NL roundup: Big Unit twirls gem in possible Arizona finale
CBSSports.com wire reports
PHOENIX -- Randy Johnson pitched a two-hitter in what might have been his final appearance with the Diamondbacks, leading Arizona to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
The 45-year-old Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner whose contract expires after this season, earned his 295th career win.
The Diamondbacks won it in the ninth when Luis Vizcaino (1-2) issued a bases-loaded walk to Chris Young, who had tied the game with a solo homer in the eighth off Manuel Corpas.
Fueled by several standing ovations, Johnson (11-10) returned to his once-dominant form, allowing only an unearned run and two singles to Troy Tulowitzki. He walked one and struck out nine in his second complete game this season.
The only run Johnson gave up came in an ugly first inning. Clint Barmes led off with a grounder to third baseman Mark Reynolds, who threw the ball over first baseman Chad Tracy's head for his 35th error.
Barmes reached second on the error and moved up on Tulowitzki's sacrifice bunt. One out later, he scored on a wild pitch -- Johnson's second in 176 innings this season.
For seven innings, it looked as if that run might be enough for the Rockies. The Diamondbacks didn't do much against Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who gave up three hits in seven innings, walking four and striking out 10. Full story
Cardinals 11, Reds 4
ST. LOUIS -- Felipe Lopez drove in three runs and emergency starter Brad Thompson threw five effective innings, helping the St. Louis Cardinals end the year on a season-best six game winning streak with an victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Lopez had three of the Cardinals' 13 hits, including two doubles, in the first three innings and finished 4-for-5 with the three RBI. Ryan Ludwick had his 37th home run of the season to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead after one and Troy Glaus added his 27th homer in a six-run third against Adam Pettyjohn (0-1).
Thompson (6-3) gave up three runs -- two on a homer by Edwin Encarnacion -- on four hits. He got the start after right-hander Kyle Lohse was scratched to undergo physicals with team doctors. The Cardinals planned a news conference for Monday, when it is expected they will announce a new contact for Lohse, who finished with a team and career-high 15 victories this season.
Albert Pujols was pulled for a pinch runner after doubling in a run during the third. He finished 1-for-2 and ended the year with team highs in RBI (116) and batting average (.357), but lost the batting title to Chipper Jones of the Braves.
Pirates 6, Padres 1
SAN DIEGO -- The Pittsburgh Pirates ended yet another losing season with a win.
Adam LaRoche and Steve Pearce hit consecutive homers in the fourth inning and the Pirates beat the San Diego Padres in a matchup of last-place clubs.
Pittsburgh finished last in the NL Central at 67-95. The Padres brought up the rear in the West at 63-99, their worst finish since 1993, when they were 61-101.
As dismal as the Padres were in 2008 following four straight winning seasons, San Diego has a long way to go to match Pittsburgh's futility.
