FLORIDA, 10 July 2005 — Jeromy Burnitz clubbed a two-run homer and Carlos Zambrano delivered seven sharp innings as the Chicago Cubs snapped their season-high eight-game losing skid with a 9-6 win over the Florida Marlins in Miami on Friday.
Zambrano (6-4) was solid on the mound giving up three runs on six hits, striking out seven but walking six. Ryan Dempster worked came on to get the final three outs in the ninth for his 13th save. Florida ace Dontrelle Willis (13-4) took the loss, rocked for a career-high eight runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings.
The Cubs took a 1-0 first inning lead on Aramis Ramirez’s RBI double and never trailed, adding two runs in the third and fourth innings and three more in the fifth.
In Pittsburgh, Humberto Cota’s 10th inning RBI single lifted the Pirates to a 6-5 comeback win over the New York Mets. Trailing 5-1, the Pirates rallied for four runs in the ninth inning keyed by a two-run double from Matt Lawton, Cota singled down the left field line scoring Rob Mackowiak with the winning run.
In Atlanta, Ryan Langerhans stroked a ninth-inning bases-loaded single to bring home the winning run as the Braves edged the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 to stretch their win streak to six games. Andruw Jones had an RBI double to score the Braves’ other run.
In Philadelphia, Carlos Baerga belted a three-run homer and Matt Cepicky drove in three runs to power the Washington Nationals to an 8-7 win over the slumping Phillies, who have lost 11 of their last 15. Jose Guillen contributed a pair of hits and RBI to the Nationals’ effort while Brad Wilkerson had three hits and scored twice.
In Houston, Morgan Ensberg stroked an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tied 2-2, Ensberg lined a shot into deep centre bringing across Willy Taveras, who had opened the ninth with an infield single.
Astros starter Roger Clemens tossed eight strong innings, giving up two runs on eight hits, but once again received little support, Brad Lidge (3-2) taking credit for the win after pitching a scoreless ninth.
In Denver, Ryan Klesko smacked his ninth career grand slam and Mark Sweeney added a solo shot powering the San Diego Padres to a 12-2 rout of the Colorado Rockies. Tim Stauffer (3-4) also turned in a solid performance on the mound for the Padres allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking a pair over seven innings to earn the decision.
In Phoenix, Ken Griffey Jr. belted a game-tying three-run homer in the eighth inning and Rich Aurilia singled in the winning run in the ninth as the Cincinnati Reds rallied to down the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3. David Weathers (5-1) tossed one inning of relief for the win while Kent Mercker worked a scoreless ninth for his second save.
In San Francisco, Larry Walker had a two-run homer, Reggie Sanders added a solo shot and Mark Mulder pitched seven shutout innings to help the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-1 victory over the Giants.
