NL roundup: Volquez quells Astros' streak versus Reds

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CINCINNATI (AP) " Edinson Volquez ended the longest current streak of domination in the majors by allowing only one hit through eight innings Wednesday night, leading Cincinnati to a 3-0 victory over Houston.

The Astros had won their last 11 games at Great American Ball Park since late in the 2007 season, the best such streak in franchise history. They had won 16 of 17 in Cincinnati over the last three years.

Volquez (3-2), who had a career-high seven walks in a loss to Atlanta on Friday, gave up only Miguel Tejada's double in the first inning. He retired 17 straight over one stretch, walking one and hitting a batter in the longest appearance of his career.

Francisco Cordero completed the one-hitter with his seventh save in as many chances.

Laynce Nix tripled, scored a run and drove in another with an infield single off Felipe Paulino (1-3). Rookie Adam Rosales had an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.

Giants 9, Dodgers 4

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Tim Lincecum allowed six hits and struck out eight while pitching into the eighth inning, and Bengie Molina drove in four runs for San Francisco.

Molina had a homer, a two-run triple and an RBI single among San Francisco's 15 hits, while Edgar Renteria had four hits and drove in two runs as the Giants took two of three from the first-place Dodgers.

Lincecum (2-1) didn't allow a run in the first seven innings of San Francisco's eighth win in 11 games. He retired the first 10 batters and rarely faced trouble until Los Angeles' three-run rally in the eighth.

Eric Stults (2-1) yielded five runs and seven hits while failing to get out of the third inning for the Dodgers, who closed their nine-game road trip with three losses in four games.

Nationals 4, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) " Scott Olsen pitched into the sixth inning and Washington's beleaguered bullpen held on to snap Philadelphia's five-game winning streak.

Olsen (1-3) allowed one run and six hits, striking out six. The left-hander shut down an offense that scored 33 runs in the previous three games, including 20 against the Nationals, who have the worst record in the majors at 5-15.

They avoided being swept for the fourth time this month and got a rare flawless performance from a relief corps that has blown six saves and is a combined 0-7.

Garrett Mock pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings, Kip Wells worked the eighth and Julian Tavarez finished for his first save since May 28, 2006, for Boston.

Anderson Hernandez had three hits and drove in two runs for Washington.

Shane Victorino hit a solo homer for the Phillies. Brett Myers (1-2) gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings.

Cardinals 5, Braves 3

ATLANTA (AP) " Adam Wainwright overcame five walks and drove in a run during a four-run fifth inning for St. Louis.

The Cardinals won two of three in the series against the Braves, who have scored three runs or fewer in 11 of 15 games after scoring at least four runs in each of their first six games.

Wainwright (3-0) allowed seven hits and three runs with five walks and two strikeouts in six innings. He gave up three runs in the first three innings, but the Braves couldn't hold a 3-1 lead.

The Cardinals are off to their best start since 2006, when they also were 15-7.

Javier Vazquez (2-2) gave up nine hits and five runs with one walk in eight innings. He struck out eight " his fourth straight start with at least eight strikeouts.

Ryan Franklin recorded four outs for his seventh save.

Brewers 1, Pirates 0

MILWAUKEE (AP) " Yovani Gallardo struck out a career-high 11 and homered in the seventh inning as Milwaukee got its 15th straight win over the Pirates.

The Brewers' string against Pittsburgh started last May. It's the longest winning streak by one team over another since Oakland beat Seattle 15 straight times in 2006.

Gallardo (3-1) didn't allow a runner until Andy LaRoche doubled with two outs in the fifth, giving up a total of two hits and a walk in eight innings. Carlos Villanueva pitched the ninth for his second save in five chances.

Gallardo provided his own offense in the seventh, hitting an 0-2 pitch from Ian Snell (1-3) deep into the left-field seats. It was Gallardo's second homer of the season and fourth of his career.

Marlins 4, Mets 3

NEW YORK (AP) " Cody Ross hit a two-run single off J.J. Putz in the eighth inning, Jorge Cantu cracked his third homer in two games and the Florida Marlins rallied to beat the New York Mets.

Matt Lindstrom escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth by getting pinch-hitter Omir Santos on a game-ending popup. In a curious move by Mets manager Jerry Manuel, the inexperienced Santos batted for fellow catcher and right-handed hitter Ramon Castro, who had two hits and an RBI.

Putz (1-2) entered in the eighth and walked his first two batters before Ronny Paulino's sacrifice advanced both runners. Ross then lined a single up the middle.

Renyel Pinto (1-0) got the win and Lindstrom got three outs for his fifth save and second in two days.

Mets ace Johan Santana left after seven innings with a 3-2 lead. A dreadful Mets bullpen cost Santana seven potential wins last season " including five meltdowns that came in the ninth inning.

Rockies 7, Padres 5

DENVER (AP) " Aaron Cook pitched seven strong innings for his first win of the season and Todd Helton and Chris Iannetta each drove in three runs as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres.

Adrian Gonzalez homered twice for San Diego, which fell behind 7-0 and lost for the fourth time in five games. His seventh career multihomer game pushed his April total to nine, a Padres record for the month.

Cook (1-1) allowed three runs and five hits and struck out three in beating the Padres for the 12th time in 16 decisions. The win was his first since Aug. 29, 2008, at San Diego, ending an eight-start string in which he had gone 0-2.

Huston Street earned his second save. Kevin Correia (0-2) went five innings and allowed three runs and six hits.

Diamondbacks 10, Cubs 0

PHOENIX (AP) " Doug Davis allowed two hits over seven innings while Chad Tracy and Justin Upton each drove in three runs in the Arizona Diamondbacks' rout of the Chicago Cubs.

Davis (2-3) struck out seven, walked three and hit a batter.

Tracy had three hits, including a two-run double and a solo home run. Upton brought three more home with a double in Arizona's five-run seventh inning. The Cubs walked 10, eight in the last two innings, including three with the bases loaded.

Ryan Dempster (1-1) threw six innings plus one batter, allowing five runs.