DENVER — The Cincinnati Reds posted their 10th straight win and matched their best streak in 14 years, with Mat Latos pitching eight strong innings and Drew Stubbs homering Sunday in a 7-2 victory over Colorado. The Reds' winning streak is their longest since they took 10 in a row in 1998. They are two short of the franchise record, done twice and last accomplished in 1957. Cincinnati opened a three-game lead over Pittsburgh in NL Central, its biggest edge since mid-June. Jay Bruce also homered and Stubbs drove in three runs for the Reds, who have won 17 of 19. Latos (9-3) allowed four hits and struck out eight. Jonathan Sanchez (0-2) took the loss as Colorado dropped its third straight. Astros 9, Pirates 5: The Houston Astros ended their team-record losing streak at 12 games, beating Pittsburgh behind three hits and three RBIs from Marwin Gonzalez. Hours after Houston traded third baseman Chris Johnson to Arizona — the Astros' fifth deal of the month — Jordan Schafer homered and drove in three runs. Houston, a big league-worst 35-68, won for only the third time in 28 games but has traded players with salaries totaling $49 million. Lucas Harrell (8-7) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. The skid matched Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs for the longest in the major leagues this year. It broke the previous Astros record of 11, set in 1995 and matched over the end of the 2009 season and start of 2010, STATS said. James McDonald (10-5) walked a career-high seven in five innings. He has lost consecutive decisions for the first time this season and has an 8.71 ERA in his last four starts. Dodgers 4, Giants 0: Clayton Kershaw pitched a five-hitter for his second shutout of the season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco to complete a three-game sweep of the NL West leader. Luis Cruz drove in two runs, and Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Mark Ellis had two hits apiece for Los Angeles (56-47), which closed within one percentage point of San Francisco (55-46). Blanked in a three-game series at San Francisco from June 25-27, Los Angeles outscored the Giants 19-3 in this series and didn't give up a run during the final 20 innings. San Francisco has lost four straight. Nationals 11, Brewers 10 (11 innings): Michael Morse hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth inning, then delivered a two-run double in the 11th that sent the Washington Nationals over Milwaukee. Braves 6, Phillies 2: Jason Heyward and Chipper Jones homered off Roy Halladay, and the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the last-place Philadelphia Phillies. Atlanta has won five straight. Mets 5, Diamondbacks 1: R.A. Dickey rebounded from his first loss in three months to gain his National League-leading 14th win, and the New York Mets beat Arizona for just their third victory in 17 games. Marlins 5, Padres 4: With scouts from about a dozen teams watching, Josh Johnson tied a career high with six walks as the Miami Marlins rallied from a two-run deficit and beat San Diego in 10 innings. Cubs 4, Cardinals 2: Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning that lifted the Chicago Cubs over St. Louis. — Agencies
