National League roundup

[August 31, 2009]  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- In a matter of five days, the Colorado Rockies' playoff push took a big hit.

Edgar Renteria hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning and the San Francisco Giants pulled even with Colorado in the NL wild-card race with a 9-5 victory on Sunday and a three-game sweep.

The Rockies entered the series two games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and are now six back in the division. They lost their season-high fifth straight -- all this after rallying each time to take three of four from the Giants last week at Coors Field.

"If you have ambitions of playing baseball in October, when you get knocked down you've got to stand back up," manager Jim Tracy said. "We got knocked down this weekend. Are we going to get back up?"

San Francisco swept the Rockies at home for the first time since April 8-10, 2005.

Renteria homered with two outs to overcome a 5-2 deficit, connecting two pitches after Rafael Betancourt (0-1) relieved Franklin Morales. Renteria hit his eighth career grand slam and second in two years against Betancourt.

"It was big," Renteria said. "The Rockies played great in Colorado and beat us three times. I tell everybody, 'You have to forget everything. If we want to go to the playoffs, we have to separate everything and play as a team.'"

Renteria also doubled in a run and matched his career high with five RBIs. He was intentionally walked in the eighth with two runners on.

Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki hit back-to-back solo homers in the fifth inning to put the Rockies ahead, but Colorado's bullpen couldn't hold a 4-1 lead.

"They kept fighting," San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy said. "That's what it's about. Edgar, what a day he had."

Brandon Medders (3-1) got two outs in the seventh and Brian Wilson pitched the ninth after saving the first two games of the series.

The series was a total swing from the teams' previous meetings. The Rockies rallied for a 6-4, 14-inning win last Monday in which Ryan Spilborghs hit a game-winning grand slam after the Giants had scored three in the top half.

Phillies 3, Braves 2

At Philadelphia, Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the seventh inning and Joe Blanton pitched seven strong innings for the Phillies.

Blanton (9-6) allowed one run on three hits in seven innings, making it 12 straight starts he has allowed three earned runs or less.

Ruiz finished 3-for-3 with two doubles for the NL-East leading Phillies (75-53).

Brewers 4, Pirates 1

At Milwaukee, shortstop Craig Counsell helped the Brewers turn a season-high four double plays in their 21st straight home win over Pittsburgh.

The Brewers' streak is the longest such string in the majors since the Indians beat the Baltimore franchise 27 times in a row at Cleveland Municipal Stadium from 1952-54.

Jeff Suppan (6-8) earned his first win since June 12 with six solid innings on his bobblehead day. He'd been 0-4 with a 6.70 ERA in his previous nine starts.

Cardinals 2, Nationals 1

At St. Louis, Adam Wainwright earned his major league-leading 16th victory and the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep.

Albert Pujols had the go-ahead hit in the sixth inning and went 5 for 10 in the series. Wainwright (16-7) helped the NL Central leaders win for the fifth time in six games.

Dodgers 3, Reds 2, 12 innings

At Cincinnati, Matt Kemp homered for Los Angeles' first run, then hit a sacrifice fly in the 12th inning that lifted the Dodgers.

The NL West leaders are 22-4 against Cincinnati since 2006, their best mark against any NL team, according to STATS LLC.

Mets 4, Cubs 1

At Chicago, Nelson Figueroa, taking over injured Johan Santana's spot in the rotation, struck out a career-high 10 and had an RBI single for the Mets.

Figueroa (2-3) won his first start since April 27, 2008.

Angel Pagan had three hits against his former team as New York won for just the second time in nine games.

Diamondbacks 4, Astros 3

At Phoenix, reliever Chad Qualls dislocated his left kneecap when he was hit by Jason Michaels' line drive for the final out in Arizona's three-game sweep.

With a Houston runner on first, Qualls was struck before shortstop Stephen Drew picked up the ball and threw Michaels out to end the game.

Qualls landed awkwardly and stayed on the ground for several moments. Favoring his left leg, he was helped off the field by trainers.

Marlins 6, Padres 4

At Miami, John Baker and Cody Ross each drove in two runs and Florida beat San Diego to end a three-game losing streak.

Chris Coghlan's leadoff single started a five-run burst for the Marlins in the fourth inning. He has 46 hits in August, the most in any month by a National League rookie since Wally Moon had 52 for the St. Louis Cardinals in July 1954.

[Associated Press; By JANIE McCAULEY]

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