NL roundup: Victorino hits first grand slam in win

MIAMI (AP) " Shane Victorino a grand slam to highlight a seven-run rally in the ninth inning against closer Matt Lindstrom, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 7-3 on Friday night.

The Marlins took a three-hitter into the ninth and were two outs from a 3-0 victory when pinch hitter Matt Stairs singled home the Phillies' first run. Lindstrom walked in a run before Victorino hit his second homer on a 2-1 pitch.

Five pitches later, Chase Utley hit his fifth homer. Clay Condrey (3-0) pitched two hitless innings, and Ryan Madson struck out the side in the ninth.

The rally cost Florida's Josh Johnson a victory after he allowed three hits in seven innings. The Marlins still own the best record in the NL at 11-5, but have lost four games in a row.

Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer with two out in the first off Brett Myers for Florida's only runs.

Mets 4, Nationals 3

NEW YORK (AP) " Johan Santana struck out 10 in six innings, and the offensively challenged Mets scored twice following failed sprawling catches that turned singles into triples in a victory over the Washington Nationals.

Carlos Beltran, who got his 1,000th RBI on his 32nd birthday, and Fernando Tatis both tripled for the Mets, who returned home for their second homestand at Citi Field and stopped a four-game losing streak.

Nick Johnson and Jesus Flores homered for the Nationals, a major league-worst 3-12.

Santana (3-1) allowed one run and six hits in six innings, walked one and reached double digits in strikeouts for the 45th time in his career. Francisco Rodriguez allowed a two-run homer to Flores before finishing for his fourth save.

Scott Olsen (0-3) gave up three runs " two earned " and nine hits in six innings.

Brewers 5, Astros 2

HOUSTON (AP) " Yovani Gallardo pitched his first career complete game, Prince Fielder drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run fifth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers won their third straight.

Gallardo (2-1) gave up a two-run homer to Carlos Lee in the fourth inning, but the Brewers offense gave him all the runs he needed. Gallardo allowed five hits and surpassed his previous longest start, eight innings against Houston in 2007. He didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.

Felipe Paulino (0-1) allowed four runs, 10 hits and struck out four without issuing a walk in six innings.

Rickie Weeks added a solo homer in the seventh off reliever Jeff Fulchino.

Cardinals 4, Cubs 3

ST. LOUIS (AP) " Albert Pujols used his legs rather than his big bat to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs, stealing second after a base hit and scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.

Kyle McClellan (1-0) allowed a hit in the eighth and Ryan Franklin worked around a two-out walk to pinch-hitter Milton Bradley in the ninth for his fifth save as St. Louis won its eighth in a row at home.

Pujols grounded a single up the middle with one out in the eighth off Carlos Marmol (0-1), only his fourth hit in 16 at-bats against the right-hander. Pujols then stole his third base in three attempts on a 1-0 count, then scored without a play when Ryan Ludwick grounded a single just under the glove of diving shortstop Ryan Theriot.

Braves 4, Reds 3

CINCINNATI (AP) " Jeff Francoeur hit a solo homer for one of Atlanta's four hits, and the Braves took advantage of the wildest performance in Edinson Volquez's career, walking their way to a victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Javier Vazquez (2-1) went six innings for the slumping Braves, who had lost seven of nine heading into the weekend series. They emerged from their rut with a lot of help from Volquez (2-2), who gave up only one hit in five innings " Francoeur's homer " but couldn't throw a strike when he needed.

He walked a career-high seven batters and hit another in only five innings, helping the Braves pull ahead 3-2.

Giants 5, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX (AP) " Tim Lincecum struck out 12 while earning his first victory of the season and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks for their fourth straight win.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner shut down the Diamondbacks for the second time in less than a week, allowing one run and five hits in eight innings. Lincecum (1-1) got a no-decision last Saturday in San Francisco, striking out 13 over eight shutout innings in a 2-0 loss to Arizona.

Bengie Molina went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs in San Francisco's first road victory of the season in seven tries. Edgar Renteria also homered.

Doug Davis (1-3), the winner in last Saturday's duel, gave up five runs and nine hits in six-plus innings.

Dodgers 6, Rockies 5

DENVER (AP) " Brad Ausmus broke a tie game in the ninth inning with a two-out single, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Colorado Rockies.

Ausmus lined a pitch past a diving Garrett Atkins at third, scoring James Loney, who led off the inning with a double off Manny Corpas (0-1). The Dodgers' backup catcher also ignited a rally in the eighth with a two-out double off Huston Street that caromed off the center-field wall. Mark Loretta followed with a flair that dropped into shallow left, scoring Ausmus.

Hong-Chih Kuo (1-0) earned the win despite the rocky inning in which he surrendered two runs and two hits. Jonathan Broxton worked his way out of trouble in the ninth, striking out Chris Iannetta with two runners on to end the game. It was Broxton's sixth save in as many chances.

Padres 4, Pirates 3, 11 innings

SAN DIEGO (AP) " Brian Giles singled in the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning and the Padres beat the Pirates to end a three-game skid.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Pirates, who had won five of their previous six.

Chris Burke started the winning rally by drawing a one-out walk off Matt Capps (0-1) and stole second with two outs before David Eckstein walked. That brought up Giles, who singled to right field to bring in Burke.

Edwin Moreno (1-2) allowed one hit in two innings for his first big league win.

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