Dodgers beat Arizona, extend lead to 2 games
PHOENIX (AP) – Wilson Betemit hit a two-run homer and Rafael Furcal tripled in two more to help the Los Angeles Dodgers take two out of three from Arizona with a 6-3 victory over the Diamondbacks on Sunday. The win, coupled with San Diego’s 6-3 loss at Colorado, moved the Dodgers two games ahead of the Padres in the NL West. The Diamondbacks, losers of six of seven, fell five games back and stayed 31/2 behind Cincinnati in the wild-card race.
Rookie Chad Billingsley (5-3) beat Arizona for the second time in as many tries. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on nine hits in seven innings to improve to 4-0 in his last six starts.
Takashi Saito gave up a two-out, RBI double to Eric Byrnes in the ninth before getting his 16th save in 18 chances
Livan Hernandez (10-11) blanked the Dodgers through four innings, but Furcal tripled during a three-run fifth.
Marlins 4, Brewers 3
MIAMI – Pinch-hitter Mike Jacobs doubled home Jeremy Hermida with two outs in the ninth inning and the Florida Marlins beat the Milwaukee Brewers for their seventh straight victory.
The surprising Marlins moved within three games of Cincinnati in the NL wild-card race.
After David Bell homered off Joe Borowski (2-2) to tie it in the Milwaukee ninth, the Marlins won it in the bottom half.
Brewers reliever Brian Shouse (1-1) got two quick outs in the ninth. Hermida then walked and the lefty-hitting Jacobs sliced a line drive just inside the third-base line, scoring Hermida. Jacobs, who batted for Borowski, had been 0-for-8 as a pinch-hitter this season.
Giants 8, Reds 0
SAN FRANCISCO – Rookie Matt Cain pitched seven sharp innings and the resurgent San Francisco Giants won again, beating the slumping Cincinnati Reds.
Omar Vizquel, Ray Durham and Shea Hillenbrand each drove in two runs as the Giants won for the 11th time in 14 games.
Barry Bonds added three hits for San Francisco, which pulled within two games of Cincinnati in the wild-card race.
The Reds have lost four of five since climbing within percentage points of NL Central-leading St. Louis.
Cain (10-9) gave up four hits, struck out nine and walked two. Kyle Lohse (1-1) allowed five runs and 10 hits in five innings.
Rockies 6, Padres 3
DENVER – Cory Sullivan drove in a career-high three runs with three hits and Aaron Cook kept up his winning ways against San Diego as the Colorado Rockies beat the Padres.
Matt Holliday hit his 24th homer and drove in two runs for the Rockies. Adrian Gonzalez and Brian Giles homered for the Padres.
Cook (9-12), winless in his two previous starts, improved to 7-3 lifetime against San Diego. He gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings.
Jake Peavy (7-13) lasted only 4 1-3 innings, allowing six runs and eight hits.
Braves 13, Nationals 6
ATLANTA – Jeff Francoeur, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones hit home runs and Adam LaRoche capped a six-run third inning with a three-run double, lifting the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals.
Brian McCann had four of Atlanta’s 16 hits. Alfonso Soriano hit three doubles and a single for the Nationals and stole two bases.
Macay McBride (4-1) pitched two scoreless innings to win in relief.
Nationals starter Billy Traber (3-3) gave up eight hits and eight runs in 2 2-3 innings.