CINCINNATI — Joey Votto drove in a pair of runs, and Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games on Saturday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. CINCINNATI — Joey Votto
CINCINNATI — Joey Votto drove in a pair of runs, and Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games on Saturday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The third-place Reds have won the first two games in the NL Central series, closing their gap with second-place Pittsburgh to two games. The Ohio River rivals have split their 12 games this season.
Cincinnati’s Mat Latos (9-3) and Pittsburgh’s A.J. Burnett (4-7) had a tough time finding their control after a 1-hour, 17-minute rain delay in the middle of the first inning. Aroldis Chapman escaped a two-on threat in the ninth for his 23rd save in 26 chances.
Latos gave up three runs in only five innings. Travis Snider’s pinch-hit RBI double cut it to 5-4 in the eighth, but Logan Ondrusek got Jose Tabata to ground out with the bases loaded, ending the rally.
METS 5, PHILLIES 4
NEW YORK — Gonzalez Germen came out of the bullpen to bail out fellow rookie Zack Wheeler and help the New York Mets hold off Philadelphia.
Marlon Byrd, David Wright and Daniel Murphy each had an RBI single for the Mets, who handed Cole Hamels his latest defeat and snapped Philadelphia’s seven-game winning streak at Citi Field. Another rookie, Juan Lagares, had a run-scoring single among his three hits.
Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff homer, and Chase Utley had a two-run shot in the ninth for the Phillies. They put the potential tying run on second with two outs before Bobby Parnell retired Darin Ruf on a game-ending liner to second.
DODGERS 3, NATS 1 (10)
WASHINGTON — Hanley Ramirez doubled to highlight a two-run 10th inning, and the Dodgers used seven pitchers to again tame the tepid offense of the Nationals.
Adrian Gonzalez led off the 10th with a double off Craig Stammen (5-5). Ramirez followed immediately with an RBI double for his third hit of the night, then scored two batters later on Andre Ethier’s sacrifice fly.
PADRES 5, CARDINALS 3
ST. LOUIS — Edinson Volquez was bailed out by his bullpen and earned the victory in San Diego’s win over the Cardinals.
Nick Vincent, Dale Thayer, Luke Gregorson and Huston Street worked an inning apiece after Volquez (7-8) faded at the end of a five-inning outing.
GIANTS 4, D’BACKS 3
SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey hit a two-run homer, and Matt Cain bounced back from two rough starts to earn his first win in more than a month.
BREWERS 6, MARLINS 0
MILWAUKEE — Yovani Gallardo carried a shutout into the seventh inning, and Jonathan Lucroy and Rickie Weeks belted home runs, leading Milwaukee over Miami.
ROCKIES 9, CUBS 3
DENVER — Carlos Gonzalez homered, and Todd Helton had three of the Rockies’ 13 hits in a win over the Cubs.
