Ibanez heroics lifts Phillies past Pirates

Author: 
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Publication Date: 
Tue, 2011-08-02 05:26

The Phillies trailed 5-3 in the eighth when Ibanez hit a two-run shot for his second homer of the game. He doubled to right off Tony Watson (0-2) in the 10th to score Hunter Pence and help the Phillies complete a three-game sweep.
Antonio Bastardo (4-0) struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the win.
Ibanez hit a solo homer in the second off Pirates starter Jeff Karstens and his tying drive was off Jose Veras .
The Pirates, trying to keep pace in a crowded NL Central race, left Philadelphia reeling but with two new bats. A day after they traded for first baseman Derrek Lee from Baltimore, the Pirates acquired outfielder Ryan Ludwick from San Diego.
In Cincinnati, Johnny Cueto pitched a three-hitter, Joey Votto had a three-run homer and tied his career high with five RBIs, and Cincinnati completed a three-game sweep of San Francisco.
Todd Frazier hit his first career home run and Drew Stubbs had a career-best four hits as the Reds rebounded from being swept by the New York Mets in four games to post three consecutive wins for the first time since sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers from June 13-15.
Cueto (7-4) missed the first month of the season with irritation in his right upper arm and needed 7 1-3 innings to qualify for the NL ERA lead.
In Atlanta, Ricky Nolasco scattered 12 hits, Emilio Bonifacio homered and Florida handed the Atlanta Braves the 10,000th loss in franchise history.
The Braves began the day savoring a deadline trade for speedy outfielder Michael Bourn , acquired from Houston in a five-player deal. They could’ve used him right away, especially when fill-in center fielder Jose Constanza got thrown out twice on the basepaths.
The Braves squandered numerous scoring chances to become only the second team in big league history with 10,000 losses. The Phillies reached that mark in 2007.
The Braves picked up their 10,000th win a couple of weeks ago, including their time in Boston and Milwaukee.
Nolasco (8-7) lasted 6 2-3 innings.
In Los Angeles, Joe Saunders came within four outs of his second straight complete game, Gerardo Parra homered twice and the surging Arizona Diamondbacks beat Los Angeles.
Ryan Roberts also homered for the Diamondbacks, who won for the 10th time in 15 games. Coupled with San Francisco’s loss at Cincinnati, the victory helped them climb within two games of the NL West-leading Giants heading into their three-game showdown starting Monday night in the Bay Area.
Saunders (8-8) won his fifth straight road decision, allowing two runs and eight hits — including four singles by Andre Ethier.
In St. Louis, Starlin Castro and Marlon Byrd had key hits as Chicago broke up Jake Westbrook’s perfect game with a four-run sixth inning and held off St. Louis to avoid a three-game sweep.
Lance Berkman’s three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth made it interesting for the Cardinals, who completed a disappointing 4-3 homestand against the two worst teams in the NL Central. They trail the first-place Brewers by 2 1/2 games heading into a three-game series in Milwaukee on Monday.
Alfonso Soriano homered for the second straight game and Ryan Dempster (8-8) pitched six-plus innings for the Cubs, who snapped a five-game losing streak.
In Washington, Rick Ankiel scored on Ian Desmond’s chopper up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving Washington a win over New York on a scorcher of a summer afternoon.
With runners on second and third and the infield in, Desmond bounced the ball over pitcher Bobby Parnell (3-3), who deflected it with his glove. Second baseman Willie Harris’ throw was too late to get Ankiel.
In Milwaukee, Prince Fielder drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth and Milwaukee beat Houston to complete a three-game sweep.
Jonathan Lucroy and Yuniesky Betancourt drove in two runs apiece for the NL Central leaders.
Milwaukee (60-49) tied its season-best six-game winning streak and moved 11 games over .500 for the first time in more than two years to maintain its division lead over St. Louis.
In San Diego, Jesus Guzman drove in three, including the go-ahead run in a six-run eighth inning, as San Diego avoided a three-game sweep with a victory over Colorado.
Guzman’s single off Matt Belisle came on a day when San Diego traded setup man Mike Adams and outfielder Ryan Ludwick just before the non-waiver deadline.
The late Padres rally ruined a solid outing by Colorado rookie Juan Nicasio , who struck out a career-high 10 in seven strong innings. Nicasio limited the Padres to two runs, one earned, and five hits.
 

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