Oliver Perez took some heat off manager Willie Randolph, pitching seven innings and hitting a two-run single in the Mets’ 7-1 win over the Rangers. Perez gave up just one run on three hits and struck out eight.
Armando Galarraga improved to 6-2 by pitching seven innings of three-hit ball as the Tigers shut out the Dodgers 5-0. He walked one and struck out five as Detroit won its fourth straight game.
Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell hit consecutive homers in the first, setting the table for the Phillies against the Cardinals. It was the seventh time the Phillies have accomplished the feat.
THREE DOWN
The Cardinals’ Todd Wellemeyer and Ron Villone endured a fourth-inning whipping as the Phillies sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring nine runs. The duo combined to throw 69 pitches in the inning.
Bill Hall, playing second base, committed two errors, including a fielding miscue that opened the door for the Twins’ five-run seventh in the Brewers’ 10-2 loss. At the plate, he was 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
In a game that did not evoke positive memories of their 1979 World Series victory, the Pirates blew a 6-1 lead to the Orioles in a 9-6 loss at Baltimore. Franquelis Osoria surrendered the lead in the sixth.
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EDITED BY MIKE PANKOW AND DANIEL ELLMAN
