Odalis Perez gave up one run and three hits in 7 1/3 innings as the Nationals snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Reds. The outing was the longest for Perez since August 2005.
Ubaldo Jimenez allowed two hits in seven shutout innings to win his fourth straight start as the Rockies beat the Marlins 5-2. The righty struck out 10 and increased his shutout streak to 13 innings.
Mark Loretta hit a pinch grand slam in the eighth inning to lift the Astros to a 7-3 win over the Mets for their fifth win in the last seven games. It was Loretta’s fourth career grand slam.
THREE DOWN
Yankees manager Joe Girardi may want to use Mariano Rivera only in save situations. Rivera allowed a run for the third straight game — and it was very costly in a 1-0 loss to the Angels.
For the second straight start against the Twins, the Indians’ Jeremy Sowers flirted with a perfect game. Sowers not only didn’t get his perfect game — giving up a hit in the sixth — he lost the game 4-1.
Jays closer B.J. Ryan got just one out and gave up three runs and the game in a 9-8 loss to the Rangers. Ryan walked two and gave up three hits for his third blown save and dropped his record to 2-4.
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EDITED BY BOB FOLTMAN AND MIKE PANKOW
