NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pirates’ Burnett stops Reds’ five-game streak

— Pittsburgh Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle decided to keep A.J. Burnett pitching on his regular day so he didn’t miss the showdown with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Pirates had a day off Thursday that allowed Burnett (Central Arkansas Christian) to face the Reds and improve to 7-2 after a team loss.

Burnett remained undefeated against the Reds this season and Starling Marte hit a tie breaking two-run triple to help the Pittsburgh Pirates salvage the finale of their three-game series with a 6-2 victory on Sunday.

“I’ve never had an ace before,” Hurdle said. “We have a guy with the experience A.J. brought with him.”

Neil Walker hit a two-run home run and All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen also homered as Pittsburgh snapped Cincinnati’s win streak at five and cut the Reds lead in the National League Central Division to 4 1/2 games.

Burnett (14-3) allowed just one hit after the first inning and retired 18 consecutive batters before yielding two walks with two outs in the ninth. He allowed 3 hits and 2 runs with 3 walks and 7 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings to improve to 3-0 in three starts against the Reds this season.

Joel Hanrahan got the final out for his 32nd save.

A heavy rain began to fall in the top of the ninth and likely prevented Burnett from completing the game.

“It was nothing I haven’t faced before,” Burnett said. “I probably should have called time but with three outs to go, I was trying to get through it real quick.”

NATIONALS 4, MARLINS 1

Stephen Strasburg pitched three-hit ball over six shutout innings and drove in two runs to lead host Washington over Miami.

BRAVES 6, ASTROS 1

Chipper Jones had two hits and scored the go-ahead run on a sixth inning wild pitch in his final game against Houston, and host Atlanta finished an 8-2 home stand with a victory over the Astros.

PHILLIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4

Ryan Howard hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give Philadelphia a victory over visiting Arizona.

PADRES 7, METS 3

Chase Headley and Yonder Alonso each hit two-run home runs and host San Diego hammered Mets starter Matt Harvey, who allowed five runs.

GIANTS 8, ROCKIES 3

Tim Lincecum won consecutive starts for the first time since April, Hunter Pence had three RBI and visiting San Francisco completed a three-game sweep of Colorado.

DODGERS 7, CUBS 6

Hanley Ramirez hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Matt Kemp, and host Los Angeles swept Chicago.

CARDINALS 3, BREWERS 0

Kyle Lohse pitched six innings to earn his 12th victory and host St. Louis beat Milwaukee to complete a three-game sweep.

American League YANKEES 6, MARINERS 2

Raul Ibanez homered and drove in three runs as Freddy Garcia earned his 150th career victory, leading host New York past Seattle.

RED SOX 6, TWINS 4

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run home run and Boston avoided a four-game sweep against visiting Minnesota.

ORIOLES 1, RAYS 0

Taylor Teagarden’s RBI double in the 10th inning lifted visiting Baltimore over Tampa Bay.

TIGERS 10, INDIANS 8

Miguel Cabrera’s two run home run capped a five-run rally by Detroit with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Tigers a victory over visiting Cleveland.

WHITE SOX 4, ANGELS 2

Pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski tied a White Sox record by homering in his fifth consecutive game, a go-ahead, two-run shot in the seventh inning off Jason Isringhausen that led Chicago over Los Angeles.

ROYALS 7, RANGERS 6

Eric Hosmer scored from third base on Rangers third baseman Mike Olt’s throwing error in the bottom of the 10th inning and host Kansas City beat Texas.

BLUE JAYS 6, ATHLETICS 5

Edwin Encarnacion hit a home run and drove in two runs and visiting Toronto split a four-game series with Oakland.

Sunday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Pittsburgh 6, Cincinnati 2 Philadelphia 5, Arizona 4 Atlanta 6, Houston 1 Washington 4, Miami 1 San Francisco 8, Colorado 3 San Diego 7, NY Mets 3 LA Dodgers 7, Chicago Cubs 6 St. Louis 6, Milwaukee 1 AMERICAN LEAGUE Detroit 10, Cleveland 8, 10 innings NY Yankees 6, Seattle 2 Boston 6, Minnesota 4 Baltimore 1, Tampa Bay 0, 10 innings Chicago White Sox 4, LA Angels 2 Kansas City 7, Texas 6, 10 innings Toronto 6, Oakland 5

Sports, Pages 18 on 08/06/2012

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