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Orioles 3, Tigers 2

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

DETROIT — Chris Davis hit a three-run homer and the Orioles snapped the Tigers' four-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory on Saturday night.

Adam Jones and Matt Wieters opened the seventh inning with consecutive singles off Rick Porcello. Davis then drove a 1-and-1 pitch over the wall in left to snap a scoreless tie.

Zach Britton pitched seven sparkling innings as Baltimore won for the fourth time in six games and continued its surprising wild card bid.

Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run single off Pedro Strop with two out in the eighth, trimming Detroit's deficit to one. Peralta was caught in a rundown to end the inning.

The Orioles have won 12 straight one-run games, matching the club record set three times before, most recently by the 1979 American League champions. The current club is 23-6 in one-run games.

Detroit's slugging tandem of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder reached base six times in eight plate appearances but scored only once.


Diamondbacks 12, Astros 4

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Diamondbacks 12, Astros 4

HOUSTON — Aaron Hill hit a three-run homer in a nine-run fifth inning, and Chris Young had four hits for Arizona. Young also drove in three runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Ryan Wheeler hit his first major-league home run for the Diamondbacks. Patrick Corbin won for the third time in four outings.

Dodgers 6, Braves 2

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Dodgers 6, Braves 2

ATLANTA — Hanley Ramirez drove in four runs with two homers, including the first of three straight shots by Los Angeles in the second inning. Ramirez, James Loney and Luis Cruz hit consecutive homers within four pitches by Ben Sheets. Ramirez added a three-run homer in the sixth. The homers were the Dodgers' only hits.

Royals 9, White Sox 4

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Royals 9, White Sox 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Moustakas hit a three-run shot, also connected in the eighth and drove in four runs for the Royals, who have won four of five. Kansas City's Alcides Escobar had four infield singles, scored three runs and had his team-leading 24th steal. Chicago's Adam Dunn hit his 400th career homer.

Sports in Brief

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Tennis

Venus plays in pain, loses in semis

MASON, Ohio — Venus Williams' reinvigorating week ended on a sour note. A day after reaching her first semifinal of the year, she dealt with a sore back while losing 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 to Li Na in the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open on Saturday.

Williams, who missed several months with an immune disorder, took time to get treatment on the back. She sent her second serves during the third set as slow as 63 mph. It was Williams' fourth three-set match of the tournament.

"I pretty much couldn't serve," Williams said. "But I wanted to try especially since this is my first semifinal of the year."

Li faces the winner of the late match between Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber. She seeks her first title this year after losing in the finals in Sydney, Rome and Montreal (to Kvitova last week).

Western & Southern Open Men: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who won last week in Toronto, reached the final. Federer got past Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. Djokovic beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-2 in a rematch of the Olympic bronze medal match Del Potro won in London.

NBA

Thunder extends Ibaka

C Serge Ibaka agreed to an extension with the Thunder that Yahoo Sports reported is for four years and $48 million. Ibaka, 22, led the league with 198 blocks in 2010-11. This season, he finished second in voting for defensive player of the year after recording a league-high 241.

Colleges

Top recruit arrested

G Aquille Carr, considered one of the nation's top basketball recruits, was arrested in his native Baltimore on charges of assaulting the mother of his child. A pretrial hearing for Carr, who has orally committed to Seton Hall, is scheduled for Sept. 19. Seton Hall cannot comment because he has not signed a letter of intent.

Soccer: A own goal in the 50th minute gave visiting Tampa a 1-0 win over USF in the Rowdies Cup, their annual preseason game. The Bulls, No. 5 in the coaches' poll, entered 5-0-2 in the series' past seven games and outshot the Spartans 19-6.

Et cetera

Little League: Three pitchers combined on a perfect game as Mexico eliminated Uganda 12-0 at the World Series in Williamsport, Pa. In other elimination games, Fairfield, Conn., beat Kearney, Neb., 12-0; Parsippany, N.J., beat Gresham, Ore., 10-4; and Curacao beat Germany 14-2.

Diving: Troy Dumais, the bronze medalist in the synchronized 3-meter springboard at the Olympics, won the 3-meter springboard at the U.S. championships in Greensboro, N.C.

Times wires

Phillies 4, Brewers 3

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Phillies 4, Brewers 3

MILWAUKEE — John Mayberry and Erik Kratz hit back-to-back home runs and Cole Hamels tied a season high with 10 strikeouts for Philadelphia. Hamels pitched 72/3 strong innings, giving up a two-run homer to Ryan Braun with two outs in the eighth. He entered the game having pitched 22 consecutive scoreless innings over his previous three starts.

