Homer Bailey shut Houston down again and came up with a career-high three hits and Devin Mesoraco homered to help the Cincinnati Reds snap a four-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over the Astros Tuesday. Brandon Phillips also homered while Jay Bruce had three hits and Dave Sappelt and Juan Francisco each added two hits each as the Reds broke out of a slump. Their nine hits through five innings were one more than their total from the previous three games. Bailey (9-7), who went into the game 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts against the Astros this season, set a career-high in wins while allowing six hits and two runs with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 34th save. Nationals 4, Phillies 3: Ryan Zimmerman's pinch-hit single in the top of the 10th inning lifted Washington past Philadelphia in the first game of a day-night-doubleheader. In the second game, the Nationals downed Phillies 3-0. Braves 4, Marlins 0: Rookie Randall Delgado pitched five innings for his first major-league win, and the Atlanta Braves put the brakes on their recent skid by beating the Florida Marlins. The Braves began the night leading St. Louis by 2½ games in the NL wild-card race after blowing a ninth-inning lead to lose Monday. The margin was 10½ games on Aug. 25. Delgado (1-1), making his sixth career start, pitched around five hits and lowered his ERA to 2.70. Cristhian Martinez and Anthony Vavaro both retired six consecutive batters to complete the 16th shutout for the Braves, which ties for third-most in the majors. Freddie Freeman hit his 20th home run for the Braves, who won for only the seventh time in their past 19 games. Alex Gonzalez hit his 15th homer but left the game in the sixth inning with a strained right calf. His status is day to day. Brewers 5, Cubs 1: Shaun Marcum threw eight strong innings and the Milwaukee Brewers moved a step closer to the NL Central title with a win over the Chicago Cubs. Marcum (13-7) allowed five hits and one run and chipped in at the plate by doubling and scoring during Milwaukee's four-run third inning. Rickie Weeks drove in two runs and Nyjer Morgan reached base three times, stole a base and scored two runs to help the Brewers reach 91 wins for the first time since 1992. In other games it was St Louis Cardinals 11, NY Mets 6; San Diego Padres 2, Colorado Rockies 1; Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 3; LA Dodgers 2, San Francisco Giants 1.
