National League Capsules

DENVER – Todd Helton hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and the Colorado Rockies cooled off Stephen Strasburg with a 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

Jeff Francis pitched five effective innings as the Rockies won for just the fourth time in 18 games. Dexter Fowler had two hits and Carlos Gonzalez delivered a tying RBI single.

Strasburg (9-2) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. He was bidding to become the first Washington-based pitcher to win seven straight starts since Bob Porterfield did it in his final seven starts for the Senators in 1953. The last pitcher from the Nationals franchise to win seven straight starts was Pedro Martinez in 1997 for the Montreal Expos, who moved to Washington.

Nationals rookie Bryce Harper went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

Josh Roenicke (3-0) followed Francis with two scoreless innings. Matt Belisle worked the eighth and Rafael Betancourt finished for his 12th save.

CARDINALS 8, MARLINS 7, 10 INNINGS

MIAMI (AP) — Rafael Furcal and pinch-hitting pitcher Joe Kelly drove in runs in the 10th inning and St. Louis held on for its fourth straight victory.

Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer off Miami reliever Heath Bell in the ninth, capping a four-run inning and tying it at 6.

Jason Motte allowed John Buck's RBI single before getting Jose Reyes to fly out with two on and two outs for his 15th save.

Victor Marte (2-1) got the win, and Chad Gaudin (1-1) was charged with the loss.

The Marlins have lost 16 of 19.

GIANTS 8, DODGERS 0

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run double and sacrifice fly to help San Francisco's Barry Zito end a three-start losing streak.

Angel Pagan and Hector Sanchez each drove in two runs as the Giants pulled within two games of the Dodgers for their closest position to first place in the division since April 7.

Zito (6-5), who had allowed 17 runs in 14 1-3 innings for a 10.67 ERA during the skid, gave up three hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked three.

Nathan Eovaldi (0-4) was tagged for a season-high eight runs and 10 hits in five innings, stretching his winless stretch to 11 starts since a victory in his major league debut last Aug. 6 at Arizona.

PHILLIES 8, PIRATES 3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joe Blanton threw seven effective innings and Jimmy Rollins homered for the fourth time in five games for Philadelphia.

Blanton (7-6) allowed three runs — two earned — and seven hits, striking out eight.

The Phillies are 15-2 against the Pirates in their last 17 meetings at Citizens Bank Park.

Jeff Karstens (0-2) gave up seven runs — six earned — and 11 hits in five innings in his first start since April 17. Karstens was on the disabled list with hip and shoulder issues.

Jose Tabata hit a solo homer for the Pirates and also made two throwing errors in Philadelphia's four-run first inning.

REDS 3, BREWERS 1

CINCINNATI (AP) — Mat Latos fanned a personal-best 13 batters in his second career complete game, helping the Reds to the victory.

The NL Central leaders won for only the second time in seven games. The Brewers, who won the division last year, have dropped eight of 13, falling 7½ games back — one shy of their season high.

Latos (6-2) gave up four hits, including a drive by Norichika Aoki that made it 63 straight games at Great American Ball Park with at least one homer. Latos also singled twice, matching a career high.

Jay Bruce doubled home two runs in the fourth off Yovani Gallardo (6-6), who allowed four hits over six innings. Brandon Phillips had an RBI double in the eighth.

Milwaukee's Ryan Braun went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, ending his hitting streak at 18 games.

CUBS 6, METS 1

CHICAGO (AP) — Joe Mather homered and Travis Wood outpitched Johan Santana, helping the Cubs snap a four-game skid.

Wood (2-3) struck out six and scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings to earn his second straight victory. The 25-year-old left-hander has given up just eight runs in 31 2-3 innings this month. Four of those five starts came against former Cy Young Award winners.

The Cubs scored four unearned runs in the seventh inning with help from three Mets errors, including three-base miscues by third baseman David Wright and right fielder Lucas Duda.

Santana (5-4) gave up five hits and two runs over six innings.

Mather hit a two-run shot with two out in the fourth.

PADRES 8, ASTROS 7, 10 INNINGS

HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Quentin hit an RBI double in the 10th inning to lift the Padres to the victory.

Chase Headley walked with one out and stole second before Quentin drove him in with a drive to right-center against Brandon Lyon (0-2).

San Diego grabbed a 7-6 lead on Jesus Guzman's two-run homer in the eighth inning but Jason Castro tied it with a solo shot in the bottom half.

Dale Thayer (1-2) pitched a perfect ninth for the win and Huston Street finished for his 11th save.

Brian Bixler and Carlos Lee homered in the first inning for Houston.