SAN FRANCISCO – Angel Pagan hit a game-ending double that right fielder Jay Bruce misplayed in the wind with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the San Francisco Giants a four-game series split with a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Sunday. Buster Posey poked a pitch from Jose Arredondo (4-2) down the right-field line that bounced into the stands for a two-out double. Then Pablo Sandoval was walked intentionally to set the stage for a wild finish. The crowd let out a sigh when Bruce drifted under Pagan's fly ball to right until those whipping gusts along the bay carried the ball over his head. The 42,039 from the sold-out stands at AT&T Park erupted, Pagan tossed his helmet and the Giants streamed out of the dugout in celebration. Santiago Casilla (2-3) blew the save in the ninth but worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs to give San Francisco a shot. Brewers 2, Diamondbacks 1: Pinch runner Carlos Gomez raced home following two throwing errors after he stole second base in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Milwaukee Brewers over Arizona. Gomez entered after Aramis Ramirez drew a leadoff walk from Patrick Corbin (2-4). With one out, Gomez swiped second and jumped to his feet as the throw from catcher Miguel Montero ended up in center field. Outfielder Gerardo Parra picked up the ball but threw wildly to third, allowing Gomez to score the winning run. John Axford (2-5) pitched a scoreless ninth inning. Nationals 8, Braves 4: Ryan Zimmerman homered and drove in four runs and Gio Gonzalez scuffled for his sixth straight road victory to help Washington beat Atlanta in 105-degree heat. Gonzalez (11-3) capped his second All-Star selection despite allowing five hits, four runs and four walks in five-plus innings. Washington, which has won four of five, took a 4-0 lead in the first off Tim Hudson (6-4). The NL-leading Nationals are 10-2-1 in their last 13 series matchups against the Braves. Atlanta has lost three of four. Cardinals 5, Pirates 4: Allen Craig homered for the second time in three days and All-Star Yadier Molina also connected for the Cardinals. Pittsburgh was trying to sweep a series of at least three games in St. Louis for the first time since 1997. Jason Motte got the last four outs for his 17th save in 21 chances to end the Pirates' four-game winning streak. Jake Westbrook (7-6) beat the Pirates for the first time in six career decisions. Erik Bedard (4-9) threw 100 pitches in 4 2-3 innings and gave up five runs. Cubs 3, Astros 0: Travis Wood pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and used some nifty baserunning to set up Anthony Rizzo's go-ahead single as the Chicago Cubs completed a three-game sweep of Houston. Wood (3-3) held the Astros to three hits in 7 2-3 innings. He also doubled and scored on Rizzo's single in the sixth off Wandy Rodriguez (6-6). Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth for eighth save in 10 chances. He saved all three games of the series. Marlins 5, Phillies 2: Ricky Nolasco pitched seven strong innings, Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run home run, and the Miami Marlins completed a three-game sweep of struggling Philadelphia. It was the first Marlins sweep of the Phillies since August 2009 at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have lost five straight. Padres 2, Rockies 0: Kip Wells tossed seven strong innings for his first win in nearly three years, Chris Denorfia and Alexi Amarista had two hits apiece and the San Diego Padres beat Colorado. Huston Street, picked for the NL All-Star team earlier in the day, pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his 12th save in as many chances. Dodgers 8, Mets 3: James Loney had two RBIs, and the offensively challenged Los Angeles Dodgers parlayed three errors by the New York Mets into six unearned runs to help Clayton Kershaw win 8-3. Kershaw (6-4) allowed three runs – one earned – and five hits over seven innings with nine strikeouts and three walks. — Agencies
