NL roundup: Cubs shutout Dodgers

CHICAGO (AP) " Ryan Dempster bounced back from his worst start of the season, pitching seven sharp innings for the Chicago Cubs in a 7-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Milton Bradley had three hits and Reed Johnson homered for the Cubs, who have won four of five since losing a season-worst eight straight games. Mike Fontenot had two extra-base hits and two RBIs.

Dempster (4-3) allowed just three hits with one walk, striking out five. The Dodgers were shut out for the first time this year in their largest loss of the season.

The Dodgers, who own the best record in the majors, have dropped two straight after winning four in a row. Los Angeles has not lost more than two consecutive games all year.

Los Angeles starter Eric Stults (4-2) lasted three-plus innings, giving up four runs and six hits.

Marlins 7, Mets 3

NEW YORK (AP) " Jeremy Hermida homered and drove in four runs to help Josh Johnson improve to 6-0 in eight career starts against New York.

Jorge Cantu added two RBIs for the Marlins, who battered starter Tim Redding (0-2) in building a 7-1 lead by the fifth.

Johnson (4-1) allowed two runs in seven innings against a makeshift Mets lineup missing most of its big boppers. David Wright, Gary Sheffield and Luis Castillo were given the day off, and Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado and Ryan Church are still out with injuries.

Leo Nunez struck out Fernando Martinez with two runners on for his first major league save.

Diamondbacks 3, Braves 2, 11 innings

PHOENIX (AP) " Eric Byrnes singled home Mark Reynolds in the 11th inning to give Arizona a victory over Atlanta.

Reynolds opened the 11th with a ground-rule double off Jeff Bennett (2-2) and moved to third on Miguel Montero's sacrifice. With the infield playing in, Byrnes hit a dribbler up the middle.

Tony Pena (5-2) pitched two perfect innings for the win.

Javier Vazquez blanked the Diamondbacks through six innings but didn't make it through the seventh, when pinch-hitter Chris Young tied it at 2 with an RBI single.

Pirates 7, Astros 4

PITTSBURGH (AP) " Jeff Karstens pitched seven efficient innings to win for the first time in more than a month and Pittsburgh roughed up Houston lefty Wandy Rodriguez, snapping a three-game skid.

Eric Hinske went 3 for 3 and reached base four times for the Pirates, who had lost six of eight.

Miguel Tejada doubled twice and drove in two runs to extend his hitting streak to an Astros season-high 13 games. Houston has lost eight of nine.

Rodriguez (5-4), who entered leading the NL with a 1.71 ERA, was tagged for five runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings. His ERA climbed to 2.26.

Karstens (2-2) threw only 87 pitches, allowing two runs and six hits to win for the first time since April 21, his second start of the season. Matt Capps earned his 10th save.

Brewers 9, Reds 5

MILWAUKEE (AP) " Mike Cameron hit a go-ahead homer in a six-run fifth, waking up Milwaukee's latent offense in a victory over Cincinnati.

The Reds played without offensive standout Joey Votto, placed on the 15-day disabled list with stress-related issues believed to be linked to his ongoing struggles with an inner-ear infection " although club officials were hesitant to go into detail about the situation.

Ryan Braun hit a solo homer in the fifth before Cameron's two-run shot off starter Aaron Harang (5-5), who also allowed a three-run drive by Prince Fielder in the first.

Seth McClung (2-1) pitched three scoreless innings for the win after Brewers starter Dave Bush turned in his shortest start of the season.

Brandon Phillips homered in his return from a thumb injury. Jerry Hairston Jr. also connected for the Reds.

Phillies 9, Nationals 6

PHILADELPHIA (AP) " Ryan Howard hit his club-record eighth career grand slam and added a solo homer to lead Philadelphia over Washington.

Howard's slam moved him past Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt on the franchise list. It was the 19th multihomer game of Howard's career.

Cole Hamels (3-2) hit an RBI double and gave up six runs in six innings for the win. He struck out seven.

Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save. The Phillies improved to 9-2 against the Nationals this season while dealing Washington its fifth straight loss.

Shairon Martis (5-1) lost for the first time in 10 starts for Washington. He allowed seven runs and seven hits in four innings.

Rockies 8, Padres 7

DENVER (AP) " Garrett Atkins hit a tying single with two outs in the ninth inning and scored from first base when Brad Hawpe's bloop double got past diving center fielder Tony Gwynn Jr., giving Colorado a victory over San Diego.

It was the first blown save in 15 chances this season for Padres closer Heath Bell (2-1).

The Rockies trailed 7-6 after pinch-hitter Scott Hairston hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth. With one out in the bottom half, Clint Barmes, who had four hits, singled and stole second. After Todd Helton grounded out, Atkins singled to tie it.

Huston Street (1-1) got the win.

Cardinals 6, Giants 2

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Albert Pujols burst out of his power slump with two homers, and Chris Duncan drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the seventh inning of the Cardinals' victory over the Giants.

Skip Schumaker's double drove home the tying run earlier in the seventh for the Cardinals, who overcame Chris Carpenter's first earned runs allowed this season for their eighth victory in 11 games.

Carpenter (3-0), who pitched 23 innings in his first four starts this season without giving up an earned run, yielded Juan Uribe's RBI triple in the second inning. Carpenter also gave up Bengie Molina's run-scoring double in the third for the Giants, whose four-game winning streak ended.