LOS ANGELES — Luis Cruz came up with his second clutch hit in two nights, a tying two-out RBI double in the ninth inning, and pinch-hitter Juan Rivera followed with a run-scoring single to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jason Motte (4-5) came in trying to protect a 3-2 lead for Jaime Garcia and retired his first two batters. But Andre Ethier kept the Dodgers alive with a single and pinch-runner Dee Gordon stole second before Cruz drove him in with a drive that center fielder Jon Jay barely missed on a diving attempt in front of the warning track.
Rivera batted for A.J. Ellis and lined a single off the tip of second baseman Daniel Descalso’s glove, enabling pinch-runner Elian Herrera to score the winning run.
BRAVES 5, NATIONALS 4
ATLANTA — Pinch-runner Jeff Baker scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for the Braves when reliever Ryan Mattheus hit Andrelton Simmons’ uniform with a bases-loaded pitch.
Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman homered for the Braves, who have won the first two games in the series and nine of 13.
Atlanta moved within six games of first-place Washington in the NL East.
PIRATES 7, CUBS 6
CHICAGO — Andrew McCutchen homered and reached base four times, and the Pirates held off a late rally to snap a seven-game losing streak with a win over the Cubs.
Wandy Rodriguez (11-13) held Chicago to three runs — one earned — in helping the Pirates stop their free-fall in the NL playoff race.
MARLINS 6, REDS 4
MIAMI — Carlos Lee homered and drove in three runs to help the Marlins beat the Reds.
Mark Buehrle (13-12) allowed four runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings to improve to 4-1 in his last six starts. Jose Reyes had three hits and also drove in a run for Miami.
GIANTS 3, D’BACKS 2
PHOENIX — Buster Posey had a two-run home run in the fifth to help the Giants beat the Diamondbacks.
Barry Zito scattered six hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings for the Giants, who have won four straight and 22 of their past 32. Zito (12-8) walked one and struck out four. Sergio Romo pitched the final 1 1/3 for his 11th save.
ASTROS 5, PHILLIES 0
HOUSTON — Dallas Keuchel pitched five-hit ball into the sixth inning and the Astros beat the Phillies and avoided their 100th loss of the season.
The Phillies were slowed in their surge for an NL playoff spot for the second time in three games by the worst team in the big leagues.
BREWERS 9, METS 6
MILWAUKEE — Rickie Weeks hit a two-run homer during a five-run fourth inning to lift the Brewers to a win over the Mets.
Trailing 4-1 in the fourth the Brewers rallied for five runs to win for the 19th time in 25 games and stay in the hunt for a wild card. The Mets lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
PADRES 4, ROCKIES 3
SAN DIEGO — Rookie Casey Kelly carried a shutout into the seventh inning and Jesus Guzman hit a three-run homer, leading the Padres to a win over the Rockies.
Kelly (2-1), making his fourth major league start, kept the Rockies off balance with a mixture of fastballs and curveballs. He allowed three runs — two earned — on seven hits over six-plus innings with six strikeouts.
Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in 12 chances.
Rookie Drew Pomeranz (1-9) allowed four runs on four hits in three innings with three strikeouts for Colorado.
