CINCINNATI (AP) -Josh Hamilton completed his sensational series with a pair of homers Sunday, and the Cincinnati Reds snapped their four-game losing streak with a 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
The NL rookie of the month for April did it all during the middle game of the series – two singles, a double, a triple, a stolen base and a diving catch in the Rockies’ 9-7 win on Saturday night.
His two-run homer off Josh Fogg (1-3) put Cincinnati in position to salvage the final game. Hamilton’s solo shot off reliever Alberto Arias in his next at-bat drew the latest ovation in his inspiring comeback from years of drug abuse.
Hamilton stood on a riser in the dugout and raised his batting helmet to acknowledge the crowd of 27,915, which wouldn’t stop applauding until he took a curtain call after his eighth homer.
The crowd was on its feet again after his over-the-shoulder catch robbed Brad Hawpe in center field in the eighth.
Right-hander Bronson Arroyo (2-2) got his first career victory over the Rockies with a performance of extremes. He shut out Colorado on two hits for the first five innings, then needed 48 pitches to get a pair of outs before leaving in the sixth.
David Weathers pitched out of a threat in the eighth to preserve the lead and got four outs in all for his sixth save in seven chances – Cincinnati’s first save since April 15.
Alex Gonzalez and Ryan Freel also homered for Cincinnati.
Padres 3, Marlins 1
MIAMI (AP) – Jake Peavy allowed one hit in seven innings and struck out 10 for San Diego.
Peavy (4-1) no-hit Florida until Dan Uggla tripled with one out in the sixth to drive home an unearned run. Peavy then struck out Miguel Cabrera and Mike Jacobs to preserve a one-run lead.
Cabrera, Jacobs and Joe Borchard each struck out three times against Peavy. Cabrera finished 0-for-4 to snap a 10-game hitting streak.
Cla Meredith allowed an infield single by Uggla in the eighth, and Trevor Hoffman closed out the two-hitter with a perfect ninth for his 490th career save, adding to his major league record. He’s 8-for-10 in save chances this year.
Scott Olsen (3-2) allowed two runs, one unearned, in 6 2-3 innings for the Marlins.
Braves 6, Dodgers 4
ATLANTA (AP) – Jarrod Saltalamacchia got his first two major league hits, including a single to drive in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Braves rallied to beat Los Angeles.
The Dodgers had been 15-0 when leading after six innings, but Chin-hui Tsao (0-1) gave up five runs in the seventh as the Braves sent 10 batters to the plate.
Edgar Renteria’s two-run double off Tsao (0-1) cut it to 4-3. Pinch-hitter Scott Thorman, Saltalamacchia and Chris Woodward added RBI singles.
Wilson Betemit hit his second pinch-hit home run in two days, a two-run drive to right in the seventh, for Los Angeles. He is the first Dodgers player to hit pinch-hit homers in back-to-back games since Todd Benzinger in 1992.
Chad Paronto (2-0) recorded the last out in the seventh for the win and Mike Gonzalez pitched the ninth for his first save.
Cardinals 3, Astros 1
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Braden Looper allowed a run in six innings, helping the punchless Cardinals beat Houston for only their second victory in eight games.
Scott Rolen snapped an 0-for-25 slump with a two-run single in a three-run fourth against Chris Sampson (3-2) for the Cardinals, last in the National League in runs. Ryan Ludwick, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Memphis when Preston Wilson went on the 15-day disabled list with a knee injury earlier in the day, added a run-scoring groundout.
The Cardinals have been outscored 52-13 the last eight games.
Looper (4-2) struck out three, walked two and allowed six hits.
Brewers 6, Pirates 4
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Prince Fielder homered twice and scored the go-ahead run in Milwaukee’s third straight win.
The Brewers, a major league-best 21-10, are 11 games over .500 for the first time since 1992. They have won seven of eight.
Fielder led off the eighth inning with a single against John Grabow (0-1) and advanced to second on Johnny Estrada’s sacrifice. Matt Capps came in and got pinch-hitter Tony Graffanino to fly out before pinch-hitter Bill Hall drove in Fielder with a single to put Milwaukee ahead 5-4. Hall scored on Tony Gwynn Jr.’s single.
Carlos Villanueva (3-0) pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings to get the win and Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 12th save in 12 chances.
Chris Duffy homered for Pittsburgh.
Diamondbacks 3, Mets 1
PHOENIX (AP) – Livan Hernandez gave up one run in seven innings and Arizona ended a 13-game home losing streak to New York.
The Diamondbacks hadn’t beaten the Mets at Chase Field since May 11, 2004. None of Arizona’s nine starters were with the club then.
Carlos Quentin had an RBI double, and Stephen Drew and Miguel Montero added sacrifice flies as the Diamondbacks snapped a five-game skid. Hernandez (3-1) gave up six hits and three walks. Jose Valverde earned his 11th save.
The Mets, who won the first three games of the series, played short-handed. Carlos Beltran, a late scratch with sore legs, was not in the lineup. Moises Alou (knee) and Paul Lo Duca also were rested.
Mike Pelfrey (0-4) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. He walked four.
Cubs 4, Nationals 3, 10 innings
CHICAGO (AP) – Daryle Ward singled home the winning run in the 10th inning after Ryan Theriot tied it with a single in the ninth, and the surging Chicago Cubs beat Washington for their fifth straight victory.
Theriot’s big hit came off struggling closer Chad Cordero, who has four blown saves in eight chances. The Nationals have lost five in a row overall. After the game, they placed right-hander John Patterson on the disabled list because of elbow inflammation. He could miss at least a month.
Matt Murton opened the bottom of the 10th with a double against Ryan Wagner (0-2) and scored the winning run, helping the Cubs to their eighth victory in nine games.
Ryan Dempster (1-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.
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