Maddux celebrates 42nd birthday early

LOS ANGELES -- Greg Maddux didn't stick around to talk about his 349th career victory. He left the clubhouse right after the final out to catch a plane for Las Vegas, where his family is no doubt planning a celebration today for his 42nd birthday.

The 1984 Valley High School graduate allowed two hits over five innings and combined with four San Diego relievers on a five-hit shutout, using Paul McAnulty's fourth-inning sacrifice fly to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 on Sunday.

"This is a tough loss," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said after his team's fifth defeat in six games. "When you come into the day and know you're going to give up one run, you have to feel pretty good about things -- even though you know you are facing Maddux."

The four-time Cy Young Award winner was exactly what the Padres needed following Saturday night's 11-1 loss. Maddux (2-0) has made nine of his 35 career starts against the Dodgers in April, going 8-0 with a 1.11 ERA in that month.

"I've always had a lot of respect for guys who just say, 'Here it is, and if you beat me, you beat me.' That's the way he's always gone about his business," Torre said. "You don't have to throw the ball 95 miles an hour to be a successful pitcher."

There are currently 20 members of the Hall of Fame who pitched past their 42nd birthday. Thirteen of them were born in the 20th century, including Don Sutton, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry, Dennis Eckersley, and Goose Gossage -- who will formally be inducted into Cooperstown on July 27.

• Rockies 13, Diamondbacks 5 -- At Phoenix, Clint Barmes, Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins homered as Colorado routed Arizona, snapping the Diamondbacks' eight-game winning streak.

Barmes drove in four runs, and Holliday and Atkins knocked in three apiece for the Rockies, who beat their National League West rivals for the first time in six meetings this year.

Colorado beat the Diamondbacks 10 of the last 12 meetings a year ago, including four straight in the NL Championship Series. But the Rockies had dropped the first five meetings this season by a combined 38-10.

• Cubs 6, Phillies 5 -- At Philadelphia, second baseman Chase Utley's throwing error allowed Ronny Cedeno to score the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and Chicago beat Philadelphia to avoid a three-game sweep.

Cedeno walked leading off the 10th against Rudy Seanez (0-1) and Geovany Soto walked after Ryan Theriot's sacrifice. Pitcher Carlos Zambrano, a career .215 hitter with 12 homers, came off the bench to pinch hit because the Cubs were out of position players.

Zambrano hit a grounder to shortstop Eric Bruntlett that should've been an inning-ending double play. However, Ryan Howard couldn't scoop Utley's poor throw to first and Cedeno scored.

• Brewers 9, Mets 7 -- At New York, Gabe Kapler, who managed in the Red Sox organization last season, homered for the second straight day, doubled twice and drove in three runs to help Milwaukee beat New York.

Corey Hart had a career-high four hits, and Rickie Weeks homered and scored three runs for the Brewers.

Kapler, 32, came out of retirement during the offseason and has four home runs in 26 at-bats. The last time Kapler had at least four homers in a season was 2004, with Boston. He didn't get No. 4 that season until July 21, in his 159th at-bat.

• Nationals 5, Braves 4 -- At Washington, Atlanta starter Tom Glavine left with an injury before recording an out as Washington ended its nine-game losing streak.

Glavine (0-1) matched the shortest start of his 22-season, 303-win career, departing with a strained right hamstring after letting all four batters he faced reach base. After throwing his 16th pitch, Glavine walked off the mound, then briefly doubled over.

In the second inning, Jeff Bennett, who relieved Glavine, issued four straight walks, including two with the bases full.

• Astros 5, Marlins 1 -- At Houston, Wandy Rodriguez pitched well again at Minute Maid Park, and J.R. Towles and Michael Bourn homered to lead Houston past Florida.

Lance Berkman added an RBI double for the Astros, who have won two in a row for the first time this season.

Rodriguez (1-0) struck out seven and allowed five hits in seven strong innings. He pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings at home against St. Louis last week but didn't get a decision. Last year, Rodriguez had a 2.94 ERA in 15 starts in Houston.

• Pirates 9, Reds 1 -- At Pittsburgh, Ryan Doumit, Xavier Nady and Jason Bay homered, and Tom Gorzelanny bounced back from one of his worst career starts to outpitch Cincinnati rookie Johnny Cueto, leading Pittsburgh to a three-game sweep.

Gorzelanny (1-1), becoming the only Pirates starter other than Ian Snell to win this season, allowed one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He was coming off the shortest of his 47 career starts, a no-decision Monday when he allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Cubs.

The Pirates gained their first sweep at home since they took three against Houston last April 24 to 26.

• Giants 7, Cardinals 4 -- At San Francisco, Tim Lincecum struck out 11 in six innings, and rookie John Bowker homered for the second straight day and drove in four runs as San Francisco beat St. Louis.

Bowker, who had an RBI single in the second, is the first player in San Francisco history to homer in his first two games.

Former Durango High School and UNLV star Ryan Ludwick homered for the third straight game for the Cardinals.