NATIONAL LEAGUE

Latos does it all (almost) in Cincinnati’s victory

— A complete game. Thirteen strikeouts. Two hits, too. Mat Latos made his Cincinnati Reds teammates feel as if they weren’t really needed.

Latos struck out a personal-best 13 batters in his second career complete game Monday night, dominating the Milwaukee Brewers for a 3-1 victory.

“He was awesome,” said right fielder Jay Bruce, who doubled home two runs. “He really didn’t need us. He got a couple of hits, he pitched a great game.”

Latos (6-2) gave up four hits, including a drive by Norichika Aoki that made it 63 consecutive games at Great American Ball Park with at least one home run. Latos also singled twice, matching a career high.

He finished it off by striking out Rickie Weeks with his 109th pitch, 80 of them strikes.

“All I knew is he was throwing strike after strike after strike,” Reds Manager Dusty Baker said. “Hopefully, now he’ll get on a roll and stay on one for a while.”

The Reds acquired Latos from San Diego in an off season trade.

“It’s an amazing feeling to finally do something good after the trade,” Latos said.

Bruce doubled home two runs in the fourth off Yovani Gallardo (6-6), who allowed four hits over six innings. Brandon Phillips had an RBI double in the eighth.

Aoki led off the sixth with his fourth home run. Milwaukee has scored one run or less in three of its past four games.

Reds outfielder Drew Stubbs led off the fourth inning with a double and later scored on Bruce’s hit for a 2-0 lead. He also walked, singled and stole a base, scoring twice.

Latos was coming off one of his worst performances of the season. A week earlier in Cleveland, he gave up seven runs in four innings of a 10-9 loss.

“After my last start in Cleveland, I made some adjustments in my mechanics,” Latos said. “I was able to keep the ball down in the zone and bounce my slider when I needed to.” CUBS 6, METS 1 Joe Mather homered and Travis Wood (Bryant) out pitched Johan Santana, leading host Chicago over New York. Wood (2-3) struck out 6 and scattered 5 hits over 7 scoreless innings to earn his second consecutive victory.

PHILLIES 8, PIRATES 3 Joe Blanton pitched seven effective innings, Jimmy Rollins homered for the fourth time in five games and host Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh.

CARDINALS 8, MARLINS 7 Rafael Furcal and pinch-hitting pitcher Joe Kelly drove in runs in the 10th inning to lead St. Louis over host Miami.

ROCKIES 4, NATIONALS 2 Todd Helton hit a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and host Colorado beat Washington.

PADRES 8, ASTROS 7 Carlos Quentin hit an RBI double in the 10th inning to lift San Diego over host Houston.

American League YANKEES 7, INDIANS 1 Robinson Cano homered and drove in three runs and Hiroki Kuroda took a shutout into the eighth inning as host New York beat Cleveland.

TWINS 4, WHITE SOX 1 Francisco Liriano spoiled Kevin Youkilis’ first game with Chicago, throwing a season-high seven innings to lead host Minnesota over the White Sox.

ROYALS 8, RAYS 0 Luke Hochevar pitched his second career shutout, Eric Hosmer homered and Yuniesky Betancourt drove in three runs to lead host Kansas City over Tampa Bay.

TIGERS 8, RANGERS 2 Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs with two doubles, Rick Porcello struck out seven in six innings and Detroit beat host Texas. Josh Hamilton hit his first home run in his past 12 games for Texas, a two-run shot in the seventh.

BLUE JAYS 9, RED SOX 6 Jose Bautista, Colby Rasmus and J.P. Arencibia each hit two run home runs to lead Toronto over host Boston, despite two home runs by David Ortiz.

Monday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Philadelphia 8, Pittsburgh 3 Cincinnati 3, Milwaukee 1 St. Louis 8, Miami 7, 10 innings Chicago Cubs 6, NY Mets 1 San Diego 8, Houston 7, 10 innings Colorado 4, Washington 2 LA Dodgers at San Francisco, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE NY Yankees 7, Cleveland 1 Toronto 9, Boston 6 Detroit 8, Texas 2 Minnesota 4, Chicago White Sox 1 Kansas City 8, Tampa Bay 0) Oakland at Seattle, (n)

Sports, Pages 20 on 06/26/2012

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