Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe lost a perfect game in the seventh inning and a shutout in the eighth, but he earned a win in a 2-1 triumph over Atlanta.
LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers aren’t scoring much. It hasn’t really mattered.
Derek Lowe became the latest Los Angeles starter to turn in a dominating performance, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.
“It’s hard to have the kind of pitching we’ve had on such a consistent basis,” Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said. “That’s something you can look back and say, ‘Yeah, I remember that.’ ”
Helping the Dodgers pull back into a tie with Arizona atop the NL West, Lowe retired the first 18 batters before Gregor Blanco led off the seventh with a clean single to center. Jonathan Broxton replaced Lowe after Jeff Francoeur homered in the eighth. Lowe (7-8) gave up one run, walked two and struck out four in 7 2/3 innings.
Phillies 4, Cardinals 2: In Philadelphia, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz hit solo homers in the eighth inning and Philadelphia ended a four-game losing streak. For Howard, it was his 25th homer.
Mets 5, Giants 0: In New York, Johan Santana tossed five effective innings before his night was cut short by a rain delay, but New York won its fifth straight. Ramon Castro had a three-run homer, and Carlos Delgado had three hits.
Cubs 5, Reds 1: In Chicago, Carlos Zambrano allowed one hit over eight innings ≠- a second-inning homer by Adam Dunn – and retired the final 20 batters for Chicago in his second start since coming off the disabled list with a right shoulder strain.
Rockies 8, Brewers 3: In Milwaukee, Garrett Atkins hit two homers for Colorado and Glendon Rusch won as a starter for the first time in two years.
Marlins 5, Padres 2: In San Diego, Scott Olsen allowed four hits over eight innings, and Mike Jacobs and Hanley Ramirez homered for Florida.
Astros 6, Pirates 4: In Pittsburgh, Geoff Blum hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Houston avoided a three-game sweep.
AL: Cabrera clout caps rally by Tigers
DETROIT – Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and Detroit rallied from an early six-run deficit to beat Cleveland 8-6, the Indians’ 10th straight loss. The Tigers, who trailed 6-0 in the sixth, won when Cabrera connected with one out for his third homer in two games.
Yankees 2, Rays 1 (10 innings): In New York, Bobby Abreu hit a game-winning double off Grant Balfour in the 10th inning for New York. Derek Jeter scored twice and Jason Giambi singled in a run for the Yankees, who gave out 20,000 replica mustaches to fans to support the slugger’s All-Star candidacy.
Red Sox 18, Twins 5: In Boston, Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run double as Boston followed an overturned triple-play call with seven runs in the seventh inning to beat Minnesota and complete a three-game sweep.
Blue Jays 9, Orioles 8: In Toronto, Alex Rios and David Eckstein both drove in two runs and A.J. Burnett won for the third time in four starts for Toronto, which had a seven-run fourth inning.
White Sox 7, Royals 6: In Kansas City, Mo., Carlos Quentin hit a pair of two-run homers and Chicago rallied from a five-run deficit, scoring the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning balk.
Rangers 5, Angels 4: In Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton of the Rangers hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off major league saves leader Francisco Rodriguez for Texas. It was Hamilton’s 20th homer, and his first since June 17.
Mariners 6, Athletics 4: In Oakland, Calif., Jose Lopez hit a three-run double and Adrian Beltre had three hits and drove in two runs as Seattle ended a three-game losing streak.