Nationals eke out 2-1 victory over Cubs

The NL East-leading Nationals improved to 82-52. The club moved from Montreal to Washington for the 2005 season and went 81-81 that year. In 2008 and 2009, the team lost a combined 205 games, then finished 80-81 in 2011.

The Nationals' win allowed them to hold their 6 1/2-game division lead over Atlanta.

Detwiler (9-6) struck out three and walked three, allowing only one runner to reach third.

Jeff Samardzija (8-13) gave up a long home run to LaRoche to lead off the second.

Tyler Clippard allowed two hits and a two-out RBI single to Welington Castillo in the ninth. Clippard threw the ball away for an error and allowed pinch-runner Tony Campana advance to second before striking out Josh Vitters for his 30th save in 33 opportunities.

Phillies 4, Reds 2 Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer off Johnny Cueto during a cloudburst that sent fans scurrying for cover, leading Philadelphia over Cincinnati.

John Mayberry Jr. added a solo homer off Cueto (17-7), who failed in his attempt to become the majors' first 18-game winner. Cueto also lost a day game for the first time this season — he'd been 11-0 in 13 afternoon starts.

Rookie right-hander Tyler Cloyd (1-1) got his first major league hit and win. He singled ahead of Rollins' homer to extend the inning. The 25-year-old gave up four hits, including Jay Bruce's 30th homer, and struck out nine in seven innings.

Giants 9, Diamondbacks 8 Marco Scutaro hit an RBI single in the 10th inning after Buster Posey's tying double in the ninth as San Francisco rallied to beat Arizona.

Brandon Crawford beat out a single to short leading off the 10th and moved to second when Brett Pill dropped a sacrifice bunt. Angel Pagan grounded out to first to advance Crawford.

Scutaro sent the final fastball from Bryan Shaw (1-5) past diving third baseman Chris Johnson for San Francisco's seventh walk-off win. Scutaro also doubled and scored the tying run in the ninth to help hand J.J. Putz his second straight blown save.

Sergio Romo (4-2) pitched a perfect 10th for the Giants.

Astros 5, Pirates 1 Brett Wallace had three hits, including a three-run homer, to lift Houston past struggling Pittsburgh.

Edgar Gonzalez (1-0) picked up his first win as a starter in more than four years, giving up a run on five hits in 5-1/3 innings as the Astros won for just the third time since interim manager Tony DeFrancesco took over two weeks ago. Gonzalez struck out five and walked just one.

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