NL roundup: Cardinals blank Brewers

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Adam Wainwright came within two outs of his first career shutout and Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus homered for St. Louis in a 5-0 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

The 27-year-old right-hander worked out of bases-loaded jam in the second and didn't allow a hit after the fourth inning until Casey McGehee's infield hit leading off the ninth.

Wainwright (9-5) allowed seven hits, struck out nine and walked two before being lifted for Ryan Franklin who induced Jason Kendall to hit into a double play on his second pitch.

It was the fourth time this season Milwaukee has been shut out and the third time in the last nine games.

Yovani Gallardo (8-6) allowed four runs and six hits, walked five and struck out five in five innings.

The Cardinals staked Wainwright to a 3-0 lead in the first on Ludwick's three-run homer and added two more on Rasmus' homer leading off the fifth and his run-scoring double in the sixth.

Giants 3, Marlins 0

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Barry Zito pitched into the ninth in his best start of the season and Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer as San Francisco Giants won its fourth straight at home.

Zito was close to his 11th career complete game and second this season, when he was pulled him for Sergio Romo after Wes Helms' one-out single.

Zito (5-8), who entered his 17th start with the lowest run support in the majors at 2.80, outpitched All-Star Josh Johnson (7-2). He allowed four hits, struck out six and walked one in only his second outing of the year reaching eight innings.

Romo recorded the final two outs in the Giants' majors-best 12th shutout and fifth in the last 10 games for his first career save. San Francisco won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Bengie Molina hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth two batters after Randy Winn's leadoff double. Uribe connected in the fifth for his third homer.

Johnson, who had won four straight decisions, picked up his first loss since May 19.

Diamondbacks 4, Padres 3

PHOENIX (AP) - Doug Davis got his first victory in a month and Arizona matched its season-best four-game winning streak.

Davis, who had allowed just two earned runs in his previous three starts but left each with a no-decision, scattered nine hits, allowing two runs in 6 1-3 innings. It was his first victory since beating San Diego 8-0 on June 5. Davis (4-8) was 0-2 in five starts since then.

Kevin Kouzmanoff was 3 for 4 with two doubles for the Padres, who have lost six of seven.

Kevin Correia (5-7) allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits in six innings.

Chad Qualls pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Three San Diego errors, two by Correia on the same play, helped the Diamondbacks score twice in the third to take a 2-1 lead.

Rockies 5, Nationals 4

DENVER (AP) - Clint Barmes capped Colorado's eighth-inning rally with a sacrifice fly.

It was the Rockies' fifth straight victory against the Nationals, who committed three errors in the game.

The Rockies scored the winning run without the benefit of a hit. Julian Tavarez (3-7) issued consecutive one-out walks. Joe Beimel relieved and induced a comebacker from pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs but he threw wildly to second going for the force.

Barmes followed with the tie-breaking sacrifice fly.

Alan Embree (2-2) picked up the victory without throwing a pitch. He entered with two outs in the eighth and picked off Austin Kearns, who had singled off reliever Joel Peralta, at first base.

Huston Street got three outs for his 21st save in 22 chances.

Washington went ahead 4-1 in the third on a three-run homer by Ryan Zimmerman, the Nationals' only All-Star representative.

Reds 4, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Ramon Hernandez hit a tiebreaking RBI single off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning for Cincinnati.

Brandon Phillips hit two homers and drove in three runs to help the Reds rebound from the worst loss in franchise history, 22-1 to the Phillies on Monday.

Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth hit consecutive homers in the second for the NL East-leading Phillies, who had won four straight.

David Weathers (1-1) tossed a scoreless eighth and All-Star closer Francisco Cordero finished for his 21st save in 22 chances.

Joey Votto doubled leading off the ninth against Lidge (0-4). After Phillips sacrificed, pinch-hitter Laynce Nix was intentionally walked and Hernandez followed with a soft liner to center to drive in Votto.

Dodgers 8, Mets 0

NEW YORK (AP) - Manny Ramirez drove in three runs with two singles for Los Angeles, then was ejected following his second called strikeout.

Clayton Kershaw (6-5) combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt hit a seventh-inning homer and Los Angeles twice scored with bases-loaded walks.

New York has lost nine of 11 and gone scoreless in 22 consecutive innings, getting just 10 hits - all singles. Mets pitchers walked seven against the Dodgers, and New York batters twice grounded into double plays.

While losing four straight, which includes a weekend sweep in Philadelphia, the Mets have hit .183, been outscored 21-3 and struck out 28 times.

Ramirez, in his fourth game back following a 50-game drug suspension, argued with plate umpire John Hirschbeck after he was called out in the first. He had a two-out, two-run single in the second and added an RBI single in the fourth. He was called out in the fifth, dropped his bat and threw his helmet and protective gear and was tossed while walking to the outfield.

Mike Pelfrey (6-4) fell to 2-4 in his last 11 starts, allowing five runs - four earned - eight hits and three walks in three-plus innings.

Braves 2, Cubs 1

CHICAGO (AP) - Javier Vazquez allowed a run and five hits in seven strong innings and Brian McCann had two two-out RBIs for Atlanta.

Vazquez (6-7) has two wins in his last nine starts - both against the Cubs. He walked none and struck out six. Rafael Soriano got his ninth save in 10 chances by pitching the ninth.

Zambrano (4-4), pitching on three days' rest, allowed five hits and two runs in six innings. He hasn't won since June 6 - a stretch of six starts.

McCann had run-scoring singles in the first and third. Chicago tied it in the second when Koyie Hill hit a two-out RBI single, the Cubs' third hit of the inning.

Pirates 6, Astros 3

HOUSTON (AP) - Jack Wilson hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs for Pittsburgh, which ended a three-game losing streak.

Wilson singled in a run in a four-run seventh and Paul Maholm (6-4) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings for the Pirates. Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Hunter Pence, Lance Berkman and Michael Bourn all drove in a run for Houston, which finished with 10 hits. Ivan Rodriguez went 3 for 4 and All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada had two hits.

Berkman committed a key error in the seventh inning and pinch-hitter Delwyn Young, Andrew McCutchen and Wilson followed with RBI singles to give the Pirates a 6-2 lead.

Brian Moehler (5-5) allowed three hits and four runs in 6 1-3 innings.