Tuesday, July 5, 2005

NEW YORK (AP) Dontrelle Willis looked like a giddy little kid, grinning broadly after his fourth shutout of the season.

Willis became the National League's first 13-game winner, pitching a three-hitter to lead the Florida Marlins past the New York Mets 3-0 Sunday.

"It's fun," Willis said. "If you're not having fun, I don't know what to tell you. It's a backyard game."

Willis (13-3) handcuffed the Mets, allowing just two runners after the first inning. He pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first and gave up only one hit over the final eight innings.

"The way he started, you don't know," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "They had a couple of back-to-back hits. But he settled down, made better pitches. He's been like that, pretty good most of the year. He's throwing strikes, changing speeds better than ever, keeping hitters off balance."

Willis struck out seven and walked one in his NL-leading fifth complete game, lowering his ERA to 1.89. Jon Garland of the Chicago White Sox is the only other 13-game winner in the majors.

Willis also felt a little lucky. In the ninth inning, he hit leadoff batter Mike Cameron with a pitch. Then, after Willis struck out Carlos Beltran, Mike Piazza banged a comebacker off the left-hander's leg. The ball rolled just a few feet away and Willis made the play.

"Those are the things that happen when you are going good," said Willis, who also singled and scored in the third. "Sometimes, the ball off your leg is in the dugout."

Florida scored against Victor Zambrano (4-7) in the first inning without hitting a ball out of the infield.

Leadoff batter Juan Pierre punched a single past third baseman David Wright, who was playing in to defend against a bunt. Pierre stole second on the first pitch to Luis Castillo, his 21st steal of the season. Castillo followed with an infield hit, and Pierre scored when second baseman Miguel Cairo threw wide for an error.

Singles by Cameron and Beltran helped the Mets load the bases with one out in the first, but Willis escaped by striking out Wright and Chris Woodward.

"The first inning was the key to the game," Beltran said. "We couldn't score after having the bases loaded."

Astros 9, Reds 0

In Cincinnati, Roger Clemens threw seven shutout innings for his 335th win and got two hits as Houston beat the sloppy Reds.

Clemens (7-3) allowed four hits and one walk with four strikeouts, lowering his major league-leading ERA to 1.41. He has allowed just one run in 46 innings over seven starts on the road. He also drove in a run with a single and hit a ground-rule double.

Diamondbacks 10, Dodgers 3

In Los Angeles, Shawn Green homered and drove in three runs, Chad Tracy hit a two-run shot and rookie Brad Halsey (5-7) won for the first time since May 31 as Arizona beat the Dodgers.

Los Angeles outfielder J.D. Drew broke his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch from Halsey.

Braves 4, Phillies 3

In Philadelphia, Ryan Langerhans hit a leadoff triple against Billy Wagner (1-1) in the ninth and scored the tiebreaking run on Wilson Betemit's sacrifice fly as Atlanta beat the Phillies.

All-Star Andruw Jones tied it with an RBI double in the eighth. It was the first time this season Atlanta won when trailing by three runs.

Nationals 5, Cubs 4 (12)

In Chicago, Brian Schneider homered in the 12th, and Washington overcame Chad Cordero's first blown save in more than two months to complete a three-game sweep.

The Nationals have won six straight to reach 50 wins faster than any season in franchise history. It was the club's first three-game sweep at Wrigley Field since the Montreal Expos did it June 3-5, 1994.

Cardinals 5, Rockies 4

In St. Louis, Abraham Nunez singled home the winning run in the ninth, denying Colorado its first road series win of the year.

Padres 9, Giants 6

In San Diego, Khalil Greene drove in four runs and Brian Giles had three hits and three RBIs for the Padres, who roughed up Jason Schmidt (6-4) after he won his previous three starts.

Pirates 11, Brewers 10

In Milwaukee, Matt Lawton singled four times and snapped an eighth-inning tie by scoring on a wild pitch to help Pittsburgh rally from a six-run deficit. The Pirates used their biggest comeback of the season to snap a five-game skid.

Mariners 2, Rangers 1

In Seattle, Willie Bloomquist singled leading off the eighth inning and scored on an infield grounder, leading the Mariners over Kenny Rogers and Texas.

Jamie Moyer (7-3) won a matchup of starters in their 40s as Rogers (9-4) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings in his first game since attacking two cameramen.

Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2

In Boston, Roy Halladay pitched eight strong innings for his 12th win, leading Toronto to its eighth win in 11 meetings this season with the first-place Red Sox.

Yankees 1, Tigers 0

In Detroit, Chien-Ming Wang (5-3) allowed five hits in seven innings and Gary Sheffield drove in the game's only run as New York beat Detroit.

Athletics 7, White Sox 2

In Oakland, Barry Zito pitched eight solid innings, and the Athletics sent Mark Buehrle to his first loss in nearly three months.

Indians 9, Orioles 4

In Baltimore, Ben Broussard homered in a five-run first inning against Sidney Ponson (7-6) and Travis Hafner added a two-run shot in the seventh, as Cleveland beat the Orioles.

Twins 3, Devil Rays 2

In Minneapolis, Matthew LeCroy homered and Joe Mays (5-3) pitched seven strong innings as Minnesota improved to 6-0 against Tampa Bay this season.

Angels 5, Royals 0 (5)

In Kansas City, Jarrod Washburn (5-3) gave up four hits in five innings, Garret Anderson scored twice and Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep with a rain-shortened victory.

NEW YORK (Kyodo) Cleveland Indians minor league right-hander Kazuhito Tadano was promoted on Sunday to the major leagues for the first time this season, team officials said.

Tadano, a graduate of Rikkyo University who was playing for Triple-A Buffalo, posted a 1-1 record in 14 games in the majors last season with Indians.

This season, he went 3-3 with one save and a 4.13 ERA in 20 games for Triple-A Buffalo.

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