WASHINGTON: Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 batters and allowed one run in six innings for his 15th win, helping the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Tuesday.
For weeks, the impending shutdown of Strasburg (15-5) has been the talk of baseball and though the Nationals haven't said exactly what their limit for the star right-hander is, it's thought to be between 160 and 180 innings. After this start, his fourth straight win, when he allowed four hits and walked one, he has thrown 145 1-3 innings.
Talk of his innings limit overshadowed discussion of the NL East race. Washington's win gave the Nationals a seven-game lead over second-place Atlanta, their largest of the season.
Ian Desmond and Jesus Flores homered for Washington. Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 32 opportunities.
Paul Maholm (11-8) allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings for the Braves, who have lost four straight.
Reds 5 Phillies 4: In Philadelphia, Zack Cozart hit a tiebreaking homer on Jonathan Papelbon's first pitch in the ninth, and Cincinnati snapped a seven-game losing streak against Philadelphia.
Kevin Frandsen hit a tying RBI triple off Jonathan Broxton in the eighth, but the NL Central-leading Reds went up to stay on Cozart's shot off Papelbon (3-5).
Cliff Lee took a shutout into the seventh before allowing three runs to remain winless at home this season.
The Reds took a 4-3 lead when Todd Frazier connected off Antonio Bastardo with two outs in the eighth for his 18th homer. The Phillies answered against Broxton (2-1). Domonic Brown hit a two-out single, and Frandsen tripled down the right-field line.
Reds starter Homer Bailey gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. Aroldis Chapman finished for his 30th save in 34 tries.
Rockies 6 Mets 2: In New York, Jhoulys Chacin made an impressive return from an extended absence and the Rockies backed him with a pair of sharp defensive plays.
Chacin (1-3) had not pitched in the majors since May 1 because of inflammation in his right shoulder. He came off the disabled list earlier in the day and held the Mets to one run and four hits in six innings, ending his seven-game losing streak that began last September.
Chris Young (3-7) retired the first 15 Colorado batters, but his throwing error on a sacrifice by Chacin helped the Rockies score four times in the sixth.
Center fielder Dexter Fowler made a sparkling catch and hit a pair of RBI singles as the Rockies won their third in a row. The Mets lost their third straight, giving away another run on a botched rundown.
