Baseball report: Braves lose to Reds in rubber game

Brandon Phillips hit a tying triple with two outs in the fifth inning for host Cincinnati and scored the tiebreaking run on shortstop Alex Gonzalez's error, helping the Reds beat the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, in the rubber game of the weekend series. Ramon Hernandez was on first when Phillips lifted a fly ball down the rightfield line that eluded a diving Jason Heyward and bounced into the corner. Orlando Cabrera followed with a routine grounder to Gonzalez, but the former Reds infielder dropped the ball, and Phillips scored while Cabrera easily beat the throw to first. The NL East-leading Braves have lost three of four and went 3-6 on their 10-day trip, earning one win at each stop.

Phillies 6, Nationals 4

Placido Polanco and Jayson Werth each drove in a run in the 11th, helping visiting Philadelphia avoid a series sweep. Wilson Valdez led off the 11th with a bunt single against Collin Balester and was sacrificed to second by pinch hitter Roy Oswalt. Valdez went to third on a fly ball by Jimmy Rollins and scored on Polanco's third hit, a single to center. Werth followed with an RBI double.

Giants 2, Dodgers 0

Matt Cain pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning as host San Francisco completed a three-game sweep. Edgar Renteria hit a two-run triple in the sixth for San Francisco, which moved to 8-2 in its last 10 games. Cain allowed four hits in 72/3 innings.

Padres 5, Marlins 4

Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a two-run double with two outs in the sixth for host San Diego to chase Florida ace Josh Johnson.

Cardinals 9, Pirates 1

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer and Adam Wainwright stayed unbeaten at home with seven strong innings and the go-ahead RBI for St. Louis. Pujols' 25th homer capped a five-run fifth inning.

White Sox 4, Athletics 1

Gavin Floyd carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before settling for another outstanding outing. Floyd allowed one run and four hits in seven-plus innings, improving to 5-2 with a 1.06 ERA in his last 11 starts.

Twins 4, Mariners 0

Francisco Liriano matched a season high with 11 strikeouts and Jason Kubel snapped out of a slump with a three-run double for host Minnesota. The Twins completed a three-game sweep for their eighth straight win. - AP