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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, September 4, 2009

Pedro propels Phillies, 2-1


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Pedro Martinez beat San Francisco yesterday and is 3-0 since joining Philadelphia in July.

MATT SLOCUM | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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PHILADELPHIA — This was vintage Pedro.

Pedro Martinez tossed seven impressive innings to outpitch Tim Lincecum, Ryan Howard doubled in the tiebreaking run and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants, 2-1, last night.

Martinez (3-0) struck out a season-high nine in his fifth start since signing with the Phillies during the All-Star break, allowing one run and five hits. He didn't walk a batter and threw just 87 pitches in his longest outing since last Aug. 21 with the New York Mets.

"I flashed back to the good old times," Martinez said. "I don't have the power I used to have, but I always said it's not about power, it's about hitting your spots."

Jayson Werth homered for the NL East-leading Phillies, who are 16-6 since getting swept by Florida at home last month.

Eugenio Velez hit a leadoff homer for the Giants, who remained one game behind Colorado in the NL wild-card race.

Martinez had plenty of pop on his fastball, often reaching the low 90s on the radar gun, and mixed in an effective changeup.

"He had a little more life on his fastball, good movement and he had good command," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Lincecum (13-5) was the tough-luck loser for the Giants, who've scored the second-fewest runs in the NL. Lincecum struck out 11 in seven innings, allowing two runs and four hits.

METS 8, ROCKIES 3

David Wright went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs in his second start since coming off the disabled list, leading visiting New York past Colorado. Pat Misch (1-1) pitched seven solid innings and was working on a shutout before Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart hit consecutive homers in the seventh.

BREWERS 4, CARDINALS 3

Rookie Casey McGehee hit a two-run homer off John Smoltz (1-1) after St. Louis failed to turn a double play as visiting Milwaukee avoided a three-game sweep. Manny Parra (10-10) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3innings for Milwaukee, which has won four of six.

MARLINS 8, BRAVES 3

Hanley Ramirez hit a tying, pinch-hit single and scored the go-ahead run in his first game since teammate Dan Uggla publicly challenged his effort, lifting host Florida over Atlanta. Ramirez had said a day earlier that he "got some people upset" for leaving Tuesday's game with a tight left hamstring.

DODGERS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2

Jon Garland (9-11), facing the team that traded him just three days earlier, gave up two runs and five hits over seven innings, and Manny Ramirez homered to lead host Los Angeles over Arizona and a split of the four-game series.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

YANKEES 10, BLUE JAYS 5

Jorge Posada homered and drove in four runs, Alex Rodriguez also homered and visiting New York beat Toronto for its seventh straight victory. Posada's homer was his 20th, giving New York a major league-leading seven players with at least that many — it's the first time the Yankees have done that in team history.

RED SOX 6, RAYS 3

Clay Buchholz (4-3) allowed three runs and six hits over six innings, and Jason Bay drove in two runs as visiting Boston beat Tampa Bay. The Red Sox took 2 of 3 from the Rays to extend their AL wild-card advantage over Tampa Bay to six games.

MARINERS 7, ATHLETICS 4

Bill Hall, Franklin Gutierrez and Kenji Johjima each hit two-run homers to help Ian Snell (4-1) win his fourth straight start as visiting Seattle beat Oakland. Ken Griffey Jr. returned to the Seattle lineup after missing six games with inflammation in his left knee and went 0 for 4.

TIGERS 4, INDIANS 3

Placido Polanco hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Detroit to a three-game sweep. Detroit led 3-0 before Cleveland rallied with a three-run eighth.

INTERLEAGUE

WHITE SOX 5, CUBS 0

Rookie Carlos Torres (1-0) spaced five hits over seven innings for his first major league win in his third career start as the visiting White Sox beat the Cubs in a makeup game.

SHORT HOPS

Rangers: Slugger Josh Hamilton has a pinched nerve in his back and is listed as day-to-day. Hamilton saw a doctor yesterday, a day after pulling himself out of Texas' 6-4 victory over Toronto after four innings.

Red Sox: Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, slowed by a bad back, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session yesterday and might be ready to start tomorrow's game against the Chicago White Sox.

Tigers: Detroit left-hander Jarrod Washburn will miss his next start because of a sore left knee. Washburn was scheduled to start tomorrow in Tampa Bay. He will be replaced by Armando Galarraga.

Yankees: Injured New York closer Mariano Rivera said his sore left groin felt fine after a light workout yesterday, and he hopes to soon pitch off a bullpen mound. He leads the majors with 38 saves, including 34 in a row.