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Baseball roundup: Tuesday’s action on the diamonds
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

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Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto hits a two-run home run off Houston Astros reliever Tim Byrdak in the seventh inning. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Al Behrman)

Toronto native Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the seventh - an inning after Roy Oswalt failed to hold a lead against the team he’s beaten like no other - and Cincinnati rallied for a 6-4 victory Tuesday night that sent the Astros to their season-high sixth straight loss.

Votto was in the lineup after having no problems with his balance during pregame warmups. The first baseman has been bothered by an inner-ear infection for the last 10 days, causing dizzy spells that have repeatedly forced him to leave or skip games.

"Today’s really the first game I’ve felt pretty good," Votto said.

He struck out twice and grounded out in his three at-bats against Oswalt, then connected off Byrdak for his eighth homer - an opposite-field drive to left off a fastball that was low and away.

"I just got a good swing on the ball," said Votto, who has eight homers. "It was a pitch I normally wouldn’t swing at."

Houston’s Roy Oswalt has dominated Cincinnati since 2001, when he beat the Reds as a rookie for his first big league victory. He’s 23-1 in his career against the Reds, who have never scored more than four earned runs off him in a game. This season, he has lost his touch.

In three starts against the Reds, Oswalt has failed to get even one win. This one slipped off the middle and index fingers of his right hand.

Oswalt knocked down a comebacker in the fifth inning, the ball deflecting off those two fingers. When he came back to pitch the sixth with a 4-3 lead, he had trouble feeling the ball.

"I came back out there and couldn’t really squeeze the ball well," Oswalt said.

He got two outs with one runner aboard, then walked a batter and hit another to load the bases. Then, he walked pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes on four pitches to force in the tying run.

"I couldn’t really throw it where I wanted to," Oswalt said.

The way the Reds have fared against him historically, they knew they were going to need some help. They were surprised that Oswalt gave it to them.

"He was good tonight, but he wasn’t as good as he usually is," manager Dusty Baker said. "We got to him."

Elsewhere in the NL, it was: Mets 6, Nationals 1; Phillies 5, Marlins 3; Cubs 6, Pirates 1 (5 ings); Cardinals 8, Brewers 1; Diamondbacks 6, Padres 5; Giants 4, Braves 0; and Dodgers 7, Rockies 1.

At Cincinnati, Votto’s homer off Tim Byrdak (0-1) snapped a 4-all tie and sent the Reds to their third straight win, which matches their season high.

Nick Masset (2-0), who was activated off the disabled list before the game, got the victory with one inning in relief. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 13th save in as many chances.

Mets 6, Nationals 1

At New York, Livan Hernandez shut down Ryan Zimmerman and the Nationals, pitching the Mets’ first complete game of the season in a win over Washington.

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Phillies 5, Marlins 3

At Philadelphia, Joe Blanton had a career-high 11 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings, and the Phillies held on to beat the Marlins.

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Cubs 6, Pirates 1 (5 ings)

At Chicago, Sean Marshall allowed four hits and singled in a run, Kosuke Fukudome homered and the Cubs beat the Pirates to snap an eight-game losing streak on a rain-shortened night.

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Cardinals 8, Brewers 1

At Milwaukee, Adam Wainwright hit one of four Cardinals homers and struck out a career-high nine in seven innings, lifting St. Louis to a win over the Brewers.

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Diamondbacks 6, Padres 5

At Pheonix, Max Scherzer struck out 10 and drove in two runs, Chris Young made a leaping catch at the fence for the final out and the Arizona Diamondbacks held off San Diego to snap the Padres’ 10-game winning streak.

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Giants 4, Braves 0

At San Francisco, Tim Lincecum pitched eight sharp innings to win for the first time in four starts, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves.

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Dodgers 7, Rockies 1

At Denver, Eric Milton allowed one run in five innings for his first win in nearly three years and Casey Blake hit a three-run double in the fifth, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Colorado Rockies.

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For the Toronto Blue Jays, eight is enough.

Backed by three home runs, Baltimore’s Jason Berken got his big league career off to a memorable start by helping the Orioles defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 Tuesday night.

