Green's homer in 9th lifts Bosox

BOSTON - Nick Green homered just inside the right-field foul pole on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth to give the Boston Red Sox a 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves yesterday.

Facing Jeff Bennett for the first time in his career, the shortstop, who began spring training as a nonroster player but became a regular, hit his fourth homer of the season. His jubilant teammates poured out of the dugout and mobbed him at home plate.

Jonathan Papelbon (1-1) loaded the bases in the ninth but ended the threat by striking out Matt Diaz. Bennett (2-4) was Atlanta's fourth reliever.

In the seventh, Atlanta scored twice to tie the game at 4. Singles by Anderson, Martin Prado and Gregor Blanco produced one run. Ramon Ramirez replaced starter Tim Wakefield and allowed a tying single to Nate McLouth.

J.D. Drew gave Boston a short-lived 5-4 lead with an RBI single in the seventh. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox then came out of the dugout, argued and was thrown out by plate umpire Bill Hohn. So were pitcher Eric O'Flaherty and third baseman Chipper Jones.

It was the major-league leading 145th ejection for Cox and his second of the year. Hall of Famer John McGraw is second with 131.

Atlanta 200 000 210 – 5 14 1

Boston 300 100 101 – 6 10 0

Atlanta AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Boston AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

McLouth cf 4   1   2   1   .260      Pedroia 2b 4   1   1   0   .286

Y.Escobar ss 5   1   3   0   .292      J.Drew rf 4   0   1   1   .258

C.Jones 3b 3   0   0   0   .297      Youkilis 3b 4   1   1   0   .316

K.Johnson 2b 2   1   1   0   .226      Bay lf 2   0   0   1   .276

McCann dh 4   0   1   2   .325      D.Ortiz dh 4   2   2   2   .213

G.Anderson lf 4   1   2   1   .280      Kotsay 1b 4   0   2   0   .259

1-M.Diaz pr-lf 1   0   0   0   .274      Ellsbury cf 4   0   1   0   .301

Kotchman 1b 4   0   0   0   .268      N.Green ss 3   1   1   1   .293

Prado 2b-3b 4   1   3   0   .277      Kottaras c 2   1   1   1   .246

D.Ross c 4   0   1   0   .295      Totals 31   6   10   6      

G.Blanco rf 4   0   1   1   .067

Totals 39   5   14   5      

No outs when winning run scored.1-ran for G.Anderson in the 8th. E: Jurrjens (2). LOB: Atlanta 9, Boston 5. 2B: K.Johnson (15), McCann (12), Prado (11), Pedroia (17), Kottaras (9). HR: D.Ortiz (6), off Jurrjens; N.Green (4), off Bennett. RBIs: McLouth (43), McCann 2 (28), G.Anderson (24), G.Blanco (1), J.Drew (32), Bay (66), D.Ortiz 2 (30), N.Green (25), Kottaras (8). SB: J.Drew (2). CS: Youkilis (1). SF: Bay, Kottaras. RLSP: Atlanta 6 (Kotchman, McLouth, Y.Escobar, D.Ross, M.Diaz 2); Boston 2 (Pedroia, Bay). RA: McCann, Youkilis, Kotsay. GIDP: McCann, G.Blanco, N.Green. DP: Atlanta 2 (D.Ross, D.Ross, Prado), (Kotchman, Y.Escobar, Kotchman); Boston 2 (Kotsay, N.Green, Kotsay), (N.Green, Kotsay).

Atlanta walks (2): McLouth, McCann.

Boston walk (1): Bay.

Atlanta strikeouts (3): C.Jones, M.Diaz, Prado.

Boston strikeouts (8): J.Drew 2, Youkilis, Bay 2, D.Ortiz 2, Ellsbury.

