Prior’s Return Is Worth the Wait

Mark Prior returned from the disabled list and won his first start in his hometown, combining with four relievers on a three-hitter as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres, 3-0, Tuesday night at San Diego.

The right-hander had been out since July 11, when he hurt his pitching shoulder in a collision with Atlanta second baseman Marcus Giles. Prior left that game complaining of stiffness in his shoulder and was put on the disabled list the next day.

Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Jaret Wright. It was his 13th overall and his first since being traded to the Cubs with Kenny Lofton from Pittsburgh on July 22.

Prior (9-5) gave up two hits in six innings, then watched from the dugout as reliever Mark Guthrie and Ramirez, the third baseman, helped preserve the victory.

After reliever Kyle Farnsworth loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, Guthrie came on and struck out pinch-hitter Brian Buchanan.

Gary Bennett then grounded to Ramirez, who gloved the ball about 8 feet behind third base and outraced Ryan Klesko to the bag, diving glovefirst to touch it for the force.

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San Francisco 3, Pittsburgh 0 -- Jason Schmidt won his fourth consecutive start with seven innings of four-hit ball, and Jose Cruz Jr. had a two-run single at San Francisco.

Schmidt (12-4) made quick work of his former Pittsburgh teammates, retiring 16 of the first 18 hitters he faced while improving to 7-1 since June 19. He was removed for a pinch-hitter after finishing the seventh inning, throwing 60 of his 80 pitches for strikes.

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Arizona 8, Montreal 5 -- Shea Hillenbrand homered and drove in four runs at Phoenix, ending the Expos’ four-game winning streak.

Hillenbrand helped stake Randy Johnson to a 6-1 lead. The Expos chased Johnson (2-4) with a four-run rally in the sixth inning.

Arizona’s offensive outburst was its largest since a 9-1 win at San Diego on July 17.

The win was the Diamondbacks’ second in their last eight games and made them 6-12 since the All-Star break.

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Philadelphia 7, Colorado 2 -- Bobby Abreu and Ricky Ledee homered, and Brett Myers pitched into the eighth inning for the Phillies at Denver.

Myers (11-6) gave up two runs and eight hits, striking out three and walking two for his first win in three starts. The Phillies maintained their two-game lead over Florida in the NL wild-card race.

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New York 10, Houston 1 -- Vance Wilson’s three-run homer keyed a seven-run fifth inning, and Al Leiter had another strong outing at Houston.

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Milwaukee 4, Atlanta 3 -- Richie Sexson homered twice for the Brewers at Milwaukee and reached 30 homers for the third time in his career.

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Florida 4, St. Louis 0 -- Brad Penny gave up four hits in seven innings at St. Louis.