Franco steers Braves to glorious dozen

Braves catcher Lopez (right) hit the winning run

Wednesday's MLB results

National League

Matt Franco hit a two-run homer and Javy Lopez drove in the winning run as the Atlanta Braves beat the Montreal Expos 6-5 to record their 12th successive win.

Closer John Smoltz (1-2) earned his first win of the season after retiring the side in the ninth. Starter Greg Maddux lasted just 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits.

Bobby Estalella and Larry Walker both homered and drove in four runs as the Colorado Rockies destroyed the San Francisco Giants 14-4.

The Rockies scored seven runs in the second inning off Livan Hernandez (6-10). Jason Jennings (9-4) picked up the win.

In Phoenix, the Arizona Diamondbacks avoided a series sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers by coming from behind to win 5-3.

In Miami, a homer by Fred McGriff and two runs from Sammy Sosa helped the Chicago Cubs to a 6-2 win over the Florida Marlins.

Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning as Philadelphia edged the New York Mets 8-7.

American League

Tony Clark drove in the winning run with a single to lead the Boston Red Sox to their fourth consecutive victory, a 5-2 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Sammy Sosa shone for the Chicago Cubs

The win kept the Red Sox one game behind the New York Yankees and gave Boston the chance of a five-game sweep when the series ends on Thursday.

In New York, Alfonso Soriano homered and drove in three runs to help the Yankees to an 11-8 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Jim Thome extended his club record home-run streak to seven games.

Chris Truby hit his second homer of the season and drove in three runs to help the Detroit Tigers to a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth, including back-to-back homers by Jose Valentin and Carlos Lee against reliever Juan Acevedo.

But Brian Moehler held the White Sox scoreless on four hits in seven innings to win his first start of the season.

Ivan Rodriguez hit two home runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, as the Texas Rangers squeezed past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-5.

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American League
Boston 5-2 Toronto
NY Yankees 11-8 Cleveland
Texas 6-5 Tampa Bay
Chicago White Sox 4-5 Detroit
Anaheim 1-0 Baltimore
Oakland 1-2 Minnesota
Seattle 3-0 Kansas City

National League

Pittsburgh 3-1 Milwaukee
Cincinnati 4-11 Houston
Florida 2-6 Chicago Cubs
Philadelphia 8-7 NY Mets
St Louis 4-1 San Diego
Atlanta 6-5 Montreal
Arizona 5-3 Los Angeles
Colorado 14-4 San Francisco

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