Ohka Comes Back to Hurt Nationals

Milwaukee Brewer Manager Ned Yost had no problems with Tomo Ohka’s outing. Ohka pitched seven strong innings against his former team, leading the Brewers over the Washington Nationals, 5-3, Sunday at Milwaukee.

Ohka (6-4) was acquired by Milwaukee for infielder Junior Spivey on June 10, a week after he was fined for turning his back to Frank Robinson when the National manager went to the mound to pull the right-hander. On Sunday, Robinson declined to comment on Ohka.

But Yost had only high praise for Ohka, who picked up his first win since he defeated Tampa Bay in his Milwaukee debut on June 14 -- a span of five starts.

“He was very sharp,” Yost said. “He kept his fastball down and moved it in and out. He had real good command of all his pitches. His cutter was outstanding and his changeup and splitter were very good. He kept them way off balance. He pitched a great ballgame.”

Ohka gave up four hits and three runs, struck out six and did not walk a batter in his first start since July 6.

St. Louis 3, Houston 0 -- All-Star starter Chris Carpenter outpitched Roger Clemens at St. Louis to become the National League’s first 14-game winner. The St. Louis right-hander tossed a three-hitter, leading the Cardinals to a three-game sweep of the Astros.

In his last eight starts, Carpenter (14-4) has given up only five runs in 64 2/3 innings for a microscopic 0.70 earned-run average. Clemens (7-4) entered with a major league best 1.48 ERA and lasted seven innings, giving up three runs and five hits.

Arizona 6, San Diego 1 -- Chad Tracy had the first two-homer game of his career and Brad Halsey pitched six strong innings at San Diego.

Tracy hit a solo homer in the third inning off Tim Stauffer and connected again against Chris Hammond with a two-run shot that gave Arizona a 4-1 lead in the seventh.

Chicago 8, Pittsburgh 2 -- Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit solo home runs and Carlos Zambrano pitched eight solid innings at Chicago.

Lee’s homer was his 28th, breaking a tie with Atlanta’s Andruw Jones for the NL lead.

Philadelphia 8, Florida 4 -- Vicente Padilla gave up two hits in seven scoreless innings and tripled in two runs off struggling Dontrelle Willis at Philadelphia. Willis (13-5) gave up eight runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

New York 8, Atlanta 1 -- Pedro Martinez held the Braves to two hits over six innings at New York to earn a split of the four-game series.

The Mets broke the game open with a four-run second inning against Mike Hampton (4-2), and Martinez (11-3) coasted to victory. He struck out five and lifted his National League-leading total to 143.

Cincinnati 9, Colorado 4 -- Javier Valentin hit his first career grand slam and a three-run homer, connecting from both sides of the plate, and the Reds completed a three-game sweep at Cincinnati.

Valentin drove in a career-high seven runs and became the first Reds’ switch-hitter to homer from both sides of the plate since Pete Rose did it against Atlanta on Aug. 2, 1967.

*

Colorado outrighted reliever Bobby Seay to triple-A Colorado Springs.... Pittsburgh put Craig Wilson on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken left hand.... St. Louis put catcher Yadier Molina on the 15-day DL because of a broken left hand and recalled utility player Hector Luna from triple-A Memphis.