NEW YORK // Manny Ramirez hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs to help the Los Angeles Dodgers take sole possession of first place in the National League West after recording a 7-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday - their seventh straight win. At the Great American Ball Park, Alfonso Soriano belted three home runs and helped the Central-leading Chicago Cubs snap a six-game losing skid with a 14-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Chicago, who had won seven straight matches prior to their recent slide, received just over seven stellar innings from starter Jason Marquis. In San Francisco, Scott McClain, a 36-year-old rookie, capped a five-run rally in the seventh inning with his second career home run to lift the Giants to a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. At Turner Field, Ryan Langerhans belted a go-ahead solo homer to spark a three-run 10th inning to lift the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Also on Saturday, Ben Sheets pitched a five-hitter to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. Sheets allowed one walk and struck out seven while Prince Fielder drove in the game's only run with a double in the third inning to plate Ryan Braun. Roy Oswalt hurled a sparkling one-hitter as the Houston Astros posted a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies, while Todd Wellemeyer tossed a career best eight innings and Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer to lift the St Louis Cardinals to a 5-3 victory over the Florida Marlins.
Finally, the East Division meeting with the table-topping New York Mets and second-placed Philadelphia Phillies, who are two games back, was postponed due to Tropical Storm Hanna. * PA Sport
