NL roundup: Kemp's 2-run single leads Dodgers past Cards

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Matt Kemp hit a two-run single in the 10th inning for his third hit, helping Los Angeles end a season-worst four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over St. Louis on Thursday night.

Casey Blake had four hits and is 7 for 10 the last two games for Los Angeles, which avoided a four-game sweep. The Dodgers, who lead the NL in hitting and are second in scoring with an average of nearly five runs, finally got rolling after totaling three runs on 33 hits the first three games.

The Dodgers were 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position after going 4 for 25 the first three games. James McDonald (3-2) worked a perfect ninth and Jonathan Broxton, one strike away from ending the Dodgers' slump Wednesday, finished for his 24th save.

Manny Ramirez was 3 for 18 in the series with no RBIs and he's 4 for 26 in his last six games with no RBIs. Boos rained down on him throughout the game, just as they did the first three games before the New York Times reported Thursday he had tested positive for steroids in 2003.

Andre Ethier walked with one out against Dennys Reyes (0-2) in the 10th. Blake singled and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. With two outs, Kemp lined a single off Todd Wellemeyer.

Giants 7, Phillies 2

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Pablo Sandoval had a solo home run and a two-run double as San Francisco won its fourth straight.

Jonathan Sanchez (4-9) struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings in his first home start since throwing the team's first no-hitter in 33 years.

Eugenio Velez had a career-high three hits and drove in three runs for the Giants.

Ryan Howard doubled in a run in the first that put the Phillies ahead, but the NL East leaders did little else against Sanchez until Chase Utley's leadoff homer in the sixth.

All four Giants' runs in the fourth were unearned after third baseman and former Giant Pedro Feliz made a wild throw to second for an error on Juan Uribe's grounder.

Phillies starter Rodrigo Lopez (3-1) was tagged for eight hits in four innings but only three of his seven runs were earned.

Sandoval's home run to the water marked the 49th time it's been done by the Giants and the second this year.

Mets 7, Rockies 0, 1st game

Rockies 4, Mets 2, 2nd game

NEW YORK (AP) - Jorge De La Rosa set a franchise record by winning his seventh consecutive start and Colorado earned a split in the day-night doubleheader and snapped New York's five-game winning streak.

The Mets won the opener 7-0 behind Johan Santana, who struck out eight in seven sharp innings. Angel Berroa had a two-run double in New York's five-run second and David Wright also drove in two runs.

Santana (12-8) allowed four hits and walked one in his first career outing against Colorado, closing out July with a 3-2 record and 1.82 ERA in five starts.

Clint Barmes hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and De La Rosa (9-7) pitched 6 1-3 solid innings for the Rockies, who avoided a four-game series sweep with the victory in the makeup of Wednesday night's rainout.

Fernando Tatis had a solo homer for New York, which finished with six hits.

Ryan Spilborghs' RBI single in the sixth ended Colorado's scoreless streak at 27 innings. It was the Mets' longest shutout streak since a 28-inning stretch from May 22-26, 2004.

Braves 6, Marlins 3, 10 innings

MIAMI (AP) - Brian McCann's three-run homer in the 10th inning gave Atlanta the victory.

Nate McLouth led off the Braves 10th against Luis Ayala (1-3) with a single. After a sacrifice and an intentional walk to Chipper Jones, McCann hit a 2-2 pitch over the right-center field wall.

Cody Ross led off the eighth with his 15th home run to bring the Marlins within 3-2. After Hanley Ramirez was intentionally walked with runners on second and third, Florida tied it on Jorge Cantu's infield single.

Peter Moylan (3-2) worked the ninth for Atlanta and Rafael Soriano recorded his 15th save in 17 chances as Atlanta moved one game behind Florida for second place in the NL East.

Cubs 12, Astros 3

CHICAGO (AP) - Kevin Hart won his third straight start, Jake Fox and Milton Bradley hit back-to-back homers and the Cubs beat the Astros for their 11th win in 14 games since the All-Star break.

Kosuke Fukudome, who reached base five times, and Ryan Theriot had four RBIs apiece for the Cubs. Chicago began the day one-half game behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

Hart (3-1), in only his fourth major league start, allowed six hits and three runs in six innings, including homers to Carlos Lee and Kaz Matsui.

The Cubs drove Russ Ortiz (3-6) out in a five-run third inning that started with consecutive homers from Fox and Bradley.

Padres 7, Reds 4

CINCINNATI (AP) - Rookie Will Venable hit a three-run homer to help Tim Stauffer earn his first win in almost three years and the romped to a win over the reeling Reds.

Venable drove in a career-high four runs and had four hits as the Padres picked up a third consecutive win for the first time since they won 10 straight from May 15 through May 25. He only had five RBIs in 38 games this season coming into the game.

Luis Rodriguez and Chase Headley each added two hits behind Stauffer (1-2), who allowed seven hits and one run in seven innings for his first win since beating Los Angeles 4-2 on Aug. 21, 2006.

Johnny Cueto (8-8) allowed nine hits and six runs. Brewers 7, Nationals 5

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Yovani Gallardo struck out 11 in seven innings and Mike Cameron slid under catcher Wil Nieves' tag for the go-ahead run in the seventh, lifting the Brewers to a victory over the Nationals.

Prince Fielder hit his 25th homer and Craig Counsell added a homer and three RBIs for the Brewers, who won consecutive games for the first time this month after a miserable 8-16 start to July.

Gallardo (10-7) scattered five hits and a walk. He struck out a batter in every inning but one, but allowed a three-run homer to Ryan Zimmerman in the fourth that made it 3-2.

J.D. Martin (0-2) took the loss.