Astros Shut Down Slumping Dodgers

Lowe allows one run in 8 innings as LA snaps 4-game losing streak

(NEWSER) - Andre Ethier went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, Rafael Furcal and Matt Kemp each hit their first homers of the season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak with an 11-1 rout of the San Diego Padres last night. Derek Lowe (1-0) allowed a run and four hits over eight innings, striking out six and walking none before giving way to the bullpen. More»

Astros battle back after Valverde blows 3-0 lead in 9th

(NEWSER) - Miguel Tejada's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth gave the Houston Astros a 5-3 win over St. Louis on Monday night, snapping a five game winning streak for the Cardinals. Tejada's home run to right field off Kyle McClellan (0-1) scored pinch runner Darin Erstad. More»

Rays at the head of the class—Rockies, Marlins at the back

(NEWSER) - Report card time! Here’s how the rambunctious kids of MLB are doing so far, in Yahoo Sports’ Steven Henson’s estimation. A students—Rays, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, White Sox Particular kudos go to the Rays, the poor kid who went to the head of the class. B students—Cardinals, Brewers, Twins, Phillies, Yankees, Athletics, Marlins, Orioles The Cardinals have a slight edge in the wildcard race. The Yankees, meanwhile, barely scrape together a B. More»

(NEWSER) - Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent and Gary Bennett homered during a six-run seventh inning, leading Chad Billingsley and the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 yesterday. After Jones and Kent hit solo shots, Bennett capped the burst with a three-run homer. Billingsley (3-5) didn't allow a hit until Brewers starter Ben Sheets, a career .078 hitter, singled with two outs in the fifth. More»

(NEWSER) - Lance Berkman splashed his major league-leading 15th home run into McCovey Cove, breaking a ninth-inning tie and helping the Houston Astros rally past the San Francisco Giants 8-7 last night. Houston came back from a 6-0 deficit to take three of four from the Giants, its first series win at San Francisco since a three-game sweep in September 2001. More»