Phillies, Dodgers Tied for Wild Card

Brett Myers' first complete game in 13 months boosted the Philadelphia Phillies into a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL wild card lead. <br/><br/>Myers matched his career high with 12 strikeouts,

Thursday, September 21st 2006, 5:32 am

By: News On 6

Brett Myers' first complete game in 13 months boosted the Philadelphia Phillies into a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL wild card lead.

Myers matched his career high with 12 strikeouts, winning his fourth straight decision in the Phillies' 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. Philadelphia won for the 7th time in 9 games and matched the Dodgers (79-73), who lost 6-4 to Pittsburgh several hours later.

Abraham Nunez, who had a key 2 run single in Tuesday night's win, had a go ahead single in the 4th off Les Walrond (0-1) following Mike Lieberthal's RBI double. Nunez is hitting .340 (16-for-47) since an 0-20 slump.

``It feels good to be helping the team in important games,'' he said. ``I feel more comfortable up there.''

Across the county, NL batting leader Freddy Sanchez (.346) matched a career high with 4 hits and Shawn Chacon outpitched Greg Maddux as the Dodgers lost for the 11th time in 17 games.

``We know the situation we're in. We're fully aware of what's happening elsewhere,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. ``We've got to take care of business ourselves.''

In other games, it was: Arizona 8, San Diego 2; San Francisco 7, Colorado 4; Florida 6, New York 3; Atlanta 7, Washington 3; Houston 7, Cincinnati 2; and Milwaukee 1, St. Louis 0.

At Philadelphia, Myers (12-6) pitched a 6 hitter in his 6th complete game, his first since August 20 last year against Pittsburgh. Les Walrond (0-1) allowed 2 runs and 3 hits, striking out 6 in 3 plus innings in his second career start.

Pirates 6, Dodgers 4

Chacon (2-3) limited the Dodgers to 4 runs, 2 earned, and 6 hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Salomon Torres got the last 4 outs for his 10th save. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, Torres struck out pinch hitter Matt Kemp, walked Nomar Garciaparra and struck out Jeff Kent on a 3-2 pitch.

Maddux (13-14) allowed 7 hits and 3 runs in 5 innings.

Diamondbacks 8, Padres 2

David Wells (0-2) gave up 4 runs and a season high 11 hits, 10 of them singles, in 6 1-3 innings as the NL West leaders lost but remained a 1/2 game ahead of the Dodgers.

When he was removed by manager Bruce Bochy with the Padres behind 3-1, Wells tossed his glove high into the air and into the seats behind the Padres' dugout as he walked off the field.

``I told Boch I felt good but he already made the call,'' Wells said. ``I'm a very intense player. I'm not one for showing anybody up. I respect Boch big-time. To me, it's just the way the whole game transpired.

Edgar Gonzalez (2-3) allowed 1 run and 6 hits in 7 innings for his first win as a starter since his major league debut on June 1, 2003, when he also beat San Diego.

Giants 7, Rockies 4

Barry Bonds' pinch hit, run scoring single in the 8th put visiting San Francisco ahead 4-3 after Ray Durham's tying double. The Giants stopped a 4 game losing streak, moved within 4 games of San Diego and are 3 1/2 games back in the wild card race.

Brian Wilson (2-3) won, and Mike Stanton worked the 9th for his eighth save with the Giants. Manuel Corpas (1-2) gave up 3 runs without getting an out.

Marlins 6, Mets 3

Dontrelle Willis (12-11) homered twice and allowed 3 runs and 7 hits in 8 1-3 innings to improve to 3-1 against the Mets this season and 11-2 against them in his career.

Willis also had a run scoring single in a 3 run 6th as Florida stopped a 4 game losing streak and moved within 4 games of the wild card lead.

Oliver Perez (3-12) allowed with 3 runs and 5 hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Braves 7, Nationals 3

Brian McCann, Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur homered to lead visiting Atlanta, which trails by 5 games in the wild card race.

Lance Cormier (4-5) allowed 2 runs, 6 hits and 4 walks in 6 1-3 innings. Ramon Ortiz (10-15) gave up 5 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings. Ryan Zimmerman hit his 19th homer and has 99 RBIs, tops among NL rookies.

Astros 7, Reds 2

Roger Clemens (7-5) struck out 6 and allowed 3 hits with 3 walks in 6 scoreless innings for win #348. It was likely his final start of the season in Houston.

Luke Scott had a bases loaded triple and solo homer and Craig Biggio hit a 3 run homer as the Astros won for the 3rd time in 10 games and closed within 5 1/2 games in the wild card race with 11 to play.

Cincinnati remained 5 games back in the wild card chase. Bronson Arroyo (14-10) allowed 7 runs and 7 hits in 5 1-3 innings, losing for the first time in 5 starts.

Brewers 1, Cardinals 0

Geoff Jenkins homered odd Tyler Johnson (0-3) leading off the bottom of 9th at Milwaukee, and rookie Carlos Villanueva combined with 2 relievers on a 4 hitter, with Francisco Cordero (3-0) throwing a perfect 9th inning.

St. Louis lost for the 6th time in 11 games, but its magic number its third straight NL Central title dropped to 5 with Cincinnati's loss.