National League roundup

[August 26, 2009]  DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers by 15 1/2 games on June 3. That lead is now at two games following Troy Tulowitzki's extra-inning heroics.

Tulowitzki lined a fastball into center field off James McDonald with one out and the bases loaded in the 10th to give the Rockies a wild 5-4 victory over the reeling Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.

"We feel them coming. That is a good team," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

Tulowitzki's hit made a winner of Matt Herges (1-0), who pitched a perfect 10th as the Rockies (72-54), the NL wild-card leader, moved 18 games over .500 for the first time in their history.

"We look at it as all the pressure's on them," Tulowitzki said. "They're supposed to win the division. They were up by 15 1/2. We're just messing around, I guess."

Not exactly.

The Rockies are a major league-best 52-22 since June 3, when they were a season-worst 12 games under .500.

With Huston Street, the NL saves co-leader, unavailable to close against the Dodgers, the Rockies gave up two runs in the ninth, including Manny Ramirez's RBI single off rookie Matt Daley with two outs to tie it at 4.

"No matter what goes wrong early in the game, you still believe in yourself," Tulowitzki said. "Somehow we're going to turn this around; somehow we're still going to win the game. I think not only us as players get that feeling, but the fans get that feeling, people watching the game get that feeling -- and the opposing team gets that feeling."

The Rockies beat San Francisco 6-4 in 14 innings on Monday on a grand slam by Ryan Spilborghs.

Brad Hawpe and Clint Barmes homered for the Rockies and Casey Blake sent one deep for the Dodgers in a game that began as a pitching duel between Jason Hammel and Clayton Kershaw and ended with another Rockies extra-inning celebration.

"They are doing what we did at the start of the year," Loney said.

Cardinals 1, Astros 0

At St. Louis, Adam Wainwright allowed three hits over eight innings to become the National League's first 15-game winner and Brendan Ryan scored from first on Albert Pujols' one-out double in the first inning for the game's only run.

The Cardinals (73-54) have gone 14-3 since Aug. 7 and are a season-best 19 games above .500.

Wainwright (15-7) matched the Yankees' CC Sabathia for the major league victory lead. He retired 17 straight after Michael Bourn doubled to lead off the game, striking out five and walking none. Ryan Franklin finished for his 33rd save.

Giants 5, Diamondbacks 4

At San Francisco, Travis Ishikawa hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning after scoring the tying run in the seventh on a wild pitch. Juan Uribe homered for the Giants, who bounced back from a heartbreaking 14-inning loss at Colorado on Monday night and snapped a three-game losing streak.

Ishikawa had one extra-base hit in his previous 70 at-bats -- going a stretch of 31 games without one -- before his double in the seventh. He connected off Jon Rauch (2-2) for his ninth homer.

Jeremy Affeldt (1-1) pitched the eighth for the win.

Pirates 6, Phillies 4

At Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen hit a game-ending two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge (0-6).

The Phillies lost for only the second time in nine games despite two homers by Jimmy Rollins off Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf. Steve Pearce hit a two-run shot and Ryan Doumit added a solo drive for the Pirates against Joe Blanton.

Lidge had his ninth blown save in 33 attempts, most in the majors.

Marlins 2, Mets 1

At Miami, Sean West (5-5) gave up six hits in six innings to outpitch Nelson Figueroa (1-3), who started in place of ace Johan Santana, who will undergo season-ending surgery for bone chips in his left elbow.

Ross Gload hit an RBI single in the fifth and Leo Nunez recorded his 13th save.

Padres 2, Braves 1, 12 innings

At Atlanta, David Eckstein his a 12th-inning double off Kris Medlen (3-4) to win it for San Diego, which blew a ninth-inning lead.

Joe Thatcher (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings for the win and Edward Mujica earned his second save by retiring the Braves in order in the 12th.

Adrian Gonzalez's third-inning homer, his 34th, gave San Diego a 1-0 lead that held until the ninth when Heath Bell had his third blown save in 33 chances.

Nationals 15, Cubs 6

At Chicago, Elijah Dukes hit a grand slam in a six-run fifth inning and Josh Willingham had two homers and six RBIs as Washington rocked Carlos Zambrano in his return from the disabled list.

Dukes drove in a career-high five runs as the Nationals sent the Cubs to their 13th loss in 18 games. Willingham was 4 for 4, including a solo homer off Zambrano (7-5) and a three-run shot off Tom Gorzelanny.

Garrett Mock (3-5) allowed seven hits and four runs in 5 2-3 innings.

Reds 8, Brewers 6, 13 innings

At Milwaukee, Joey Votto and Laynce Nix hit solo home runs in the top of the 13th inning for Cincinnati, which blew a five-run lead in the ninth. Votto led off against Todd Coffey (4-3) with his 19th home run and Nix hit his second of the game and 12th of the year, with two outs.

Daniel Ray Herrera (2-4) pitched the final two innings for the win.

Milwaukee scored five runs with one out in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game 6-6, giving Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero his second blown save in 28 chances.

[Associated Press; By ARNIE STAPLETON]

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