CINCINNATI - A.J. Burnett remained undefeated against the Cincinnati Reds this season and Starling Marte hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the fourth to help the Pittsburgh Pirates salvage the finale of their three-game series with a 6-2 win on Sunday.

Neil Walker hit a two-run homer and All-Star centre fielder Andrew McCutchen added a solo shot as second-place Pittsburgh stopped Cincinnati's winning streak at five and closed within 4 1/2 games of the NL Central leader.

Burnett (14-3) allowed two runs and three hits in 8 2-3 innings, improving to 3-0 against the Reds this season. Joel Hanrahan got the final out for his 32nd save.

Homer Bailey (9-7) gave up four runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings.

NATIONALS 4, MARLINS 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg (12-5) pitched three-hit ball over six shutout innings and drove in two runs.

Strasburg struck out six and walked one, extending his scoreless streak against the Marlins to 27 innings. He hit a two-run single in the second off Ricky Nolasco (8-11) and raised his batting average to .343 (12 for 35) with seven RBIs.

Drew Storen pitched a one-hit ninth for his first save since Sept. 28. Miami's Jose Reyes hit a fourth-inning single that extended his hitting streak to 24 games, the longest in the majors this season.

GIANTS 8, ROCKIES 3

DENVER (AP) — Tim Lincecum won consecutive starts for the first time since April and Hunter Pence had three RBIs as San Francisco completed a three-game sweep and maintained a half-game lead over Los Angeles in the NL West. The Giants had lost seven of eight entering the series.

Lincecum (6-11) worked around five walks, allowing one run and five hits in six innings. After going 4-9 with a 5.26 ERA in 18 starts from the beginning of May through July 25, he is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his last two outings against the Mets and Rockies.

Tyler Chatwood (1-2), recalled from Double A Tulsa prior to the game to take the rotation spot of injured Christian Friedrich, allowed three runs — one earned — two hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings.

DODGERS 7, CUBS 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hanley Ramirez lined an RBI single over a drawn-in infield in the ninth as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep.

Shawn Camp (2-5) walked Matt Kemp on four pitches with one out and Andre Ethier's single put runners at the corners for Ramirez.

Cubs talented rookie Anthony Rizzo had three RBIs including a tying solo home run leading off the top of the ninth against Kenley Jansen (5-3), who blew a save for the sixth time in 27 chances.

Joe Blanton, acquired Friday from Philadelphia, allowed two runs and five hits over six innings in his Dodgers debut.

BRAVES 6, ASTROS 1

ATLANTA (AP) — Chipper Jones had two hits and scored the go-ahead run on a sixth-inning wild pitch by Bud Norris (5-9) as Atlanta completed an 8-2 homestand. Jones added a run-scoring double off Xavier Cedeno in the seventh.

Jonny Venters (4-3) pitched out of a second-and-third, one-out jam in the sixth to win in relief of Kris Medlen, who allowed one run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. Atlanta remained three games behind first-place Washington in the NL East.

PHILLIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ryan Howard singled home the winning run in the ninth off Josh Collmenter (3-3). He had been in a 5 for 35 slide with 20 strikeouts.

Jonathan Papelbon (3-4) pitched a scoreless ninth, stranding the go-ahead run on second. Chase Utley homered for the Phillies.

Philadelphia starter Cliff Lee remained winless in eight home starts this season (0-4), giving up four runs and eight hits in eight innings.

PADRES 7, METS 3

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Chase Headley and Yonder Alonso each hit two-run homers off rookie Matt Harvey (1-2). Headley's homer, his 15th, came in the first inning. Alonso hit his sixth homer in the third for a 5-0 lead.

Jason Marquis (5-6) gave up Ruben Tejada's single to open the game and then retired 14 consecutive batters until hea leadoff walk to Mike Baxter in the sixth. Marquis allowed three runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings.

CARDINALS 3, BREWERS 0

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Lohse pitched six spotless innings to earn his 12th win and St. Louis beat Milwaukee for a three-game sweep.

Daniel Descalso had a season-high three hits for the Cardinals, who have won five of six and 12 of 16. It was their first three-game sweep at home against the Brewers since March 31 to April 3, 2003.

Milwaukee has lost its last nine road games.

Lohse (12-2) allowed four hits and threw 100 pitches while winning his sixth consecutive decision. He struck out six, walked three and lowered his ERA to 2.79.

Edward Mujica, Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte shut out the Brewers over the final three innings. Motte earned his 24th save in 28 chances.

Marco Estrada (0-5) gave up one run and seven hits over six innings. He is winless in 13 starts this season.

News from © The Associated Press, 2012