Pittsburgh, PA (My Sportsbook) - Johnny Cueto kept the Pirates bats silent in the finale of a three-game weekend series, throwing eight scoreless innings to lead Cincinnati to a 5-0 victory. Cueto (2-1) struck out nine, allowing just four hits and a walk for the Reds, who have won three of four. Ramon Hernandez went 2-for-3 with three RBI, Jay Bruce hit a solo homer, and Brandon Phillips had two hits while driving in a run for the victors. Jeff Karstens (1-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on six hits and four walks for the Pirates, who have been shut out in three of their past four games. Andy LaRoche had two of Pittsburgh's four hits in the club's fifth loss in six affairs.
Final Score: Houston 7, Atlanta 5
Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Michael Bourn went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a run batted in, as the Houston Astros snuck past the Atlanta Braves, 7-5, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Turner Field. Carlos Lee went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for the Astros, who have won five of their last seven games. Miguel Tejada went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Lance Berkman, Ivan Rodriguez, and Geoff Blum each had an RBI. Wandy Rodriguez lasted five frames, allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in a no-decision for Houston. Geoff Geary (1-3) allowed one run on three hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the win. LaTroy Hawkins retired the side in the ninth to collect his third save of the year. Matt Diaz went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored for the Braves, who had alternated wins and losses in their previous five games. Omar Infante and Yunel Escobar also had two hits apiece. Jo-Jo Reyes pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits for Atlanta. He also had three strikeouts and three walks in a no-decision. Peter Moylan (1-2) allowed two runs on as many hits in one frame of relief to take the loss.
Final Score: Milwaukee 4, Arizona 3
Milwaukee, WI (My Sportsbook) - Chris Duffy's run-scoring groundout in the eighth inning proved to be the game-winner, as Milwaukee bested Arizona, 4-3, earning a split of this four-game set. Milwaukee's Dave Bush was solid in a no-decision, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in a seven-inning start. Mitch Stetter (1-0) hurled a perfect eighth to get the win, and Trevor Hoffman closed the door in the ninth for his third save of the season. Prince Fielder and Mike Cameron each homered for the Brewers, who finished up a 5-2 homestand. Juan Gutierrez (1-2) took the loss in relief of Yusmeiro Petit, who gave up three runs on four hits in five frames for the Diamondbacks, winners in three of four coming into the game. Mark Reynolds, Upton and Miguel Montero each slugged solo homers in the seventh frame off Bush to provide the Arizona offense, tying the game, 3-3.
Final Score: Chicago 6, Florida 4
Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Derrek Lee hit a grand slam in the fifth inning and the Chicago Cubs held on to down the Florida Marlins, 6-4, in the finale of a four-game series at Wrigley Field. Mike Fontenot turned in a two-hit effort and clubbed a solo homer for the Cubs, who took three of the four games in the series. Chicago has won four of six overall. Aaron Miles chipped in with an RBI double in the victory. Carlos Zambrano (3-1) earned the win, despite leaving the game in the fifth inning with a strained left hamstring injury after legging out a bunt single. The right-hander worked five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Kevin Gregg picked up his third save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. John Baker went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, double and three runs scored for Florida, which has split its last six contests. Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla, and Ricky Nolasco each had an RBI apiece in defeat. Nolasco (1-3) took the loss after turning in a six-inning start. He was touched for six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and fanned five without walking a batter.
Final Score: San Francisco 1, Colorado 0 (10 innings)
San Francisco, CA (My Sportsbook) - Rich Aurilia stroked an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 1-0 triumph over Colorado in the rubber match of a three-game series from AT&T Park. Manuel Corpas (0-3) took the hill for the Rockies in the home half of the 10th and issued a walk to Steve Holm. Randy Winn moved Holm to second with a sacrifice bunt and Aurilia hit a line drive into left-center to score the game-winning run. Barry Zito was spectacular in a seven-inning start, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts and one walk for San Francisco. Brandon Medders (1-1) tossed a scoreless 10th to collect the win for the Giants, who have now won five consecutive series. Fred Lewis and Emmanuel Burriss each had two hits to pace San Francisco's offense. Jason Hammel gave up six hits, walked two, and fanned one in a six-inning start for Colorado. Dexter Fowler, Todd Helton, and Clint Barmes had the only three hits of the game for the Rockies, who have lost three of five overall.
Final Score: Los Angeles 7, San Diego 3
Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Orlando Hudson doubled twice and drove in three runs, as the Los Angeles Dodgers topped San Diego, 7-3, to set a franchise record for consecutive wins to start a season. Los Angeles improved to 10-0 at Dodger Stadium this season, breaking the 9-0 record set back in 1946 -- when the Dodgers were still located in Brooklyn. The 10-0 start also ties a National League record, and the Dodgers became the first team to accomplish the feat since the 1983 Braves -- who were managed by current LA skipper Joe Torre. Chad Billingsley (5-0) continued to pitch well this season, as he took the win after allowing two runs on four hits and four walks in seven innings. Billingsley also struck out eight, and remained undefeated in six starts this season. Billingsley has thrown at least six innings in each of his starts and giving up no more than three runs in any one outing. Juan Pierre went 2-for-4 and batted in a run for the Dodgers, who swept this four-game series with the Padres. Chad Gaudin (0-1) took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, as San Diego lost for the eighth time in its last nine games. Jody Gerut and Brian Giles each homered in the loss.
St. Louis at Washington, postponed
Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - The finale of a four-game set between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washignton Nationals was postponed due to heavy rain. The Nationals did not immediately announce a makeup date.
New York at Philadelphia, postponed
Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Sunday's series finale between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies has been postponed because of rain. The game will be rescheduled at a later date.
