Stephen Strasburg allowed one run over three innings in his second start back from Tommy John surgery, and the Washington Nationals hit three consecutive home runs in an 8-2 win against the Houston Astros Sunday. Strasburg didn't display the same efficiency as he did in his return Tuesday. The right-hander needed 31 pitches to get out of the first inning, although he settled down and finished with six straight outs. He allowed three hits and struck out four in his 57-pitch outing. Ian Desmond, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Zimmerman all went deep off Houston starter Henry Sosa (2-4) to start the Nationals' third inning. Marlins 4, Pirates 1: Javier Vazquez added to his last-season surge by pitching six scoreless innings, helping the Florida Marlins complete a season sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Vazquez struck out seven, allowed three hits and walked two while improving to 4-2 with a 1.95 ERA in his last nine starts. The 35-year-old right-hander, who has talked about retiring over the last month, went 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA in his first 14 starts of the season. Brewers 3, Phillies 2: Ryan Braun singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh and the slumping Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a much-needed victory over the Philadelphia Phillies that snapped their skid at five. Trailing 2-1, Milwaukee strung together three consecutive hits with two out in the seventh to keep its dwindling NL Central lead at six with 14 games left after St. Louis beat Atlanta. Cardinals 6, Braves 3: Yadier Molina had three hits, including a three-run double, and the St. Louis Cardinals moved back into the playoff picture by completing a three-game sweep of the slumping Atlanta Braves. The Cardinals pulled within 4 ½ games of NL wild card-leading Atlanta. They have 16 games left and open a three-game set in Pittsburgh today. The Braves start a three-game series with the Marlins on Monday and have 15 games remaining. Rockies 4, Reds 1: Prized prospect Drew Pomeranz threw five shutout innings in his major league debut and Ty Wigginton homered, helping the Colorado Rockies to a win over the Cincinnati Reds. Giants 8, Dodgers 1: Madison Bumgarner won his fourth straight start, Pablo Sandoval doubled home the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to avoid a three-game sweep. In other games it was: Padres 7, Diamondbacks 6; Chicago Cubs 10, NY Mets 6 (11 innings).