Atlanta IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Jurrjens 61/3   8   5   2   1   6   106   2.89

O'Flaherty 0   1   0   0   0   0   4   3.91

Moylan 2/3   0   0   0   0   1   12   4.78

M.Gonzalez 1   0   0   0   0   1   10   2.25

Bennett (L) 0   1   1   1   0   0   1   3.03

Boston IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Wakefield 62/3   9   4   4   0   2   82   4.47

R.Ramirez (BS) 1/3   1   0   0   0   0   3   1.95

Okajima (BS) 1   3   1   1   0   0   19   2.61

Papelbon (W) 1   1   0   0   2   1   28   1.80

W: Papelbon, 1-1. L: Bennett, 2-4. . BS: Okajima, 2. BS: Ramirez, 2.

O'Flaherty pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.Bennett pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. IR-S: O'Flaherty 1-1, Moylan 1-0, R.Ramirez 2-1. HBP: by Jurrjens (N.Green). Umpires: Home, Bill Hohn; first, Bruce Dreckman; second, Paul Emmel; third, Gary Darling.

T: 2:47. A: 37,243 (37,373).

Tigers 3, Brewers 2

DETROIT - Brandon Inge hit a three-run homer and Justin Verlander pitched into the eighth inning to help Detroit sweep Milwaukee.

Verlander (8-3), who no-hit the Brewers in his only other start against them, allowed two runs on five hits in 72/3 innings. He struck out eight while improving to 8-1 since April 27. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 14th straight save.

"That wasn't my best velocity of the season, but I had good life on my fastball, and that was the best change-up I've had all year," Verlander said.

Yovani Gallardo (7-4) shut out the Tigers for the first five innings, but allowed Inge's homer to left in the sixth after singles by Miguel Cabrera and Don Kelly.

Milwaukee 100 000 010 – 2 5 1

Detroit 000 003 00x – 3 8 0

Milwaukee AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Detroit AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

Counsell 2b 4   1   1   1   .299      Granderson cf 2   0   0   0   .263

McGehee dh 4   1   2   1   .349      Santiago 2b 4   0   0   0   .278

Braun lf 4   0   0   0   .320      Mi.Cabrera 1b 4   1   2   0   .333

Fielder 1b 4   0   0   0   .299      Thames dh 4   0   0   0   .302

Catalanotto rf 4   0   0   0   .208      Kelly lf 4   1   2   0   .417

M.Cameron cf 3   0   1   0   .248      Inge 3b 3   1   2   3   .274

Gamel 3b 3   0   0   0   .244      J.Anderson rf 4   0   0   0   .261

Hardy ss 3   0   1   0   .213      Laird c 3   0   1   0   .223

Kendall c 2   0   0   0   .228      Everett ss 3   0   1   0   .255

Totals 31   2   5   2         Totals 31   3   8   3      

E: Catalanotto (1). LOB: Milwaukee 5, Detroit 7. HR: McGehee (2), off Verlander; Counsell (2), off Verlander; Inge (16), off Gallardo. RBIs: Counsell (14), McGehee (12), Inge 3 (47). SB: M.Cameron (3), Granderson (12). RLSP: Milwaukee 4 (Hardy, Fielder 2, Kendall); Detroit 4 (Granderson 2, Santiago, J.Anderson). RA: Braun. GIDP: Thames. DP: Milwaukee 1 (Gamel, Counsell, Fielder).

Milwaukee walks (3): M.Cameron, Gamel, Kendall.

Detroit walks (3): Granderson 2, Inge.

Milwaukee strikeouts (10): Counsell, McGehee, Fielder 2, Catalanotto, M.Cameron, Gamel 2, Hardy 2.

Detroit strikeouts (10): Santiago 3, Thames 2, Kelly, J.Anderson, Laird, Everett 2.

Milwaukee IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Gallardo (L) 7   6   3   3   3   8   107   3.00

Villanueva 1   2   0   0   0   2   25   4.64

Detroit IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Verlander (W) 72/3   5   2   2   3   8   115   3.31

Seay (H) 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   3   3.86

Rodney (S) 1   0   0   0   0   1   11   4.03

W: Verlander, 8-3. L: Gallardo, 7-4. S: Rodney, 14. H: Seay, 14.

