Chicago shuts down Cleveland
Toolbox
The Associated Press - Published: June 30, 2009
CLEVELAND — Gavin Floyd shut out Cleveland on five singles over 7 2-3 innings and Chicago climbed back to .500 by handing the Indians a 6-3 loss, their 11th in 13 games.
Floyd (6-5), who started the season by losing four of his first six decisions, improved to 3-0 in June, 4-1 since May 22 and has a 1.39 ERA in his last eight starts.
Jermaine Dye and Gordon Beckham had RBI singles off Carl Pavano (6-7) as the White Sox (38-38) won for the 10th time in 14 games.
The last-place Indians have dropped three straight and only avoided their fifth shutout with a three-run ninth as Shin Soo-Choo homered off Matt Thornton and Garko hit a two-run, two-out shot off Octavio Dotel.
Devil Rays 4, Blue Jays 1
TORONTO — Carl Crawford and Pat Burrell homered and Tampa Bays ruined Roy Halladay's return with its sixth straight victory, 4-1 over Toronto on Monday night.
Halladay (10-2) came in having won his past seven decisions, the longest streak in the majors, but lost for the first time since April 21. The Blue Jays have lost three straight.
He was starting for the first time since June 12, when he left two pitches into the fourth inning against Florida with a sore groin that landed him on the disabled list. Halladay allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, walking two and striking out seven.
Angels 5, Rangers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales hit back-to-back home runs that put Los Angeles ahead and the AL West-leading Angels won their sixth straight game, 5-2 over the struggling Texas Rangers on Monday night.
The first five Angels hitters reached to start the sixth against Vicente Padilla (6-4). After Vladimir Guerrero's leadoff single, Rivera and Morales homered to put Los Angeles up 4-2. Chone Figgins drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.
Royals 4, Twins 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Miguel Olivo homered, tripled and drove in two runs, Luke Hochevar overcame some shaky moments in seven scoreless innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Monday night to end a five-game home losing streak.
One of baseball's worst-hitting teams, Kansas City missed a few early chances against Twins starter Nick Blackburn (6-4) before breaking open a tight game on consecutive homers by Alberto Callaspo and Olivo in the sixth inning. The Royals had 12 hits and survived a two-run homer by Justin Morneau in the eighth inning to avoid matching their longest home losing streak in nearly two years.
National League
Giants 10, Cardinals 0
ST. LOUIS — Tim Lincecum threw a two-hitter for his third complete game of the season, and Travis Ishikawa homered in San Francisco's 10-0 rout of St. Louis on Monday night.
Lincecum (8-2) tied teammate Matt Cain for the league lead in complete games and his 2.37 ERA is second in the NL after his third career shutout and fifth career complete game. He threw 95 pitches.
Brad Thompson (2-4) took the loss for the Cardinals, who have lost five of six while scoring three or fewer runs in all of the setbacks.
Lincecum retired the first 14 hitters in order before Rick Ankiel singled to center with two outs in the fifth.
Brewers 10, Mets 6
MILWAUKEE — Casey McGehee hit his first career grand slam and J.J. Hardy tied a career high with four hits, including a homer, for Milwaukee.
The Mets have lost four straight, falling under .500 (37-38) for the first time since May 5. Fernando Nieve (3-1) gave up 11 hits and three runs in 3 1-3 innings.
Braden Looper (6-4) allowed seven hits and two walks in 6 1-3 innings.
McGehee hit his grand slam against reliever Brian Stokes for a 7-2 lead. He has hit all five of his career homers in his last 13 games.
The Brewers tacked on three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 10-3 lead, but the Mets forced the Brewers to use closer Trevor Hoffman with one out in the ninth after five straight hits.
The all-time saves leader forced Brian Schneider to hit into a double play on his first pitch for his 18th save in 19 tries.
Cubs 3, Pirates 1
PITTSBURGH — Rich Harden repeatedly worked out of trouble to win for the first time in more than six weeks and Ryan Theriot homered for Chicago.
The Cubs were 1-6 on a 10-game trip and 14-24 overall on the road before winning their eighth in their last 10 in Pittsburgh. They have won 20 of their last 25 games there.
Harden (5-4) was 0-3 with a 5.64 ERA in four starts since last winning May 12. Pittsburgh stranded a combined five runners during the fifth and sixth innings, then Freddy Sanchez grounded into a double play with two on and one out in the seventh.
Harden gave up nine hits — eight singles — and walked a batter, but struck out nine. The Pirates were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position against the right-hander, who was 0-2 in three starts after a strained back put him on the disabled list.
Kevin Gregg pitched the ninth for his 13th save.
Pirates starter Zach Duke (8-6) couldn't extend his five-game home winning streak, giving up seven hits and three runs in seven innings.
Marlins 4, Nationals 2
MIAMI — Ricky Nolasco retired the final 13 batters he faced and Emilio Bonifacio drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth for Florida.
Hanley Ramirez had three hits and an RBI for Florida, which snapped a three-game slide and is 7-0 against Washington this season. Nolasco (5-6) won his third straight start, going eight innings and yielding four hits and two runs with eight strikeouts.
Ryan Zimmerman hit his 13th homer for Washington, which wasted a stellar effort from left-hander Scott Olsen in his return from the disabled list.
Pinch-hitter Wes Helms hit a leadoff double off Ron Villone (3-5) in the eighth. After a sacrifice, Bonifacio's fly ball to center scored pinch-runner Alejandro De Aza without a throw for a 3-2 lead.
Leo Nunez got the final out for his third save.
Making his first start since May 16 because of left shoulder tendinitis, Olsen allowed six hits and two runs in seven innings, striking out seven.
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