Sports

NL: Mulder goes 10 as Cards edge Astros

Associated Press
Published April 24, 2005

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ST. LOUIS - Mark Mulder pitched a 10-inning shutout, outdueling Roger Clemens in a marquee matchup and leading the Cardinals over the Houston Astros 1-0 Saturday.

Larry Walker's run-scoring single off Brad Lidge in the 10th won it for the Cardinals, moving manager Tony La Russa into a tie with Joe McCarthy for fifth place on the career victories list at 2,125.

Clemens allowed four hits in seven innings, lowering his ERA to 0.32 and pushing his scoreless streak to 23 innings. But he was thwarted for the third straight time in his bid for his 330th win.

The Astros have not scored a run for Clemens in 22 innings. They did not put a runner on third Saturday.

"I don't worry about that side of it," Clemens said. "I was moving the ball around."

Mulder has not allowed an earned run in his past two starts, giving up just six hits in 18 innings.

The first Cardinals starter to go 10 innings since Jose DeLeon pitched 11 against Cincinnati in 1989, Mulder threw only 101 pitches.

"I wasn't tired, but they would have taken me out for a pinch-hitter in the ninth if my spot had come up," he said.

PIRATES 4, CUBS 3: Jason Bay hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and pinch-hitter Freddy Sanchez tripled home the go-ahead run for visiting Pittsburgh.

It was LaTroy Hawkins' second blown save in four chances with a one-run lead. Last season, he blew eight of 12 save opportunities with a one-run advantage.

"LaTroy has the stuff," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "I can't figure it out. I don't want to think about it tonight."

Corey Patterson's leadoff homer against Salomon Torres in the eighth gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead, but Patterson struck out against Jose Mesa with runners at first and third to end it.

MARLINS 4, REDS 2: Dontrelle Willis won his fourth straight start, and Juan Encarnacion had a two-run single for host Florida.

Guillermo Mota struck out slumping Ken Griffey with runners at second and third to end it. Griffey went 0-for-4, dropping his average to .200 with no homers and three RBIs.

GIANTS 6, BREWERS 2: Brett Tomko pitched effectively into the seventh inning and hit a two-run single for host San Francisco.

Tomko initially thought he had fouled the ball off on his broken-bat hit to rightfield over a drawn-in infield. He looked toward third base to try to find the ball.

"Then I heard the crowd cheer and I thought I better start running," Tomko said.

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba, making his third start of the season, hit a homer for a 1-0 lead and later had a run-scoring double.

Torrealba filled in for Mike Matheny, who played 22 innings the previous two nights.

METS 10, NATIONALS 5: Jae Seo pitched six sharp innings after being called up from the minors the same day, and rookie Victor Diaz had his first four-hit game for host New York.

With Kris Benson (strained chest muscle) and Steve Trachsel (herniated disc) injured, Seo was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Kaz Ishii, who went on the disabled list Friday. Seo was pitching on short rest after throwing 41/3 innings for Norfolk on Tuesday.

BRAVES 11, PHILLIES 1: Andruw Jones, in a 1-for-30 slump, hit a three-run homer in the first inning and host Atlanta won its third straight.

Tim Hudson had another strong outing, allowing one run in six innings. Hudson's ERA actually climbed from 0.82 to 0.96.

Chipper Jones and Brian Jordan had two RBIs apiece for Atlanta, which has scored 17 runs in two games against the Phillies after getting just eight in its previous six contests.

The Phillies replaced starter Randy Wolf in the fifth with 22-year-old Gavin Floyd, a top pitching prospect. He walked four, gave up three hits and got two outs, and was sent to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre after the game.

ROCKIES 8, DODGERS 6: Preston Wilson homered and had four RBIs, and Shawn Chacon got his first win of the season for host Colorado. Chin-hui Tsao retired Jeff Kent on a grounder with the bases loaded to end it. Rockies rookie Clint Barmes went 3-for-5 to increase his major-league-leading average to .455.

DIAMONDBACKS 2, PADRES 1: Alex Cintron singled home Chad Tracy with two outs in the ninth inning for host Arizona. Cintron, making his first start at third base, also had a run-scoring single in the seventh.

[Last modified April 24, 2005, 01:03:20]