NL East Wrap: Miami cruises after meeting

The Phillies fell, 3-2, in the opener of Sunday's day-night doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays (see story) and then lost again in the nightcap, 7-3 (see story).

Catcher Brian Schneider left Sunday night's game in the sixth inning after a collision at home plate. After the game, pitcher B.J. Rosenberg was optioned so that the Phillies would have room to recall Erik Kratz should Schneider be unable to backup Carlos Ruiz (see story).

The lone bright spot on the day, Jim Thome pulled into a tie with Mickey Mantle for seventh on baseball's all-time walks list (see story).

While the Phillies were losing two in one day, find out how the rest of the division fared Sunday...

Marlins avoid sweep
MIAMI -- The players-only meeting called by Hanley Ramirez after Saturday's loss seemed to make a difference.

Mark Buehrle pitched effectively for seven innings to become the winningest pitcher in interleague play, John Buck hit a three-run homer and the Miami Marlins snapped a six-game losing streak with a 9-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

"It must have been that meeting," Buehrle said. "All of the guys that spoke up did good today."

Greg Dobbs had a two-run homer among his three hits for the Marlins, winners for just the third time in 18 games.

Buehrle (6-8) gave up seven hits in winning his 25th interleague matchup, breaking a tie with Freddy Garcia (see full recap).

Nationals blow late lead
BALTIMORE -- A tense interleague series between two neighboring teams with exceptional pitching staffs was decided by a timely swing from a player who almost got the day off.

Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to interrupt Baltimore's agonizing offensive struggle, and the Orioles squeezed past the Washington Nationals 2-1 Sunday.

Baltimore appeared headed for its third shutout loss in six games before Adam Jones led off the eighth with a single off Sean Burnett (0-1) and Wieters drove an 0-1 pitch over the center-field wall.

Ryan Zimmerman had the lone RBI for the Nationals, who scored five runs in the series. Washington was 34-2 when leading after seven innings (see full recap).

Braves routed
BOSTON -- On the day Kevin Youkilis' 8 years in Boston came to an end, Cody Ross hit two homers and drove in five runs to lift the Red Sox to a 9-4 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Jason Heyward continued his torrid June for the Braves, hitting a solo homer among his three hits.

Atlanta, which lost for the ninth time in 13 games, closed interleague play 8-10. The Braves lost two of three to the Red Sox after taking two of three against the Yankees in New York.

Braves starter Mike Minor (3-6) gave up three homers and allowed seven runs -- four earned -- in 4 2-3 innings.

Youkilis was traded to the Chicago White Sox for utilityman Brent Lillibridge and right-hander Zach Stewart after the game (see full recap).

Dickey struggles in Mets loss
NEW YORK -- Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees touched up R.A. Dickey for five runs in a 6-5 victory over the Mets on Sunday night.

Nick Swisher had an early three-run shot against Dickey, who was coming off consecutive one-hitters - making him the first major league pitcher in 24 years to accomplish that feat. But in a much-anticipated matchup at sold-out Citi Field, both he and Yankees ace CC Sabathia were missing their best stuff.

Leading off the eighth, Cano drove a 2-0 delivery from Miguel Batista (1-2) over the home run apple in straightaway center for his 16th homer and fifth in seven games. Taking advantage of a shaky Mets bullpen again, the Yankees won the final two games of the weekend by one run to finish 5-1 against their crosstown rivals this season.

Including a sweep in the Bronx earlier this month, the Yankees have won five consecutive series against the Mets since May 2010 (see full recap).

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