Bruce homers as Reds beat Dodgers to clinch division crown

CINCINNATI — General manager Walt Jocketty hit the "send" button on his cellphone right at the final out, informing his manager that the Reds' championship celebration was on.

And with a familiar swing getting them there.

Jay Bruce was Cincinnati's Mr. Clinch again, hitting the homer that started the Reds toward a 6-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday that made good on their second try for the title. The only thing missing was the manager.

Dusty Baker spent another day in a Chicago hospital getting treated for an irregular heartbeat. Jocketty texted congratulations to the 63-year-old Baker on his fifth division title as a manager, including two during the last three years with Cincinnati.

"He is here everywhere," owner Bob Castellini said, standing in the middle of a soaked clubhouse that had beer and champagne dripping from the ceiling. "He is here in spirit, and everybody knows he's here. We hope to see him tomorrow."

The players toasted Baker before drenching each other.

"It's a shame he's not here," third baseman Scott Rolen said. "He digs this stuff. He's missed, there's no doubt about that."

The Reds videotaped the celebration, along with best wishes, to send to Baker. When they clinched two years ago, Baker wound up in the middle of a players' huddle, getting joyously soaked.

The 2010 party started with a dramatic Bruce homer, a first-pitch leadoff shot in the ninth against Houston's Tim Byrdak. On Saturday, he led off the fourth inning with a first-pitch homer off rookie Stephen Fife (0-2), putting Cincinnati ahead to stay with his team-leading 34th of the season.

"It's not the same as two years ago, but I'll take it," Bruce said. "We've been taking care of business for quite a while, so we knew this was coming. Today is a nutshell of what we've been doing all season."

Mat Latos (13-4) allowed six hits and didn't walk a batter in eight innings. Left-hander Aroldis Chapman made his first appearance since Sept. 10 — a tired shoulder had sidelined him — and finished it off by getting Hanley Ramirez to hit into a double play off a 160 kph fastball.

Giants 8, Padres 4

In San Francisco, Madison Bumgarner pitched the Giants to their second NL West title in three years and newcomer Marco Scutaro had three hits and three RBIs.

The Giants captured their eighth divisional crown — wrapping it up once again with a victory over the Padres in front of their home fans, just as they did on the season's final day in 2010 on the way to an improbable World Series championship.

Braves 8, Phillies 2

In Philadelphia, Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer to back Mike Minor and the Braves roughed up Roy Halladay to move closer to clinching a postseason berth.

Cardinals 5, Cubs 4 (10)

In Chicago, Jon Jay's RBI double in the 10th inning lifted St. Louis to the victory, bolstering the Cardinals' bid for another playoff appearance.

Nationals 10, Brewers 4

In Washington, Gio Gonzalez became the majors' first 20-game winner in 2012, and the first pitcher for a Washington baseball team with 200 strikeouts since Walter Johnson in 1916.

Norichika Aoki was 1-for-3 for the Brewers.

Mets 4, Marlins 3

In New York, R.A. Dickey earned his 19th victory with a strong performance, Jason Bay and Scott Hairston homered and the Mets barely held on in the ninth inning for their second straight home win.

Diamondbacks 8, Rockies 7

In Denver, Aaron Hill tripled and drove in four runs for Arizona.

Astros 4, Pirates 1

In Houston, Jason Castro hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Astros handed the fading Pirates their fifth straight loss.

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Bruce hit ends Reds' long winless streak

In harm's way: Reds shortstop Paul Janish tries to avoid the Phillies' Carlos Ruiz's attempt to break up a double play in the sixth inning on Tuesday in Philadelphia. The Reds won 6-3. AP

PHILADELPHIA — Jay Bruce erased a frustrating night with one big swing.

Bruce hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the ninth inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 Tuesday night to snap a six-game losing streak.

The Reds had lost eight straight against NL East-leading Philadelphia, including a three-game sweep in last year's division playoff series.

Bruce came in swinging a hot bat. He had four homers in the last five games and was tied for the NL lead with 12. But he struck out three times and popped out in his first four at-bats before clearing the bases against Ryan Madson (2-1).

"I blew it the first time with guys on second and third and one out," Bruce said, referring to his strikeout in the fifth. "I just tried to relax and get something I could handle."

Logan Ondrusek (1-0) retired the only batter he faced to get the win. Francisco Cordero finished for his ninth save in 10 tries.

Drew Stubbs got the Reds started with a one-out bunt single in the ninth. He advanced to second on Madson's throwing error. After Brandon Phillips lined to shortstop, Joey Votto was intentionally walked. Scott Rolen followed with an infield single as third baseman Placido Polanco made a backhanded grab to save a run.

Bruce then ripped a liner to deep right-center to knock in three and give the Reds a 6-3 lead.

"Coming back is kind of our M.O.," Bruce said. "We're never out of a game. The experience has helped us."

Braves 2, Pirates 0

In Pittsburgh, Jair Jurrjens pitched six-hit ball into the eighth inning to lead Atlanta over the Pirates.

Rockies 12, D-Backs 4 (1st)

D-Backs 5, Rockies 2 (2nd)

In Denver, Carlos Gonzalez homered twice and Colorado became the first team to decipher Josh Collmenter's tomahawk-pitching style, rallying past Arizona.

Then the Rockies lost the nightcap when Joe Saunders (1-5) snapped his six-game losing streak and Kelly Johnson hit a solo homer.

Dodgers 5, Astros 4

In Houston, Jerry Sands hit a grand slam and Jay Gibbons also homered as Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Astros.

Cubs 11, Mets 1

In Chicago, Ryan Dempster pitched seven effective innings, Starlin Castro had three hits and two RBIs and the Cubs pounded the stumbling Mets.

Brewers 7, Nationals 6

In Milwaukee, Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning and Brandon Boggs collided with catcher Wilson Ramos to score the go-ahead run, rallying the Brewers past Washington.

Cardinals 3, Padres 2 (11)

In San Diego, Daniel Descalso singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 11th.

Marlins 5, Giants 1

In San Francisco, Ricky Nolasco pitched scoreless ball into the ninth inning and Florida quieted the streaking Giants.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 4, Indians 2

In Cleveland, Josh Beckett picked up his first regular-season win at the Indians' home park, where Cleveland lost for just the fifth time this year.

Yankees 5, Blue Jays 4

In New York, Curtis Granderson had a tying RBI single in the ninth inning then stole second before Mark Teixeira singled him home.

Tigers 7, Rays 6

In Detroit, Alex Avila's second homer of the game gave the Tigers the lead in the eighth.

Twins 4, Mariners 2

In Minneapolis, Nick Blackburn came through with a desperately needed complete game and Denard Span had three hits and an RBI to lift the Twins.

Ichiro Suzuki went 0-for-4 for the Mariners.

Athletics 6, Angels 1

In Anaheim, David DeJesus hit two homers and drove in four runs, Guillermo Moscoso pitched six scoreless innings to win his first major league start.

Hideki Matsui finished 0-for-4 for the A's.

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