he fifth inning because of a sore

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PHILADELPHIA -- Another gem by Phillies starter Cole Hamels was nearly wasted again. Darin Ruf hit a solo homer in the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory Sunday and three-game sweep over the Atlanta Braves. "It was a good sign for Darin to go right-centre like that," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He seems to get a lot of pitches away. Its a good sign he stayed on that one, and it was a big moment. Thats what he needs to continue to do." Hamels (7-13) made just two mistakes Sunday -- two long homers off the bat of Evan Gattis -- and they nearly cost him the win. Gattis first home run, in the second inning, travelled 480 feet to centre field. In the seventh, he tied the game with a long ball that went deep into the left-field bleachers. It was his first career multi-homer game. "Hes strong," Hamels said. "He swung with everything he had in him. I felt like I was throwing a golf ball out there and he had a driver." They were the only two hits Hamels allowed over eight innings. He struck out nine, walked two and retired the side in order four times. "He was outstanding," Sandberg said. "Its about time he got a late-inning run to get the W." Gattis almost had another home run in the fifth inning, but it died at the warning track in dead centre field with a strong wind blowing in. "I guess if the 50 mile-an-hour winds didnt keep it in play, it definitely wouldve went off the wall," Hamels said. "Or through it." B.J. Rosenberg earned his first career save with a perfect ninth inning. "He took it and ran with it," Sandberg said. "He earned the spot there today, came through big time with great stuff, pounded the strike zone with strikes." David Carpenter (3-1) took the loss for allowing Rufs homer in the eighth. Chase Utley doubled and Ruf singled to knock in the Phillies first two runs in the first inning. Utley and Ruf both finished with two hits apiece. Braves starter Paul Maholm went six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, three walks and a hit batter. He struck out five and stranded seven Phillies baserunners. "He gave us a great opportunity to win the game," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We only had two hits. We didnt do much offensively to the whole series." Two baserunning blunders by Cesar Hernandez may have cost the Phillies extra runs. He was picked off in the first inning and thrown out by Joey Terdoslavich attempting to go first to third in the fifth inning. Philadelphia squandered a chance for more runs in the sixth. After the first two men reached base via a walk and an error, Freddy Galvis grounded into a double play and Hamels struck out. B.J. Upton, who went 0 for 4, finished the series 0 for 12 with seven strikeouts. B.J. and Justin Upton are hitless in their last 32 at-bats combined. "They pitched well all three games," B.J. Upton said. "We were in all three games, it just didnt work out. ... Were fine. Well come back to play tomorrow." The Braves had just 10 hits in the series. The Phillies are 11-2 in their last 13 one-run games. "Its great to just play well in all facets of the game, pitching, defence, swinging the bats well this series too," Ruf said. "It was nice just to see what we can do when all phases of the game are clicking for us." NOTES: Atlanta LHP Scott Downs is considered day-to-day with a non-displaced fracture to the tip of his right ring finger. Down left Saturdays game after being hit on his glove hand with a line drive. ... Cole Hamels has gone at least five innings in 72 consecutive starts, the longest active streak in the majors. ... Braves OF Justin Upton, hitless in 16 at-bats entering Sunday, did not start. He entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth and struck out. ... Atlanta, which owns baseballs best home record at 51-20, is just 34-37 on the road. ... Philadelphia resumes its homestand Tuesday against the Padres with Roy Halladay (3-4, 7.19) on the mound. ... Atlanta heads Monday to Miami, where Kris Medlen (12-12, 3.48) will take the hill. Kareem Martin Jersey . Keenum will make his first appearance in a regular-season game against the rugged defence of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where the fans just set a Guinness record as the noisiest outdoor stadium in the world. A.Q. Shipley Jersey . According to TSNs Farhan Lalji, Richardson is heading to Toronto for a physical and is expected to sign with the Argonauts. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Y ... ey/.Before a raucous sellout crowd, the Hawks won for the 29th time in 31 games to extend their Eastern-best record to 36-8.As usual, pretty much everyone chipped in.Four starters were in double figures and backup point guard Dennis Schroder led a spurt at the start of the fourth quarter that helped the Hawks pull away. Tyvon Branch Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Chad Williams Jersey . - On the night Dirk Nowitzki overtook Dominique Wilkins on the career scoring list, Brandan Wright was a human highlight film all by himself.