Tampa Bay Rays reliever J.P. Howell pitching better, feeling more confident than ever

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 18, 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The low moments and difficult times LHP J.P. Howell had on his path back from May 2010 shoulder surgery have made his current success even more enjoyable.

If his smile wasn't enough of an indicator, or the stat sheet numbers — including the team record he added to Saturday by extending his scoreless streak to 242/3 innings — weren't telling enough, there's his strut coming off the mound.

"Right now I think he's throwing the ball better than any time, even when he had that really good year in 2008, based on velocity and movement," manager Joe Maddon said. "And now he's getting back to that little swagger thing when he walks off the field in an oblivious manner, which I love. And that's a big part of his success, I think. The more oblivious you can be, that's the true indicator that you are in the zone."

Howell worked hard to come back from the torn labrum and didn't do particularly well last year, going 2-3 with a 6.16 ERA in 46 games. The Rays' training staff deserves some of the credit, and so does Howell's wife, Heather.

"I've come a long way, and, man, it's just been cool," Howell said. "It's good to look back a little bit. I've got to give a shout-out to my wife. She's the one who had to wear the brunt of this. She's been with me the whole way. She's seen me behind closed doors. So this is pretty cool for us."

REHAB REPORT: DH Luke Scott was off Saturday and was scheduled to play what looked to be his last rehab game today for advanced Class A Charlotte, then report to Tropicana Field and be activated Monday or Tuesday. He has been out since July 21 with an oblique strain. … RHP Jeff Niemann, recovering from his mid-May broken leg, was scheduled to make the third of four scheduled rehab starts today for Triple-A Durham, five innings or 75 pitches.

CHIRINOS UPDATE: C Robinson Chirinos, sidelined since spring training with a concussion, has resumed throwing, hitting and running at the Port Charlotte complex. The Rays hope he can get back behind the plate during the fall instructional league and expect him to be ready for spring training.

NOT-SO-MINOR MATTER: SS Hak-Ju Lee's season is likely over. He was put on the disabled list at Double-A Montgomery with an oblique strain. Lee, considered the Rays' top position player prospect, hit .261 with four homers, 37 RBIs and 37 steals in 116 games for the Biscuits. … In what the Rays hope is a peek at the future, 2011 top draft pick RHP Taylor Guerrieri started at Fenway Park on Saturday as short-season Class A Hudson Valley faced Lowell in the annual Futures game, allowing one run in three innings.

MISCELLANY: As part of the anniversary celebration of the Angels' 2002 World Series championship, the team Saturday inducted the full squad, including Maddon and C Jose Molina, into its Hall of Fame. … OF Sam Fuld and Maddon wore microphones during the game for the Caught Looking TV show, which airs at 9 Thursday on the NBC Sports Network. … RHP Jeremy Hellickson flew home to be rested for Monday's start vs. Kansas City.

Routing Bucs doesn't cure all for Titan QBs

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

NASHVILLE — Though Tennessee scored 30 points in beating the Bucs on Friday at Raymond James Stadium, Jake Locker's struggles in his first preseason start have the Titans pushing back their timetable for announcing their starting quarterback for this season.

Mike Munchak had pegged the third preseason game for making that decision, but neither veteran Matt Hasselbeck or Locker have been impressive splitting starts through the first two games. Munchak was not ready to announce his starter for Thursday night against Arizona.

Locker was the eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft and was the only quarterback selected in the first round who did not start a game as a rookie.

On Friday, his second pass sailed over receiver Kendall Wright and was picked off by Bucs safety Ahmad Black. That led to Tampa Bay's lone scoring drive. Early in the second quarter, Locker overthrew 6-foot-5 tight end Jared Cook.

Locker finished 4-of-11 for 21 yards with a passer rating of 7.0 while running twice for 24 yards.

The Titans know what they have in Hasselbeck, who passed for 3,571 yards last season, but the 14-year veteran has been inconsistent too. He was had two interceptions in the preseason opener against Seattle. Against Tampa Bay, he was 4-of-5 for 29 yards passing.

SCARED KOLB?: Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb was sacked by Oakland's Tommy Kelly for a safety during Friday's game. And the Raiders defensive end didn't let up after Oakland's 31-27 loss.

"He is skittish. He is scared back there," Kelly said of Kolb. "Anytime anybody gets close to him he starts looking at the refs. As a defensive lineman you love a quarterback like that. He's not even trying to look at the routes anymore."

Kolb fired back while taking to the Cardinals' website, profootballtalk.com reported.

