WASHINGTON — Yadier Molina hit a two-run single off Stephen Strasburg during St. Louis’ three-run first inning, and the Cardinals beat the Nationals 4-2 Wednesday to complete a sweep and give Washington’s All-Star ace the only four-start losing streak of his young career.
WASHINGTON — Yadier Molina hit a two-run single off Stephen Strasburg during St. Louis’ three-run first inning, and the Cardinals beat the Nationals 4-2 Wednesday to complete a sweep and give Washington’s All-Star ace the only four-start losing streak of his young career.
Jaime Garcia (2-1) allowed a run on Bryce Harper’s sixth-inning groundout, but otherwise added to the offensive struggles of the Nationals, who have lost six consecutive home games and nine of their last 12 overall to fall to 10-11.
Washington produced only four runs in the three-game set, a rematch of the 2012 NL division series won by St. Louis.
Needing to be nearly perfect given Washington’s lack of offense, Strasburg (1-4) struggled through a 26-pitch, 12-minute first inning.
Strasburg, who hasn’t won since opening day against Miami, settled down and threw 110 pitches over seven innings, giving up no other runs and a total of five hits, along with seven strikeouts.
ROCKIES 6, BRAVES 5 (12)
DENVER — Wilin Rosario scored on Yorvit Torrealba’s single to left in the 12th inning as Colorado rallied in the ninth to deny Atlanta’s Tim Hudson his 200th career win.
Michael Cuddyer and Josh Rutledge homered for the Rockies, who ended a three-game skid behind one-hit pitching by the bullpen over the last six innings. Matt Belisle (1-1), the fourth reliever used by Colorado, pitched two perfect frames.
Rosario led off the 12th with a double to left off Luis Ayala (1-1). After Cuddyer was intentionally walked, Belisle struck out on a bunt attempt. Torrealba ripped a single to left, and Justin Upton’s throw home was wide as Rosario slid in with the winning run.
METS 7, DODGERS 3 (10)
NEW YORK — Jordany Valdespin hit a grand slam in the 10th inning, and New York rallied past Los Angeles to save early sensation Matt Harvey from his first loss of the season.
David Wright tied it with a two-out single in the ninth off Los Angeles closer Brandon League, handed his first blown save in six chances.
John Buck led off the 10th with a single against Josh Wall (0-1), and Ike Davis walked on four pitches. Both moved up on Marlon Byrd’s sacrifice, and Lucas Duda was walked to load the bases.
D’BACKS 3, GIANTS 2 (10)
SAN FRANCISCO — Pinch hitter Will Nieves delivered a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to lift Arizona to a victory over San Francisco.
Arizona led 2-1 before Brandon Crawford hit a tying homer off David Hernandez (1-0) with one out in the ninth.
REDS 1, CUBS 0
CINCINNATI — Mat Latos Latos retired the first 10 batters and 15 of the first 16 he faced and mostly spared an overworked bullpen, leading Cincinnati over Chicago.
Todd Frazier hit a long home run to provide all the scoring Latos would need with one out in the sixth inning.
PIRATES 5, PHILLIES 3
PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Inge got a pinch-hit tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and Pittsburgh rallied to beat Philadelphia.
Roy Halladay pitched six innings of one-hit ball and Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit upper-deck solo homers off Wandy Rodriguez.
PADRES 2, BREWERS 1
SAN DIEGO — Edinson Volquez threw seven strong innings, and Carlos Quentin hit his first home run of the season, helping San Diego snap Milwaukee’s nine-game winning streak.