The Jays have now lost eight straight - their longest skid since a nine-game run in May 2007. With three losses in Boston, three more in Atlanta and two in Baltimore, Toronto is mired in its longest road losing streak since an eight-game slide in 2002.

Marco Scutaro had three hits to lead Toronto.

"We’re just in a rut right now," Blue Jays designated hitter Kevin Millar said. "You just got to go out there and keep having good thoughts and eventually it’s going to turn around. It definitely hasn’t been fun, but you got to dig deep."

Toronto went 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.

"It’s pretty much been the same thing the last eight days," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "We just can’t get hits with guys on base."

Summoned from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Adam Eaton in the rotation, Berken (1-0) gave up two runs, seven hits and three walks in five innings.

"It was great. It’s obviously been a dream of mine since I was a kid," he said. "To come out here and get a win, I couldn’t ask for anything better."

Only 10,130 fans showed up on a miserable night in which temperatures dipped into the low 10s C and a steady mist swirled through the stadium from the outset. Those in attendance included Berken’s parents, grandparents, his wife, a few uncles and aunts and several friends.

"It was a special night to share with everybody," he said.

Berken retired the side in order only once, but stranded five runners in scoring position.

"The most important thing was his poise," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "We’ve had guys before come up and they’ve had just as good of stuff. But there’s more to it than just having stuff and having tools. It’s the ability to focus, the ability to not get out of control, stay in your lane, looking like you fit."

Elsewhere in the AL, it was: Royals 6 Tigers 1; Indians 5 Rays 1; Twins 5 Red Sox 2; Athletics 4, Mariners 3; White Sox 4 Angels 2; and Rangers 7 Yankees 3.

At Baltimore, the Orioles trailed 2-0 before Aubrey Huff hit a solo shot in the second inning, Adam Jones added a two-run drive in the fifth and rookie Nolan Reimold homered with one on in the sixth. All three homers came off Ricky Romero (2-1), who was handed his first big league loss.

"I just left fastballs up and they made me pay for it," Romero said. "It’s disappointing, you know? You try to get a win for the team and you come up short."

After Berken left, Matt Albers pitched two innings and Jim Johnson got six outs for his first save.

The first batter Berken faced was Scutaro, who doubled to centre. After Aaron Hill lined out to first, Adam Lind hit an RBI double.

In the second inning, a walk and singles by Lyle Overbay and Rod Barajas made it 2-0. Berken avoided further damage by striking out Joe Inglett and getting Scutaro to hit into a double play.

Down 2-1 in the fifth, Toronto loaded the bases with two outs before Berken finished on a high note by getting Scott Rolen to hit a routine fly to center.

Jones hit his 11th home run in the bottom half after Brian Roberts drew a two-out walk. In the sixth, Ty Wigginton led off with a double and Reimold connected for the third time in 12 games since being recalled from Norfolk.

Roberts doubled in two runs off Scott Downs in the eighth.

Royals 6 Tigers 1

At Kansas City, Zack Greinke struck out eight while pitching his fifth complete game and Mitch Maier drove in three runs after coming off the bench, leading the Royals past Detroit.

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Indians 5 Rays 1

At Cleveland, Carl Pavano won for the fifth time in six starts and Ryan Garko hit one of four homers for the Indians in a win over Tampa Bay.

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Twins 5 Red Sox 2

At Minneapolis, Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C., hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run fifth inning for Minnesota against Boston starter Jon Lester, and Minnesota beat Boston.

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Athletics 4 Mariners 3

At Oakland, Calif., Jason Giambi’s two-run single capped a four-run rally in the seventh inning, and the Athletics rallied past the Seattle Mariners.

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White Sox 4 Angels 2

At Anaheim, Calif., Jayson Nix homered twice, Bartolo Colon pitched effectively into the seventh inning against his former team and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels.

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Rangers 7 Yankees 3

At Arlington, Texas, Chris Davis homered twice and Jarrod Saltalamacchia made up for a rough game behind the plate by driving in the go-ahead run, lifting the Texas Rangers over the New York Yankees.

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