Throwing error in 9th gives Braves victory over Nationals

ATLANTA: Kris Medlen struck out a career-high 13 and the Atlanta Braves pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals when Andrelton Simmons scored on a throwing error in the ninth inning Friday night.
Simmons reached on an infield single against Sean Burnett (1-2) and scurried to third when Michael Bourn lined a single that dropped in right field. Pinch-hitter Tyler Pastornicky hit a one-hop grounder to shortstop Ian Desmond, who had a shot at getting Simmons but threw wildly to the plate, the ball skipping all the way to the backstop while the rookie slid across with the winning run.
Craig Kimbrel (2-1) earned the win by striking out the side in the top of the ninth on 10 pitches, though Medlen did most of the heavy lifting. He went seven innings, allowing only a homer to Bryce Harper as the Braves snapped a three-game losing streak.
Marlins 4 Reds 0: In Miami, Jacob Turner allowed only two hits in a career-high seven innings for his first National League victory, and Miami beat the NL Central-leading Cincinnati.
Turner (1-2) outpitched Bronson Arroyo (12-8), who gave up four runs in six innings.
The Reds became the final NL team to make their debut at Marlins Park, and they couldn’t muster much offense in the spacious ballpark. Steve Cishek pitched the ninth to complete a three-hitter, and Cincinnati was shut out for only the third time, fewest in the NL.
Cubs 7 Pirates 4: In Chicago, Pittsburgh lost its seventh straight game and kept fading in the NL wild-card race, falling to Chicago as Starlin Castro hit a three-run homer.
The Pirates have dropped 11 of 13 overall. The Cubs have won four straight against the Pirates, including a three-game sweep last weekend in Pittsburgh. Chris Rusin (1-2) notched his first major league victory, allowing two runs in five-plus innings in his fourth career start. The Cubs led 4-3 in the sixth before Castro connected after Luis Valbuena walked and Alfonso Soriano was hit by a pitch.
Phillies 12 Astros 6: In Houston, Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff homer, Domonic Brown had a two-run shot and John Mayberry and Ryan Howard each had three RBIs to help Philadelphia beat Houston.
The Phillies rebounded from Thursday night’s 6-4 loss to Houston, which broke a seven-game winning streak and left them four games back for the second NL wild-card spot.
Rollins’ homer keyed a four-run first inning on a night when the Phillies came one run shy of a season high.
Mets 7 Brewers 3: In Milwaukee, Lucas Duda homered and doubled, Jonathon Niese pitched six strong innings and New York snapped a six-game losing streak, beating surging Milwaukee.
The loss dropped Milwaukee back to .500 at 72-72.
Niese (11-9), who had lost three straight starts, settled down after giving up two second-inning runs, allowing six hits, three walks and the two runs.
Dodgers 8 Cardinals 5: In Los Angeles, Luis Cruz greeted St. Louis reliever Edwin Mujica with a first-pitch, three-run homer in the sixth inning and the Dodgers tightened up the NL wild card race with a victory over the Cardinals.
Trevor Rosenthal (0-2) inherited a 4-3 lead from fellow rookie Joe Kelly after five innings and gave up a leadoff single by Andre Ethier, who got the Dodgers back into the game in the third with a two-run homer.
Rosenthal hit Hanley Ramirez on a 1-0 count two outs later and manager Mike Matheny made the switch to Mujica — who has given up 17 runs and six homers in 21 1-3 career innings against the Dodgers.
Rockies 7 Padres 4: In San Diego, rookies Wilin Rosario and Jordan Pacheco had consecutive two-run doubles in the first inning to lead the Rockies to a win over the Padres.
Chris Nelson and rookie Charlie Blackmon each hit solo homers as the Rockies won for just the third time in 11 games. Carlos Gonzalez tied his career high with four hits.
Rosario and Pacheco’s big hits keyed a five-run first inning in which Colorado sent 10 men to the plate against Andrew Cashner (3-4).
Giants 6 Diamondbacks 2: In Phoenix, Hunter Pence hit a grand slam, Matt Cain dodged trouble for five-plus innings and the Giants beat the Diamondbacks.
Cain (14-5) walked three in the first and stranded five runners over the first two innings. He failed to make it through six innings for the second time in his last three starts.
The right-hander allowed four hits, walked a season-high five and also hit a batter. He was charged with one run and struck out two.
Buster Posey and reliever Santiago Casilla each drove in a run for the NL West-leading Giants, who won for the third time in four games and are 11-5 in their past 16.