Cubs End Their Skid by Defeating Willis

The Chicago Cubs ended the league’s longest losing streak, and they did it against a pitcher tied for the league lead in wins -- Dontrelle Willis.

Jeromy Burnitz homered and drove in three runs and the Cubs ended an eight-game skid by beating Willis and the Florida Marlins, 9-6, Friday night at Miami.

Willis (13-4) was bidding to become baseball’s first 14-game winner. But he struggled through his shortest outing of the season, yielding a career-high eight runs -- all earned -- in 4 1/3 innings. His earned-run average went from 1.89 to 2.39.

Atlanta 2, Milwaukee 1 -- Pinch-hitter Ryan Langerhans’ bases-loaded single to left with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in Pete Orr with the winning run, giving the Braves their sixth consecutive victory.

Julio Franco singled off Julio Santana (1-3) with one out and was replaced by Orr. Adam LaRoche singled before Johnny Estrada was intentionally walked to load the bases. Langerhans then singled sharply past shortstop J.J. Hardy’s diving attempt.

Pittsburgh 6, New York 5 -- Humberto Cota hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning at Pittsburgh after Met closer Braden Looper (2-4) blew a four-run lead in the ninth. The Mets had led, 5-1.

Rob Mackowiak reached on second baseman Miguel Cairo’s two-base throwing error with one out and, after Jose Castillo grounded out, the left-handed hitting Daryle Ward was walked intentionally. Cota then lined a single to left.

Washington 8, Philadelphia 7 -- The Nationals nearly wasted a five-run lead at Philadelphia, but Gary Majewski pitched two scoreless innings of relief, and All-Star Chad Cordero threw a scoreless ninth for his league-leading 31st save.

San Diego 12, Colorado 2 -- Ryan Klesko’s grand slam highlighted a six-run sixth inning at Coors Field. He hit an 0-1 pitch from Byung-Hyun Kim to right-center to give the Padres a 10-2 lead.

The Padres (47-40) will enter the All-Star break with a winning record for only the ninth time in club history.

St. Louis 3, San Francisco 1 -- Mark Mulder pitched seven shutout innings in a triumphant return to the Bay Area, helping the Cardinals win for the fifth time in six games.

Mulder (10-5), pitching in the area for the first time since Oakland traded him in December, yielded four hits, struck out one and walked one in an impressive 73-pitch performance.

Cincinnati 4, Arizona 3 -- Ken Griffey Jr. hit a game-tying, three-run homer in the eighth and Rich Aurilia singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth to rally the Reds at Phoenix.