CINCINNATI — Mat Latos pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and hit a two-run homer Friday night as the NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds opened a three-game series against their closest pursuers with a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chris Heisey hustled for an inside-the-park home run and Aroldis Chapman closed out the win that gave the Reds a 4½-game lead over the Pirates. The Reds have won 14 of 15 and moved 24 games over .500 for the first time since 1999. Latos (10-3) allowed four hits in 7 1-3 innings. Jonathan Broxton got a key double play to end the eighth and Chapman recorded his 24th save. Nationals 7, Marlins 4 and Marlins 5, Nationals 2: Josh Johnson outpitched Gio Gonzalez for another win over Washington, and the Miami Marlins salvaged a doubleheader split. Johnson (7-7) improved to 9-1 lifetime against Washington. He fell one out short of his first complete game since April 26, 2010. Johnson gave up one earned run and five hits. He struck out nine and walked none, and also got two hits. In the first game, Adam LaRoche and Mark DeRosa each drove in three runs, leading John Lannan (2-0) and the Nationals. Brad Hand (0-1), recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to start the game, gave up seven runs on six hits and six walks in 3 2-3 innings. Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2: Justin Upton hit his 100th career homer, Ian Kennedy threw six effective innings, and the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks beat Philadelphia. Braves 4, Astros 1: Tim Hudson gave up only four hits and no earned runs in 7 1-3 innings to remain unbeaten in his career against Houston. Atlanta improved to 7-1 on its 10-game homestead. Cardinals 9, Brewers 3: Rookie Joe Kelly broke a three-start losing streak and drove in the go-ahead run to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat Milwaukee. Giants 16, Rockies 4: Ryan Vogelsong pitched into the seventh inning, Buster Posey homered among his four hits and the San Francisco Giants broke out of an offensive slump to beat Colorado. Padres 3, Mets 1: Carlos Quentin scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when he knocked the ball out of catcher Josh Thole's glove, and the San Diego Padres denied R.A. Dickey his 15th victory. Dodgers 6, Cubs 1: Chad Billingsley won his third straight start since coming off the disabled list, batterymate A.J. Ellis hit two solo homers and had an RBI single, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over Cubs. — Agencies