"Scared? Scared of what?" Kolb said. "Taking a hit? I have never been afraid of anyone on the field and that will never change. That includes No. 93 (Kelly). … Tommy Kelly is too clueless to know the difference. I don't mind people criticizing my play. Don't ever question my toughness."

Also, Cardinals starting left tackle Levi Brown has a torn right triceps and is likely out for the season.

Giants still rule N.Y.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It didn't matter if it was Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow at quarterback. The Jets could do little against the Giants defense.

Rookie Jayron Hosley returned an interception of Sanchez 77 yards for a touchdown, and the Super Bowl champions stifled the Jets in a 26-3 preseason victory in a matchup of the two MetLife Stadium tenants.

But the rookie cornerback out of Virginia Tech wore a walking boot on his right foot after the game and said he wasn't sure about the extent of his injury.

Tebow, the former Florida star making his home debut, led the Jets to their only points, a 30-yard field goal. He was 5-for-14 for 69 yards and rushed for 5 yards on two carries.

RAMS 31, CHIEFS 17: Sam Bradford threw for touchdowns on his first two drives as host St. Louis, which gained 215 yards for the game in a 38-3 loss to the Colts, had 151 in the first quarter alone in winning the annual Governor's Cup game. Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe didn't make the trip a day after signing a franchise tender.

FALCONS: Linebacker Akeem Dent returned to practice for the first time since sustaining a concussion and the team hopes he'll be fully cleared today.

49ERS: Running back Brandon Jacobs injured his left knee in the first quarter of a 20-9 loss to the Texans and stayed on the ground for several minutes.

GIANTS: Rookie linebacker Mark Herzlich (hip pointer) and defensive end Adrian Tracy (pulled hamstring) left in the second half against the Jets.

REDSKINS: Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo left with a left shoulder injury after trying to make a lunging tackle of Chicago's Devin Hester in the first quarter. Also, safety Brandon Meriweather had to be helped off the field with a knee injury.

SAINTS: Linebacker Chris Chamberlain said he is out for the season after injuring his left knee Friday against the Jaguars.

SEAHAWKS: Terrell Owens started in his debut with the team and dropped what would have been a 46-yard touchdown pass from Matt Flynn early in the game against the Broncos.


Cubs 9, Reds 7, Game 2

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Cubs 9, Reds 7

Game 2

CINCINNATI — Brett Jackson hit his first career home run to help Brooks Raley earn his first major-league win as Chicago split the day-night doubleheader.

Marlins 6, Rockies 5

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Times wires
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Marlins 6, Rockies 5

DENVER — Giancarlo Stanton homered for the sixth straight game at Coors Field, and Miami held on. The Marlins said Stanton became the first player to homer in his first six games in a visiting park, according to information provided by the Elias Sports Bureau. Saturday's drive traveled an estimated 448 feet.

Giants 8, Padres 7

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Times wires
Sunday, August 19, 2012

Giants 8, Padres 7

SAN DIEGO — Joaquin Arias homered and drove in three for the Giants. San Francisco has scored 22 runs on 37 hits in the three games since All-Star Melky Cabrera was suspended for a positive drug test.

A's 8, Indians 5

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Times wires
Sunday, August 19, 2012

A's 8, Indians 5

OAKLAND, Calif. — Yoenis Cespedes homered and drove in three and Coco Crisp had a two-run triple for Oakland. Bartolo Colon, who won his third consecutive start at home, didn't give up a hit until the fourth and allowed only two runners past first base in beating his former club for the sixth time in 10 starts. Cleveland is 1-4 on its road trip.

Sports on TV/radio for August 19

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Times sports staff
Sunday, August 19, 2012

TODAY

Action sports

Dew Tour, 2 p.m., Ch. 8

Autos

Sprint Cup: Pure Michigan 400, 1 p.m., ESPN

NHRA: Lucas Oil Nationals (taped), 9 p.m., ESPN2

Baseball

Cubs at Reds, 1 p.m., WGN

Dodgers at Braves, 1:30 p.m., TBS

Marlins at Rockies, 3 p.m., FSN

Rays at Angels, 3:30 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Red Sox at Yankees, 8 p.m., ESPN; 1040-AM. 820-AM

