Votto grand slam propels Reds to 9-6 win over Nationals

CINCINNATI: Joey Votto hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for his third home run of the game, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a rain-delayed 9-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
Votto hit solo homers in his first two at-bats and finished a big day with his second career slam with two outs in the ninth. The Reds said it was the first time in major league history that a player hit a game-ending grand slam for his third home run, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau.
Washington came into the game with only 15 homers allowed all season, fewest in the majors. Votto broke out of his power drought and helped the Reds avoid a sweep with three perfect swings.
The last one came against struggling closer Henry Rodriguez (1-3), who had trouble with his control on the wet mound. Rodriguez walked two batters to load the bases with two outs, then left a 2-2 pitch up and over the plate to Votto.
The 2010 NL MVP hadn’t homered since April 30 and had only two coming into the game. He finished with a career-high six RBIs and the second three-homer game of his career.
Marlins 8 Mets 4: In Miami, Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-out grand slam to cap a ninth-inning rally by the Miami Marlins, who beat an angry Frank Francisco and the New York Mets.
The walk-off victory was the second in the three-game series for the Marlins, who have won 10 of their past 12 games.
It was the first time in 14 years that there were two walk-off slams on one day, according to STATS LLC. Mo Vaughn connected for Boston and Steve Finley for San Diego on April 10, 1998.
The Marlins trailed 4-2 when Emilio Bonifacio led off the ninth with his second triple of the game against Francisco (1-3). John Buck walked and pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs followed with an RBI single.
Phillies 3 Padres 2: In Philadelphia, Cole Hamels was stellar on the mound in his return from a five-game suspension, allowing one run in seven innings to help Philadelphia beat San Diego.
Hamels (5-1) was suspended by Major League Baseball after the left-hander intentionally hit Washington rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch.
It was Hamel’s fifth victory in his last six starts — all Philadelphia wins. The San
Braves 7 Cardinals 4: In St. Louis, Jason Heyward ended a 10-pitch at-bat with a three-run double in the third inning and Atlanta beat St. Louis to complete a three-game sweep and hand rookie Lance Lynn his first loss.Tommy Hanson (4-3) allowed one run in five innings with nine strikeouts and Martin Prado, Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla each had an RBI in a three-run seventh. The Braves had lost seven in a row in St. Louis before Friday and swept the Cardinals for the first time since Sept. 11-13, 2009, also in St. Louis.
Dodgers 11 Rockies 5: In Los Angeles, Bobby Abreu hit a three-run double and A.J. Ellis added a three-run homer during a sixth-inning rally that carried Ted Lilly and Los Angeles past Colorado.
All-Star center fielder Matt Kemp, who leads the Dodgers with 12 homers and a .359 batting average, left the game because of an irritated left hamstring after grounding out in the third inning. He has played in 399 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the majors, but that streak is in serious jeopardy. He has an MRI scheduled for Monday.
Giants 7 Diamondbacks 3: In Phoenix, Melky Cabrera singled four times to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, Gregor Blanco drove in three runs with a pair of hits and San Francisco beat Arizona to take two of three from the Diamondbacks.
Brett Pill hit a two-run homer and Barry Zito (2-1) earned his first win since his opening start.
Jason Kubel went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks, who finished their homestand 1-5.
Cubs 8 Brewers 2: In Milwaukee, Ian Stewart hit a solo homer and scored the go-ahead run on an error, helping Chicago beat Milwaukee to avoid a three-game sweep by their division rivals.
It was the fourth homer of the season for Stewart, hitless in his previous four games. Reed Johnson added a pinch-hit home run in the sixth for the Cubs.
Shawn Camp (1-1) earned the win. Kameron Loe (2-1) took the loss.
Pirates 3 Astros 2, 12 innings: In Pittsburgh, Josh Harrison’s 12th-inning single drove in Clint Barmes and Pittsburgh came back to beat Houston on a rainy afternoon.
Harrison was 0 for 3 before lining the first pitch he saw from Fernando Rodriguez (1-4) into left. Barmes had just hit a two-out double and scored from second.
The Pirates prevented the Astros from winning a road series for the first time in 11 months.
Pittsburgh tied it in the ninth against closer Brett Myers, keeping Wandy Rodriguez from earning a victory despite eight dominant innings. It was Myers’ first blown save in 10 opportunities.