MIAMI (AP) ― One pitch from being pulled, and one strike from victory, Homer Bailey unleashed a 97 mph fastball to finish off the Marlins.With his 125th pitch ― a career high ― Bailey completed a six-hitter and helped the Cincinnati Reds extend their winning streak to four games by beating Miami 6-2 Tuesday night.Bailey went to a full count on the final batter, Greg Dobbs, and wouldn’t have faced another, manager Dusty Baker said.“We were counting pitches in the ninth inning,” Baker said. “We we

May 15, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Chris Capuano pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Scott Van Slyke homered, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.Capuano (1-2) allowed a run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. The left-hander started against the Marlins for the first time since last Aug. 12, when he threw eight innings of two-hit ball in a 5-0 win at Miami. Brandon League finished in a non-save situation, giving up a two-ru

May 13, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Andre Ethier had a pair of doubles among his season-high four hits, Dee Gordon hit a rare home run and the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 7-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday night.Ryu Hyun-jin (4-2) allowed one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander took a three-hit shutout into the seventh before Miguel Olivo homered.Ethier’s four-hit game was first since last Aug. 24-25, when he had back-to-back four-hit efforts against

May 12, 2013

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Dan Uggla and Juan Francisco helped Atlanta quickly forget a terrible ending.Uggla hit a pair of solo homers and Francisco added his first career grand slam as the Braves recovered from a stunning last-swing loss by beating the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 Wednesday.Atlanta took two of three in the series, the first the Reds lost at home this season. The Reds are 13-6 at Great American Ball Park, the most home wins the majors.Devin Mesoraco and Choo Shin-soo hit two-out homers in the ni

May 9, 2013

In a matter of weeks, Chris Oxspring, a right-handed starter for the Lotte Giants, has gone from a scapegoat to one of the few bright spots for the struggling Korea Baseball Organization club.The 35-year-old Australian got off to a rocky beginning on his second tour of duty in the top South Korean league. In his first four starts of the season, Oxspring went 0-3 as he surrendered 14 earned runs and walked 14 batters in 19 innings. But in his last three starts, Oxspring has gone 3-0, having conce

May 9, 2013

After being traded by the same Korea Baseball Organization team for the second time in his career this week, Kim Sang-hyun didn’t initially hide his disappointment.In his first game for the SK Wyverns since being moved by the Kia Tigers, the right-handed slugger put what bitter feelings he might have had behind him, and made an immediate impact on the field. Batting cleanup for the Incheon-based club following Monday’s trade, Kim went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.  Both RBIs came on

May 8, 2013

CINCINNATI (AP) ― One of the NL’s best closers was one strike away from a milestone save. Devin Mesoraco and Choo Shin-soo turned everything upside down in a span of five pitches.Mesoraco homered on a full-count pitch from Craig Kimbrel with two outs in the ninth inning on Tuesday night, and Choo followed with his second homer of the game, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves.So sudden, and so shocking for everyone.“He’s the best closer in the league,” said Choo,

May 8, 2013

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Andrelton Simmons is starting to get noticed for more than those amazing defensive plays.The young shortstop homered twice and drove in a career-high four runs on Monday night, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 7-4 victory that ended the Cincinnati Reds’ winning streak at three games.The Braves won at a place where they’ve had little success lately. They were 0-4 at Great American Ball Park last year and 14-25 overall since it opened for the 2003 season. Simmons led the way on o

May 7, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Giants ace Matt Cain didn’t make much of his first victory this season, even though it completed a series sweep of divisional rival Los Angeles.Ending a two-week drought by San Francisco’s starting pitchers meant more to the three-time All-Star.Cain pitched into the eighth inning to end the longest winless-streak of his career, and Hunter Pence accounted for all of the scoring in the Giants 4-3 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday night.“All of the starters, we just hadn’t bee

May 6, 2013

CHICAGO (AP) ― The Cincinnati Reds were watching when Carlos Marmol came on to pitch the eighth inning, and they knew exactly what to do.It pays to be patient when the erratic right-hander is on the mound.Marmol walked two guys and hit another batter before he was pulled, and Cincinnati scored four times to rally for a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.“You’ve got to take what they’re giving you, and Marmol had a little tough time out there,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Our guys

May 5, 2013

Almost one year to date, the Nexen Heroes are back atop the standings in the Korea Baseball Organization.The Heroes climbed to first place by defeating the Samsung Lions 4-3 in 10 innings on the road in Daegu on Thursday. The victory completed a three-game sweep of the two-time defending champs.At 16-7, the Heroes, winners of three straight, are in first place for the first time since May 25 of last year. In 2012, the Heroes won a franchise record eight consecutive games to reach first on May 23

May 3, 2013

ST. LOUIS (AP) ― Fast starts are becoming routine for Lance Lynn and the St. Louis Cardinals.Lynn won his 10th straight decision, allowing one run and five hits in seven innings Wednesday to lead the Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 4-2.Lynn (5-0) struck out five and walked two, improving to 10-0 in 10 starts and one relief appearance since losing to Milwaukee on Sept. 7. He became the NL’s first five-game winner.“It’s early ― but it’s fun so far,” Lynn said.He was 6-0 with a 1.48 ERA through

May 2, 2013