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- One very bad and very short day in St. Louis, followed by another bad game in Cincinnati. Adam Wainwright doesnt understand why hes having a really tough time getting the Reds out. Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Votto homered on Monday as Cincinnati roughed up Wainwright for the second start in a row, and Mat Latos went the distance for the first time this season in a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Latos (14-5) credited an offence that seems to have Wainwrights number. "It doesnt matter who were playing, but theres definitely more of an anxiety added when you have a guy like Wainwright," said Latos, who allowed four hits. "We were fortunate to be able to get to him today." Fortunate? Or maybe theyve figured him out? "I dont know about that," said Ryan Ludwick, who singled home a run. "I think weve gotten some pitches to hit the last two outings weve faced him, and weve done damage." Latos gave up a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly by Matt Holliday in his fourth career complete game. The third-place Reds are trying to end the Cardinals season-long dominance during their four-game series at Great American Ball Park. St. Louis has won the last seven series between the teams and is 10-6 against Cincinnati this year. "It starts at one," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Hopefully this is just a beginning because weve got a lot of work to do, a long way to go." The Cardinals took two of three in St. Louis last week, the only loss coming when the Reds tagged Wainwright (15-9) for nine runs in a career-low two innings. They hit him hard again on Monday, piling up six runs and 10 hits in six innings. Wainwright isnt sure whats going on with him and the Reds. "The last time, it was a matter of me leaving too many ball in the middle of the plate," Wainwright said. "Today, they hit some good pitches. I feel very strong. Ive had some good games against them in the past. Its a head-scratcher, to be honest with you." Its an important series for Cincinnati, which now trails the Cardinals by 2 1/2 games. St. Louis opened the day tied with Pittsburgh for first place. The Reds maintain a comfortable lead for the ffinal NL wild-card spot.dddddddddddd The last time the Cardinals visited Great American Ball Park, they won by scores of 13-3 and 15-2 during a one-sided series that left the Reds embarrassed. This one started much better for them. Wainwright fell to 5-9 career against Cincinnati. In his last two starts against the Reds, the right-hander has given up 18 hits and 15 runs in only eight innings. Hes 1-3 in four starts against Cincinnati this season with a 7.77 ERA. "Thats a real good pitcher," Baker said. "We have nothing but respect for Wainwright. Hes not the guy that you would exactly choose to face twice a week. Its a funny game." Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina came out of the game in the fifth inning because of a sore left wrist. He was activated off the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 15 after missing 14 games with a sore right knee. The Reds quickly got to Wainwright. Choo opened the first with a single and scored on Ludwicks two-out single. Ludwick missed more than three months with torn cartilage in his right shoulder, but the left fielder is starting to get his swing back in shape. Ludwick has driven in a run in each of his last four games. Zack Cozart singled home a run in the second, and Choos two-run homer made it 4-0. Choo leads all major league leadoff hitters with 19 homers. He has three homers during a six-game hitting streak, which includes four multihit games. Votto hit an up-and-away 1-2 pitch to the opposite field in left for his 21st homer in the fourth inning. NOTES: Cardinals RF Carlos Beltrans back was still sore on Monday, prompting manager Mike Matheny to keep him out of the starting lineup for a second straight day as a precaution. "Instead of trying to push him through, weve tried to pay attention to how he feels," Matheny said. "That should pay dividends in the long run." ... St. Louis 1B Matt Adams extended his slump to 0 for 14. ... The Reds called up OF Billy Hamilton and INF Neftali Soto and activated C Corky Miller off the 15-day DL before the game. ... Homer Bailey (9-10) tries to extend his winning streak -- 4-0 in his last six starts -- against the Cardinals Michael Wacha (2-0), who makes his fifth career start. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '