Rockies Get Pummeled…Again – MLB Roundup For Aug. 2nd

UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have cut into Pittsburgh's lead in the NL Central by avoiding their first sweep of at least five games since 1916.

Allen Craig, Jon Jay and Tony Cruz drove in two runs apiece as the Cardinals ripped the Bucs 13-0. Jay also scored three times, while Cruz collected three of the Redbirds' 17 hits.

Joe Kelly limited the Pirates to three hits in six innings and left the game with a 5-0 lead. The Cardinals later strung together an eight-run seventh to put the game out of reach.

The outcome leaves the Pirates with a 1 ½-game lead over the Cards in the NL Central. St. Louis entered the series with a 2 ½-game lead.

Boston staged a terrific ninth-inning rally to keep sole possession of first place in the American League East. Daniel Nava (NAH'-vah) hit a RBI single to cap a six-run ninth that allowed the Red Sox to turn a 7-2 deficit into an 8-7 win over Seattle. Shane Victorino also singled home a run in the ninth and finished with three RBIs to help the Red Sox earn their third straight win.

Steven Wright tossed three shutout innings of relief as the Red Sox moved a game ahead of Tampa Bay and stayed 5 ½ games ahead of Baltimore.

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 to stretch their lead in the NL West to 3 ½ games over Arizona. Yasiel Puig (YAH'-see-ul pweeg) hit a long homer and scored twice to help the Dodgers overcome first-inning homers by Junior Lake and Anthony Rizzo. Hanley Ramirez and Jerry Hairston each drove in two runs as the Dodgers improved to 11-2 since the All-Star break.

Also in the majors, The Cleveland Indians made it eight straight wins by completing a four-game sweep of the White Sox, 6-1. Ryan Raburn homered twice and had four RBIs to support Justin Masterson, who's 13-7 after limiting Chicago to a run over 6 2/3 innings. The Indians trail the Tigers by two games and are a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the final American League wild-card berth.

The Orioles kept pace with Cleveland and pulled within 4 ½ games of AL East-leading Boston by doubling up Houston 6-3. Bud Norris limited the Astros to four hits and two runs in six innings just a day after the Birds got him from Houston. Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 39th homer to reach the 100-RBI mark for the season.

The Royals remain 4 ½ games behind Cleveland following their ninth consecutive win, a 7-2 decision over Minnesota. Billy Butler had two hits and two RBIs, while Justin Maxwell had a hit and a ribbie one day after being acquired from Houston.

Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer and J.B Shuck had three RBIs as the Angels disposed of Toronto 8-2. Losing pitcher Josh Johnson was tagged for six earned runs and 10 hits in just 2 1/3 innings, leaving him 1-8 with a 6.60 ERA.

Justin Upton homered twice and had five RBIs in Atlanta's eighth straight win, an 11-2 pounding of Colorado. Jason Heyward added a two-run blast and scored three times to back Julio Teheran, who struck out 11 in five innings and went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

Yu Darvish needed just seven innings to strike out 14 batters in the Rangers' 7-1 win over Arizona. A.J. Pierzynski (peer-ZIHN'-skee), Mitch Moreland and David Murphy homered to support Darvish, who's 10-5 following his major league-leading eighth double-digit strikeout game of the year.

Alex Arias and pinch-hitter Roger Kieschnick (KEESH'-nihk) hit RBI singles in the ninth inning to lift San Francisco over Philadelphia 2-1, the Phillies' 10th loss in 11 games. Sergio Romo escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to save it for Matt Cain, who allowed a run and six hits in eight innings.

Miami scored three times off Matt Harvey with two out in the sixth inning of a 3-0 shutout of the New York Mets. Logan Morrison opened the scoring with an RBI single before Donovan Solano added a two-run single later in the sixth. Tom Kohler scattered five hits and five walks in six innings before the Marlins' bullpen finished a combined six-hitter.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Alex Rodriguez played in a simulated game, probably the last step before the New York Yankees send him on a second minor league injury rehabilitation assignment — if he's not suspended first.

The Yankees shortstop is trying to get back in the line-up after suffering a quad injury on July 21.

Rodriguez could be in position to return to the major leagues this weekend at San Diego or during a series at the Chicago White Sox that starts Monday. But it appears Major League Baseball will suspend the three-time MVP in coming days for ties to Biogenesis of America, a closed Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.

Looming playoffs could force an end to negotiations in baseball's latest drug scandal as pressure builds to impose penalties so stars can still make the postseason.

Monday appears to be the deadline for Alex Rodriguez and 13 others to accept suspensions for their ties to the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic. While A-Rod is expected to get a lengthy ban, a penalty starting that day would allow Texas All-Star outfielder Nelson Cruz to return for October.

A person familiar with the process tells The Associated Press that Major League Baseball is prepared to issue two simultaneous announcements no later than Monday. One would list players who accept suspensions; the other would name those disciplined without deals, but who could challenge penalties before an arbitrator.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Closer Brad Lidge has retired as a member of the Phillies, five years after helping them win the World Series.

He spent four years with Philadelphia from 2008-11, saving 100 games in that span. He was 41 for 41 in the regular season and 7 for 7 in the postseason when the Phillies won the second World Series title in franchise history.

Lidge last pitched in the majors for Washington last June.

UNDATED (AP) — Texas Rangers designated hitter Lance Berkman says he's going to keep on playing and will do everything to help his team make the playoffs. The 37-year-old Berkman is on the disabled list with left hip inflammation and having issues with his surgically repaired right knee. He had been pondering his playing future for several days, and midseason retirement had been a distinct possibility.

Meanwhile, Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (POO'-hohlz) says he wants to return from his partially torn plantar fascia when he is healthy, no matter where his struggling club sits in the standings.

Pujols said Thursday his injured left foot is feeling much better after a few days of rest, and he won't need surgery.

And the Arizona Diamondbacks have put catcher Miguel Montero on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain. He had missed three games before landing on the DL.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has signed a new contract and been given the title of President of Baseball Operations.

Rizzo was hired by the Nationals as an assistant GM in 2006, and was promoted to general manager in 2009. The team won last year's National League East title but was bounced in the division series and currently languishes third in the division at 52-56.

BALTIMORE (AP) — The family of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. is offering a $100,000 reward to help find the person who kidnapped the former Orioles star's mother last year. The offer came a little more than a year after Vi Ripken was taken at gunpoint from her home and held captive for 24 hours. She was returned unharmed. No one has been arrested in the abduction.