Rays lose to Angels, fall out of first place

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brandon Wood hit his first homer since June 27, a tiebreaking shot leading off the ninth inning that lifted the Los Angeles Angels over Tampa Bay, 4-3, Friday night and knocked the Rays out of first place in the AL East.

Wood, mired in a 3-for-43 slide and hitless in three previous at-bats Friday, gave the Angels a 4-3 lead with his drive off Dan Wheeler (2-4).

Dan Johnson hit his third homer in the past two games for the Rays. But he struck out against reliever Michael Kohn (1-0), who got his first major-league win, with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth.

Angels starter Dan Haren allowed three runs, three hits, three walks and struck out 10 in seven innings on his 30th birthday.

Wade Davis gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Bobby Abreu had a run-scoring single and Torii Hunter drove in a run with a double as Los Angeles went ahead 3-1 in the third.

Cardinals 14, Padres 4

Yadier Molina went 4-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs for host St. Louis. San Diego entered the night a half-game behind San Francisco in the NL West.

Phillies 9, Nationals 1

Roy Oswalt (13-13) allowed one run and six hits in six innings to earn his seventh straight win, and Carlos Ruiz and Jayson Werth homered as host Philadelphia remained three games ahead of Atlanta in the NL East.

- AP