Braves hand Giants' Lincecum 1st loss in 5 weeks

[July 23, 2009]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Even the Giants' stopper couldn't stop the Atlanta Braves -- or San Francisco's slide.

Jair Jurrjens gave up three hits in 7 2-3 innings, Yunel Escobar hit a three-run homer and surging Atlanta handed Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum his first loss in five weeks with a 4-2 win over the Giants on Wednesday night.

The Giants are 1-5 on their 10-game trip, including three straight losses to the Braves. Overall, they have lost six of seven.

Lincecum fell to 5-3 following Giants losses this season. He was 13-3 after his team's losses last season. He lost for the first time since June 17 and for the first time in six career starts against the Braves.

Lincecum (10-3) knows he is expected to end losing streaks.

"My expectations for myself are higher than the expectations anybody else might have for me," he said after giving up four runs on seven hits in five innings.

Jurrjens (9-7) earned his third straight win and set a season high with nine strikeouts while allowing one run.

Jurrjens lowered his ERA to 2.67, not far behind Lincecum's 2.45 among the NL leaders. The Braves scored only five runs for Jurrjens during his four-game losing streak in June.

"We have probably not done right by J.J. all year long, so it's always very gratifying when he's throwing that good to give him a little breathing room," Escobar said through his interpreter, Braves coach Chino Cadahia.

Escobar has three homers and 12 RBIs in seven games since the All-Star break.

Jurrjens gave up a second-inning single to Bengie Molina and didn't allow another hit until Molina's two-out single in the seventh. Jurrjens left with two outs in the eighth after giving up Juan Uribe's double and a walk to pinch-hitter Andres Torres.

The Braves are 6-1 since the All-Star break and have won 10 of their last 13 games overall.

"It's a nice start for us and we gained ground tonight and that's what we have to do," manager Bobby Cox said, referring to first-place Philadelphia's 10-5 loss to Chicago. "Gain a game here and there, see what happens."

Dodgers 6, Reds 2

At Los Angeles, Manny Ramirez hit a tie-breaking pinch-hit grand slam on his bobblehead night and the Dodgers won their 12th straight at home against the Reds.

Ramirez was kept out of the starting lineup for precautionary reasons with a sore left hand after being hit by a pitch a night earlier.

It was the 21st career grand slam for Ramirez, who now trails Lou Gehrig's all-time slams record by two. It was his 11th homer of the season and his first career pinch-hit homer.

Astros 4, Cardinals 3

At Houston, Miguel Tejada singled in the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Astros a three-game sweep.

The win pulled the Astros within a game of the NL Central-leading Cardinals after trailing by six games a month ago.

Jose Valverde (1-2) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

Cubs 10, Phillies 5

At Philadelphia, Aramis Ramirez and Jeff Baker had two-run doubles and Chicago ended the Phillies' 10-game win streak.

Carlos Zambrano (7-4) won his third straight start for the Cubs, who avoided their first three-game sweep in Philadelphia since 1999.

The NL East-leading Phillies lost for only the second time in 16 games and fell to .500 at home (24-24), failing to extend their longest winning streak in 18 years.

Marlins 5, Padres 0

At San Diego, Ricky Nolasco struck out 10 and combined with three relievers on a three-hitter, leading Florida to a three-game sweep.

Chris Coghlan hit a two-run homer off Heath Bell in the ninth and Jeremy Hermida connected leading off the second against Josh Geer. It was the major league-leading 24th home run allowed by Geer (1-6), who has allowed a homer in eight straight starts.

The Padres are 12-33 since June 1, the worst record in the majors over that stretch.

Nolasco (7-7) allowed two hits in 6 1-3 innings and walked three.

Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 3

At Denver, Todd Helton hit a go-ahead homer off Scott Schoeneweis (1-2) in the eighth inning and drove in a run with his 500th career double.

Carlos Gonzalez had two doubles and scored twice as the Rockies took two of three against the Diamondbacks.

Juan Rincon (2-1) pitched a perfect eighth and Huston Street closed out the ninth for his 24th save in 25 chances.

Pirates 8, Brewers 7

At Pittsburgh, Brandon Moss homered leading off the ninth inning and the Pirates won a series against Milwaukee for the first time in nearly two years.

The Pirates had lost 17 games in a row to Milwaukee and their previous seven series against the Brewers before taking two of three, including an 8-5 win Monday that ended the longest losing streak by one major league team against another in 39 years.

Nationals 3, Mets 1

At Washington, Craig Stammen pitched into the eighth inning and Josh Willingham hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the Nationals' second straight win.

Washington lost its first five games under interim manager Jim Riggleman before beating the Mets 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Stammen (3-5) allowed one run and four hits over 7 1-3 innings.

[Associated Press; By CHARLES ODUM]

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