Pat Burrell’s once-dependable batting stroke is coming alive. The Phillies’ slumping left fielder, who has found himself mostly on the bench lately with his .217 average, went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in a 10-4 win over St. Louis. He’s 10 for his last 19 with three homers and 10 RBIs.
Derek Lowe held Barry Bonds hitless in three at-bats as the Giants slugger fell to 0-for-11 in his career against the Dodgers right-hander. The only other pitcher Bonds has faced without getting a hit in at least that many at-bats is ex-Pirate Chris Peters (0-for-11 from ’96-99).
Tom Glavine earned his 298th win with a superb effort, giving up two hits with five strikeouts and no walks in eight innings to beat the Reds 2-1. He’s now 27-12 against Cincinnati. The Mets left-hander is closing in on becoming the 22nd major-league pitcher to win 300.
THREE DOWN
Chalk this one up to tough luck. Colorado’s Rodrigo Lopez had a no-hitter until Corey Hart’s two-out homer in the sixth tied the game 1-1. The ball barely cleared left fielder Ryan Spilborghs’ glove and was the only hit Lopez allowed through seven. The Brewers won 2-1 in 10.
The Athletics suffered their season-high sixth straight loss — 4-3 to the Twins — and fell a season-worst three games under .500. For the first time since Sept. 10-17, 1978, the A’s have scored three runs or fewer in nine straight games. Oakland is hitting just .155 during its slide.
At least C.C. Sabathia managed to fit in a scoreless inning at the All-Star Game between back-to-back subpar outings — both losses. The Royals jumped on the Indians left-hander for a 5-0 lead after three innings in their 6-5 win. He’s given up 13 earned runs in his last 11 innings.