WP: Verlander. Umpires: Home, Ron Kulpa; first, Dale Scott; second, Jerry Meals; third, Mike DiMuro.

T: 2:20. A: 41,163 (41,255).

Astros 4, Twins 1

MINNEAPOLIS - Wandy Rodriguez earned his first win in more than a month as Houston beat Minnesota.

Rodriguez (6-6), who was 0-4 with a 6.93 ERA in his previous five starts, gave up only Michael Cuddyer's home run through the first six innings. He allowed just two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings for his first win since May 20, against Milwaukee.

Jeff Keppinger had three hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Astros, who took two of three at the Metrodome for their sixth series win in their last seven overall.

Houston 300 000 100 – 4 11 0

Minnesota 010 000 000 – 1 2 0

Houston AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Minnesota AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

Bourn cf 5   2   2   0   .300      Gomez cf 3   0   0   0   .219

Keppinger 3b 5   1   3   1   .273      a-J.Morales ph 1   0   0   0   .364

Tejada ss 3   1   1   1   .331      B.Harris ss 3   0   0   0   .291

Ca.Lee dh 4   0   0   1   .300      Mauer dh 4   0   0   0   .407

Berkman 1b 4   0   1   0   .241      Cuddyer 1b-rf 3   1   1   1   .277

Pence rf 4   0   3   1   .331      Kubel rf 1   0   0   0   .312

I.Rodriguez c 3   0   0   0   .249      Buscher 1b 2   0   1   0   .207

K.Matsui 2b 4   0   1   0   .233      Crede 3b 1   0   0   0   .226

Michaels lf 4   0   0   0   .188      Delm.Young lf 3   0   0   0   .253

Totals 36   4   11   4         Redmond c 3   0   0   0   .247

Tolbert 2b 3   0   0   0   .168

Totals 27   1   2   1      

a-grounded out for Gomez in the 9th. LOB: Houston 7, Minnesota 2. 2B: Tejada (24), Berkman (12), Pence (13). HR: Cuddyer (11), off W.Rodriguez. RBIs: Keppinger (9), Tejada (38), Lee (43), Pence (29), Cuddyer (37). SB: Bourn (24). SF: Tejada. RLSP: Houston 3 (I.Rodriguez, Michaels, K.Matsui). RA: Lee. GIDP: I.Rodriguez, Mauer, Crede. DP: Houston 2 (Tejada, Matsui, Berkman), (Matsui, Tejada, Berkman); Minnesota 1 (Crede, Tolbert, Buscher).

Houston walk (1): I.Rodriguez.

Minnesota walks (3): B.Harris, Crede 2.

Houston strikeouts (1): Bourn.

Minnesota strikeouts (8): Gomez 2, B.Harris, Cuddyer 2, Kubel, Delm.Young, Tolbert.

Houston IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

W.Rodriguez (W) 7   2   1   1   3   8   114   3.18

Sampson (H) 1   0   0   0   0   0   8   2.20

Valverde (S) 1   0   0   0   0   0   12   3.38

Minnesota IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Perkins (L) 7   9   4   4   1   1   91   5.10

Guerrier 1   2   0   0   0   0   9   2.84

Dickey 1   0   0   0   0   0   16   2.56

W: W. Rodriguez, 6-6. L: Perkins, 2-4. S: Valverde, 5. H: Sampson, 11.

Umpires: Home, Tony Randazzo; first, Chris Guccione; second, Mike Winters; third, Jerry Layne.

T: 2:12. A: 39,659 (46,632).

Cardinals 12, Royals 5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Albert Pujols finished off a three-day romp with two homers and six RBIs, helping St. Louis rout Kansas City.

