Chicago – Jason Marquis allowed four hits in seven innings to win for the first time in almost two months, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Sunday.
The win was the eighth in nine games for the Cubs, who took two of three from the NL Central leaders and trail them by 6 1/2 games.
Chicago jumped ahead early after its season-high seven-game winning streak ended with a 13-4 defeat the previous day. Aramis Ramirez doubled in two runs in the first inning, and Derrek Lee and Mark DeRosa added RBI singles in the third as the Cubs took a 4-0 lead.
That was enough for Marquis (6-4), who won for the first time since beating Pittsburgh 1-0 on May 9. He allowed one run, struck out five and walked one after going 0-3 in his previous nine starts.
His lone mistake was Corey Hart’s leadoff homer in the sixth.
“I think we’re playing real good, solid baseball,” Marquis said. “We’re minimizing mistakes. Obviously, we expect to win.”
CARDINALS 11, REDS 7 at Cincinnati: Ryan Ludwick hit a solo homer and a pivotal three-run shot and Cincinnati remained stuck with the worst record in the majors at 31-51, and are on pace to lose 100 games for the first time since 1982.
NATIONALS 3, PIRATES 2 at Pittsburgh: Jesus Flores’ first major-league home run, a two-run drive in the seventh inning, gave slumping Washington a three-run lead and an end to a five-game losing streak.
PHILLIES 5, METS 3 at Philadelphia: Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer, Kyle Kendrick pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Philadelphia salvaged the finale of a four-game series.
MARLINS 6, BRAVES 5, (10) at Miami: Josh Willingham had a career-best five hits, including a game-ending single in the 10th inning to help Florida avoid a three-game sweep.
GIANTS 13, DIAMONDBACKS 0 at San Francisco: Rookie Tim Lincecum struck out a career-high 12 batters over seven innings to end a six-start winless stretch with his first victory since May 22 against Houston.
DODGERS 5, PADRES 0 at Los Angeles: Chad Billingsley pitched three-hit ball for seven innings to win for the first time as a starter this season and Los Angeles stopped a five-game losing skid to San Diego.
