PHILADELPHIA - Joe Blanton pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley each homered off Johan Santana, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rival.
The Phillies had lost 12 of 15 and returned home after being swept by the Atlanta Braves, but took advantage of the injury-ravaged Mets to earn their first sweep at home since taking three straight from the Nationals May 29-31.
The defending World Series Champions pushed the third-place Mets four games back in the NL East, handing them their eighth loss in 11 games. The Marlins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to remain a game back in the division.
L.A. Dodgers 7, San Diego 6: James Loney led off the 13th inning with a homer off Edward Mujica (2-4) to give the Dodgers a win over San Diego.
Manny Ramirez didn't start for the first time since he returned from a 50-game drug suspension on Friday. Manager Joe Torre said he wanted Ramirez to rest his legs after being out so long.
Houston 7, San Francisco 1: Roy Oswalt pitched eight solid innings in the Astros' victory over the Giants.
Miguel Tejada, Hunter Pence and Jason Michaels each hit solo home runs for the Astros, who had been shut out in their previous two games against the Giants.
Arizona 4, Colorado 3: Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Felipe Lopez broke a tie game with an RBI single in the seventh, lifting the Diamondbacks over the Rockies.
It's the second straight game the Diamondbacks rallied late for the victory, and gives them their first series win since mid June at Kansas City.
Washington 5, Atlanta 3: Scott Olsen pitched into the ninth inning, newly acquired Nyjer Morgan had three hits and the Nationals beat the Braves for their second straight victory.
Olsen (2-4) allowed three runs and eight hits over 8 2/3 innings, prevailing for the first time since returning June 28 from the 15-day disabled list after a bout with left shoulder tendinitis. He walked five and struck out five.
St. Louis 10, Cincinnati 1: Colby Rasmus' homer started St. Louis' eight-run onslaught against slumping right-hander Bronson Arroyo, and the Cardinals got another solid start from Chris Carpenter.
Rasmus hit a two-run homer in the first off Arroyo (8-8), who is 1-5 in his last seven starts. A throwing error by third baseman Edwin Encarnacion let in a pair of runs in the fifth inning, helping the Cardinals pull ahead 8-0 with Arroyo on the mound.
Chicago Cubs 8, Milwaukee 2: Ted Lilly pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Derrek Lee hit a two-run homer, leading the Cubs to victory over the Brewers.
Jake Fox also had a two-run home run for the Cubs, who took three of four from the Brewers.
American League
N.Y. Yankees 10, Toronto 8: Derek Jeter had four hits including the a go-ahead two-run homer, Hideki Matsui homered and drove in four runs, and the New York Yankees rallied from a four-run hole to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 on Sunday.
It was New York's fifth straight win over the Blue Jays, whose five-run fourth inning gave them an 8-4 lead that never appeared safe on a day in which balls were again flying out of Yankee Stadium.
Boston 8, Seattle 4: David Ortiz had a tying RBI single and Mark Kotsay added a key two-run hit during a five-run seventh inning, and the Red Sox avoided a three-game sweep.
All-Star Dustin Pedroia homered among his three hits for the Red Sox, who have not been swept at home this season. Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury also each hit solo homers.
Kansas City 6, Chicago White Sox 3: Alberto Callaspo got his fourth RBI in two days and Miguel Olivo hit a two-run homer to help the Royals earn a split of their four-game series with Chicago.
Callaspo, who had three RBIs in a 6-4 win on Saturday, also cost KC a run with the kind of shaky defense which has led to his collecting 10 errors at second base this year. But Brian Bannister (6-6) held Chicago to five hits and two runs through six innings and snapped a personal four-game losing streak to the White Sox.
Minnesota 6, Detroit 2: Justin Morneau punctuated a productive series - and celebrated another All-Star game selection - with a two-run homer for Twins.
Nick Blackburn (7-4) took a shutout into the ninth inning before left fielder Denard Span dropped a line drive for an error and Brandon Inge followed with a two-run home run, his 19th.
Oakland 5, Cleveland 2: Gio Gonzalez pitched six strong innings for his first win of the season and Oakland beat the Indians.
Prior to the game, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said manager Eric Wedge will keep his job for the rest of the season, even though Cleveland has the worst record in the AL. Despite the news, the Indians lost for the 14th time in 18 games.
L.A. Angels 9, Baltimore 6: Vladimir Guerrero hit tying two-run homer in his first game back in right field, and the Angels took advantage of a wild Baltimore bullpen to rally for a win.
Guerrero, who played in the outfield for the first time this season, hit home runs in back-to-back games for the first time since July 19-20 last season.
when he faced the Boston Red Sox.