National League roundup

[September 04, 2009]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Pedro Martinez relished the playoff atmosphere and brought his best stuff.

Martinez tossed seven impressive innings to outpitch Tim Lincecum, Ryan Howard doubled in the tiebreaking run and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Thursday night.

Martinez (3-0) struck out a season-high nine in his fifth start since signing with the Phillies during the All-Star break, allowing one run and five hits. He didn't walk a batter and threw just 87 pitches in his longest outing since last Aug. 21 with the New York Mets.

"I have a great sense of satisfaction to show I'm able to still do it even I'm not 100 percent there yet," Martinez said. "I wanted this kind of game. I want to help this team win not just now, but in the future."

Jayson Werth homered for the NL East-leading Phillies, who are 16-6 since getting swept by Florida at home last month.

Eugenio Velez hit a leadoff homer for the Giants, who remained one game behind Colorado in the NL wild-card race.

The 37-year-old Martinez, plagued by injuries and inconsistency during his last three seasons with the Mets, looked like the guy who won three Cy Young Awards and was one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation.

Martinez had plenty of pop on his fastball, often reaching the low 90s on the radar gun, and mixed in an effective changeup.

"That was vintage Pedro," said closer Brad Lidge, who pitched out of a jam in the ninth for his 28th save in 37 chances.

Lincecum (13-5) was the tough-luck loser for the Giants, who've scored the second-fewest runs in the NL. Lincecum struck out 11 in seven innings, allowing two runs and four hits. It was the seventh time this season the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner gave up two earned runs or less and didn't get a win.

"He reminds me a little bit of me, but he's twice as good as me at this time of my career," Martinez said of Lincecum. "It took me seven years to win a Cy Young."

Lincecum was equally impressed.

"It's ridiculous how nasty his stuff still is," he said. "When you watch him, it's obvious he knows what he's doing out there."

Mets 8, Rockies 3

At Denver, David Wright drove in three runs and Pat Misch pitched seven solid innings to earn his first major league win.

Wright went 3 for 4 in his second start since coming off the 15-day disabled list after being sidelined with a concussion courtesy of a Matt Cain fastball on Aug. 15.

Wright's two-run double highlighted a four-run fifth inning off Jason Marquis (14-10).

Misch (1-1) lost a shutout when Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart homered in the seventh.

Brewers 4, Cardinals 3

At St. Louis, Casey McGehee hit a two-run homer off John Smoltz after the Cardinals failed to turn a double play, and the Brewers avoided a three-game sweep.

Manny Parra (10-10) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings for Milwaukee, which has won four of six. Trevor Hoffman closed for his 30th save, striking out Albert Pujols with a runner on to end the game.

Smoltz (1-1), making his third start for the Cardinals, allowed four runs and six hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked none.

Marlins 8, Braves 3

At Miami, Hanley Ramirez hit a tying, pinch-hit single and scored the go-ahead run in his first game since teammate Dan Uggla publicly challenged his effort.

Ramirez's single in the sixth off Kris Medlen (3-5) made it 3-all. The NL batting leader easily made it to second on the play when right fielder Matt Diaz let the ball skip by him for an error, then scored on Cody Ross' double to highlight a six-run inning.

The Marlins salvaged a split in the four-game series.

Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 2

At Los Angeles, Jon Garland, facing the team that traded him to the Dodgers just three days earlier, retired his last 14 batters and Manny Ramirez homered to lift the NL West leaders.

Garland (9-11) gave up two runs and five hits over seven innings, including a solo homer by Stephen Drew. He struck out six and walked one. The right-hander, coming off back-to-back wins against Houston -- including a seven-inning scoreless stint last Saturday -- has won three consecutive starts after going 1-9 with a 4.50 ERA over his previous 16 outings.

Billy Buckner (2-6) gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings and struck out four in his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Reno on Monday.

Interleague

White Sox 5, Cubs 0

At Chicago, Carlos Torres threw seven crisp innings, Dewayne Wise made a great throw to cut down a runner at the plate and the White Sox won a makeup game between the city rivals.

Torres (1-0) earned his first major league win in his third career start. He allowed five hits, walked none and struck out six.

Wise, whose highlight-reel catch preserved Mark Buehrle's perfect game back in July, made a strong throw from right field to nail Jake Fox at the plate and preserve a 1-0 lead in the seventh. Fox was trying to score from second on Jeff Baker's single.

Ryan Dempster (8-8) gave up three unearned runs and nine hits in seven-plus innings for the Cubs.

[Associated Press; By ROB MAADDI]

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