Pujols had four hits, including a grand slam in the Cardinals' eight-run fourth inning. He had three homers and drove in 10 runs in the Cards' three-game series sweep.

St. Louis 210 810 000 – 12 13 0

Kansas City 310 001 000 – 5 9 0

St. Louis AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Kansas City AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

Schumaker 2b 4   2   2   1   .295      DeJesus lf 4   2   2   1   .245

Rasmus cf 4   1   0   0   .274      Bloomquist ss 4   0   0   0   .286

Pujols dh 5   2   4   6   .329      Pena Jr. ss 0   0   0   0   .097

Ludwick rf 4   1   1   0   .240      Butler 1b 4   1   2   0   .286

Duncan 1b 4   1   2   1   .255      Jacobs dh 4   0   0   0   .229

LaRue c 0   0   0   0   .268      J.Guillen rf 3   2   2   3   .266

YMolina c-1b 5   0   0   0   .284      LuH'rnandez 2b 1   0   1   0   .222

Ankiel lf 5   2   2   1   .248      Teahen 3b 4   0   1   1   .279

K.Greene 3b 1   1   1   1   .221      Olivo c 3   0   1   0   .253

1-Thrston pr-3b 2   1   0   0   .226      a-B.Pena ph 1   0   0   0   .280

T.Greene ss 4   1   1   1   .256      Hulett 2b-rf 4   0   0   0   .000

Totals 38   12   13   11         Maier cf 3   0   0   0   .242

Totals 35   5   9   5      

a-fouled out for Olivo in the 9th.1-ran for K.Greene in the 4th. LOB: St. Louis 6, Kansas City 4. 2B: Schumaker (13), Pujols (15), Duncan (15), Butler (19). HR: K.Greene (5), off Meche; Pujols (25), off Meche; Pujols (26), off J.Wright; DeJesus (5), off Wainwright; J.Guillen (8), off Wainwright. RBIs: Schumaker (20), Pujols 6 (68), Duncan (31), Ankiel (19), K.Greene (19), T.Greene (6), DeJesus (31), J.Guillen 3 (33), Teahen (24). S: Rasmus. SF: Duncan. RLSP: St. Louis 5 (Y.Molina 3, Schumaker 2); Kansas City 2 (DeJesus, Butler). RA: Ludwick. GIDP: Y.Molina, Teahen. DP: St. Louis 1 (Schumaker, T.Greene, Y.Molina); Kansas City 1 (Bloomquist, Hulett, Butler).

St. Louis walks (4): Schumaker, Ludwick, Thurston, T.Greene.

St. Louis strikeouts (5): Rasmus, Ludwick, Duncan, Y.Molina, Ankiel.

Kansas City strikeouts (8): Jacobs 2, Teahen, Olivo 2, Hulett, Maier 2.

St. Louis IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Wainwright (W) 6   8   5   5   0   8   90   3.58

D.Reyes 1/3   0   0   0   0   0   7   4.66

Motte 2/3   0   0   0   0   0   5   5.00

McClellan 1   1   0   0   0   0   9   3.34

Hawksworth 1   0   0   0   0   0   12   7.71

Kansas City IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Meche (L) 31/3   9   9   9   2   1   75   4.11

Tejeda 1/3   2   2   2   1   1   18   3.63

J.Wright 11/3   1   1   1   1   0   25   4.55

Mahay 2   0   0   0   0   1   23   4.56

J.Cruz 1   1   0   0   0   1   19   5.46

Soria 1   0   0   0   0   1   6   1.84

W: Wainwright, 8-4. L: Meche, 4-6.

IR-S: Motte 1-0, Tejeda 1-1, J.Wright 3-2. HBP: by D.Reyes (Maier), by Meche (K.Greene). WP: D.Reyes, J.Wright. Umpires: Home, Paul Nauert; first, Joe West; second, Ed Rapuano; 5hird, Paul Schrieber.

T: 2:54. A: 33,805 (38,177).

