LOS ANGELES: Washington’s Denard Span hit two of the Nationals’ four homers as they won 6-4 at Los Angeles on Monday, opening a two-game lead on the Dodgers in the fight over top spot in the overall National League standings.

While Washington has a comfortable lead in the East, the Dodgers’ lead in the West was pared back while the Central had a new outright leader in St. Louis, which beat rival Pittsburgh and moved a game clear of second-placed Milwaukee, which lost yet again.

In the American League, Oakland bounced back from a series sweep at West division rival, the Los Angeles Angels, and beat Seattle, while Detroit stayed within half a game of the Central lead by beating Cleveland.

Washington pitcher Gio Gonzalez (7-9) belatedly notched his first win since the All-Star break, allowing three hits in over six innings. He had been 0-5 over his previous nine games.

Rafael Soriano pitched a shaky ninth inning to earn his 31st save.

Dodgers’ starter Roberto Hernandez (2-2) gave up all four of the homers — a career worst — and lasted only 4-1/3 innings.

St. Louis’ Matt Holliday hit the go-ahead single in the seventh inning, lifting the Cardinals to a 5-4 win over Pittsburgh and sole possession of the NL Central lead for the first time this season.

St. Louis’ Kolten Wong did not start the game after suffering a head knock on Sunday, but came in as a pinch hitter and hit a tying homer off Pittsburgh starter Gerrit Cole (7-5), setting it up for Holliday’s winner.

The Pirates fell three games behind the Cardinals and two games off the last wild-card spot.

Oakland’s Adam Dunn made an instant impact for his new team, hitting a towering two-run homer in his first at-bat as the Athletics beat Seattle 6-1.

Acquired a day earlier from the Chicago White Sox, Dunn became the 12th player in Oakland history to homer in his first at-bat with the team.

Dunn homered off Chris Young (12-7) during a five-run first inning. His drive was a welcome sight for a team that just got swept in a four-game series by the Angels and had not scored for 29 straight innings.

Detroit’s David Price bounced back from a woeful previous start and steered the Tigers to a 12-1 thrashing of Cleveland.

Price (13-10) gave up one run in seven innings; a marked contrast to his loss against the New York Yankees when he gave up nine consecutive hits in one inning and eight runs over two.

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning off and Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez connected for consecutive shots in the third. Cabrera homered again in the eighth and went 4 for 5 with three runs and three RBIs.

Minnesota’s Joe Mauer drove in four runs as the Twins beat Baltimore 6-4 to avoid a four-game series sweep.

Twins’ starter Phil Hughes (15-9) did not give up any unearned runs or walks over eight innings.

The Orioles came into the game with a 6-1 record over their previous seven and appear certain of winning the AL East despite the defeat, leading by 8-1/2 games with 26 to play.

Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels and three relievers combined to pitch a no-hitter, beating Atlanta 7-0 and giving the last-placed Phillies a rare cause for celebration.

Hamels (8-6) was pulled after six innings despite his dominance, having thrown 108 pitches on a hot afternoon. He struck out seven.

Relievers Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and closer Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a perfect inning to finish off the fourth no-hitter in the majors this season and the first using multiple pitchers.

Right fielder Marlon Byrd foiled the Braves’ best bid for a hit, making a diving catch on Chris Johnson’s slicing liner to end the third.

Chicago’s Welington Castillo homered and drove in three runs while Luis Valbuena also hit a home run as the Cubs beat Milwaukee 4-2 to hand the Brewers their sixth-straight loss.