NEW YORK — The New York Mets grabbed a rare win over the National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds Thursday, exploiting an out-of-sorts Homer Bailey to prevail 8-4 in Cincinnati. The Mets pumped out three runs in the fourth inning, another three in the sixth and two in the ninth to be in control most of the night. The Reds rallied with three runs in the bottom of the ninth but the fightback came too late as the Mets snapped a run of five straight losses to Cincinnati to improve to 56-62 on the season. The rare home loss dropped the Reds to 71-47 but they remain in control of their division, six games ahead of Pittsburgh. Bailey, who claimed his first win since July 20 last Friday in Chicago, has now given up 18 earned runs in his last 19 innings and drops to 10-8 on the year. Pirates 10, Dodgers 6: Garrett Jones hit two three-run homers, A.J. Burnett became the first Pirates pitcher with 15 wins in 13 years, and Pittsburgh avoided a four-game sweep with a 10-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday. Jones had a career-high six RBIs, and Pedro Alvarez also homered for the Pirates, who had lost six of seven. The Dodgers, who lead the NL West by a half-game over San Francisco, had a four-game winning streak snapped. James Loney and Hanley Ramirez homered for Los Angeles. Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp and manager Don Mattingly were ejected during the top of the second inning, setting off a lengthy argument that was mostly directed at home plate umpire Angel Campos. Los Angeles starter Joe Blanton later ran toward Campos as he was walking off the field after being removed following Alvarez's homer. Ramirez also drew Campos' ire for throwing his bat down in disgust after striking out in the sixth. The Pirates avoided a season sweep by the Dodgers, who had beaten them nine straight times, dating to last year. The Dodgers were looking for their first four-game sweep in Pittsburgh in 63 years. Alvarez hit his 22nd home as part of a 3-for-4 day. Clint Barmes added three RBIs for the Pirates, who entered the day tied with St. Louis for the NL's second wild card spot. Jordy Mercer and Andrew McCutchen were on base both times Jones homered, in the first and fifth innings. The second shot to right elicited a curtain call for Jones, who has 20 home runs this season and five career two-homer games. Burnett (15-4) allowed six runs, seven hits, and a walk, and he two hit batsmen, but he was good enough to become the first Pirates pitcher to win 15 games since Todd Ritchie in 1999. Braves 6, Padres 0: Chipper Jones homered twice on a night when a big crowd turned out to get his bobblehead, and Atlanta won its 15th straight game with Kris Medlen as a starter. Seizing the moment before a weeknight turnout of 33,157 — more than the previous two nights combined — Jones hit a two-run homer in the first, then added a towering solo shot over the wall in center field in the fifth. Brewers 7, Phillies 4: Corey Hart's grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning led Milwaukee and prevented Philadelphia's Cliff Lee from getting a rare win. Rockies 5, Marlins 3: Michael Cuddyer homered and DJ LeMahieu had two hits for streaking Colorado. In another game Arizona beat St. Louis 2-1. — Agencies
