Atlanta cruises past Mets

Braves honor Maddux with impressive win

July 18, 2009|Associated Press

Jair Jurrjens celebrated Greg Maddux’s big day with a Maddux-like pitching effort.

Jurrjens combined with three relievers on a two-hitter, Brian McCann drove in four runs in the first three innings, and the Braves beat the New York Mets, 11-0, last night in Atlanta.

Jurrjens (8-7) gave up both hits and two walks in six innings after the Braves retired the No. 31 worn by Maddux. Boone Logan, Luis Valdez, and Kris Medlen each pitched an inning after Jurrjens left.

The Braves inducted Maddux into the team’s Hall of Fame at a luncheon earlier yesterday. Players and coaches then watched as Maddux became only the sixth Braves player to have his number retired during a pregame ceremony.

The slumping Mets lost Gary Sheffield to a hamstring injury in the fifth inning and were shut out for the sixth time in 22 games since All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran went on the disabled list.

Manager Jerry Manuel said Sheffield won’t start today but may be available as a pinch hitter.

Yankees 5, Tigers 3 - Mark Teixeira bailed out a shaky A.J. Burnett with a go-ahead, three-run homer, and host New York got past Detroit.

Joel Zumaya (3-3) relieved to start the seventh and gave up a leadoff single to Derek Jeter and a long double to Johnny Damon. Rather than issue an intentional walk that would load the bases for Alex Rodriguez, Zumaya pitched to Teixeira, who hit his 22d homer for a 5-3 lead.

Phil Hughes (4-2) struck out six in two innings of relief. After a 57-minute rain delay two pitches into the bottom of the eighth, Mariano Rivera finished for his 24th save in 25 chances.

Rays 8, Royals 7 - Evan Longoria and Pat Burrell hit two-run homers in consecutive innings to help visiting Tampa Bay rally past Kansas City.

Astros 8, Dodgers 1 - Roy Oswalt continued his dominance over NL West teams with a four-hitter, Ivan Rodriguez homered among his four hits, and Miguel Tejada also connected, leading visiting Houston. Oswalt is 12-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his past 13 starts against the NL West, and is 36-12 against that division during his career.

Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 1 - Albert Pujols hit two homers to add to his major league-leading total and Chris Carpenter (8-3) blanked Arizona over eight innings to lead host St. Louis.

The multihomer game was the eighth for Pujols, who has 34 homers and 89 RBIs, which also leads the majors.

Rockies 5, Padres 3 - Ubaldo Jimenez struck out 10 and gave up three hits in seven innings to lead visiting Colorado. Clint Barmes homered for the second straight game for the Rockies, who are 29-9 since June 4.

Pirates 2, Giants 1 - Garrett Jones’s homer in the 14th inning, his second of the night and fifth in four games, ended host Pittsburgh’s four-game losing streak.

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