NL roundup: Pirates rookies hits 3 HRs

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Andrew McCutchen homered three times and had a career-high six RBIs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Washington Nationals their fourth straight loss, 11-6 on Saturday night.

McCutchen, a rookie, doubled his home run total by hitting three shots to left.

With a chance at a record-tying fourth homer in the eighth, McCutchen grounded into a double play. He also singled and scored on Lastings Milledge's two-run double in the third and finished 4 for 5 with four runs scored.

Each homer came off a different pitcher: Craig Stammen (3-6), and relievers Tyler Clippard and Logan Kensing.

Ramon Vasquez (2-5) earned the win but probably didn't pitch well enough to keep his job. Pittsburgh acquired starter Kevin Hart in a trade with the Chicago Cubs Thursday and said he will enter the rotation.

Giants 2, Phillies 0

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Tim Lincecum won his 12th game blanking the Phillies for eight innings and San Francisco beat Philadelphia.

Lincecum struck out eight and leads the majors with 191. On Monday, he struck out 15 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Brian Wilson pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 31 opportunities and gave the Giants a major league-leading 14th shutout.

The Giants improved to 36-16 (.692) at home which is the best home record in the majors.

Joe Blanton suffered his first defeat in his last five outings as the N.L. East leading Phillies lost for only the 18th time on the road this season.

Braves 4, Dodgers 3

ATLANTA (AP) - Derek Lowe pitched six innings in his first game against Los Angeles since he signed with Atlanta in the offseason.

Lowe (11-7) allowed three runs and five hits to win his fourth straight decision. The right-hander went 54-48 over four seasons with the Dodgers before agreeing to a $60 million, four-year contract with the Braves in January.

Adam LaRoche had two hits and scored the tying run in the sixth in his return to Atlanta following Friday's trade from Boston. Chipper Jones went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Andre Ethier homered for the second straight day for Los Angeles. Randy Wolf (5-6) gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings.

Atlanta scored two runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Diory Hernandez and pinch-hitter Greg Norton had RBI singles.

Cardinals 3, Astros 1

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Matt Holliday hit two solo homers and Chris Carpenter tossed an eight-hitter for his second complete game of the season.

Holliday connected on the first pitch for each of his homers, hitting a drive to right off Wandy Rodriguez in the second and a shot to center against Jose Valverde in the eighth. He also singled in the fourth and is hitting .606 with 10 RBIs in nine games since he was acquired from Oakland on July 24.

Carpenter (10-3), who has won five consecutive decisions, struck out five and walked none.

Carpenter also scored the go-ahead run on Julio Lugo's sacrifice fly off Jeff Fulchino (4-4) in the seventh.

Cubs 9, Marlins 8, 10 innings

MIAMI (AP) - The Chicago Cubs struck out 14 times, stranded 14 runners and gave up nine walks. They lost ace Carlos Zambrano and slugger Aramis Ramirez to injuries. They blew an early six-run lead, and a three-run lead with two out in the ninth.

Thanks to Derrek Lee, they won anyway.

Lee led off the 10th inning with a home run Saturday night, and the Cubs beat the relentless but hapless Florida.

The Marlins staged an impressive comeback in the ninth but stranded 14 runners, committed three errors and allowed three unearned runs.

Zambrano was given a 6-0 lead but struggled with his control and left the game because of a stiff back after throwing 62 pitches.

Rockies 6, Reds 2

CINCINNATI (AP) - Ubaldo Jimenez turned in his longest outing in more than a month and Seth Smith homered to help send the Reds to their fifth consecutive loss.

Ian Stewart added a two-run single as Colorado won its third consecutive game following a three-game losing streak.

After allowing a run in each of his first two innings, Jimenez (8-9) settled down and strung together six shutout innings. The right-hander finished with five hits and two runs with eight strikeouts.

Reds third baseman Scott Rolen went 0-for-4 in his first game with Cincinnati after being acquired Friday in a trade with Toronto.

Homer Bailey (2-3) gave up five runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Mets 9, Diamondbacks 6

NEW YORK (AP) - Angel Pagan hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning and the Mets beat Arizona.

Pagan's first home run, off Clay Zavada (2-3), in two injury-plagued seasons with the Mets gave him a career-high five RBIs. Brian Schneider hit an early RBI double and New York got strong relief work from winner Pedro Feliciano (4-3).

Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds hit long home runs for the Diamondbacks in a matchup of fourth-place teams who expected much more this season.

Padres 4, Brewers 2

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Ben Braun's outfield miscue allowed the go-ahead run to score and Clayton Richard was solid in his first start after coming over in the Jake Peavy trade as the Padres beat the Brewers.

Braun misplayed a fly ball from pinch hitter Oscar Salazar into a double that allowed the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Padres won their fifth straight game. It is San Diego's longest streak since winning 10 in a row from May 15-25.

The Brewers, held to one hit through five innings by Richard, tied the game at 2-all in the sixth on solo homers by Prince Fielder and Casey McGehee on consecutive pitches.