NEW YORK - Gonzalez Germen came out of the bullpen to relieve fellow rookie Zack Wheeler and help the New York Mets hold off the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 on Saturday.
Marlon Byrd, David Wright and Daniel Murphy each had an RBI single for the Mets, who handed Cole Hamels his latest defeat and snapped Philadelphia’s seven-game winning streak at Citi Field. Another rookie, Juan Lagares, had a run-scoring single among his three hits.
Jimmy Rollins hit a lead off home run, and Chase Utley had a two-run shot in the ninth for the Phillies. They put the potential tying run on second with two outs before Bobby Parnell retired Darin Ruf on a game-ending liner to second.
Germen (1-1) escaped a bases-loaded jam and struck out three in 12/3 hitless innings for his first major league victory.
Wheeler wiggled out of early trouble in his sixth major league start, but New York’s prized righthander needed 106 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings in 93-degree heat.
Hamels (4-12) allowed three runs in a 35-pitch first inning and was pulled for a pinch-hitter after five.
REDS 5, PIRATES 4 Joey Votto drove in a pair of runs and Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games, leading host Cincinnati to a victory over Pittsburgh that revolved around an early rain delay. The third-place Reds have won the first two games in the NL Central series, closing their gap with second-place Pittsburgh to two games.
BREWERS 6, MARLINS 0 Yovani Gallardo carried a shutout into the seventh inning, and Jonathan Lucroy and Rickie Weeks belted home runs, leading host Milwaukee over Miami.Gallardo (8-8) gave up five hits in 6 /3 innings.
PADRES 5, CARDINALS 3 Edinson Volquez was bailed out by his bullpen and earned the victory in visiting San Diego’s victory over St. Louis. Nick Vincent, Dale Thayer, Luke Gregorson and Huston Street worked an inning apiece after Volquez (7-8) faded at the end of a five-inning outing. Lance Lynn (11-5) lost for the fourth time in five starts, allowing four runs in five innings.
DODGERS 3, NATIONALS 1 Hanley Ramirez doubled to highlight a two-run 10th inning and Los Angeles used seven pitchers to again tame the tepid offense of host Washington.
ROCKIES 9, CUBS 3 Carlos Gonzalez homered and Todd Helton had three of Colorado’s 13 hits in a victory over visiting Chicago.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
MARINERS 4, ASTROS 2 Michael Saunders got Seattle’s only hit with a two RBI double with two outs in the seventh inning to lift the visiting Mariners to a victory over Houston. Erik Bedard (3-7) pitched 6 1/3 innings of no-hit ball before he was replaced by Jose Cisnero.
ROYALS 6, TIGERS 5 Salvador Perez drove in three runs and Mike Moustakas went 3 for 4 with a game-winning home run to lead host Kansas City to a victory over Detroit.
ORIOLES 7, RANGERS 4 Adam Jones homered while every Baltimore starter had a hit, Miguel Gonzalez pitched another solid game on the road and visiting Baltimore held on to beat sliding Texas.
RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 3 Jeremy Hellickson won his fifth consecutive decision, Desmond Jennings reached base four times and visiting Tampa Bay beat Toronto for its 16th victory in 18 games. Rookie Wil Myers had two RBI in his first career start as the cleanup hitter.
YANKEES 5, RED SOX 2 Brett Gardner and Lyle Overbay each had three hits and drove in a run to back Hiroki Kuroda’s seven innings, carrying New York to a victory over host Boston.
TWINS 3, INDIANS 2 Kevin Correia threw six sharp innings for his first victory in a month, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each had two hits and a walk, and Minnesota beat visiting Cleveland for its fourth consecutive victory.
INTERLEAGUE
WHITE SOX 10, BRAVES 6 Alex Rios hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, and Jake Peavy pitched six solid innings in his return from the disabled list to lead Chicago to a victory over visiting Atlanta.
Saturday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE NY Mets 5, Philadelphia 4 Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 4 LA Dodgers 3, Washington 1, (10) Milwaukee 6, Miami 0 San Diego 5, St. Louis 3 Colorado 9, Chicago Cubs 3 Arizona at San Francisco, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE Tampa Bay 4, Toronto 3 NY Yankees 5, Boston 2 Minnesota 3, Cleveland 2 Kansas City 6, Detroit 5 Seattle 4, Houston 2 Baltimore 7, Texas 4 LA Angels 2, Oakland 0
INTERLEAGUE Chicago White Sox 10, Atlanta 6
Sports, Pages 26 on 07/21/2013