Halladay, Phillies rough up Marlins
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PHILADELPHIA — Roy Halladay threw seven sharp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies broke out of their offensive slump, beating the Marlins 7-1 on Wednesday night in Miami’s first game without suspended manager Ozzie Guillen.
A once-potent offense that’s missing Chase Utley and Ryan Howard struggled in the first four games, scoring eight runs total. But they rocked Marlins ace Josh Johnson, chasing the big right-hander in the fourth.
Carlos Ruiz hit a solo homer and a double. Jimmy Rollins, Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino — the Phillies’ 3-4-5 hitters — were 7 for 13 with three RBIs and four runs. Before the game, the focus was on Guillen. He was suspended five games by the Marlins on Tuesday for saying he admired Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Nationals 4, Mets 0
NEW YORK — Stephen Strasburg outpitched Johan Santana for six innings in a marquee matchup of aces on the mend, and the Washington Nationals’ bullpen made the lead stand up for a victory over New York on the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ first game.
Meeting in a blustery, chilly matinee, Strasburg (1-0) and Santana each got off to an erratic start but settled into a duel between pitchers coming back from major arm operations.
Strasburg allowed just two hits and struck out nine in helping the Nationals take the final two games of the three-game series against their division rival with stellar pitching — Ross Detwiler shut down the Mets on Tuesday night.
Santana (0-1) allowed five hits in five-plus innings but his wild pitch gave Washington a 1-0 lead in the second inning of a game that lasted 3 hours, 36 minutes even though the Mets had only three hits. New York pitchers combined to walk 10 and hit one batter.
Reds 4, Cardinals 3
CINCINNATI — Joey Votto tied a career best with four hits and scored the go-ahead run on pinch-hitter Chris Heisey’s ninth-inning single, capping Cincinnati’s comeback from a three-run deficit.
Down 3-0 in the third against Jaime Garcia, the Reds tied the score in the fifth.
Votto doubled off Marc Rzepczynski (0-1) leading off the ninth. Ryan Ludwick was intentionally walked, and Jay Bruce struck out. Fernando Salas relieved and Heisey lined a single to left.
Brewers 2, Cubs 1
CHICAGO — George Kottaras hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and Yovani Gallardo outdueled Ryan Dempster to lead Milwaukee to its third straight win in the four-game series.
Starlin Castro hit a sacrifice fly in the first and Dempster (0-1) had a three-hit shutout before Mat Gamel doubled leading off the seventh. Kottaras, Milwaukee’s backup catcher, followed with his second homer.
Padres 2, Diamondbacks 1
SAN DIEGO — Chris Denorfia hit a two-run homer with one out in the eighth inning Wednesday that carried the San Diego Padres a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had been the last unbeaten team in the major leagues.
Denorfia’s clutch shot to straightaway center field — his first of the season — came on a 2-1 pitch from David Hernandez (0-1). Cameron Maybin was aboard on a walk.
