Stingy Sanchez shuts down Nationals

By STEVEN WINE

AP Sports Writer

MIAMI — Plagued by poor run support this season, Anibal Sanchez turned really stingy Tuesday.

The right-hander allowed only an unearned run in seven innings to remain unbeaten in 19 starts against Washington, and the Miami Marlins beat the Nationals 3-1 to break the franchise record for victories in a month.

The Marlins are 20-8 since May 1, best in the majors.

“I want 20 wins every month,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. The Marlins climbed six games above .500 for the first time since last June 4.

Greg Dobbs, pinch-hitting for Sanchez, drove in the run that put Miami ahead to stay with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Hanley Ramirez hit his eighth homer leading off the eighth.

The Marlins made the most of seven hits, and Sanchez (3-3) snapped a streak of losses in three consecutive starts.

“I felt good today,” he said. “I was waiting for the run support.”

Sanchez allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out five. He improved to 8-0 against Washington with a 1.97 ERA.

“I know the records,” he said. “I know I throw good against them.”

This season he has thrown well against nearly everyone. His ERA is 2.56, and he ranks among the NL leaders with 67 strikeouts.

“He throws strikes and changes speeds,” Guillen said. “That’s all you have to do.”

Reliever Steve Cishek walked consecutive batters to load the bases in the eighth, then struck out Bryce Harper and retired Ryan Zimmerman on a grounder.

“We had them in the spot where we should score a run,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “We had the right guys up. It just didn’t happen. It’s frustrating, but that’s baseball.”

The Nationals went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and are 1 for 12 in the series. Their only run scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Corey Brown, starting for the first time this season after joining the Nationals from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

Pinch-hitter Jhonatan Solano, making his major league debut, doubled with two out in the ninth before Heath Bell completed the five-hitter for his ninth save in 13 chances.

Edwin Jackson (1-3) allowed only two runs, one earned, in 6 2-3 innings. He’s 0-3 in his past eight starts even though his ERA this season is only 3.17.

“You can’t do much better than he did,” Johnson said.

Miami broke a 1-all tie with an unearned run in the seventh. Chris Coghlan singled and went to third when Jackson made a wild pickoff throw, and Dobbs brought the run home.

BRAVES 5, CARDINALS 4

ATLANTA — Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer, Michael Bourn also went deep and the Braves snapped their longest losing streak in more than two years, holding off the Cardinals after an eight-game skid.

Bourn led off the bottom of the first with his fifth homer of the season, tying a career high. Uggla made it 4-0 in the third, sending one into the seats in left-center.

Randall Delgado (3-5) worked into the sixth, allowing three runs, and the Cardinals closed within a run in the seventh on Yadier Molina’s third RBI of the night, a run-scoring single. Molina went 4-for-4, including a solo homer. But Craig Kimbrel got the final three outs for his 14th save in 15 chances.

Jake Westbook (4-4) took the loss.

CUBS 5, PADRES 3

CHICAGO — Alfonso Soriano homered, Jeff Samardzija struck out eight in seven innings and the Cubs beat the Padres.

Soriano hit a solo homer to center field in the sixth. After going homerless in his first 30 games this season, Soriano has seven home runs in his last 13 games.

Samardzija (5-3) allowed eight hits and was one strikeout from tying his career high. He departed after Will Venable’s RBI triple with no outs in the eighth. Shawn Camp kept the lead intact, getting Carlos Quentin on a fly to left to end the inning.

James Russell got the last two outs for his first career save.

Quentin homered and had three hits for San Diego. His drive on the first pitch of the fifth was his first home run as a Padre.

METS 6, PHILLIES 3

NEW YORK — Jeremy Hefner earned his first victory in the majors, highlighting the occasion by homering for his first big league hit as the Mets beat the Phillies.

The 26-year-old rookie became the first major league pitcher to hit his first homer in his first win since 2002, when Dennis Tankersley did it with San Diego, STATS LLC said.

Pinch-hitter Scott Hairston had a two-run homer and newcomer Omar Quintanilla doubled twice and singled to help New York win for the fourth time in five games. After a storm delay of 64 minutes in the eighth inning, the Mets improved to 6-2 against Philadelphia this year.

REDS 8, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH — Jay Bruce had three hits, including a pair of doubles, Todd Frazier drove in two runs to cap an eventful day and the Reds cruised by the Pirates.

Homer Bailey (4-3) gave up one run on four hits, walking one and striking out four while pitching his second career complete game.

Frazier doubled and tripled in his first two at-bats hours less than a day after saving a Pittsburgh restaurant-goer from choking on a piece of steak by giving him the Heimlich maneuver.

Charlie Morton (2-6) struggled with his trademark sinker and the Reds took advantage by knocking him around soggy PNC Park following a nearly 2-hour rain delay.

BREWERS 2, DODGERS 1

LOS ANGELES — Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer, getting back at Dodgers fans who booed his every move and leading the Brewers to a victory over Los Angeles.

Mike Fiers (1-0) allowed a run and five hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking none in his first major league start and third appearance after being recalled from Triple-A Nashville. The 26-year-old right-hander gave up his only run when Andre Ethier doubled home Ivan De Jesus in the sixth for his NL-leading 43rd RBI.

