Miami — A.J. Burnett has a World Series ring from the 2003 season, the one he spent watching from the dugout after reconstructive elbow surgery.
Not being on the field for that run was tough - and, two years later, it still motivates him.
Burnett threw a three-hit shutout to win his career-high fifth straight start and even added an RBI single to help the Marlins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-0, Tuesday night. It was Burnett's second shutout of the season, and Florida's major-league-leading 12th as a staff in 2005.
"It is driving me. It's driving me more now than ever," Burnett said. "This is a great team. We've got great pitching. We've got a great bullpen. We've got great defense, and we've got great hitters. So, we've got a great chance to do it - and I'm going to do everything in my power to get us there."
Burnett (10-6) struck out five, walked four and threw 120 pitches - his third-highest total this season.
"The stuff he was throwing tonight was as good as you're going to see in this league," said Arizona center fielder Shawn Green.
Following the eighth inning, Marlins manager Jack McKeon asked Burnett if he wanted to finish. Burnett emphatically said he did.
"Be my guest," McKeon said.
Burnett gave up a one-out walk in the ninth, but enticed Troy Glaus to hit into a game-ending double play - the fourth turned by the Marlins in the game.
"Every play they made behind me pumped me up even more and gave me the energy to keep going," Burnett said.
Matt Treanor, Mike Lowell, Chris Aguila and Jeff Conine all had two hits for the Marlins. Treanor doubled twice and scored twice, Lowell also had two runs, and Conine hit his first triple of the season.
Craig Counsell doubled for Arizona, which matched a season-low by falling six games under .500.
Javier Vazquez (9-11) allowed eight hits and five runs in five innings for his seventh loss in 10 starts.
"I didn't do anything right," Vazquez said. "I was all over the place, and I got hit. It was just an ugly game all around. ... Today was one of the worst games I've ever thrown."
Burnett allowed only three base-runners in the first five innings, and two of those were quickly erased in double plays turned by Marlins' middle infielders Alex Gonzalez and Luis Castillo.
Reds 8, Cubs 3
Chicago - Jason LaRue hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, then singled home another run in a four-run ninth.
LaRue's drive over the left-field bleachers came off Will Ohman (2-2), who had just entered the game. It was the catcher's 10th of the season. Mark Prior struck out 11.
Braves 7, Giants 1
Atlanta - Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson drove in two runs apiece to back a strong outing by Horacio Ramirez.
Braves rookie Jeff Francoeur had four more hits - a career best and his 12th multihit game since being called up from the minors July 7, raising his average to .432.
Nationals 6, Astros 5
Houston - Brandon Watson homered and doubled in his major-league debut. Brad Wilkerson, Brian Schneider and Vinny Castilla also homered for the Nationals.
Cardinals 5, Brewers 2
Milwaukee - Anthony Reyes threw 61â3 innings of two-hit ball in his major-league debut, and Mark Grudzielanek had two RBIs for St. Louis.
Reyes (1-0), a 23-year-old right-hander in only his second full season in professional baseball, was just the sixth starting pitcher for the Cardinals this season. He was expected to be shipped back to Triple-A Memphis today.
Pirates 12, Rockies 4
Denver - Jason Bay homered and drove in four runs, and Dave Williams pitched six strong innings for the Pirates.
The Pirates had nine runs - all off Rockies starter Jose Acevedo (2-2) - and 14 hits by the fourth inning, finishing with 19.
Padres 8, Mets 3
San Diego - Brian Giles and Khalil Greene homered for the Padres, who handed Pedro Martinez his worst start of the year.
Chan Ho Park (1-0) struck out a season-high eight in his home debut.
Greene had three hits and scored three runs.
Phillies 8, Dodgers 4
Los Angeles- Pat Burrell ended a homerless drought of 64 at-bats with a go-ahead three-run shot in the eighth inning, and Ryan Howard homered right behind him.
Miami - A.J. Burnett has a World Series ring from t
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