celebration as he was rounding first base.
Papelbon easily retired the first two batters in the ninth and had Tracy in an 0-2 hole. But Tracy, who pinch-hit in the seventh and stayed in the game, hit his third home run, barely clearing the wall just inside the foul pole in right.
Ryan Howard went 3 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs and Delmon Young had a two-run double for the Phillies, who returned home after losing seven games on a 10-game road trip.
John Lannan, a former mainstay in the Nationals’ rotation, made his first start since April 17 after a nearly two-month stint on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his left knee. He allowed six hits and two runs in five innings, striking out four and walking one in his first start against his former club.
Steve Lombardozzi had two hits, including an RBI double, for the Nationals, who have lost three of four.
Howard led off the second with a solo shot to tie it at 1. It was the eighth homer of the season for Howard, who had been mired in a power slump.
The slugger entered with just one homer since May 7, but launched Dan Haren’s offering into the second deck deep in right field.
Haren continued his recent struggles and remained winless in his last seven starts (0-5, 6.22 ERA) since May 9. Haren is 0-3 with a 5.82 ERA in six career starts against Philadelphia.
Reds 4, Pirates 1
CINCINNATI — Zack Cozart and Todd Frazier hit upper-deck homers off left-hander Francisco Liriano, and the Cincinnati Reds moved a season-high 15 games over .500 by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds hit four solo homers in all, extending their best start since 1995, the last time they won a playoff series.
Cozart connected in the fourth and Frazier in the sixth off Liriano (5-3), who hadn’t allowed a homer in his seven previous starts. He opened the season on the disabled list, recovering from a broken right arm last December.
Joey Votto and Jay Bruce connected in the eighth off Bryan Morris.
Mike Leake (7-3) extended the best stretch of his four-year career, giving up six hits — including Russell Martin’s RBI double — in seven innings.
Tigers 5, Orioles 1
DETROIT — Max Scherzer improved to 10-0 and struck out 10, Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer and the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles.
Scherzer became the first pitcher to begin a season 10-0 — with all decisions coming in starts — since Roger Clemens went 11-0 for Toronto in 1997, according to STATS. Scherzer is the second pitcher in Detroit history to start this strong since 1909 when George Mullin was 11-0 with one victory as a reliever, the Elias Sports Bureau said in information provided by the Tigers.
Blue Jays 2, Rockies 0
TORONTO — Maicer Izturis hit a two-run single in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays won their sixth consecutive game, beating the Colorado Rockies behind Josh Johnson and two relievers.
Johnson struck out a season-high 10 over 7 1-3 innings but remained winless in seven starts with Toronto, having received only 13 runs of support. Brett Cecil (3-0) got two outs for the victory and Casey Janssen finished for his 14th save in 15 chances.
Izturis had two of Toronto’s three hits as the Blue Jays won six straight for the first time since May 10-16, 2011.
Johnson, who allowed five hits and walked two, lowered his ERA from 5.40 to 4.38.
Royals 2, Indians 1
CLEVELAND — Pinch-runner Elliot Johnson scored from third base on a wild pitch by reliever Matt Albers in the ninth inning, giving the Kansas City Royals a win over the Cleveland Indians.
Johnson sprinted home and slid in safely after Albers’ pitch got under catcher Carlos Santana and went all the way to the backstop.
The Royals have won 11 of 13 and in getting to .500 for the first time since May 21 moved past Cleveland into second place in the AL Central.
Aaron Crow (3-2) struck out two after putting the potential go-ahead run at third in the eighth. Greg Holland stranded the tying run at third in the ninth for his 15th save in 17 tries.