Final Score: Washington 5, Atlanta 3
Washington, DC (Sports Network) – Ian Desmond went 2-for-3 with a home run and drove in two, as the Washington Nationals edged the Atlanta Braves, 5-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Scott Olsen (3-2), who was reinstated from the disabled list Thursday, got the victory after giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in six innings. Wil Nieves added a two-run single for the Nationals, who have won both series at home against Atlanta this season. Derek Lowe (10-9) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in five innings. Matt Diaz hit a two-run homer for the Braves, who have lost four of six.
Final Score: Colorado 9, Pittsburgh 3
Denver, CO (Sports Network) – Ubaldo Jimenez turned in seven strong innings and Clint Barmes drove in three runs as Colorado blitzed Pittsburgh, 9-3, to stop an eight-game losing skid in the finale of a three-game series at Coors Field. Dexter Fowler contributed three hits, including a two-run double, while Carlos Gonzalez and Brad Hawpe each hit a solo homer for the Rockies, who hadn’t won since July 20 at Florida. Jimenez (16-2) recovered from a horrible outing at Philadelphia on Saturday by scattering four hits and allowing one run, fanning six with three walks. Neil Walker slugged a two-run shot for the Pirates, whose modest two-game win streak was halted. Paul Maholm (6-9) was rocked for 11 hits and eight runs with three walks over 5 1/3 innings in the setback, his fifth loss in seven decisions.
Final Score: Florida 5, San Francisco 0
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) – Anibal Sanchez was nearly perfect on the mound as he tossed his second career shutout in Florida’s 5-0 win over San Francisco. Sanchez (8-6), who authored a no-hitter in 2006, gave up just one hit — a bloop single by Pablo Sandoval in the bottom of the fifth inning — walked one and struck out eight. Mike Stanton and Ronny Paulino knocked in two runs apiece for the Marlins, who split this four-game series at AT&T Park and have won 11 of their last 17 games overall. Madison Bumgarner (4-3) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings for the Giants, while fellow rookie Buster Posey went 0-for-3 to snap a 21-game hitting streak.
Final Score: San Diego 3, Los Angeles 2
San Diego, CA (Sports Network) – Pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the San Diego Padres posted a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles in the rubber match of a three-game series at Petco Park. George Sherrill (1-2) came on to pitch the ninth for the Dodgers, and Scott Hairston greeted him with a single to left field. Tony Gwynn Jr. sacrificed the runner to second, and Salazar followed by delivering a grounder up the middle to plate the decisive run. Salazar’s heroics made a winner out of Heath Bell (5-0), who tossed a 1-2-3 ninth. Chase Headley and Yorvit Torrealba both knocked in a run for the NL West- leading Padres, who acquired former AL MVP Miguel Tejada from Baltimore before the game. Mat Latos earned a no-decision after giving up two runs — one earned — on two hits and three walks in five innings of work. He fanned seven. James Loney homered for the Dodgers, while starter Vicente Padilla allowed two runs on four hits over four innings.
Final Score: Philadelphia 3, Arizona 2 (11 innings)
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Wilson Valdez helped Philadelphia celebrate its acquisition of pitcher Roy Oswalt with a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep and won their eighth consecutive game with a 3-2 win over Arizona. The Phillies acquired the ace right-hander from Houston earlier Thursday to bolster the club’s starting rotation as the stretch run gets underway. Oswalt flew to Washington, D.C. on Thursday night and will start for his new team when Philadelphia opens a weekend road series against the Nationals on Friday. Kyle Kendrick pitched 6 1/3 innings of four-hit ball, and Raul Ibanez homered in Philadelphia’s 11th straight win at home. Kendrick yielded one run and struck out five with three walks for the Phillies, who now sit 2 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East. Miguel Montero hit his third home run of the season and finished with two RBI for the Diamondbacks, who have lost seven straight games. Joe Saunders made his first start with the D’Backs after he was traded to Arizona in the Dan Haren deal on Sunday. Saunders was charged with two runs on nine hits and four strikeouts over seven innings.
