SAN FRANCISCO: Carlos Beltran’s two-run single capped a nine-run fourth inning and visiting St. Louis routed San Francisco 14-3 in the series finale on Sunday.
The Giants took an early lead with two runs in the third off Adam Wainwright (1-1), who struck out six in seven innings, but the Cardinals answered in a big way in the fourth. Matt Adams sparked the uprising with a bases-loaded, two-run double to put St. Louis ahead 3-2. The Cardinals padded their lead in the eighth when Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig each drove in a run.
Rockies 9 Padres 1: Dexter Fowler remained hot by belting a two-run homer in the first inning and Jhoulys Chacin pitched 6 2/3 strong innings as Colorado rolled over visiting San Diego for a fifth straight victory.
Fowler, who also lined a double, had two home runs in the three-game sweep and has four overall.
Wilin Rosario sealed it with a three-run blast in the seventh for the Rockies after Chacin (1-0) allowed six hits, one run, struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Dodgers 6 Pirates 2: Adrian Gonzalez drove in four runs, Ryu Hyun-jin threw 6 1/3 innings to earn his first Major League victory and host Los Angeles completed its sweep of Pittsburgh.
Gonzalez had three base hits, giving him seven in the series, and Carl Crawford and Nick Punto had two hits apiece for the Dodgers. Justin Sellers had a solo home run in the seventh that gave Los Angeles a 5-2 lead.
Reds 6 Nationals 3: Jay Bruce had two hits and three RBIs as host Cincinnati won the rubber game of the series against Washington and ace Stephen Strasburg.
The Reds won for the fourth time in five games.
The Nationals got three hits and a three-run homer from Kurt Suzuki in an uncharacteristic outing from Strasburg (1-1), who was charged with six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Diamondbacks 8 Brewers 7 (11): Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske crushed a two-run homer off John Axford in the 11th inning and visiting Arizona completed a three-game sweep of Milwaukee.
The Brewers answered with one run in the 11th before Heath Bell struck out pinch-hitter Kyle Lohse for his first save.
Milwaukee forced extra innings with two runs in the ninth. Norichika Aoki, who went 4-for-6 with three runs batted in, hit a run-scoring single and later scored on Jonathan Lucroy’s single to right field.
Mets 4 Marlins 3: Marlon Byrd’s single inside the third-base bag in the bottom of the ninth inning scored two runs as New York came from behind to win the rubber game of the series against visiting Miami.
The comeback spoiled the debut of 20-year-old Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who retired the first 10 batters he faced before giving up one run on three hits and striking out eight.
Royals 9 Phillies 8: Billy Butler hit a grand slam and finished with a franchise record-tying seven RBIs as visiting Kansas City held off a furious rally to take two of three in the first interleague series of the season for both teams.
Jimmy Rollins slugged a three-run homer in the ninth for the Phillies and Laynce Nix added a run-scoring single before Kelvin Herrera struck out Erik Kratz with two men in scoring position to pick up his first save of the season.
