NL capsules

[July 31, 2012]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Jason Heyward homered and scored three runs and the Atlanta Braves snapped a string of 16 straight losses on Mondays, including 12 this season, by beating the Miami Marlins 8-2 Monday night.

Starting pitcher Tommy Hanson was the only Atlanta player or coach who did not wear high socks in an apparent attempt to end the Monday curse.

Hanson (12-5) had his pants low to his shoes as he gave up one run on six hits in five innings. The Braves, coming off a three-game sweep of the Phillies, have won six straight.

The Braves won on a Monday for the first time since Aug. 22, 2011, a 3-0 win at the Cubs.

Atlanta, a season-best 14 games over .500, trails first-place Washington by 3 1/2 games in the NL East.

Miami left-hander Mark Buehrle (9-10) gave up six runs on eight hits and four walks in 4 1-3 innings. He needs one win for his 12th straight season with at least 10 wins.

METS 8, GIANTS 7, 10 INNINGS

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Scott Hairston hit his second homer of the game, connecting in the 10th inning to send New York past reeling San Francisco.

The Giants have lost five in a row, all at home. They lead the NL West by one percentage point over the Dodgers.

Hairston hit a two-run homer in the eighth as the Mets scored four times for a 6-4 lead. Buster Posey and Nate Schierholtz had RBI doubles in the Giants' ninth to tie it.

After Hairston's solo homer in the 10th the Mets scored again on an error. The Giants got a run in their half before Manny Acosta earned his first save.

Santiago Casilla (4-5) took the loss. Josh Edgin (1-0) got his first major league victory.

PADRES 11, REDS 5

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Will Venable drove in four runs and former Reds Edinson Volquez and Yonder Alonso had a role in ending Cincinnati's 10-game winning streak with an 11-5 victory.

Volquez (7-7) got the win and Alonso tied a Padres record with three doubles.

The Reds were aiming for the club record 12 consecutive wins, shared by the 1939 and 1957 teams.

Mike Leake (4-7) retired five batters in his shortest start. The Reds walked a season-high 11. Rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco was ejected for arguing ball-and-strike calls. He poked at plate umpire Chad Fairchild's chest protector and bumped him before leaving.

CUBS 14, PIRATES 4

CHICAGO (AP) -- Anthony Rizzo and Darwin Barney hit three-run homers to power Chicago to its highest-scoring game of the season.

Starlin Castro added a two-run shot and reached base four times as the Cubs won for the 11th time in their last 13 games at Wrigley Field.

Rizzo's shot off Erik Bedard (5-12) keyed a nine-run fifth inning, Chicago's biggest burst of the year.

Rizzo leads all NL rookies with a .330 average, eight homers and 20 RBIs since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on June 26.

Justin Germano (1-1) gave up two runs over five innings for his first win since Aug. 28, 2007, when he beat Arizona while with San Diego.

BREWERS 8, ASTROS 7

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Cody Ransom's homer capped a four-run burst in the eighth inning and Milwaukee held off Houston after firing bullpen coach Stan Kyles.

The Brewers dismissed Kyles before the game, then watched their shaky relievers barely preserve this victory.

Milwaukee scored four times in the seventh for a 4-3 edge, but the Astros tied it in the eighth against Livan Hernandez (4-1). Ransom's three-run shot gave the Brewers an 8-4 lead in the bottom half before Houston rallied for three runs in the ninth against Kameron Loe and John Axford.

Axford got J.D. Martinez to ground out with runners at the corners for his 17th save in 24 chances.

DIAMONDBACKS 7, DODGERS 2

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Chris Johnson hit a grand slam in his first game with Arizona and Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run shot in the first inning -- both off Aaron Harang -- in the victory over Los Angeles.

Trevor Cahill (9-9) allowed a run and six hits over six innings with four strikeouts and three walks.

Johnson, acquired Sunday in a trade with Houston, started at third base and gave the D-backs a 7-0 lead with his second career slam. It followed a two-out intentional walk to lefty-swinging Miguel Montero, who was 8 for 15 lifetime against Harang -- and had reached base safely in 18 of his previous 24 at-bats.

[Associated Press]

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