Drew Stubbs’ RBI grounder, as the Cubs tried to turn a double play, sent the Reds to their eighth victory in 10 games. Cincinnati is a season-high 10 games over .500 (45-35).

Cincinnati’s road winning streak in extra innings dates to June 2009, and is the longest such string in the NL since Atlanta won nine straight in 1999-2000.

The Cubs fell 10 1/2 games behind NL Central-leading Cincinnati. They have lost 11 straight series openers and have scored two runs or fewer in 10 of their last 12 games.

Bob Howry (1-2) allowed two singles in the 10th.

Jordan Smith (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the victory. Francisco Cordero worked the 10th for his 22nd save.

Nationals 2  Mets 1: At Washington,  Ryan Zimmerman hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to give Washington the win.

Pinch-hitter Willie Harris started the rally with one out in the ninth by walking on a full-count pitch from Pedro Feliciano (2-4). After a sacrifice moved the runners, Cristian Guzman singled to left but Jesus Feliciano cut off the sharply hit ball and forced Harris to stop at third, loading the bases. Ryota Igarashi relieved Feliciano.

The Mets brought Jesus Feliciano in as a fifth infielder, stationing him to the shortstop side of second base in a drawn-in infield, and Zimmerman hit a fly to right field for the game-winner.

Matt Capps (1-3) worked the ninth.

Washington avoided dropping a season-worst 12 games under .500. The Mets have lost three of four games.

Pirates 3 Phillies 2: At Pittsburgh, Daniel McCutchen became the second Pittsburgh rookie in as many days to win for the first time this season, pitching into the sixth inning.

Rookies Jose Tabata and Pedro Alvarez drove in a run each as the Pirates beat a team with a winning record for only the second time in 33 games since May 25. Their last victory over an above-.500 team was a 6-3 win over San Francisco on June 5.

On Wednesday, Brad Lincoln got his first win in the majors by pitching seven innings in a 2-0 victory in Chicago.

The Phillies lost their third in four games a few hours after learning star second baseman Chase Utley probably won’t return until September because of a damaged ligament in his right thumb that required surgery earlier in the day.

Philadelphia has seven players on the disabled list.

Wilson Valdez hit his second homer in three days for Philadelphia.

McCutchen (1-3) was 1-5 in 11 career games before limiting Philadelphia to six hits and one earned run in 5 1-3 innings. Four relievers combined to work 3 2-3 scoreless innings with Octavio Dotel getting his 17th save.

Phillies starter Cole Hamels (6-7) lost his fifth in six decisions despite limiting Pittsburgh to five hits—all but one a single—over seven innings.

Brewers 4  Cardinals 1: At St. Louis, Randy Wolf allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings and Prince Fielder hit one of three Milwaukee  home runs.

The Brewers, who have won eight of their last 11, lead the National League  with 99 homers.

Wolf (6-7) gave up four hits, including a leadoff home run to Albert Pujols in the seventh inning. Pujols hit his league-leading 19th home run and 385th of his career, tying him with Jim Edmonds and Dwight Evans for 53rd on the all-time list.

Milwaukee’s Corey Hart had a double in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

Rockies 7  Giants 3: At Denver,  Carlos Gonzalez hit an early two-run homer and Aaron Cook threw 6 1-3 sharp innings for Colorado.

Dexter Fowler stole two bases and scored twice as the Rockies won for the third time in four games.

The Giants’ reached a season-high six games.

Buster Posey had a solo homer as he took the place of Bengie Molina in the lineup after the veteran catcher was dealt to Texas earlier in the day.

Cook (3-5) allowed  three runs and seven hits to win for the first time since May 29.

Madison Bumgarner (0-2) lasted seven innings in his second start of the season, giving up four runs and nine hits.

Astros 6 Padres 3, 10 innings : At San Diego,  Michael Bourn hit a two-run triple in the 10th inning to lead Houston.

Luke Gregerson (2-3) walked Humberto Quintero and Oswaldo Navarro with two outs before Bourn tripled to center field to break a 3-all tie. Jeff Keppinger, who had three RBIs, then singled home Bourn.

Gregerson had walked only four batters in 39 1-3 innings coming into Thursday’s game.

It was Houston’s sixth win in nine games after having dropped nine of 10. NL West-leading San Diego has lost three of four.

Chris Sampson (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win. Matt Lindstrom got three outs for his 19th save in 23 chances.