Nationals beat Cubs and clinch their first winning season

The first winning season in franchise history didn't thrill Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson when he was reminded of it.

"I guess," Johnson said, and paused, "I wasn't real concerned about it."

The Nationals, who moved to Washington for the 2005 season, had never won more than 81 games. After their 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs yesterday, they have their 82nd victory, a 6 1/2-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East and the best record in the majors.

"We haven't really done anything yet and we're looking for bigger things," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said.

Ross Detwiler allowed four hits in seven shutout innings and Adam LaRoche hit a second-inning homer for host Washington. Detwiler (9-6) walked three, allowing only one runner to get past second base. "Today he was real special. He mixed in some breaking balls. Even the ones that were bad were pretty good," Johnson said.

The Nationals went 81-81 in their first season in D.C., lost a combined 205 games in 2008-09, and finished 80-81 in 2011.

Braves 6, Rockies 1: Kris Medlen (7-1) allowed five hits without a walk in his second complete game of the season and struck out a career-high 12 for host Atlanta. Medlen extended his streak of scoreless innings to 34 2/3 -- the Braves' longest since Greg Maddux in 2000 -- before the Rockies scored an unearned run in the seventh.

Giants 9, Diamondbacks 8: Marco Scutaro hit an RBI single in the 10th inning after Buster Posey's tying double in the ninth for host San Francisco.

Dodgers 4, Padres 3: A.J. Ellis singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning for Los Angeles.

Phillies 4, Reds 2: Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer in the fifth off Johnny Cueto during a cloudburst in Cincinnati that sent fans scurrying for cover. Cueto (17-7) was trying to become the major leagues' first 18-game winner.

Marlins 7, Brewers 3: Jose Reyes drove in three runs for host Miami.

Astros 5, Pirates 1: Edgar Gonzalez earned his first win as a starter in more than four years, lifting visiting Houston.

Angels 8, Athletics 3: Chris Iannetta hit a two-run homer and Vernon Wells had a solo shot and an RBI single as the Angels snapped host Oakland's winning streak at nine games.

White Sox 4, Twins 2: Gordon Beckham hit a two-run homer and Hector Santiago won his first major-league start for host Chicago.

Indians 3, Tigers 2: Asdrubal Cabrera hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh for host Cleveland.

Rangers 8, Royals 4: Yu Darvish (14-9) retired the first 17 batters and visiting Texas hit five homers, including No. 38 by Josh Hamilton. Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz homered on consecutive pitches in the sixth, and Cruz watched his drive sail over the wall. Then he was hit by Louis Coleman's first pitch in the ninth. Cruz took a few steps toward the mound but was restrained by catcher Brayan Peña. Michael Young answered that by homering on the next pitch.

"That was an outstanding sequence," Rangers manager Ron Washington said, adding: "We was fired up already. All he did was make it shine a little brighter."

Red Sox GM: We're hard to watch

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington admits his team "is hard to watch." Cherington offered the assessment yesterday before Boston lost in Seattle, 4-1. The Red Sox (62-74) have lost seven in a row. Cherington called the team's sad state "a reflection on all of us." -- AP