NL capsules

[July 30, 2012]  DENVER (AP) -- The Cincinnati Reds posted their 10th straight win and matched their best streak in 14 years, with Mat Latos pitching eight strong innings and Drew Stubbs homering Sunday in a 7-2 victory over Colorado.

The Reds' winning streak is their longest since they took 10 in a row in 1998. They are two short of the franchise record, done twice and last accomplished in 1957.

Cincinnati opened a three-game lead over Pittsburgh in NL Central, its biggest edge since mid-June.

Jay Bruce also homered and Stubbs drove in three runs for the Reds, who have won 17 of 19.

Latos (9-3) allowed four hits and struck out eight. Jonathan Sanchez (0-2) took the loss as Colorado dropped its third straight.

ASTROS 9, PIRATES 5

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Astros ended their team-record losing streak at 12 games, beating Pittsburgh behind three hits and three RBIs from Marwin Gonzalez.

Hours after Houston traded third baseman Chris Johnson to Arizona -- the Astros' fifth deal of the month -- Jordan Schafer homered and drove in three runs.

Houston, a big league-worst 35-68, won for only the third time in 28 games but has traded players with salaries totaling $49 million. Lucas Harrell (8-7) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings.

The skid matched Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs for the longest in the major leagues this year. It broke the previous Astros record of 11, set in 1995 and matched over the end of the 2009 season and start of 2010, STATS said.

James McDonald (10-5) walked a career-high seven in five innings. He has lost consecutive decisions for the first time this season and has an 8.71 ERA in his last four starts.

DODGERS 4, GIANTS 0

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Clayton Kershaw pitched a five-hitter for his second shutout of the season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco to complete a three-game sweep of the NL West leader.

Luis Cruz drove in two runs, and Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Mark Ellis had two hits apiece for Los Angeles (56-47), which closed within one percentage point of San Francisco (55-46).

Blanked in a three-game series at San Francisco from June 25-27, Los Angeles outscored the Giants 19-3 in this series and didn't give up a run during the final 20 innings. San Francisco has lost four straight.

Kershaw (8-6) struck out seven and walked one in his fifth career shutout.

Ryan Vogelsong (8-5), who had won both of his prior matchups against Kershaw this year, allowed one earned run in six innings.

NATIONALS 11, BREWERS 10, 11 innings.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Michael Morse hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth inning, then delivered a two-run double in the 11th that sent the Washington Nationals over Milwaukee.

Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk from Jose Veras (3-4) in the 11th and Ryan Zimmerman singled. One out later, Morse doubled down the left-field line for an 11-9 lead.

Morse's homer with one out in the ninth off John Axford made it 9-all.

The NL East-leading Nationals rallied for four runs in the eighth to tie it at 7.

The Brewers have lost nine of 10.

Craig Stammen (4-1) pitched 2 1-3 hitless innings for the victory. Tyler Clippard allowed a solo home run to Corey Hart to open the bottom of the 11th, but earned his 20th save in 22 chances.

BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 2

ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Jason Heyward and Chipper Jones homered off Roy Halladay, and the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the last-place Philadelphia Phillies.

Atlanta has won five straight.

Tim Hudson (10-4) gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. Jonny Venters, Chad Durbin, Eric O'Flaherty and Cristhian Martinez followed with two-hit relief.

In danger of ending a streak of consecutive playoff appearances at five, Philadelphia is last in the NL East this late in a season for the first time since Aug. 12, 2002, STATS LLC said.

Halladay (4-6), a two-time Cy Young Award winner, allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

METS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1

PHOENIX (AP) -- R.A. Dickey rebounded from his first loss in three months to gain his National League-leading 14th win, and the New York Mets beat Arizona for just their third victory in 17 games.

Dickey (14-2) allowed an unearned run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight, walking three and hitting a batter. The knuckleballer won for the 11th time in 12 decisions and matched Tampa Bay's David Price for the major league lead in wins.

Joe Saunders (5-7) took the loss.

MARLINS 5, PADRES 4

MIAMI (AP) -- With scouts from about a dozen teams watching, Josh Johnson tied a career high with six walks as the Miami Marlins rallied from a two-run deficit and beat San Diego in 10 innings.

Johnson, the 2010 NL ERA champion, allowed two runs -- one earned -- and two hits in five innings with four strikeouts. Miami, a disappointing 47-54 following a $191 million free-agent spending spree, already has dealt Hanley Ramirez, Omar Infante, and Anibal Sanchez in recent weeks and has discussed possible trades involving Johnson.

Johnson is 54-30 with a 3.13 ERA for Marlins over the past eight years and is signed through next season at $13.75 annually.

Justin Ruggiano hit a game-ending single off Brad Brach (0-2) after Jose Reyes doubled leading off and Carlos Lee was intentionally walked.

San Diego loaded the bases with two outs in the 10th against Ryan Webb (4-2), but Chase Headley flied out.

CUBS 4, CARDINALS 2

CHICAGO (AP) -- Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning that lifted the Chicago Cubs over St. Louis.

Starlin Castro led off the 10th with a single against Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) and Rizzo followed with his seventh homer.

James Russell (5-0) worked an inning for the win. The Cubs are 12-3 in their last 15 home games.

[Associated Press]

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