Braves top Cardinals in matchup of division leaders

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA: Mike Minor allowed only one run to give Atlanta's depleted rotation a lift, Jason Heyward homered, and the Braves beat Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 in a matchup of division leaders on Friday night.
Minor (10-5) gave up four hits with no walks in seven innings. His sharp performance came two days after Tim Hudson was lost for the season with a broken right ankle.
The Atlanta rotation also is without left-hander Paul Maholm, who is expected to miss at least one start because of a bruised left wrist.
Wainwright (13-6), the NL leader in wins, took his first loss since a 2-1 decision to Texas on June 23.
Yadier Molina gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead in the second inning with his eighth homer. The Braves answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Wainwright allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and one walk in seven innings.
Marlins 2 Pirates 0: In Miami, Henderson Alvarez earned his first National League victory, Giancarlo Stanton hit his 12th homer, and the Miami Marlins managed another low-scoring victory, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on Friday night.
The Marlins are 4-4 since the All-Star break even though they have totalled only 15 runs.
Jeff Locke (9-3) allowed only two earned runs in 6 2-3 innings and had a career-high nine strikeouts, but he lost for the first time in his past 10 road starts. His ERA rose to 2.15.
Mets 11 Nationals 0, 1st game
Nationals 2 Mets 1, 2nd game
In Washington, Ryan Zimmerman homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night, lifting Washington over the New York Mets for a doubleheader split.
In the opener, Jenrry Mejia pitched seven scoreless innings in his season debut, and Daniel Murphy homered twice and tied a career high with five RBIs for the Mets. Murphy had two hits for New York in the nightcap and went 6 for 9 in the day-night doubleheader.
After Anthony Rendon grounded out, Zimmerman hit a 3-1 fastball from reliever LaTroy Hawkins (3-2) over the fence in right centre to win the second game. The Mets wasted another impressive outing by Matt Harvey, who gave up five hits and an unearned run in eight innings.
Rafael Soriano (2-2) pitched the ninth, surviving a first-and-third jam with one out.
Jayson Werth added three hits for Washington.
Pitching on the one-year anniversary his major league debut, Harvey struck out seven and walked one.
Washington starter Ross Ohlendorf, making his second start of the season, went seven innings. He allowed one run on six hits, struck out eight and walked two.
Rockies 8 Brewers 3: In Denver, Tyler Chatwood pitched seven strong innings and hit a two-run double to help Colorado break out offensively and beat Milwaukee.
Todd Helton and Nolan Arenado each had two hits and an RBI for the Rockies, who had scored an NL-low 58 runs in their 20 previous games in July.
Chatwood (7-3) allowed two runs on six hits and finished with a career-high 11 strikeouts.
The Rockies took advantage of Wily Peralta, who entered 3-1 with an 0.87 ERA in his previous six starts. Peralta (7-10) allowed eight runs — five earned — and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings.
Diamondbacks 10 Padres 0: In Phoenix, Randall Delgado tossed a three-hitter for his first career shutout, Cody Ross homered and drove in two runs, and Arizona pounded out 17 hits in a rout over San Diego.
Arizona roughed up Eric Stults (8-9) with six runs in the first three innings and had seven extra-base hits to win for the sixth time in nine home games.
Dodgers 2 Reds 1: In Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw pitched eight stellar innings, Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Homer Bailey, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Cincinnati to maintain their half-game lead over Arizona in the NL West.
Kershaw (10-6) allowed a run and six hits, struck out eight and walked none, dropping his major league-best ERA to 1.96. The 2011 NL Cy Young Award winner is 5-1 with a 1.72 ERA over his last six starts after going 0-3 in his previous six outings.
Cubs 3 Giants 2: In San Francisco, Julio Borbon and Junior Lake scored on an error by San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt in the ninth inning and the Chicago Cubs rallied to win.
Borbon singled leading off the ninth against closer Sergio Romo (3-5) and moved to second when pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro walked. After David DeJesus struck out, Lake reached on a fielder's choice. Anthony Rizzo then hit a sharp liner that went through Belt's legs and into the right field corner.