Miller Stops Braves

A healthy Wade Miller gave Boston’s struggling rotation a big boost.

Miller retired the first eight batters and gave up only three hits in 6 1/3 innings Friday night at Fenway Park in a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves after the Red Sox had struggled on their six-game West Coast trip.

He made his third start of the season after recovering from a frayed rotator cuff in his right shoulder that had kept him on the disabled list for the last three months of the 2004 season with Houston.

Atlanta starter Tim Hudson (4-3) gave up four runs and eight hits, including homers by Jason Varitek and Bill Mueller, in six innings.

The Red Sox needed strong pitching after going 2-4 on their trip to Seattle and Oakland. Their starters were 0-3 with a 9.30 ERA.

San Diego 6, Seattle 1 -- Jake Peavy (4-0) pitched three-hit ball for seven shutout innings at Seattle and matched a season high with 10 strikeouts, leading the Padres to their eighth win in a row. The Padres, who lead the NL West at 26-16, improved to 17-3 in their last 20 games.

Chicago White Sox 5, Chicago Cubs 1 -- The White Sox showed the Cubs at Wrigley Field why they have the best record in the majors. Freddy Garcia (4-3) outpitched Greg Maddux (2-2) to help the White Sox improve to 30-12.

Garcia, who gave up 18 hits and 11 earned runs in his last two starts over 12 1/3 innings, yielded five singles and an unearned run in seven innings.

Texas 7, Houston 3 -- Kenny Rogers’ scoreless streak ended at 31 innings, but he held the Astros to three runs in eight innings and got help from Laynce Nix at Arlington, Texas.

Nix hit a three-run homer, had six RBIs and made a run-saving throw from center field to help Rogers improve to 5-2. The streak ended when Brad Ausmus’ one-out single in the second scored Morgan Ensberg.

Oakland 8, San Francisco 4 -- Keith Ginter hit a three-run homer during a five-run seventh inning and had a career-high five RBIs at SBC Park in the opener of the Bay Bridge interleague series.

St. Louis 7, Kansas City 6 -- John Mabry hit a grand slam and an RBI double to power the Cardinals past the Royals at Kansas City, Mo. Mark Mulder (6-1) gave up seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings but won his sixth decision in a row.

Arizona 6, Detroit 2 -- Brandon Webb (6-0), who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Detroit, won his sixth consecutive decision. He retired Brandon Inge for the first out of the seventh. Ivan Rodriguez then hit a roller to third and reached with an infield single when he easily beat the throw from Troy Glaus.

Minnesota 7, Milwaukee 1 -- Carlos Silva (3-2), who pitched a five-hitter without a walk at Minneapolis, threw only 74 pitches -- 54 for strikes. The Twins scored four runs off Gary Glover (2-3), who threw 47 pitches in 1 1/3 innings

Florida 7, Tampa Bay 6 -- Mike Lowell and Paul Lo Duca each drove in three runs at Miami to support Al Leiter (2-4), who gave up four runs and six hits in five innings. Hideo Nomo (2-4) gave up six earned runs and eight hits in five innings.

Cincinnati 2, Cleveland 1 -- Aaron Harang took a shutout into the eighth inning at Cincinnati, and Adam Dunn and Felipe Lopez homered for the Reds. Harang (3-2) yielded four hits and struck out nine in 7 1/3 innings.

Philadelphia 9, Baltimore 3 -- Randy Wolf (3-4) remained unbeaten against the Orioles. He went six innings at Baltimore, yielding two runs -- one earned -- and seven hits. He improved to 4-0 in five games -- three starts -- against the Orioles.

Toronto 6, Washington 1 -- Ted Lilly (2-4) struck out a season-high eight in five innings, and Vernon Wells homered twice to lead the Blue Jays over the Nationals at Toronto. Lilly, who gave up five hits and the run, lowered his ERA from 10.41 to 8.82.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pittsburgh 9, Colorado 4 -- Matt Lawton hit a solo homer and a two-run single during a six-run seventh inning at Pittsburgh. The Pirates won for the sixth time in 18 home games in a matchup of the teams with the league’s fewest wins at home (Pittsburgh) and on the road (Colorado). The Rockies are 2-16 away from Coors Field.