NL Capsules: Matt Kemp’s bat helps Dodgers to 10-0 rout of Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – Matt Kemp homered among his four hits and drove in four runs, Chad Billingsley took a two-hitter into the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 10-0 on Saturday.

Hanley Ramirez had three RBIs in helping the Dodgers beat San Francisco for the second straight day to pull within a game of the NL West-leading Giants.

Billingsley (6-9) drove in a run for Los Angeles with a sacrifice fly. He gave up leadoff doubles to Buster Posey in the second and Angel Pagan in the fifth, the only runners he allowed through seven innings. He gave up two more hits and was lifted with one out in the eighth.

Barry Zito (8-7) gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.

BRAVES 2, PHILLIES 1

ATLANTA (AP) — Mike Minor struck out nine and combined with Craig Kimbrel on a four-hitter, Jason Heyward had two hits and drove in a run, and Atlanta edged Joe Blanton and Philadelphia.

Minor (6-7) allowed one run and four hits, and didn’t issue a walk in eight innings. He matched a season high with nine strikeouts and retired his last 13 batters.

The Phillies’ only run came on Chase Utley’s homer in the fourth.

Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 30th save.

The Braves, who lost 12 of 18 games to the Phillies in 2011, are 6-2 against Philadelphia with five straight wins in 2012.

Blanton (8-9) gave up two runs and four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in seven innings.

REDS 9, ROCKIES 7

DENVER (AP) — Johnny Cueto overcame a rough start and pitched six effective innings, Ryan Ludwick hit two home runs, and Cincinnati won its season-high ninth straight game by beating Colorado.

Scott Rolen, Drew Stubbs and rookie Todd Frazier also homered for the NL Central-leading Reds, who have gone 13-2 since the All-Star break and are a season-best 20 games above .500 (60-40).

The Reds are on their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 1999.

Cueto (13-5) allowed 10 hits and five runs, including three in the first inning, and twice made errant pickoff throws, but won his fourth consecutive decision. He struck out three and walked two and worked out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning.

With two out and two on in the eighth, reliever Sean Marshall struck out Carlos Gonzalez. Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth and stranded two runners to earn his 21st save in 25 chances.

Rockies pitchers allowed a season-high five homers, including three off starter Christian Friedrich (5-8). He went 4 1-3 innings and allowed seven runs and six hits.

PIRATES 4, ASTROS 3

HOUSTON (AP) — Rod Barajas hit a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning, and Pittsburgh sent Houston to its club-record 12th straight loss.

Wandy Rodriguez pitched six innings in his Pittsburgh debut, allowing three runs and six hits with five walks against his former team. The free-falling Astros, who have lost 25 of 27, traded the left-hander to the Pirates on Tuesday.

Alex Presley and Neil Walker homered for Pittsburgh.

Barajas stopped an 0-for-18 slide with his clutch single off Fernando Rodriguez that scored Andrew McCutchen. The hit also ended an 0-for-17 streak with runners in scoring position for the Pirates.

Houston lost 11 in a row in 1995.

Chris Resop (1-3) earned the win with a scoreless seventh. Brad Lincoln pitched the eighth, and Jason Grilli earned his second save.

Chuckie Fick (0-1) gave up a run and two hits in his first appearance with the Astros since being claimed off waivers Friday.

NATIONALS 4, BREWERS 1

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Wisconsin-native Jordan Zimmermann pitched his first game against Milwaukee, and his teammates hit three home runs in Washington’s win over the Brewers.

Zimmermann (8-6) struck out six and gave up five hits in six innings. He was born in Auburndale and played at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for his 19th save.

Washington centre-fielder Bryce Harper was a late scratch because of a stomach virus and was replaced by Corey Brown.

In the fourth, Brown’s solo homer to left — his first career hit — and Tyler Moore’s two-run blast gave Washington a 3-0 lead. Ryan Zimmerman added a solo homer in the fifth.

Randy Wolf (3-7) gave up four earned runs and nine hits in seven innings for Milwaukee, which got a home run from Rickie Weeks.

DIAMONDBACKS 6, METS 3

PHOENIX (AP) — Miguel Montero homered, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs to help Arizona overcome Ike Davis’ three home runs in a win over the skidding New York Mets.

Ian Kennedy pitched into the seventh inning, and Gerardo Parra added three hits and two RBIs for Arizona (51-50), which has won eight of 11.

New York managed nothing at the plate besides three solo shots by Davis and lost for the 14th time in 16 games.

Davis connected in his first three at-bats, all against Kennedy. The first baseman added a single in the eighth and finished 4 for 4, raising his batting average to .216. He was on deck when J.J. Putz struck out David Wright with two on to end it.

Mets starter Chris Young (2-5) lasted four innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. He allowed six runs and seven hits.

CUBS 3, CARDINALS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Reed Johnson drove in the go-ahead with a bunt single in the seventh inning and the Cubs got past St. Louis, ending the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak.

The Cubs had lost five in a row to St. Louis. Chicago has won nine of its last 11 overall at Wrigley Field.

Johnson caught the Cardinals by surprise when he squared up on the first pitch with runners on first and third and two outs. His bunt fell perfectly between reliever Brian Fuentes and third baseman Matt Carpenter, allowing pinch-runner Tony Campana to score.

James Russell (3-0) earned the win in relief.

Joe Kelly (1-4) was the loser.

MARLINS 4, PADRES 2

MIAMI (AP) — Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer, and Nathan Eovaldi won his Miami debut, leading the Marlins over San Diego.

Justin Ruggiano also homered, and Steve Cishek earned his fourth save for the Marlins, who snapped a three-game skid.

Yonder Alonso had two hits and drove in a run for the Padres, who had won seven of 10.

Eovaldi (2-6) was traded to Miami on Wednesday from the Dodgers in a four-player swap that sent Hanley Ramirez to Los Angeles. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed one run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walking two.

The Marlins had scored three runs or fewer in nine consecutive games, which matched a franchise record set in 1994.

Eovaldi reached base on an infield single in the third and scored on Reyes’ shot to right field off Ross Ohlendorf (3-1) for a 3-0 advantage. The home run extended Reyes’ hitting streak to 15 games, which ties a season high.