Detroit center fielder Curtis Granderson goes up the wall to take a two-run homer away from Cleveland's Grady Sizemore in the ninth inning Friday. The Tigers won 1-0.
PHILADELPHIA – Cole Hamels left the mound on his terms.
Hamels pitched six impressive innings to earn his first win since the World Series, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 10-6 on Friday night.
Jayson Werth, Chris Coste and Chase Utley homered for the National League East leaders, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Making his first start since spraining his left ankle on April 28, Hamels (1-2) allowed two runs, three hits and struck out seven. Hamels was MVP of the National League Championship Series and World Series last year, but struggled the first month mostly because of a series of freak injuries.
“I’m glad nothing came down and hit me,” he said. “It was almost abnormal, being out there in the sixth inning.”
Atlanta’s Casey Kotchman hit a three-run homer off Brad Lidge in the ninth, and Omar Infante also homered.
Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes (0-2) lost his ninth straight, allowing eight runs – four earned – and five hits in five innings.
Other NL games
Mets 7, Pirates 3: At New York, Carlos Delgado hit a three-run homer in a five-run eighth inning and finished with five RBIs, helping the surging Mets to their fifth straight win.
Astros 2, Padres 0: At Houston, Wandy Rodriguez threw eight sharp innings and Hunter Pence’s two-run single in the fifth inning lifted the Astros over the Padres.
Reds 6, Cardinals 4: At Cincinnati, Johnny Cueto extended his scoreless-inning streak to 15 before giving up his only run, and the Reds won their second in a row with a depleted lineup.
Brewers 3, Cubs 2: At Milwaukee, Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the eighth and the Brewers rallied.
Marlins 8, Rockies 3: At Denver, Ricky Nolasco settled down after a shaky beginning to earn the first win by a Florida starter in more than three weeks.
Giants 3, Dodgers 1: At Los Angeles, Barry Zito outpitched Chad Billingsley to record his first win of the season on his sixth attempt. The Dodgers have lost both games they’ve played since slugging left fielder Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for using a banned drug.
AL: Verlander outduels Lee
CLEVELAND – Justin Verlander struck out 11 and outpitched reigning Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee for the second time in a week, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 1-0 Friday.
Curtis Granderson made a leaping catch at the wall with a runner on first in the ninth to preserve the win for the Tigers.
Verlander pitched a two-hitter for the third shutout and fourth complete game of his career to improve to 2-7 at Progressive Field and 6-10 overall against the Indians.
Other AL games
Rangers 6, White Sox 0: At Chicago, Matt Harrison threw a four-hitter in his second career shutout for Texas.
Twins 11, Mariners 0: At Minneapolis, Scott Baker pitched seven shutout innings for his long-awaited first victory of the season, and the light-hitting Twins broke the game open with three homers in the fifth inning.
Red Sox 7, Rays 3: At Boston, Jason Bay and J.D. Drew homered in Boston’s second straight big sixth inning and the Red Sox won.
Angels 4, Royals 1: At Anaheim, Calif., Howie Kendrick’s two-run, inside-the-park homer in the sixth inning helped Los Angeles win.
Athletics 5, Blue Jays 3: At Oakland, Calif., Ryan Sweeney hit a two-run homer and four Oakland relievers combined to wrap up the win.