Mariners 3, Diamondbacks 2

SEATTLE - Tony Clark dropped a routine throw to first base, allowing Ronny Cedeno to score the winning run for Seattle with two outs in the ninth inning of a victory over Arizona.

Chad Quails got Franklin Gutierrez to ground slowly toward third, where Mark Reynolds charged, fielded cleanly, and fired a perfect throw to Clark. The baseball hit Clark's glove in the palm and popped out.

Arizona 000 000 020 – 2 7 2

Seattle 000 100 011 – 3 11 0

Arizona AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Seattle AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

F.Lopez 2b 5   0   1   0   .297      I.Suzuki rf 4   0   3   0   .358

S.Drew dh 4   0   0   0   .235      Woodward 3b 4   0   0   0   .364

J.Upton rf 3   1   1   0   .321      Carp 1b 4   1   2   0   .429

Reynolds 3b 4   1   1   2   .267      M.Sweeney dh 3   0   1   0   .240

G.Parra cf 4   0   1   0   .267      F.Gutierrez cf 5   1   1   1   .252

Montero c 4   0   1   0   .236      Balentien lf 3   0   0   0   .227

Clark 1b 3   0   1   0   .176      Y.Betancourt ss 4   0   3   1   .249

Byrnes lf 4   0   0   0   .220      J.Burke c 3   0   1   0   .122

Ojeda ss 3   0   1   0   .238      a-Griffey Jr. ph 1   0   0   0   .219

Totals 34   2   7   2         Ro.Johnson c 0   0   0   0   .200

Cedeno 2b 3   1   0   0   .123

Totals 34   3   11   2      

Two outs when winning run scored.a-flied out for J.Burke in the 8th. E: Clark (2), F.Lopez (8). LOB: Arizona 8, Seattle 12. 2B: Ojeda (7), F.Gutierrez (6). 3B: I.Suzuki (3). HR: Reynolds (19), off F.Hernandez. RBIs: Reynolds 2 (49), F.Gutierrez (24), Y.Betancourt (22). SB: F.Lopez (5). CS: Y.Betancourt (1). RLSP: Arizona 5 (Reynolds 2, Ojeda, Byrnes, F.Lopez); Seattle 4 (Woodward 2, Balentien, Griffey Jr.). RA: J.Upton, Montero, Carp, Cedeno. GIDP: Byrnes, M.Sweeney. DP: Arizona 1 (Ojeda, F.Lopez, Clark); Seattle 1 (Woodward, J.Burke).

Arizona walks (2): J.Upton, Clark.

Seattle walks (7): I.Suzuki, Woodward, Carp, M.Sweeney 2, Balentien, Cedeno.

Arizona strikeouts (10): F.Lopez 3, S.Drew 3, G.Parra 2, Byrnes, Ojeda.

Seattle strikeouts (4): Woodward, F.Gutierrez, Balentien, Cedeno.

Arizona IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

D.Davis 7   7   1   1   5   3   114   3.53

Schoeneweis 0   1   1   1   0   0   2   3.75

Rauch (BS) 2/3   2   0   0   0   0   22   4.94

Zavada (L) 1   1   1   0   2   1   34   0.00

Qualls 0   0   0   0   0   0   6   4.39

Seattle IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

F.Hernandez 71/3   6   2   2   2   8   112   2.74

Olson 2/3   0   0   0   0   0   6   4.23

M.Lowe (W) 1   1   0   0   0   2   17   3.58

W: Lowe, 1-4. L: Zavada, 1-1. BS: Rauch, 1.

Schoeneweis pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.Qualls pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. IR-S: Rauch 1-1, Zavada 2-0, Qualls 3-1. IBB: off D.Davis (I.Suzuki), off Zavada (M.Sweeney). HBP: by F.Hernandez (Ojeda). WP: F.Hernandez. Umpires: Home, Adrian Johnson; first, Jim Joyce; second, Andy Fletcher; third, Ted Barrett.

