Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals yesterday in Los Angeles to end their five-game skid.
Kemp homered to center field on the first pitch he saw from Ryan Franklin (0-2). Andre Ethier led off with a double off Trever Miller, extending his major league-leading hitting streak to 14 games.
Jonathan Broxton (1-0) got the win despite giving up a two-out, RBI single in the top of the ninth by David Freese.
Nationals 8, Brewers 4
Nationals 5, Brewers 1
In D.C., Danny Espinosa followed up a three-run homer in the opening game with a bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning of the second as the Nationals swept Milwaukee.
In the opener, Ivan Rodriguez also hit a three-run homer and Jason Marquis pitched into the eighth inning.
Phillies 3, Marlins 2
In Philadelphia, Carlos Ruiz hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning after an error by the Marlins defense.
Padres 8, Astros 6
In Houston, Will Venable hit a two-run single in a four-run eighth inning and Heath Bell got his 38th consecutive save for San Diego.
Pirates 7, Reds 6
In Cincinnati, Andrew McCutchen opened the game with a homer against slow-starting Edinson Volquez, then singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning.
McCutchen and Jose Tabata started the game with back-to-back homers — only the third time that’s happened in Pirates history.
Rockies 9, Cubs 5
In Denver, Dexter Fowler hit a two-out, two-run double to ignite a four-run eighth inning and Colorado won for the eighth time in nine games.