CHICAGO — Paul Maholm pitched into the ninth inning to earn his first win in seven weeks and the Chicago Cubs hit three homers in a 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros Friday. Maholm (5-6) allowed four hits over 8 1-3 innings in his 200th major league start, earning his first win since he tossed seven shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over Atlanta on May 9. The left-hander was 0-4 with a 6.43 ERA in his previous eight outings. Brian Bixler started the Houston ninth with a base hit and Carlos Lee's one-out double put runners on second and third before Carlos Marmol finished for his sixth save in eight chances. Marmol plunked Chris Snyder to load the bases with two down, but Chris Johnson lined to third to end the game. NY Mets 9, Dodgers 0: R.A. Dickey allowed three hits over eight innings to become the major leagues' first 12-game winner, Daniel Murphy drove in five runs and the New York Mets sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to their season-worst sixth straight loss with an 9-0 victory. Nationals 5, Atlanta 4: Michael Morse had four hits, including the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning after Washington had blown a four-run lead, and the Nationals beat the Braves 5-4. The Nationals, who swept a three-game series in Atlanta on May 25-27, are 5-1 against the Braves this season. NL East-leading Washington is 4 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta. Pittsburgh 14, Cardinals 5: St. Louis Cardinals lost 14-5 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clint Barmes, pinch-hitter Alex Presley and Garrett Jones each homered in a four-run sixth inning that snapped a tie. The Pirates have 38 homers this month, one off the franchise record set in 1975, and the run total was the franchise's best since they also scored 14 on Aug. 31, 2010, at the Chicago Cubs. D-backs 9, Brewers 3: Aaron Hill hit for the cycle for the second time in 12 days and Ian Kennedy pitched seven strong innings, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Marlins 6, Phillies 2: Josh Johnson pitched six strong innings to help the Marlins win consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month and keep Cliff Lee winless. Justin Ruggiano tied a career high with three hits and drove in two runs for Miami, which last won consecutive games June 2-3 at Philadelphia. Rockies 10, Padres 2: Jeff Francis pitched six scoreless innings, and Rex Brothers bailed out newly recalled Tyler Chatwood before Colorado broke out for a victory over San Diego. In another game, Cincinnati Reds ended the run of San Francisco Giants by beating them 5-1. — Agencies