Golf

Wyndham Championship, 1 p.m., Golf

Wyndham Championship, 3 p.m., Ch. 10

Champions: Dick's Sporting Goods Open, 3 p.m., Golf

U.S. Amateur, 4 p.m., Ch. 8

LPGA: Safeway Classic, 6:30 p.m., Golf

Little League World Series

Canada vs. Panama, noon, ESPN2

Petaluma, Calif. vs. Goodlettsville, Tenn., 2 p.m., Ch. 28

San Antonio, Texas vs. New Castle, Ind., 5 p.m., ESPN

Japan vs. Chinese Taipei, 7 p.m., ESPN2

NFL

Preseason: Colts at Steelers, 8 p.m., Ch. 8

Soccer

FIFA under-20 Women's World Cup: Japan vs. Mexico, 6:15 a.m., ESPNU

EPL: Chelsea at Wigan Athletic, 8:30 a.m., FSC

EPL: Southampton at Manchester City, 10:30 a.m., FSC

Mexican: Pachuca at Toluca, 1 p.m., Univision

MLS: Philadelphia at D.C. United, 5 p.m., NBCSN

Tennis

Western and Southern Open, men's final: Federer vs. Djokovic, 12:30 p.m., Ch. 10

Western and Southern Open, women's final: V. Williams-Li winner vs. Kerber-Kvitova winner, 4 p.m., ESPN2

TV: NBCSN: NBC Sports Network; FSN: Fox Sports Network; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel

Down 8-0, Tampa Bay Rays rally to beat Los Angeles Angels 10-8

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, August 19, 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Down eight runs in the third inning Saturday night, the Rays seemed headed for a numbing defeat they would hope to quickly forget.

Instead, they ended up with a stunning — and record-tying — 10-8 victory over the Angels they will be talking about for a long time.

Especially if they end up playing into October.

After getting back in the game with seven runs in the fifth and getting even with one in the sixth, the Rays took the lead, dramatically, naturally, in the eighth, on a two-run pinch-hit homer by Carlos Peña, the first of his career coming off the bench.

"What a great comeback,'' Pena said. "We showed a lot of heart tonight.''

The Rays matched their largest comeback win in franchise history, having trailed 9-1 at Toronto on July 25, 2009, before winning 10-9. In doing so, they extended their red-hot roll, winning for the 10th time in their past 12 games, improving to 66-54, a season-high 12 games over .500, and maintaining their lead in the AL wild-card race.

"I really felt all along we had a chance," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "How could you not love the resolve, and staying with it, and coming back like that against a really good team in their home ballpark. ... I'm really proud of our guys.''

To think it all began with a dismal start by Alex Cobb, who allowed the eight runs, on 12 hits, while lasting only 22/3 innings. "Everything I threw up there, good pitch, bad pitch, was hit and found a hole,'' Cobb said. "There obviously were a lot more bad pitches than good pitches.''

But the Rays roared back to tie, scoring seven in the fifth, including a three-run double by Ben Zobrist and a two-run homer by Evan Longoria, and another in the sixth, on a sac fly by Jose Lobaton.

Once the Rays got even, the game turned into a battle of the bullpens.

And that worked to their advantage as they trotted out, in order, Burke Badenhop, J.P. Howell, Kyle Farnsworth, Jake McGee, Joel Peralta and Fernando Rodney, the former Angel who was booed before finishing with his majors-high 38th save (after a hit batsman, walk and wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out).

"It was all about the bullpen,'' Maddon said. "The bullpen permitted that to happen.''

The go-ahead rally, before a crowd of 41,086 gathered to cele­brate the 10th anniversary of the Angels' 2002 championship, happened quickly.

Jeff Keppinger opened the eighth against Kevin Jepsen with a single to center. Maddon sent up Peña, benched the past two nights due to matchups, to hit for Sean Rodriguez, who seemed a logical choice to bunt.

But Maddon said, as he often does, "the bunt is a very overrated play.'' He wanted Peña, who was 1-for-2 against Jepsen, to swing. And he took a big one on a 2-and-2 pitch, driving it over the rightfield fence.

"We thought Carlos was a really good matchup at the moment," Maddon said. "Honestly.''

Pena has been having a hard time overall, crediting coaches Derek Shelton and Dave Martinez and advance scouting coordinator Mike Calitri with keeping him positive and working hard. Pinch-hitting has been even more of a challenge, as Pena was just 6-for-31 in his career and uncomfortable doing so. "It's not an easy thing to do,'' Pena said. "Your heart rate goes from 0 to 200 in a matter of seconds as soon as you come up the stairs (from the dugout). It's hard to keep under control.''

Pena also contributed with his glove, scooping Ben Zobrist's throw to first for the final out.

The consensus in the loud clubhouse afterward was that Zobrist's hit was the biggest of the night, at least before Pena's.

The seven-run rally against C.J. Wilson, who now has a 10-start winless streak, started innocently, with a pair of one-out singles by Rodriguez and Ryan Roberts. A walk to Lobaton loaded the bases. A single by Sam Fuld scored the first run and a walk to Desmond Jennings another. Wilson created some breathing room by striking out B.J. Upton. But then Zobrist lashed a ball down the third-base line for a bases-clearing double. And Longoria, adding to his dazzling numbers at Angel Stadium, homered to center to cut the margin to 8-7.