Braun, who beat out Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp for NL MVP last season, homered in the first inning.

Kemp returned to the lineup after he was activated from the 15-day disabled list. He had missed 13 games because of a left hamstring strain. The All-Star center fielder had one hit in four at-bats.

GIANTS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Melky Cabrera got his 50th hit of the month to spark the go-ahead rally and Buster Posey drove in a pair of runs to lead the Giants to a victory over the Diamondbacks.

Posey drove in Cabrera with an RBI double in the sixth inning to tie the game and followed Cabrera’s single in the eighth with a sacrifice fly that scored Ryan Theriot to make it 2-1 and help the Giants win for the 12th time in 18 games.

Cabrera finished with three hits to pass Willie Mays for the second most productive month in San Francisco history — one shy of the record set by Randy Winn in September 2005. The Giants have one game left this month.

ANGELS 5, YANKEES 1 ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo homered, Dan Haren pitched into the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels extended their longest winning streak in nearly three years to eight games with a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

Mike Trout hit a run-scoring triple for the Angels, who have won 11 of 15. After a rough start to a season of high expectations, Los Angeles (26-25) is above .500 for the first time since opening day.

Haren (3-5) had seven strikeouts and no walks, coming through with a strong start after the Los Angeles bullpen had to pitch nine innings in relief of injured ace Jered Weaver during Monday’s 9-8 victory.

Andy Pettitte (2-2) yielded nine hits and five runs over seven-plus innings for the Yankees.

WHITE SOX 7, RAYS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Philip Humber won for the first time since throwing a perfect game in April, helping Chicago beat Tampa Bay to extend its winning streak to seven games.

Hideki Matsui homered in his Tampa Bay debut. The Rays purchased the 2009 World Series MVP’s contract from Triple-A Durham before the game.

Humber (2-2) was 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA over six starts since his gem against Seattle on April 21. The right-hander allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings Tuesday.

Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo both had two RBIs for the White Sox.

James Shields (6-3) gave up six runs and 10 hits in six innings for the Rays.

MARINERS 10, RANGERS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas — John Jaso drove in three runs, Jason Vargas pitched into the seventh inning and Seattle beat Texas to snap a five-game losing streak.

Jaso’s two-run homer in the second put the Mariners ahead to stay on the way to matching their highest run total this season.

Scott Feldman (0-3) gave up four runs — two earned — with three strikeouts and three walks over 4 2-3 innings. Josh Hamilton hit his majors-best 21st homer for Texas.

Vargas (6-4) allowed three runs and five hits over 6 2-3 innings. The left-hander struck out two and walked three.

RED SOX 6, TIGERS 3

BOSTON — David Ortiz homered and hit two doubles, and Boston moved above .500 for the first time this season, tagging Justin Verlander for 10 hits in a win over Detroit.

Daniel Bard (5-5) pitched 5 1-3 innings for Boston, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks as the Red Sox improved to 25-24.

Verlander (5-3) lost his second straight start since taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Pittsburgh on May 18. The reigning American League MVP and Cy Young winner allowed five runs on 10 hits, struck out seven and walked one in six innings.

Jhonny Peralta and Prince Fielder hit solo homers for the Tigers.

BLUE JAYS 8, ORIOLES 6

TORONTO — Brett Lawrie had three hits and three RBIs, and Ricky Romero won for the seventh time in nine starts against Baltimore to lead Toronto.

Romero (6-1) improved to 7-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his past nine starts against the Orioles.

Adam Jones hit two homers, extending his hitting streak to 20 games, and Chris Davis added a two-run drive in the ninth but it wasn’t enough for Baltimore. The Orioles have lost four straight and seven of nine, but remain tied with Tampa Bay atop the AL East.

Romero allowed four runs and six hits in six innings to win his second in five starts.

Jake Arrieta (2-6) gave up seven runs, six earned, and six hits in 4 1-3 innings.

ROYALS 8, INDIANS 2

CLEVELAND — Mike Moustakas had a career-best four RBIs to help rookie Will Smith get his first major league win, leading Kansas City over Cleveland.

Moustakas hit a two-run homer off Justin Masterson (2-4) in the first and singled in two runs in the second.

That was more than enough support for Smith (1-1), who allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The left-hander rebounded after being thumped by the Yankees in his debut last week.

Humberto Quintero added two RBIs as the Royals improved to 15-11 on the road.

Masterson allowed seven earned runs in six innings.

TWINS 3, ATHLETICS 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Josh Willingham hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Minnesota over Oakland.

Justin Morneau added two doubles for the Twins, who trailed 2-0 heading into the ninth thanks to a strong start from A’s right-hander Jarrod Parker. Brian Fuentes (2-1) came on and allowed a single and a walk before Willingham hit a 1-0 pitch into the bullpen.

Parker allowed four hits, walked four and struck out four in six shutout innings.

Glen Perkins (1-1) pitched the ninth for the Twins and Fuentes, the former Twins reliever, blew his second save in six chances this season.