Atlanta – The Philadelphia Phillies are hanging tough in the wild-card race – and they aren’t giving up on winning the East race, either.
Keeping the heat on Atlanta, Jon Lieber (16-12) pitched eight scoreless innings and the Phillies scored four runs off Tim Hudson (13-9) in the ninth to take another series from the Braves with a 4-0 victory Thursday.
Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a single, extending his hitting streak to a post-1900 franchise-record 27 games.
Philadelphia finished strong, too, as pinch-hitters Michael Tucker and Shane Victorino came through with two outs in the ninth.
Tucker hit an opposite-field RBI single to break up the scoreless duel, and Victorino followed with a three-run homer to right.
“When I saw (Jeff) Francoeur stop running, I knew I had hit my first major-league homer,” said Victorino, a September callup. “It couldn’t have come at a better time.”
The Phillies won two of three at Turner Field, closing within four games of the Braves with nine left. They also remained two games behind the Houston Astros in the wild-card race.
Marlins 2, Mets 1
New York – Dontrelle Willis won his major league-leading 22nd game and kept alive Florida’s flickering wild-card hopes, allowing five hits over eight innings.
The left-hander with the corkscrew windup and delivery kept the Mets off balance, changing speeds, motions and locations in delivering a win the Marlins had to have after they lost the first two games of this series.
Florida remained four games behind Houston and two behind Philadelphia in the wild-card race. All three teams have nine games to play.
Willis (22-9) walked two and struck out seven. Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 38th save.
Astros 2, Pirates 1
Pittsburgh – Brandon Backe made his second successive strong start, and Houston held the lead in the wild-card race with its eighth win in nine games.
Backe (10-8) limited the Pirates to one run and two hits over seven innings and Brad Lidge preserved the lead, getting the final four outs. Lance Berkman drove in two early runs against Zach Duke (6-2), and the Astros made them stand up.
Reds 6, Cardinals 2
Cincinnati – Edwin Encarnacion’s bases-loaded double completed a five-run rally in the eighth inning for Cincinnati.
Despite the loss, the Central champions clinched home-field advantage throughout the league playoffs when Atlanta lost.
Nationals 2, Giants 0
Washington – With little to play for other than finishing above .500, Washington (78-75) used a lineup of rookies and reserves and managed to win.
Cubs 3, Brewers 0
Milwaukee – Greg Maddux (13-13) kept up his bid for another season with 15 wins, mixing efficient work on the mound with a quick glove to lead Chicago.
