The Braves’ Willie Harris made a leaping catch at the left-field wall to rob the Mets’ Carlos Delgado of a game-tying homer in the ninth inning to preserve a 7-6 win. The Ex-White Sox reserve, in the midst of a career year, is batting .308, primarily from the leadoff spot.
The Dodgers pulled out of their dive as Rafael Furcal hit an 11th-inning home run to lead Los Angeles to a 5-4 win over the Reds. Furcal’s fifth homer of the season came off Victor Santos. The Dodgers had been shut out in their last three games and had lost six straight.
Joel Pineiro delivered a solid outing for the Cardinals, who have lacked quality starting pitching for most of the season. On the same night former pitcher Rick Ankiel returned as an outfielder, Pineiro allowed just four hits in seven innings in a 5-0 win over the Padres.
THREE DOWN
The Tigers continued to play like meek kittens as they fell 8-1 to the Devil Rays, losing for the sixth time in eight games. The defending AL champions are 11-17 since the All-Star break. “We’re playing like it doesn’t mean enough to us,” manager Jim Leyland said.
Even when they’re not playing, the Brewers are losing. Veteran infielder Tony Graffanino was declared out for the year with a torn ligament in his right knee. Graffanino came down awkwardly after leaping to catch a liner in the first inning of Wednesday’s 19-4 loss at Colorado.
Michael Cuddyer was the poster boy for the Twins’ inept offense against Royals starter Kyle Davies. Cuddyer struck out a season-high four times, including three times against Davies, as the Twins mustered just four hits in a 1-0 loss.
———-
Compiled by Mike Pankow
