NL roundup: Dodgers blank Giants

LOS ANGELES (AP) " Eric Stults pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout and the Los Angeles Dodgers earned their first win since Manny Ramirez was suspended, beating the San Francisco Giants 8-0 on Saturday.

Juan Pierre was 3-for-5 with two doubles and recorded his first three RBIs since taking over in left field for Ramirez. Juan Castro had three hits and drove in two runs for the defending NL champions, who are 1-2 since their dreadlocked slugger was banished for 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a banned drug.

Stults (4-1) gave the Dodgers their first complete game of the season, going the distance for the second time in 20 career starts. The 29-year-old left-hander, who was recalled from Triple-A on April 11 to replace the injured Hiroki Kuroda in the rotation, threw 123 pitches in his third start against the Giants this season.

Jonathan Sanchez (1-3) gave up five runs and six hits, walked four and struck out four in five innings. The left-hander is 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers.

Reds 8, Cardinals 3

CINCINNATI (AP) " Aaron Harang pitched seven innings and had a bases-loaded single during Cincinnati's decisive rally.

Harang (3-3) had many good moments on his 31st birthday, none better than the awkward swing that produced his first hit of the season in the sixth. Cincinnati sent nine batters to the plate for five runs off Kyle Lohse (3-2) in the inning, blowing open a tie game.

With their third straight win, the Reds moved four games over .500 (17-13) for the first time since 2006.

Harang gave up three runs " two earned " and struck out seven. Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer off him in the third.

Brewers 12, Cubs 6

MILWAUKEE (AP) " Craig Counsell and Ryan Braun hit back-to-back homers and Milwaukee scored six times in the seventh inning before the lights went out.

It was Braun's second homer in as many days and came after Counsell hit his first since June 17 and 36th of his career off Cubs starter Ryan Dempster (2-2).

The Brewers earned their 14th win in 18 games, the best mark in baseball over that stretch.

The game was delayed for 20 minutes in the eighth inning after more than half the lights went out at Miller Park.

Yovani Gallardo (4-1) labored through five innings for Milwaukee, allowing two runs and five hits. He struck out eight and issued a career-high four walks against the injury-depleted Cubs, who put third baseman Aramis Ramirez (shoulder) on the disabled list before the game.

Mets 10, Pirates 1

NEW YORK (AP) " Jose Reyes capped a five-run fourth with a two-run single, John Maine allowed three hits in six effective innings and New York earned its sixth straight win.

Carlos Beltran hit a long home run, David Wright tripled and drove in two runs and Gary Sheffield had two of the Mets' season-high 17 hits. Reyes finished with three hits, three RBIs and a stolen base.

The loss was Pittsburgh's seventh straight and 11th in 12 games after an 11-7 start.

New York was without manager Jerry Manuel, who was suspended one game for making contact with umpire Bill Welke during an argument in the Mets' 7-5 win over Philadelphia on Thursday night. Bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr. ran the team.

Paul Maholm (3-1) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings for the Pirates.

Maine (3-2) allowed one run, struck out three and walked two.

Braves 6, Phillies 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) " Javier Vazquez pitched neatly into the eighth inning and Yunel Escobar and Brian McCann hit two-run homers for Atlanta.

Vazquez (3-3) allowed two runs and four hits, striking out seven in 7 2-3 innings. He also helped himself with a double that started a three-run rally in the fifth.

Chase Utley hit his 10th homer and Raul Ibanez also went deep for the Phillies, who got another poor performance from a starting pitcher. Joe Blanton (1-3) gave up six runs and eight hits in eight innings.

Blanton's shaky start was the latest in a slew of rough outings for a rotation that played a vital role in helping the Phillies win the World Series last season. Philadelphia's starters are 7-10 with a 6.47 ERA.

Marlins 3, Rockies 1

DENVER (AP) " Josh Johnson pitched eight innings of seven-hit ball to lead Florida past Colorado and Jorge De La Rosa.

Johnson (3-0) won his sixth straight decision, dating back to Sept. 13. He has 10 wins in his last 11 decisions since coming back last July from Tommy John surgery.

Matt Lindstrom got the final three outs for his sixth save in eight chances.

Jorge De La Rosa (0-3) was almost as tough on Marlins' hitters, striking out a career-high 12 in eight innings. He allowed four hits and walked one.

Hanley Ramirez had three hits, scored twice and drove ina run.

Astros 5, Padres 4

HOUSTON (AP) " Miguel Tejada's infielder bouncer drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and Houston rallied to beat San Diego.

Carlos Lee had driven in the tying run with a single, sending Hunter Pence to third, and Tejada's slow bouncer allowed him to score moments later.

LaTroy Hawkins (1-0) gave up a two-run double that left the Astros trailing 4-3 in the eighth, but wound up with the win.

Luke Gregerson (0-3) allowed a run in the seventh and both runs in the eighth inning for the Padres, who lost for the third time in four games.

Nationals 2, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX (AP) " Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 27 games with a home run in the eighth inning and Washington won its third straight.

Adam Dunn's second home run in as many nights provided the other Washington run.

John Lannan (2-3) blanked the Diamondbacks through six innings, allowing three hits but walking six. Six relievers finished off the victory.

Arizona lost its third straight one-run game to fall to 0-2 under new manager A.J. Hinch, who replaced the fired Bob Melvin. The Diamondbacks have lost six of seven overall.

Doug Davis (2-5) allowed one run on four hits in six innings.