PITTSBURGH — Drew Sutton hit a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth and the Pittsburgh Pirates improved to eight games over .500 for the first time in 20 years with an 8-7 win over the Houston Astros Tuesday. Acquired via waivers last week, Sutton homered for the first time since Oct. 3, 2010, lifting the Pirates to their sixth walkoff win of the season, the first via a home run. The Pirates rallied from deficits of 4-0 and 6-2 to take a 7-6 lead on a Garrett Jones two-run homer in the seventh. But with Houston down to its last strike in the ninth, pinch-hitter Jason Castro drove in Jed Lowrie with a double. Houston has lost six straight and eight in a row on the road. Brewers 13, Marlins 12: Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Heath Bell in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a win over the Miami Marlins. Livan Hernandez (2-1) pitched the 10th and picked up the win. He struck out John Buck, got Scott Cousins to fly out to center, but Jose Reyes connected on a 3-1 pitch and homered into the second tier above the Marlins bullpen in right. Donovan Solano struck out to end the inning. Mets 11, Phillies 1: Jonathon Niese had a two-run single to back his fine performance on the mound Tuesday night and David Wright hit a three-run homer to break open the Mets' romp over the reeling Phillies. Niese (5-3) pitched a season-high eight innings and gave up three hits, one a homer to Carlos Ruiz. His hit in the second inning put New York up for good. The Mets put on a clinic of clutch hitting and slick fielding in handing the Phillies their sixth straight loss. The only thing they did wrong was run into two outs on the basepaths. Braves 10, Cubs 3: Newly chosen All-Star Chipper Jones delivered his first five-hit game in a decade, driving in four runs and leading the Atlanta Braves over the Chicago Cubs. Jones was added to the NL All-Star roster before the game. The 40-year-old third baseman replaced injured Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. Nationals 9, Giants 3: All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond hit his 14th home run, and the Washington Nationals became the latest team to beat up on Tim Lincecum, pounding the struggling right-hander hard early and often. Jordan Zimmermann (5-6) pitched a rain-shortened six innings and again enjoyed the generous run support that had evaded him for so long, ensuring the Nationals would wake up on the Fourth of July with a 3½-game cushion over the New York Mets atop the NL East. Rockies 3, Cardinals 2: Jeff Francis worked five solid innings before the Colorado bullpen took over and Tyler Colvin hit a three-run homer as the Rockies beat the Cardinals. Padres 9, D-backs 5: Chase Headley doubled in three runs and the Padres roughed up Arizona rookie Trevor Bauer in his home debut, winning their fourth straight and sending the Diamondbacks to their fourth loss in a row. Reds 3, Dodgers 1: Luis Cruz doubled home the go-ahead run in his second game with the Dodgers and stole home on the next pitch, leading Los Angeles to a victory over Johnny Cueto and the Reds. — Agencies
