WASHINGTON: Ian Desmond went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs and Ross Detwiler pitched effectively into the seventh as host Washington Nationals claimed the opener of a three-game set against Chicago Cubs 7-3.

Desmond’s two-run blast in the fourth snapped a 2-2 tie and he added an RBI double in the three-run fifth for the Nationals, who have won five straight and seven of eight.

Pirates 7 Mets 3: Garrett Jones hit a three-run homer and Wandy Rodriguez tossed six solid innings as visiting Pittsburgh downed New York.

Jones added two doubles and scored twice while Starling Marte and Pedro Alvarez each scored and drove home a run for the Pirates. Rodriguez (3-2) allowed one run on six hits to earn his first road victory in four tries.

Cardinals 3 Rockies 0: Shelby Miller racked up a career-high 13 strikeouts in a one-hitter as host St. Louis claimed the opener of a three-game series with slumping Colorado.

Eric Young Jr. led off the game with a bloop single before Miller (5-2) sat down 27 straight for the Cardinals, who have won eight of their last nine. The Rockies have lost 12 of their last 18 games after a franchise-best 13-4 start.

Reds 4 Brewers 3: Brandon Phillips homered and turned a spectacular double play to lift host Cincinnati in the series opener.

Jay Bruce had a run-scoring double and Zack Cozart added an RBI single for the Reds, who got five innings of one-run ball from their bullpen to win for the fifth time in seven games.

Diamondbacks 3 Phillies 2: Miguel Montero broke a tie with a home run leading off the bottom of the eighth inning as Arizona won its fifth straight game. Montero crushed the first pitch from Mike Adams (1-3) off the right-field foul pole.

Tony Sipp (2-1) set down both batters he faced in the eighth inning and David Hernandez retired pinch hitter Laynce Nix and Jimmy Rollins with runners on second and third and one out in the ninth to earn his first save in four tries.

Giants 8 Braves 2: Angel Pagan belted a two-run homer and Matt Cain allowed three hits over eight innings as San Francisco routed visiting Atlanta.

The Giants sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs on seven hits in the fourth against Tim Hudson (4-2), who lost for the first time in his last 11 starts against the Giants.

Marlins 5 Dodgers 4: Derek Dietrich hit a three-run homer in his second major league game and visiting Miami handed Los Angeles its eighth straight loss.

Juan Pierre added two hits and an RBI for the Marlins and rookie right-hander Jose Fernandez (2-2) threw six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits to win his second straight start.