Rendon helps Nationals move closer to Braves

Anthony Rendon hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the sixth inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series in Washington to close within 4½ games of the NL East leader.

With the score 2-2, Rendon connected off Chad Sobotka for his 23rd home run this season and third career slam, raising his career RBIs total to 500. Rendon, who had two hits, is batting .370 in his last 19 games with nine doubles, three homers and 20 RBIs.

Patrick Corbin (9-5) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, striking out eight and walking one. Sean Doolittle gave up a home run to pinch-hitter Charlie Culberson in the ninth.

Dallas Keuchel (3-4) gave up four runs, six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings in his eighth start for the Braves since signing in June. He is 0-2 in his last three starts.

Adam Eaton walked with two outs in the sixth to load the bases for Rendon, who connected on a 2-0 fastball.

REDS 11, PIRATES 6 >> Jose Iglesias’ grand slam completed Cincinnati’s 10-run second inning and the Reds beat the Pirates in Cincinnati. The last-place Pirates lost their ninth straight, their longest skid since they dropped 10 in a row in 2011. The Reds piled up six hits and three walks while sending 13 batters to the plate in the second for their biggest inning in four years.

MARLINS 11, DIAMONDBACKS 6 >> Caleb Smith (7-4) endured a bad stretch after a baserunning adventure but recovered to pitch seven innings and help host Miami beat Arizona. Smith laid down a bunt in the second inning and wound up at third base thanks to two errors on the play. The jaunt may have taken a toll, because in the next inning he gave up three hits, including a three-run homer by Ketel Marte.