National League roundup

[June 02, 2009]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Petco Park doesn't normally surrender a lot of home runs, so it stood out when Philadelphia and San Diego both had back-to-back shots.

As it turned out, the consecutive homers allowed by Joe Blanton didn't hurt as much as the ones Kevin Correia gave up.

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard homered off Correia in the fifth inning and Philadelphia beat Adrian Gonzalez and the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Monday night for the Phillies' fourth straight win.

Gonzalez hit his major league-leading 21st homer in the sixth inning off Blanton, followed by Scott Hairston's shot that pulled the Padres to 4-3. The Phillies got an insurance run in the eighth when pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs doubled and scored on Shane Victorino's two-out bloop double.

"Solo home runs," Blanton said. "We still had the lead. Two outs, nobody on, I was just being aggressive. No need in making another bad pitch, especially after the second one. Make another one, you've got a tie game. I just went back to throwing it like I did earlier.

"I knew Gonzalez was hot and just attacked him and just overthrew it. Hot hitter. He got a ball over the plate up a little bit, and that's what happens."

Victorino and Utley had two RBIs apiece in the opener of a three-game series. Howard struck out four times.

San Diego surprised the defending World Series champions by taking two of three games at Philadelphia in mid-April. The fourth game was rained out and was rescheduled for July 23.

San Diego's 10-game home winning streak ended.

Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk against Scott Eyre in the ninth. After Hairston flied out, catcher Carlos Ruiz couldn't hold onto a pitch and Gonzalez broke for second. Ruiz grabbed the ball and threw to shortstop Jimmy Rollins as Gonzalez slid in. Rollins leaned into Gonzalez and appeared to push his leg off the bag as he made the tag, and Gonzalez was called out by umpire Paul Emmel. Padres manager Bud Black argued, to no avail.

"I clearly got in there," Gonzalez said. "I kept my balance, got my foot on the bag and Jimmy Rollins pushed me off and the umpire missed it."

Said Black: "You hate to see a play like that late in the game."

"He kind of just went past the bag," Rollins said. "My job is to apply a firm tag. At that point of the game it was a pretty big play."

Brian Giles popped up to Rollins to end it and Brad Lidge got his 13th save in 17 chances.

Blanton (4-3) won his third straight start, allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings.

Correia (1-4) allowed four runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Astros 5, Rockies 1

At Houston, Roy Oswalt had a season-high eight strikeouts, Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and the Astros snapped a four-game home losing skid.

Oswalt (2-2) improved to 7-1 in 10 career starts against Colorado, allowing six hits and two walks in seven innings.

Todd Helton hit a solo homer for the Rockies, who've lost five of seven and are 2-2 since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager.

Aaron Cook (3-3) lost his second straight start, giving up nine hits over six innings.

Marlins 7, Brewers 4

At Miami, Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida had RBI singles in a five-run sixth inning to help rally the Marlins.

Jorge Cantu added two RBIs for Florida.

Eleven Marlins batted in the sixth, with the first eight reaching base safely. Jorge Julio (1-1) faced six batters and allowed five runs, four earned. He walked one and hit two batters.

Cristhian Martinez (1-1) pitched 1 2-3 innings to earn his first major league win. Matt Lindstrom pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save in 12 opportunities.

Pirates 8, Mets 5

At Pittsburgh, Andy LaRoche had three RBIs and the Pirates rallied with five runs in the eighth inning.

Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson had three hits apiece as Pittsburgh won for only the second time in six games.

Wilson Valdez had two hits and a career-high three RBIs for the Mets, who fell to 22-2 when leading after seven innings. Jeremy Reed added two hits and scored two runs.

Reds 5, Cardinals 3

At St. Louis, Mike Lincoln combined with four relievers to allow one earned run in eight innings after Edinson Volquez left early in his first start since coming off the disabled list for the Reds.

Lincoln (1-0) gave up only Colby Rasmus' sixth homer in three innings of relief and Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 14th save and 28th straight dating to last July.

Volquez left complaining of numbness in the pinky and ring finger of his pitching hand after allowing a run on two hits.

Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 2

At Los Angeles, Billy Buckner threw six scoreless innings and rookie Josh Whitesell hit a two-run double for the Diamondbacks.

Buckner (2-1) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two. The right-hander, who began the season in the bullpen, has allowed six earned runs over 18 1-3 innings in three starts since being recalled May 22 from Triple-A Reno.

Tony Pena followed Clay Zavada and Juan Gutierrez out of the bullpen and gave up RBI singles in the ninth to Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre before posting his first save of the season. Closer Chad Qualls was unavailable because of stiffness in his right forearm.

[Associated Press; By BERNIE WILSON]

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