The Rays made it all the way back the next inning, Roberts doubling, going to third on a passed ball and scoring on a sac fly by Lobaton, who also had a good game behind the plate.

It was the second straight night the Rays posted a seven on the Angel Stadium scoreboard, marking the second time in franchise history (and in the past two seasons, also July 28-29, 2011) they had back-to-back games with that many in a single frame.

It was also the first time they scored at least 10 runs in back-to-back games since April 2010.

By the end of the night, the Rays were talking about channeling their amazing comeback from Game 162 last year.

"The similarities were pretty amazing,'' Fuld said. "I came up with the bases loaded when we were down 8-0 tonight and 7-0 in Game 162, then Longo hitting the home run later in the inning to put us just down by one, then having a pinch-hitter hit a huge home run, Carlos and Dan Johnson. Pretty freaky. I said it at the time, and everyone was like, you're right. The similarities are amazing.''

And this, too, could be a game they talk about for a while.

"It's definitely going to be something we look back on and we're able to draw from it at the least,'' Longoria said.

Added Fuld: "We'll all remember this one.''



Diamondbacks 8, Astros 1

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Times wires
Sunday, August 19, 2012

D'backs 8, Astros 1

HOUSTON — Houston lost its first game under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco as Aaron Hill homered twice to help Arizona win its ninth in a row against the Astros. Hill led off a five-run fourth with a shot off Armando Galarraga and hit a solo homer in the eighth.


Tampa Bay Rays up next: vs. Kansas City Royals

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, August 19, 2012

. Up next

Royals

Tonight-Wednesday

What's new: It's still about the future for the Royals, but the present is pretty good as they swept the AL Central-leading White Sox to cap a 5-1 homestand. 1B Eric Hosmer, 3B Mike Moustakas, DH Billy Butler and C Salvador Perez are promising pieces, but they haven't had the pitching, specifically the starters, to make it work yet. (Though the past week has been good.) Closer Jonathan Broxton was traded to Cincinnati at the deadline. They also dumped INF Yuniesky Betancourt, LHP Jose Mijares and LHP Jonathan Sanchez (in trade) and lost INF Chris Getz to injury.

Key stat: Butler's 25 homers are the most by a Royal since 2003, when Carlos Beltran had 26.

Connections: Former Rays pitcher/front-office assistant and Zephyrhills product Dave Eiland is K.C.'s pitching coach. … Rays RHPs Kyle Farnsworth and Joel Peralta are former Royals.

Series history: Royals lead 3-0 this season; Rays lead 65-51 overall, 39-22 at the Trop.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Phillies 8, Brewers 0

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Times wires
Sunday, August 19, 2012

Phillies 8, Brewers 0

MILWAUKEE — Kyle Kendrick pitched eight three-hit innings to lead Philadelphia. Kendrick, who pitched seven shutout innings against the Marlins in his previous start, allowed Nyjer Morgan's leadoff triple in the first then trapped the speedster on Rickie Weeks' hard comebacker. Kendrick tagged out Morgan in a rundown. He retired 11 straight batters before walking Jonathan Lucroy to start the seventh. Domonic Brown drove in four runs and scored twice.

Orioles 7, Tigers 5

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Times wires
Sunday, August 19, 2012

Orioles 7, Tigers 5

DETROIT — Nate McLouth hit a go-ahead two-run triple and Baltimore stormed back after trailing 5-0 in the first inning. The Orioles have rallied from five-run deficits to win three times in their past 20 games. Baltimore leads Detroit by two games in the race for the AL's second wild-card spot.

Dodgers 5, Braves 0

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Times wires
Sunday, August 19, 2012

Dodgers 5, Braves 0

ATLANTA — Chad Billingsley combined with two relievers on a three-hitter to win his sixth straight start, and Luis Cruz homered for the second game in a row for Los Angeles. Billingsley is 6-0 since the All-Star break after losing five straight. He reached 10 wins for the sixth straight season. The Dodgers, who open a series tonight with the Giants, ended Atlanta's streak of seven series wins.

Rockies 3, Marlins 2

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Times wires
Sunday, August 19, 2012

Rockies 3, Marlins 2

DENVER — Jordan Pacheco homered, and banged-up Colorado slowed Giancarlo Stanton. The Miami slugger went homerless for the first time in seven games at Coors Field. Saturday night, he became the first player in history to homer in his first six games in any ballpark.

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