HOUSTON — Drew Stubbs hit a go-ahead homer and Cincinnati rallied for three runs in the ninth inning against former teammate Francisco Cordero, beating Houston 4-2 Tuesday and tying its longest winning streak of the year at six. The NL Central-leading Reds sent Houston to its eighth straight loss. Cordero (3-6) got his first save chance since being acquired in a trade with Toronto last week. Stubbs hit a two-run homer for a 3-2 lead and Xavier Paul added an RBI single. Justin Maxwell's two-run homer in the fourth gave Houston a 2-0 lead. Brandon Phillips doubled and scored on Paul's single in the Cincinnati sixth, his third hit. Zack Cozart singled with one out in the Reds ninth and Stubbs hit his 10th home run. Jay Bruce drew a two-out walk, moved up on a wild pitch and after Scott Rolen walked, Paul singled. Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth for his 18th save. Reds starter Mike Leake (4-6) scattered seven hits and two runs over eight innings for his first win since his pitched a complete game on June 29. Mets 5, Nationals 2: Adam LaRoche and Washington handed R.A. Dickey his first loss in three months, beating New York behind Gio Gonzalez's seven crisp innings. LaRoche hit a tiebreaking homer and Gonzalez (13-5) gave up only two singles in a rematch of All-Star pitchers, five days after New York hit him hard to back Dickey during his 13th win. Dickey (13-2) allowed five consecutive hits in the sixth, ending his 11-game winning streak, as the Mets lost their fifth straight and 11th in 12 games. Their lone victory since July 7 was Dickey's 9-5 win over Gonzalez last Thursday in Washington. Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting tear with three hits and the Nationals won their fourth straight to improve the NL's best record to 57-39. They are 8-3 against the Mets this season. Cubs 5, Pirates 1: Paul Maholm pitched eight strong innings to win his fifth straight start for Chicago. Phillies 7, Brewers 6: Hunter Pence singled in the go-ahead run after Carlos Ruiz hit a tying, three-run double and Philadelphia rallied with six runs in the eighth inning. Braves 4, Marlins 3: Tim Hudson pitched seven innings and Jason Heyward drove in two runs for Atlanta. Cardinals 8, Dodgers 2: Adam Wainwright got his first two RBIs of the season and St. Louis beat Clayton Kershaw and ended Los Angeles' five-game winning streak. Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 2: Joe Saunders scattered three hits over seven innings and Chris Young homered to help Arizona to its fifth straight win. Giants 3, Padres 2: Brandon Crawford singled home the winning run in the ninth inning and San Francisco won its ninth in 11 games since the All-Star break. — Agencies
