Correia, Pirates top Cubs, avoid sweep

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PITTSBURGH — Kevin Correia won his career-best fifth straight start, and Garrett Jones hit a tiebreaking double to lead Pittsburgh over Chicago 3-2 on Wednesday.

PITTSBURGH — Kevin Correia won his career-best fifth straight start, and Garrett Jones hit a tiebreaking double to lead Pittsburgh over Chicago 3-2 on Wednesday.

Correia (8-6) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, helping Pittsburgh avoid getting swept at home.

Jones drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the sixth. Neil Walker and Michael McKenry homered for Pittsburgh.

Ryan Dempster (5-5) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His ERA, which had been a major league-leading 2.11, rose to 2.25.

NATIONALS 5, METS 2

NEW YORK — Stephen Strasburg struck out 11 in seven innings, Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa hit consecutive homers, and Washington completed a sweep of free-falling New York.

Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer for a second straight day, and Espinosa doubled and scored on one of the Mets’ two errors in the Nationals’ fifth straight win. The team with the NL’s best record (58-39) has won seven of 10.

BRAVES 7, MARLINS 1

MIAMI — Juan Francisco homered and drove in three runs for Atlanta while the downsizing Marlins jettisoned yet another star player by trading Hanley Ramirez to Los Angeles.

Michael Bourn and Jason Heyward homered to back Tommy Hanson (11-5), who pitched around a career-high seven walks and allowed one run and three hits in five innings.

PHILLIES 7, BREWERS 6 (10)

PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Rollins hit an RBI single off Francisco Rodriguez with two outs in the 10th, and Philadelphia rallied in its last at-bat for the fourth straight day, completing its first three-game sweep of the season.

The Phillies have won four straight, including three walkoff wins.

Ryan Braun hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth, and Rickie Weeks also connected but the Brewers, who lost their sixth straight — all on the road.

PADRES 6, GIANTS 3

SAN FRANCISCO — Jesus Guzman hit two home runs, and Chase Headley had one to hand Tim Lincecum another setback as San Diego avoided a three-game sweep.

Will Venable hit a two-run double to help the Padres chase Lincecum (4-11) after he allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Jason Marquis (4-5) gave up three hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one to send the NL West-leading Giants to only their third loss in 12 games.

REDS 5, ASTROS 3

HOUSTON — Drew Stubbs delivered another huge hit in the ninth inning, a two-out, two-run double that rallied Cincinnati to its season-high seventh straight win.

A night earlier, Stubbs hit a two-run homer in the ninth that wiped out the Astros’ one-run lead.

Houston scored three times in the eighth to take the lead. But pinch hitter Xavier Paul opened the Cincinnati ninth with a double off Cordero and pinch-hitter Brandon Phillips drew a one-out walk.

Stubbs’ double allowed Paul and Phillips to score.

Jay Bruce added an insurance run with an RBI single.

CARDS 3, DODGERS 2 (12)

ST. LOUIS — Rafael Furcal singled home the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning, and St. Louis dampened the Dodgers debut of Hanley Ramirez.

ROCKIES 4, D’BACKS 2

PHOENIX — Jeff Francis pitched six strong innings, Wilin Rosario hit a two-run homer, and Colorado avoided a three-game sweep.