SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2013 Brewers down Pirates PITTSBURGH: Yovani Gallardo pitched seven Cincinnati for the second NL wild-card slot. May. Tom Koehler (3-9) took the loss. sweep of Cleveland. sharp innings to beat Pittsburgh once again Gonzalez (8-6) pitched seven innings of McCann went deep in the third after and Aramis Ramirez homered against his for- three-hit ball in his first victory in six weeks. BRAVES 3, INDIANS 1 Justin Upton kept the inning going with a mer team as the Milwaukee Brewers downed Adeiny Hechavarria had two of Miami’s In Atlanta, Brian McCann hit a three-run two-out single. Upton had to leave the the Pirates 4-0 Thursday night. The Pirates fell four hits in its eighth loss in nine games - homer, Kris Medlen pitched seven scoreless game in the sixth after being struck on the one game behind NL Central-leading St. matching its worst nine-game stretch since innings and the Atlanta Braves completed a left hand by a pitch, but X-rays were nega- Louis. The Cardinals were idle, and start a tive. He is day to day. three-game series at Pittsburgh on Friday Medlen (11-12) capped a series of domi- night. nant pitching by the Braves, who surren- Making his Pirates’ debut, catcher John dered just three runs in three games. David Buck went 3 for 3 as he subbed behind the Carpenter gave up a pinch-hit homer to plate while starter Russell Martin got the Lonnie Chisenhall in the eighth, but Craig night off. Pittsburgh acquired Buck and out- Kimbrel worked a scoreless ninth for his 43rd fielder Marlon Byrd from the New York Mets save in 46 chances. Ubaldo Jimenez (9-9) on Tuesday. took the loss. Gallardo (10-9) allowed six hits and one walk while striking out five. He improved his METS 11, PHILLIES 3 career record against the Pirates to 11-4, In New York, Carlos Torres did his best including 5-2 at PNC Park. Matt Harvey imitation, carrying a two-hit Ramirez hit his ninth home run of an shutout into the seventh inning for the New injury-marred season. He broke into the York Mets in a victory over Philadelphia. major leagues with Pittsburgh in 1998, and Daniel Murphy had four hits, Eric Young Jr. hit his 350th career homer Tuesday in the got three and Anthony Recker added a two- series opener. Rookie Gerrit Cole (6-7) run homer on his 30th birthday. pitched a career-high 7 1-3 innings in his Torres (3-2) started in place of Harvey, the 14th start. He allowed four runs and 10 hits. All-Star ace diagnosed Monday with a partial- ly torn elbow ligament, and gave the Mets NATIONALS 9, MARLINS 0 everything they could have hoped for in In Washington, Jayson Werth and Ian helping them earn a four-game series split. Desmond each hit a three-run homer, leading Three days after making a brief relief Gio Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals appearance, Torres struck out six and over Miami. walked none in 6 2-3 innings. He yielded Bryce Harper also homered as the PITTSBURGH: Scooter Gennett No. 2 of the Milwaukee Brewers turns a double four hits. Phillies starter Ethan Martin (2-3) Nationals won for the eighth time in nine play in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game at PNC struck out a career-high nine, including five games. They pulled within 61/2 games of idle Park. —AFP in a row. —AP MLB results/standings Tigers get past Athletics Detroit 7, Oakland 6; Kansas City 3, Minnesota 1; NY Mets 11, Philadelphia 3; La Angels 2, Tampa Bay 0; Washington 9, Miami 0; DETROIT: Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer ANGELS 2, RAYS 0 rebounded to earn his 28th save, retiring Kelly Milwaukee 4, Pittsburgh 0; Baltimore 3, Boston 2; Atlanta 3, with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting Detroit In St. Petersburg, Jason Vargas allowed two Johnson on a foul pop and getting pitch hitter Cleveland 1; Seattle 3, Houston 2. over the Oakland Athletics 7-6 Thursday and hits over seven innings, helping the Angels win David DeJesus on a fly ball. American League boosting the Tigers after Max Scherzer was for the fifth time in six games. Eastern Division denied his 20th win and Miguel Cabrera limped Vargas (8-5) gave up a leadoff double to MARINERS 3, ASTROS 2 W L PCT GB off with an injury. Desmond Jennings in the first and Ben Zobrist’s In Houston, Franklin Gutierrez hit a two-run Boston 79 56 .585 - Detroit scored four times in the ninth off sixth-inning infield single. The left-hander struck homer after Nick Franklin gave Seattle an early Tampa Bay 75 57 .568 2.5 Grant Balfour (0-3). A two-out walk set up Victor out seven and walked three. lead with a solo shot, and the Mariners ended a Baltimore 71 61 .538 6.5 Martinez’s RBI single, and then Hunter connect- AL wild card-leading Tampa Bay has dropped six-game skid. NY Yankees 70 63 .526 8 ed as the Tigers avoided a four-game series four of five. Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi (0-1) Franklin put the Mariners on top with his one- Toronto 60 74 .448 18.5 sweep. Scherzer gave up six runs in five innings. gave up one run and four hits in five innings. out homer off Jordan Lyles (6-7) in the first inning. Central Division The no-decision left him with a 19-1 record. Rays rookie Wil Myers drew a leadoff walk Raul Ibanez singled to start the fourth inning. Detroit 78 56 .582 - Cabrera hurt his abdomen making an awk- from Ernesto Frieri in the ninth and went to third Gutierrez’s homer to left field with one out Cleveland 71 62 .534 6.5 ward slide while trying to stretch a single into a on Yunel Escobar’s one-out double. Frieri pushed Seattle’s lead to 3-0. Kansas City 69 64 .519 8.5 double in the fifth. He was listed as day to day Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez (5-1) tied a sea- Minnesota 57 75 .432 20 Chicago White Sox 56 76 .424 21 with discomfort, but insisted he would be back son high with seven strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings. He in the lineup Friday night when the AL Central- allowed two runs and five hits. Western Division leading Tigers begin a series against the sec- Danny Farquhar threw a scoreless ninth for his Texas 78 55 .586 - Oakland 75 58 .564 3 ond-place Cleveland Indians. 10th save. Brett Wallace homered for Houston. LA Angels 60 72 .455 17.5 Prince Fielder hit his 21st homer for Detroit, Lyles allowed three runs in six innings. Seattle 60 73 .451 18 and Joaquin Benoit (4-0) pitched the ninth for Houston 44 89 .331 34 the win. Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss each hit ROYALS 3, TWINS 1 National League a two-run homer for Oakland. In Minneapolis, Bruce Chen bounced back Eastern Division with a solid start and Kansas City completed a Atlanta 81 52 .609 - ORIOLES 3, RED SOX 2 sweep for their fifth straight win. Washington 68 65 .511 13 In Boston, Chris Tillman pitched seven The Royals outscored Minnesota 17-3 in Philadelphia 61 73 .455 20.5 strong innings to earn his 15th victory of the sweeping the three-game series. They finished NY Mets 60 72 .455 20.5 season and Baltimore avoided a three-game the season with a 15-4 record against their AL Miami 49 83 .371 31.5 sweep. Central rival. Central Division The Red Sox remained 21/2 games ahead of Chen (6-2) gave up one run and five hits in 5 St. Louis 78 55 .586 - Tampa Bay in the AL East, with Baltimore anoth- 2-3 innings. In his past two starts, he allowed 13 Pittsburgh 77 56 .579 1 er four games back. Manny Machado had two runs in nine innings. Kelvin Herrera and Will Smith Cincinnati 75 59 .560 3.5 hits for the Orioles, including a two-run double combined for 2 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. Milwaukee 59 74 .444 19 that gave them the lead for good in the third Greg Holland pitched a scoreless ninth for his Chicago Cubs 56 77 .421 22 inning. Danny Valencia had two doubles, and 36th save in 38 chances. Western Division Adam Jones also had a pair of hits for Baltimore. Brian Dozier homered for Minnesota, which LA Dodgers 78 55 .586 - Tillman (15-4) allowed two runs and six hits DETROIT: Torii Hunter No. 48 of has totaled just six runs during its five-game skid. Arizona 68 64 .515 9.5 while striking out eight. Jim Johnson pitched the the Detroit Tigers hits a three-run, Samuel Deduno (8-8) allowed three runs in three Colorado 63 72 .467 16 walk-off, home run in the ninth San Diego 60 73 .451 18 ninth for his AL-leading 41st save. Jon Lester (12- innings before leaving because of soreness in his San Francisco 59 74 .444 19 8) pitched six innings for Boston, allowing three inning to defeat the Oakland right shoulder. Alcides Escobar, Chris Getz and runs and five hits. Daniel Nava had three hits. Athletics. —AFP Alex Gordon hit RBI singles for the Royals. —AP.