CINCINNATI — Ryan Braun hit his NL-leading 41st home run Wednesday night, and Milwaukee kept its wild-card chances flickering with an 8-1 victory over Cincinnati. Milwaukee moved within 3 1-2 games of St. Louis for the final NL wild-card spot, a long shot that left them with no margin for error. The Cardinals lost 2-0 to Houston. Shaun Marcum (6-4) went six innings for his first victory since returning from an elbow problem, allowing four hits, including Joey Votto's RBI double. Norichika Aoki homered to start a three-run third inning off Bronson Arroyo (12-9) and added an RBI double. Braun hit a two-run shot in the seventh off Logan Ondrusek. Braves 3, Marlins 0: Martin Prado homered and Paul Maholm combined with three relievers on a six-hitter as Atlanta showed no hangover from their champagne celebration after clinching an NL wild-card spot the night before. The Braves remained four games behind first-place Washington in the NL East. The Nationals beat the Phillies, 8-4. Nationals 8, Phillies 4: Bryce Harper hit his 20th homer, Ian Desmond and Kurt Suzuki also connected and Washington moved closer toward winning its first division title since moving to Washington. Dodgers 8, Padres 2: Matt Kemp had four hits, falling a triple shy of the cycle, and four RBIs as Los Angeles used a rare offensive outburst to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. Los Angeles, which has scuffled for the better part of a month, remained tied with Milwaukee, 4 ½ games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild-card berth. Mets 6, Pirates 0: David Wright broke the Mets' record for hits and Jeremy Hefner bounced back from a horrendous start in a victory that eliminated Pittsburgh from playoff contention. Astros 2, Cardinals 0: Bud Norris pitched into the eighth inning for his first win since May 21, and Jose Altuve homered as Houston avoided a sweep. Norris (6-13) allowed two hits and struck out seven without a walk in 7 1-3 innings to snap a career-long 12-game losing streak which spanned 18 starts in the last National League game in Houston with the Astros moving to the American League West for 2013. Giants 6, Diamondbacks 0: Matt Cain pitched seven innings and had two hits and an RBI to lead the San Francisco Giants over Arizona. Rockies 6, Cubs 0: Drew Pomeranz tossed five scoreless innings for his first win in more than two months and the Colorado Rockies beat Chicago. — Agencies
