National League roundup

[August 20, 2009]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Cliff Lee's exceptional pitching could get overshadowed by his work at the plate.

Lee pitched a two-hitter, carrying a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 Wednesday night.

For the second time in his four starts with the Phillies, Lee chipped in with a pair of hits. He's batting .385 (5-for-13) since coming to Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland last month.

"He can hit a little bit," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I might have to move him up in the order."

Lee was just 2-for-32 (.063) in 5 1/2 seasons with Cleveland.

"It's the hardest thing to do in all of sports," he said. "It's a challenge. I enjoy doing it. I try to take it serious and get better at it."

The guys who usually do all the hitting for the Phillies gave Lee plenty of support, helping him win his seventh straight start since a loss at Detroit on July 10.

Jayson Werth hit a pair of solo homers, Ryan Howard hit a three-run shot and Chase Utley also connected for the NL East-leading Phillies, who've won seven of eight. Philadelphia is a season-high 19 games over .500 (68-49).

Lee (4-0) allowed an unearned run and tied a career high with 11 strikeouts to record his 12th career complete game and fifth this season. The left-hander had no walks, though he hit one batter. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has an 0.82 ERA and two complete games for his new team.

"I don't know how special it is," Lee said. "It's me doing what I expect to do every time I go out to the mound. I expect to put up a zero every inning."

Lee didn't allow a hit until pinch-hitter Chad Tracy lined a single to center with one out in the sixth. In his debut with the Phillies on July 31, Lee had a no-hit bid broken up at the same point by San Francisco's Juan Uribe.

The Phillies roughed up All-Star right-hander Dan Haren (12-8), who had his worst outing of the year. Haren allowed a season-high six runs in five innings. He's given up five or more runs in three of his last four starts.

Howard ripped an opposite-field shot to left-center to make it 5-1 in the fifth. It was his 31st homer and fifth in six games.

"I almost put Howard away, one pitch away," Haren said. "But I tried to go up and away with a fastball and he made me pay for it."

Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2

At Los Angeles, Matt Holliday's sacrifice fly snapped a ninth-inning tie, and St. Louis took two of three in the series.

The Cardinals maintained their NL Central lead of 5 1/2 games over the Cubs. The loss reduced the Dodgers' lead in the NL West to 3 1/2 games over Colorado, their smallest margin since May 1.

Jonathan Broxton (7-1) took the loss, allowing one run in the ninth. He gave up a leadoff walk to Albert Pujols, who stole second and continued to third on catcher Russell Martin's throwing error. Holliday flied out to center to score Pujols.

Cubs 7, Padres 1

At San Diego, Rich Harden held the Padres to one hit over seven innings and Chicago avoided an embarrassing sweep.

Milton Bradley and Aramis Ramirez homered for the Cubs, who had 10 hits after looking flat in losing the first two games of the series. Ramirez also had a two-run double.

Harden (8-7), who struck out eight, and two relievers combined on a three-hitter.

Rockies 5, Nationals 4

At Washington, Carlos Gonzalez homered for the fourth game in a row and Clint Barmes connected in his third straight for Colorado.

Jason Marquis (14-8) gave up nine hits and three runs over six innings. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 32 attempts.

Giants 1, Reds 0

At Cincinnati, Nate Schierholtz's eighth-inning double drove in the game's only run.

Barry Zito and three relievers combined on a two-hitter. Zito gave up two hits over the first six innings. Sergio Romo (4-2) earned the win and Brian Wilson pitched the ninth for his 30th save.

Braves 15, Mets 2

At New York, Brian McCann hit a three-run homer as part of Atlanta's eight-run second inning.

The Braves had a season-high seven hits in the inning. Five runs scored after Luis Castillo of the Mets failed to cover second on Garret Anderson's two-out grounder to shortstop Anderson Hernandez with runners on the corners.

Pirates 3, Brewers 1

At Pittsburgh, Paul Maholm (7-7) allowed one run over 7 2-3 innings and Ronny Cedeno homered as the Pirates finished the sweep.

Delwyn Young added two hits and an RBI and Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save for Pittsburgh, which entered the series on a four-game losing streak, having lost 12 of 13 and 17 of 20.

Astros 6, Marlins 3

At Houston, Michael Bourn had three hits, two stolen bases and two runs scored for the Astros.

Florida reached 10 hits for the 15th straight game, matching the longest streak since the St. Louis Browns accomplished the feat in 1937, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

But Florida committed three errors and stranded 16 runners, both season highs.

Humberto Quintero hit a solo homer, and Lance Berkman, Jeff Keppinger and Miguel Tejada drove in runs for the Astros, who won for the third time in nine games.

[Associated Press; By ROB MAADDI]

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