Jonathan Sanchez allowed just two hits while pitching into the ninth inning, steering the San Francisco Giants to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday that averted a sweep in the clash of National League wild-card contenders. Sanchez (9-8) became the first Giants starting pitcher to record a win in 15 games. No runner reached second base against Sanchez, who retired 15 straight after hitting a batter with a pitch in the fourth. Buster Posey lined a pair of RBI doubles for the Giants, who ended a three-game skid while arresting the Phillies winning trot at four. San Francisco, who had scored three or fewer runs in each of their past five games, jumped on Phillies starter Cole Hamels (7-10) for three first-inning runs. Dodgers 2, Rockies 0: In Los Angeles, Ted Lilly threw his third career shutout as Los Angeles downed Colorado. Lilly (7-8) had a season-high 11 strikeouts, walked two and retired 19 consecutive batters in his fourth straight start since joining the Dodgers. Colorado didn't get a hit between one out in the first and two outs in the seventh. Reed Johnson hit his first homer of the season for Los Angeles. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa (4-4) allowed two runs and four walks over seven innings. Padres 5, Cubs 3: In Chicago, San Diego completed its first four-game sweep of Chicago in its 42-year history. Will Venable hit a two-run single amid four runs in the seventh inning, helping the NL West-leading Padres to their 10th win in 11 games. The Cubs lost their seventh straight at home, their longest skid at Wrigley Field since 2006. San Diego starter Mat Latos (13-5) had a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings, yielding two runs. Cubs reliever Sean Marshall (6-4) recorded just one out in the seventh and was charged with four runs and the loss. Nationals 6, Braves 2: In Atlanta, Nyjer Morgan had two hits and scored two runs in his return from the disabled list, lifting Washington over Atlanta. Nationals starter John Lannan (5-5) gave up two runs in 5 1-3 innings to win his third straight start. Atlanta starter Derek Lowe (11-11) pitched seven innings, yielding four runs. The NL East-leading Braves, who had won four straight, will get a boost Friday when newly acquired first baseman Derrek Lee makes his first start after being traded from the Cubs. Reds 9, Diamondbacks 5: In Phoenix, Ramon Hernandez and Jay Bruce hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie and help Cincinnati to victory over Arizona. The victory gave the Reds a three-game sweep over the NL West cellar dwellers, and was Cincinnati's sixth straight win overall, the team's longest streak of the season. The Reds took a season-high 3½-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central. Hernandez, on a .360 tear with two home runs since coming off the disabled list, blasted a three-run shot to left field on the first pitch he saw from Joe Saunders (7-13). Bruce followed with his second homer in as many nights. It was the seventh time the Reds hit back-to-back homers this season. Cincinnatis' Travis Wood (4-1), called up from the minors on Thursday, lasted 6 1-3 innings and allowed one run. Astros 3, Mets 2: In Houston, Carlos Lee hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to power Houston over New York. Angel Sanchez and Hunter Pence singled with no outs before Lee drove Pat Misch's next pitch over left field. Misch (0-2) was rolling before the trouble in the seventh, retiring 16 straight hitters. Bud Norris (6-7) pitched seven solid innings for Houston, yielding two hits. Brandon Lyon tossed a perfect ninth for his fifth save. Marlins 4, Pirates 2: In Pittsburgh, Alex Sanabia pitched 7 2-3 strong innings to guide Florida to victory over Pittsburgh.
