Braves complete sweep of Diamondbacks
ATLANTA — For the first time in three months, the Atlanta Braves are a .500 team. They know more work must be done to join Arizona in the NL wild-card race.
Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer and Brandon Phillips doubled three times, leading Atlanta over the reeling Diamondbacks 7-1 Sunday for a three-game sweep.
Jaime Garcia threw seven strong innings as the Braves (45-45) reached .500 for the first time since April 17, when they were 6-6. Kemp and Matt Adams hit homers a four-run third inning.
"That's a good team we swept," Kemp said. "We've just got to keep going. This is a step in the right direction."
The Diamondbacks lead the NL wild-card standings, but have lost a season-worst five straight, eight of nine and 11 of 14.
Garcia (3-7) allowed one run on four hits and three walks. He rebounded from a streak of allowing five or more runs in four straight starts to earn his first win since May 26.
Zack Godley (3-4) gave up seven runs despite his career-high nine strikeouts in six innings. He had not allowed more than three runs in a game this season before struggling early against Atlanta.
Godley already trailed 2-0 before giving up four runs in the third. Kemp's homer, which barely cleared the left field wall, drove in Phillips, who doubled, and Freddie Freeman, who walked. Kemp hit the homer on the first pitch he saw from Godley.
Dodgers 3, Marlins 2
MIAMI — Justin Turner homered and singled to increase his batting average to .374, and Los Angeles won for the 29th time in 33 games, including nine in a row.
Five Los Angeles pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts with no walks. Kenley Jansen got the four outs for his 23rd save in as many chances as the Dodgers (64-29) climbed 35 games above .500 for the first time since 1977 by completing their big leaguehigh 11th sweep.
Giancarlo Stanton lost his glove over the 8 1/2-foot wall in right field trying unsuccessfully to catch a triple by Chris Taylor.
Rich Hill (6-4) allowed one run and struck out nine in five innings. Chris O'Grady (1-1), making his second big league start, gave up three runs in five innings.
Nationals 14, Reds 4
CINCINNATI — Daniel Murphy hit two of Washington's five home runs and had five RBIs.
Adam Lind and Jose Lobaton added two-run shots and Anthony Rendon had a solo homer, his third home run in two games, to help the Nationals to their fourth straight victory.
Rockies 13, Mets 4
NEW YORK — Ian Desmond provided an instant spark for the slumping Rockies in his return from the disabled list, and Nolan Arenado hit one of Colorado's three homers.
Charlie Blackmon was credited with an inside-the-park home run — even though his drive actually cleared the orange line atop leftcenter field fence.
Phillies 5, Brewers 2
MILWAUKEE — Rookie Nick Williams hit his first career grand slam — on lefty reliever Tyler Webb's first pitch since he was acquired Thursday from the Yankees for minor league first baseman Garrett Cooper. Williams homered off Webb last month in the minors.
Padres 7, Giants 1
SAN DIEGO — Hector Sanchez and Corey Spangenberg each hit a three-run home run off Jeff Samardzija (4-11), who allowed seven runs and nine hits in six innings. Samardzija is tied with Colorado's Tyler Chatwood for the most losses in the NL.
Interleague Cubs 8, Orioles 0
BALTIMORE — Jose Quintana dazzled in his debut for the Chicago Cubs, striking out a season-high 12 in seven innings to beat the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game sweep.
Acquired by the World Series champions during the All-Star break from the Chicago White Sox for a playoff push, Quintana (1-0) allowed three hits, walked none.