MIAMI – Miami Marlins right-hander Anibal Sanchez allowed one are run through seven innings of work and the Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 3-1. Sanchez allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out five. He improved to 8-0 against Washington with a 1.97 ERA. Since May 1 the Marlins are 20 -8 , the best in the major leagues.
The Marlins had only one hit until the sixth, when they scored on a double by Omar Infante and a two-out RBI double by Giancarlo Stanton to make it 1-all. The Marlins broke a 1-all tie with an unearned run in the seventh. Chris Coghlan singled and went to third when the Nationals Edwin Jackson made a wild pick-off throw, and Greg Dobbs brought the run home. Hanley Ramirez clubbed his eighth homer leading off the eighth estimated at 431 feet.
For the Nationals Bryce Harper tripled in the seventh and was one of five Nationals hits. Edwin Jackson took the loss giving up only one earned run in 6 2/3 innings. Jackson is 1-3 on the season despite a 3.17 earned run average.
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves had lost eight games in a row entering the game against the St. Louis Cardinals tonight. It was their longest losing streak in more than two years. Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer and Michael Bourn also went deep Tuesday night, leading the Braves to a 5-4 win. Braves closer Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth to earn his 14th save in 15 chances. He ended the game I striking out Matt Holliday on a fastball that was clocked at 98 MPH.
CHICAGO – Jeff Samardzija struck out eight batters in seven innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 for their second win in a row. Alphonso Soriano homered to back up the strong effort by Samardzija. the Cubs pounded out 10 hits against the Padres pitching and were able to scratch across five runs for the victory. Carlos Quentin homered for the Padres, and the bomb was measured at 426 feet to straightaway center field.
SAN FRANCISCO – Melky Cabrera got his 50th hit of the month and Buster Posey drove in a pair of runs as the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1. Cabrera finished with three hits to pass Willie Mays for the most ever in May by a San Francisco player. Ryan Vogelsong pitched seven solid innings giving up one earned run and striking out eight. he scattered six hits. He threw 117 pages and got a no decision. The Giants will send Tim Lincecum to the mound against Ian Kennedy in the series finale on Wednesday.
LOS ANGELES – Ryan Braun slammed a two-run homer in the first inning and the Brewers pitching staff including Mike Fiers made those runs stand up as the Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1. Fiers (1-0) allowed a run and five hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking none in his first major league start. The game marked the return of Matt Kemp, the reigning National League MVP from the disabled list for the Dodgers. Kemp was 1-4 with a double in a losing effort in his return.
PITTSBURGH – Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier had two hits and drove in two runs as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-1 on Tuesday. Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey allowed one run on four hits and walking one and striking out four while pitching a complete game. Bailey through 103 pitches including 77 strikes to put an end to the Pirates four-game winning streak. Jay Bruce had three hits and scored three runs while he knocked in two. The Reds pounded out 12 hits and the Pirates were held to just four.
