SAN FRANCISCO — Edgar Renteria hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning and the San Francisco Giants pulled even in the NL wild card race with Colorado, beating the Rockies 9-5 Sunday for a three-game sweep.
The Giants moved into a tie in the NL West with Colorado, six games behind first-place Los Angeles. The Rockies lost their season-high fifth in a row.
San Francisco swept the Rockies at home for the first time since April 8-10, 2005. Last week, the Giants lost three of four at Coors Field despite leading every game.
Renteria homered with two outs to overcome a 5-2 deficit, connecting two pitches after Rafael Betancourt (0-1)relieved Franklin Morales. Renteria hit his eighth career grand slam and second in two years against Betancourt.
Renteria came out for a curtain call from the sellout crowd of 42,571, the second time in two days it happened for the Giants - pitcher Barry Zito emerged to tip his cap during Saturday night's 5-3 victory. Renteria also doubled in a run and matched his career high with five RBIs. He was intentionally walked in the eighth with two runners on.
Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth inning to put the Rockies ahead, but Colorado's bullpen couldn't hold a 4-1 lead.
CARDINALS 2, NATIONALS 1
Adam Wainwright (16-7) earned his major league-leading 16th victory and Albert Pujols had the go-ahead hit in the sixth inning, helping host St. Louis complete a three game sweep of Washington. Colby Rasmus had two hits and scored twice for the NL Central leaders, who have won five of six and are 29-4 since July 1 in starts by their top three - Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Joel Pineiro.
BREWERS 4, PIRATES 1 Shortstop Craig Counsell helped host Milwaukee turn a season-high four double plays and drove in two runs as the Brewers beat Pittsburgh for the 21st consecutive time at home.
DODGERS 3, REDS 2
Matt Kemp homered for Los Angeles' first run, then hit a sacrifice fly in the 12th inning that lifted the visiting Dodgers over Cincinnati.
METS 4, CUBS 1
Nelson Figueroa (2-3) struck out a career-high 10 and had an RBI single to lead visiting New York over Chicago.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, ASTROS 3
Reliever Chad Qualls dislocated his left kneecap when he was hit by Jason Michaels' line drive for the final out, and host Arizona defeated Houston to complete a three-game sweep.
MARLINS 6, PADRES 4
John Baker and Cody Ross each drove in two runs, leading Sean West (6-5) and host Florida over San Diego and ending their three-game losing streak.
PHILLIES 3, BRAVES 2
Carlos Ruiz hit a two run, go-ahead double in the seventh inning and Joe Blanton (9-6) pitched seven strong innings to lead host Philadelphia to a victory over Atlanta.
American League ANGELS 9, ATHLETICS 1 John Lackey (9-7)pitched eight innings of five-hit ball for his 100th victory, Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) and Kendry Morales hit three-run home runs, and host Los Angeles salvaged a split of its series with last-place Oakland.
RED SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 0
Paul Byrd (1-0), making his first major league start since last September, pitched six shutout innings and host Boston completed a three-game sweep with a victory over Toronto.
YANKEES 8, WHITE SOX 3
Mark Teixeira homered and drove in four runs, Johnny Damon also went deep and host New York polished off a three-game sweep of Chicago.
ORIOLES 5, INDIANS 2
Brian Matusz (3-2) pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Felix Pie homered, and host Baltimore beat Cleveland for a split of the four-game series.
TIGERS 4, RAYS 3
Placido Polanco hit a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting host Detroit to a victory over Tampa Bay.
TWINS 5, RANGERS 3
Pinch-runner Carlos Gomez scored the go-ahead run as host Minnesota scored three times in the eighth inning to beat Texas.
ROYALS 3, MARINERS 0
Zack Greinke (13-8) pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a second-inning single by Kenji Johjima, and visiting Kansas City beat Seattle.
Sunday's games NATIONAL LEAGUE LA Dodgers 3, Cincinnati 2, 12 innings Florida 6, San Diego 4 Milwaukee 4, Pittsburgh 1 St. Louis 2, Washington 1 NY Mets 4, Chicago Cubs 1 San Francisco 9, Colorado 5 Arizona 4, Houston 3 Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 2 AMERICAN LEAGUE NY Yankees 8, Chicago White Sox 3 Detroit 4, Tampa Bay 3 Baltimore 5, Cleveland 2 Boston 7, Toronto 0 Minnesota 5, Texas 3 LA Angels 9, Oakland 1 Kansas City 3, Seattle 0
Sports, Pages 18 on 08/31/2009