high five hits and Tommy Milone earned his first major league win, leading the Washington Nationals over the slumping New York Mets 10-1 Thursday for a rare four-game sweep. Desmond drove in three late runs from his leadoff spot and Ryan Zimmerman had two RBIs for the Nationals, who won their fifth straight overall and moved past the Mets into third place in the NL East. The franchise has not finished third or higher since 2002, when it played in Montreal and ended the season in second place. Making his third major league start, Milone (1-0) allowed one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. He became the second consecutive Nationals rookie starter to notch his first career victory, following Brad Peacock's 2-0 win over New York Wednesday. Wilson Ramos added three hits as Washington polished off its first road sweep of the season without even throwing prized prospect Stephen Strasburg. New York has lost six straight, one shy of its longest skid this season, and finished 1-8 on the penultimate homestand of the season. Phillies 2, Marlins 1: Ryan Howard hit an RBI double in the 10th inning soon after Cliff Lee fell one strike short of his seventh shutout, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins to sweep the day-night doubleheader. The Phillies reduced their magic number for clinching a fifth straight NL East title to two. Jose Lopez spoiled Lee's shutout bid when he hit a tying home run on an 0-2 pitch in the ninth. Lee struck out 12 and allowed five hits in nine innings, failing to earn his 17th win. The Phillies won the opening game 3-1, with starter Kyle Kendrick (8-6) not allowing a hit until the fifth inning. He gave up just one while striking out six over five innings. Reds 8, Cubs 6: Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning that lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a win over the Chicago Cubs. Joey Votto led off the 11th against James Russell (1-6) with a double to left-center field. Bruce connected on the next pitch for his 31st homer of the season, giving the Reds their third straight win over Chicago after losing the opener of the four-game series. Nick Masset (3-5) pitched the 11th for the win. Giants 8, Rockies 5: San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval hit for the first cycle of his Major League Baseball career to lead the Giants to an 8-5 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Sandoval, not known for his foot speed, hit a home run in the first inning, singled in the second, doubled in the fifth and then sprinted for a triple in the sixth inning to complete the cycle. In another game, Pittsburgh Pirates downed Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2.