T: 3:09. A: 37,251 (47,878).

Dodgers 5, Angels 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. - James Loney hit a two-run homer that was upheld by video review, Clayton Kershaw pitched seven shutout innings and the Dodgers beat the Angels to take two of three in the Freeway Series.

Juan Pierre had a pair of RBI doubles, Casey Blake hit an RBI single and the Dodgers had nine hits off Angels starter John Lackey.

Los Angeles Dodgers 000 010 121 – 5 12 1

Los Angeles Angels 000 000 012 – 3 8 0

L. A.Dodgers AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      L.A. Angels AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

Pierre lf 5   1   3   2   .337      Figgins 3b 3   0   1   0   .327

Furcal ss 5   0   2   0   .249      B.Abreu rf 5   1   1   0   .296

Hudson 2b 5   0   0   0   .309      Tor.Hunter cf 5   1   1   1   .316

Blake 3b 4   1   2   1   .300      Guerrero dh 5   0   0   0   .288

Ethier rf 5   0   2   0   .268      J.Rivera lf 4   1   2   1   .315

Martin dh 1   0   0   0   .248      Napoli c 5   0   3   0   .290

Loney 1b 4   1   1   2   .279      Quinlan 1b 2   0   0   0   .232

Kemp cf 4   2   2   0   .318      a-KMrles ph-1b 1   0   0   0   .272

Ausmus c 2   0   0   0   .302      S.Rodriguez 2b 2   0   0   0   .167

Totals 35   5   12   5         b-Mtthws Jr. ph 0   0   0   0   .226

M.Izturis 2b 0   0   0   0   .275

E.Aybar ss 3   0   0   0   .276

Totals 35   3   8   2      

a-reached on error for Quinlan in the 8th. b-walked for S.Rodriguez in the 8th. E: Blake (5). LOB: Los Angeles (N) 9, Los Angeles (A) 12. 2B: Pierre 2 (14), Tor.Hunter (15). HR: Loney (4), off Lackey. RBIs: Pierre 2 (24), Blake (44), Loney 2 (47), Tor.Hunter (52), J.Rivera (37). SB: Pierre (17). S: Ausmus 2, E.Aybar. RLSP: Los Angeles (N) 4 (Loney 2, Hudson, Ethier); Los Angeles (A) 6 (Guerrero, E.Aybar 3, Tor.Hunter 2). RA: Furcal, Hudson, Tor.Hunter, Guerrero. GIDP: Martin, B.Abreu. DP: Los Angeles (N) 1 (Kershaw, Ausmus, Loney); Los Angeles (A) 1 (S.Rodriguez, E.Aybar, Quinlan).

Los Angeles Dodgers walks (4): Blake, Martin 3.

Los Angeles Angels walks (6): Figgins 2, J.Rivera, Quinlan, S.Rodriguez, Matthews.

Los Angeles Dodgers strikeouts (6): Pierre, Furcal, Hudson, Blake, Ethier, Ausmus.

Los Angeles Angels strikeouts (7): Figgins, B.Abreu 2, Napoli, Quinlan, E.Aybar 2.

Los Angeles Dodgers IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Kershaw (W) 7   4   0   0   4   5   107   3.76

Troncoso 2/3   1   1   0   1   0   13   2.20

Leach 0   0   0   0   0   0   3   3.38

Broxton (S)-19 11/3   3   2   2   1   2   26   2.29

Los Angeles Angels IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Lackey (L) 8   9   4   4   4   5   111   5.83

Jepsen 1   3   1   1   0   1   25   13.03

W: Kershaw, 4-5. L: Lackey, 2-3. S: Broxton, 17.

Leach pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. IR-S: Leach 2-1, Broxton 2-0. WP: Kershaw. Umpires: Home, Mark Carlson; first, Tim Tschida; second, Bob Davidson; third, Jeff Nelson.

T: 3:11. A: 43,891 (45,257).