Washington ? John Patterson’s red cap was soaked on a muggy, 87-degree night. His right hand was too wet with sweat to throw his curveball.

So he stuck mainly to his fastball and did exactly what he and the struggling Washington Nationals so desperately needed: He threw a gem to earn a victory.

Making do with what support a revamped lineup provided, Patterson allowed just three hits and worked into the ninth inning Tuesday night, leading Washington past the Colorado Rockies, 4-0, just the fourth victory in 13 games for the NL East leader.

The right-hander’s previous five starts were all no-decisions, even though his earned-run average was 2.97 in that span.

“I didn’t come into the day thinking about a win for me,” Patterson said. “We needed a win as a team.”

He delivered, and in the process looked very much like what Nationals general manager Jim Bowden called him Monday: a No. 1 pitcher.

“Patterson set the tone,” manager Frank Robinson said. “I knew he was on top of his game tonight when he started out throwing strikes.”

Patterson (4-2) began 21 of 29 batters with strikes and had stretches where he retired 10 straight and nine straight. He left to a standing ovation after giving up a leadoff single in the ninth to Aaron Miles on his 108th pitch.

“He attacked the zone,” said Miles, who stretched his hitting streak to a career-best 14 games.

Mike Stanton gave up a single to his only batter, and Chad Cordero got three outs for his major-league-high 33rd save.

Patterson only got into trouble once – in the fifth inning, when both of his walks came. The second was given to opposing starter Shawn Chacon (1-6), and it loaded the bases with two outs. But Patterson got Cory Sullivan swinging on a 91 mph fastball, one of his eight strikeouts.

Giants 5, Braves 4

San Francisco – Deivi Cruz scored from second base on Jason Ellison’s short single to left, sliding under the tag at home plate to end San Francisco’s victory. Pedro Feliz hit a three-run homer for San Francisco.

Marlins 6, Diamondbacks 3

Phoenix – A.J. Burnett won for the first time in four starts, and Miguel Cabrera homered twice, leading Florida over Arizona for only the Marlins’ second victory in nine games.

Brewers 5, Cardinals 4

St. Louis – Bill Hall’s two-run double in the eighth inning gave Milwaukee, once down by four runs, a victory over St. Louis. Lyle Overbay homered, and Brady Clark had three hits and an RBI for the Brewers, who beat the Cardinals for only the second time in eight meetings and ended St. Louis’ five-game winning streak. The Cardinals led 4-0 entering the fifth.

Astros 9-6, Pirates 3-4

Pittsburgh – Wandy Rodriguez took Ezequiel Astacio’s spot on Houston’s roster minutes after Astacio beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, then pitched even better than Astacio did as the Astros completed a doubleheader sweep by winning, 6-4. In the opener, Astacio limited Pittsburgh to two runs over six innings for his first major-league victory, and Morris Ensberg and Lance Berkman keyed a pair of early scoring innings in a 9-3 victory.

Cubs 7, Reds 3

Cincinnati – Aramis Ramirez homered twice – his third straight game with a homer – and drove in five runs, powering Chicago over Cincinnati. Derrek Lee had three hits, including a two-run double in the fifth off Luke Hudson (1-5).

Phillies 5, Dodgers 4, 10 innings

Philadelphia – Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift Philadelphia. The Dodgers went ahead 4-3 in the top of the 10th on Billy Wagner’s bases-loaded walk to Jayson Werth.

Mets 3, Padres 1, 11 innings

New York – Pinch-hitter Chris Woodward hit a two-run homer with one out in the 11th, lifting New York over San Diego. Woodward homered on an 0-1 pitch off Chris Hammond (5-1).

Late Monday game

Diamondbacks 8, Marlins 7, 11 innings

Phoenix – Quentin McCracken tripled in the winning run in the 11th inning.