ATLANTA — Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer off Jonathan Papelbon with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a five-run rally that sent the Atlanta Braves over the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 Sunday. The Phillies led 7-3 entering the ninth and seemed set to complete a three-game sweep. Instead, the Braves boosted their wild-card position, coming back against Jeremy Horst and Papelbon (3-6). Reed Johnson singled off Horst with one out for his third hit and Paul Janish walked. Papelbon struck out pinch hitter Lyle Overbay before walking Michael Bourn to load the bases. Martin Prado's grounder skipped past third baseman Kevin Frandsen for a two-run double before Jones hit his 14th home run deep into the right-field seats. The blown save was the fourth in 35 chances for Papelbon. Peter Moylan (1-0) got one out for the win. The Phillies scored five times in the first and pitcher Cole Hamels added a two-run double in the third as the Phillies made it 7-1. Nationals 4, Cardinals 3: Stephen Strasburg allowed two hits over six scoreless innings, striking out nine before being pulled as the Washington Nationals beat St. Louis. The NL East-leading Nationals took three of four from St. Louis and passed their 80-win total from last season. Strasburg, rocked for seven runs last Tuesday at Miami, left with a 2-0 lead and a 2.94 ERA. He threw 97 pitches and wound up with a no-decision. The 23-year-old Strasburg has struck out a league-leading 195 in 156 1-3 innings this season. The Nationals have repeatedly stated they intend on shutting him down in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2010. After the game, manager Davey Johnson indicated Strasburg has two starts left. Ryan Mattheus (2-3) got the win and Tyler Clippard worked the ninth for his 29th save. Lance Lynn (13-6) got the loss. Reds 5, Astros 3: Jay Bruce's three-run homer keyed Cincinnati's five-run eighth inning and the NL Central-leading Reds rallied past Houston. Bruce's 29th homer came against Xavier Cedeno (0-1). Bruce, who is from nearby Beaumont, Texas, has three homers and 10 RBIs in nine games at Houston this season. Jose Arredondo (6-2) allowed two hits and two runs in the seventh and Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth for his 34th save. Giants 7, Cubs 5: Angel Pagan hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning and the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants closed out a successful road trip by beating the Cubs. Santiago Casilla (6-5) pitched an inning to get the victory and Javier Lopez [stats] got the final two outs for his sixth save in eight chances. The Giants went 5-1 on a swing through Houston and Chicago — the two worst teams in the NL Central. The Giants took advantage of a bout of wildness by Carlos Marmol (2-3) to grab the lead in the ninth. Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 4: Adrian Gonzalez doubled in the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers over Arizona. Brewers 12, Pirates 8: Ryan Braun hit his NL-leading 37th home run, pitcher Yovani Gallardo also connected and the Milwaukee Brewers sent Pittsburgh to its 10th loss in 13 games. Mets 5, Marlins 1: Jason Bay hit his fifth career grand slam in the Mets' five-run first inning and New York earned a three-game sweep over Miami. Rockies 11, Padres 10: Chris Nelson had a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Colorado Rockies overcame a career-best six RBIs by Chase Headley to beat San Diego Padres. — Agencies
