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Summary Pirates have won 9 of 11 and are guaranteed a share of NL Central lead through All-Star break.
James McDonald scattered four hits over seven innings and Mike McKenry homered as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Saturday.Neil Walker doubled twice and drove in a run while extending his hitting streak to 11 games and Joel Hanrahan worked the ninth to pick up his 23rd save.McDonald (9-3) struck out 10 and walked none, winning his fourth straight start and lowering his sparkling ERA to 2.37.The Pirates have won nine of 11 and are guaranteed at least a share of the NL Central lead through the All-Star break.CARDINALS 3, MARLINS 2At St. Louis, Kyle Lohse tossed seven solid innings in strong heat and Tony Cruz hit a go-ahead two-run triple to help St. Louis stop Miamis three-game winning streak.Allen Craig had three hits and Skip Schumaker added an RBI single in the fourth for the Cardinals, who have won five of seven. All-Star David Freese was hit by a pitch twice, walked and singled to reach base safely in all four trips.Giancarlo Stanton left in the third inning with right knee discomfort and the Marlins said he would have arthroscopic surgery on Sunday, shelving one of baseballs best young sluggers for next weeks All-Star festivities in Kansas City.Lohse (9-2) allowed two runs and three hits to improve to 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts against Miami this season. Jason Motte pitched a shaky ninth inning for his 20th save.BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 3At Philadelphia, Tommy Hanson pitched effectively into the eighth, steering Atlanta past struggling Philadelphia.Hanson (10-5) allowed three runs, striking out six in seven-plus innings.Brian McCann homered for the Braves.Philadelphia, the five-time defending NL East champions, has lost nine of 10.Phillies starter Joe Blanton (7-8) allowed six runs in 6 1-3 innings.NATIONALS 4, ROCKIES 1At Washington, Gio Gonzalez pitched six innings of three-hit ball to earn his 12th win as Ian Desmond homered to power Washington to the victory.Gonzalez (12-3) won his fourth straight start to move into a tie with R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets for the major league lead in wins. Gonzalez allowed one run, walked three and struck out six.It was the fifth victory in six games for the Nationals, who own the best record in the NL.Colorado finished with four errors, tying a season high. Dexter Fowler had three hits for the Rockies, who have lost six of eight and totaled 14 runs in their last seven games.The Nationals announced during the game that Desmond will miss Tuesdays All-Star game with a left oblique strain.METS 3, CUBS 1At New York, Ike Davis homered, Jordany Valdespin hit one out for the second day in a row and Dillon Gee pitched one-run ball for eight innings to help New York beat Chicago.Gee (6-7) yielded seven hits, struck out four and walked none. Bobby Parnell allowed a leadoff double to Anthony Rizzo, but retired the final three batters for his second save, striking out Steve Clevenger on a 101 mph fastball to end it.Jeff Samardzija (6-8) pitched seven innings for the Cubs and was charged with three runs and seven hits.Davis hit a two-run shot to right in the third inning as the Mets won for the seventh time in 10 games.ASTROS 6, BREWERS 3At Houston, Scott Moore homered for the second straight day, and J.D. Martinez and Jose Altuve had three hits each as Houston endeda season-long nine-game losing streak.Milwaukee starter Zack Greinke (9-3) was looking for his 10th win; instead he was gone after four pitches ejected after spiking the ball following a close play at first base. Manager Ron Roenicke also was tossed for arguing the call and theBrewers were forced to piece together the game with six relievers.Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (7-6) yielded two runs and four hits in 5 1-3 innings. Brett Myers pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save.Jordan Schafer and Jed Lowrie collected two hits each and Jason Castro drove in two runs as the Astros scored more runs than they had in the last three games combined.
