Braves snap skid; Mets win
Braves 4, Nationals 1
Atlanta – Brian McCann’s run-scoring single gave the Braves their first lead in a week, and he added a three-run homer to lift Atlanta over Washington on Monday night.
The Braves snapped a five-game losing streak, their longest of the season. The streak included four shutout losses.
Mets 2, Cardinals 1, 11 inn.
New York – Shawn Green hit a leadoff home run in the 11th inning, and the Mets beat St. Louis in the Cardinals’ first visit to Shea Stadium since winning Game 7 of the NL championship series last October.
The Mets won their fourth in a row despite getting only three hits. The NL East leaders have won seven straight regular-season games against St. Louis overall.
Brewers 6, Astros 1
Milwaukee – Ben Sheets won his fifth consecutive decision, Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 27th homer, and the Brewers beat the Astros.
The NL Central-leading Brewers have won 10 of 12 since being no-hit by the Tigers’ Justin Verlander on June 12. The Astros, on the last leg of a nine-game road trip, have lost five of their last seven.
Cubs 10, Rockies 9
Chicago – Alfonso Soriano hit a game-ending two-run single to give the Cubs a win over Colorado, setting off a wild celebration after the Cubs bullpen blew an 8-3 lead in the ninth inning. Troy Tulowitzki hit a three-run homer for the Rockies, who scored six runs in the ninth.
After Todd Helton doubled in a run with no outs in the ninth off reliever Scott Eyre, Bobby Howry (4-4) was greeted by back-to-back RBI singles from Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe. Then Tulowitzki followed with a three-run homer to put the Rockies ahead 9-8. Howry is the closer while Ryan Dempster is unavailable because of a strained oblique muscle.
After Tulowitzki’s homer, a fan charged at Howry. The fan was just a few feet from the mound before security guards tackled him.
The Cubs came back in the ninth off Rockies closer Brian Fuentes (0-2) to win.
Dodgers 8, Diamonbacks 1
Phoenix – Brad Penny earned his 10th win, and the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks. He allowed one run and four hits in eight innings and improved to 7-2 against Arizona. Penny (10-1) lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.04. His only loss this season came against the Los Angeles Angels on May 18.
Giants 4, Padres 3, 11 inn.
San Francisco – Barry Bonds scored the winning run from second base on Pedro Feliz’s single to left-center in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Bonds lined a single to right for his lone hit of the night, then Feliz delivered the fourth game-ending hit of his career two batters later. Bonds was swarmed as he crossed the plate, sealing the Giants’ third straight win.
Vinnie Chulk (3-2) pitched a perfect inning for the victory.