San Francisco Giants' Barry Zito works against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco Sunday. — APSAN FRANCISCO – Barry Zito came through in one of the most important outings in his San Francisco tenure, pitching the NL West-leading Giants past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 Sunday to extend their division lead to 5 1/2 games. Hunter Pence hit a two-run double in the first inning that held up and Buster Posey homered in San Francisco's fifth win in the last six meetings of the rivalry. Marco Scutaro added a sacrifice fly to back an impressive performance by Zito (11-8), who allowed four hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings to win his third straight decision. He combined with five relievers on the five-hit shutout. Joe Blanton (1-4) took the loss for Los Angeles (74-67), which dropped 1 1/2 games back of St. Louis for the second NL wild card. Marlins 8, Nationals 0: Ricky Nolasco tossed a four-hitter to shut out Washington for the second time in two weeks and Giancarlo Stanton homered for the third straight day to lead Miami. Nolasco also doubled in two runs and Greg Dobbs added three singles for Miami. The Marlins won two of three games in the weekend series against the NL East-leading Nationals (86-54), whose division lead slipped to 5 1/2 games over Atlanta. Nolasco (12-12), who won his third straight and notched his fourth career shutout, struck out six and walked one, stifling a team that had scored 43 runs in its five previous games. Washington's Edwin Jackson (9-10) gave up six earned runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Astros 5, Reds 1: Matt Dominguez hit a three-run homer and Tyler Greene added a solo shot to help Houston slow Cincinnati's run to the NL Central title. Edgar Gonzalez allowed two hits and one run in five innings against the Reds, who came in with a magic number of 14 for eliminating second-place St. Louis. Gonzalez (2-0) walked one and struck out six as the Astros won a road series for the first time since early June. Houston relievers Wesley Wright, Mickey Storey and Wilton Lopez combined for eight strikeouts over four shutout innings. Braves 3, Mets 2 (10 innings): Brian McCann homered and drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to lift Atlanta over New York for its fifth straight win. Cardinals 5, Brewers 4 (10 innings): Allen Craig hit an RBI single in the 10th inning and St. Louis beat Milwaukee to avoid a three-game sweep and hold its slim lead for the second NL wild-card spot. Lance Lynn (14-7) picked up the win with one inning of scoreless relief. Matt Holliday hit his 26th homer and Carlos Beltran his 29th for the Cardinals. Phillies 3, Rockies 2 (Game 1); Phillies 7, Rockies 4 (Game 2): Ryan Howard drove in two runs and seven pitchers combined to help Philadelphia beat Colorado in Game 2 to complete a doubleheader sweep. John Mayberry Jr. hit an RBI single in the ninth inning of the first game to lift the Phillies to a 3-2 win. The Phillies trailed 4-1 in the second game before scoring two runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings for their fourth straight win. In other games it was: Cubs 4, Pirates 2; Padres 8, Diamondbacks 2. — Agencies
