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Baseball Today

By The Associated Press | SCOREBOARD

3:55 AM EDT, July 4, 2008

Friday, July 4

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis (8:15 p.m.) The top teams in the NL Central square off, with the Cubs bringing ace Carlos Zambrano (8-3) off the disabled list to face Braden Looper (9-5) in the opener of a three-game series.

STARS

Thursday

--Chad Billingsley, Dodgers, gave up six hits with five strikeouts over eight innings, allowing only a pair of unearned runs in beating the Astros 5-2.

--Cole Hamels, Phillies, came within an out of a second complete-game shutout of the Braves, giving up just one run in the ninth inning of a 4-1 win.

--Mark Grudzielanek, Royals, was 4-for-5 and played a big part in a seven-run sixth inning that carried Kansas City to a 10-7 win over the Orioles.

--Jon Lester, Red Sox, gave up five hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight in a complete-game, 7-0 win over the Yankees.

--Mike Pelfrey, Mets, gave up a run on six hits over seven innings, and also went 1-for-3 with an RBI and scored a run in an 11-1 rout of the Cardinals.

--J.J. Hardy, Brewers, went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a solo home run, but it wasn't enough. The Diamondbacks scored all six of their runs in the ninth for a 6-5 victory.

NINTH-INNING MELTDOWN

Conor Jackson delivered the winning two-run single to cap a six-run ninth inning, lifting the Diamondbacks to a 6-5 victory over the Brewers. Three Milwaukee pitchers failed to record an out as seven straight D-backs reached base in the inning. Salomon Torres picked up the loss.

JUST ANOTHER SERIES

There wasn't quite as much luster in the Bronx for the Red Sox-Yankees series, seeing as both clubs are chasing Tampa Bay in the division. It's the first time since September 1997 that the two teams played after Memorial Day with neither in first place, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Rays, by the way, had a well-deserved day off.

HOLDING COURT

David DeJesus matched his career-best hitting streak of 15 games with a single during the Royals' seven-run sixth inning, which carried them to a 10-7 win over Baltimore. The last time Kansas City scored more than six runs in an inning was June 14, 2007 -- an eight-run second frame against St. Louis.

WHAT JINX?

Razzed by teammates for making the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, Giants youngster Tim Lincecum responded by increasing his NL-leading strikeout total to 122 with eight Ks in six innings of an 8-3 win over the Cubs. Lincecum also singled in a run and scored.

COLE KO's BRAVES

Cole Hamels came within one out of his second shutout of the Braves this season, giving up his only run with two outs in the ninth inning of a 4-1 win. The Phillies have swept Atlanta twice at Turner Field and improved to 8-1 against the Braves this season. The last team to sweep two straight series in Atlanta was the Padres in August and September of 1989.