NEW YORK – Anthony Rizzo hit a three-run homer and Cubs closer Carlos Marmol caught a line drive and started a game-ending double play that blunted the New York Mets’ bid for another ninth-inning comeback, giving Chicago an 8-7 win Friday night.
Travis Wood won his fourth straight start while Mets star Johan Santana was tagged for a career high-tying 13 hits in only 4 2/3 innings.
Reed Johnson led off the game with a homer, had four hits of Chicago’s season-high 18 hits and scored three runs. Rizzo singled in the eighth for the first four-hit game of his career.
The Cubs held on to win for the eighth time in 11 games and sent the Mets to their third loss in nine games.
Wood (4-3) gave up two earned runs and was removed after walking pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin to start the seventh.
GIANTS 6, PIRATES 5: In Pittsburgh, Melky Cabrera hit his eighth homer of the season and Ryan Theriot drove in two runs to lead San Francisco. Barry Zito (7-6) survived five eventful innings to win for the second time in his last six starts as the Giants snapped a three-game losing streak.
Andrew McCutchen had three hits but couldn’t stop Pittsburgh from having its four-game winning streak snapped.
BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 0: In Philadelphia, Brian McCann hit a grand slam and Tim Hudson tossed four-hit ball over seven innings as Atlanta spoiled Ryan Howard’s season debut. Howard doubled in his first at-bat and was 2 for 4 in his first game since rupturing his left Achilles tendon on the final swing in a postseason elimination loss to St. Louis last October.
ROCKIES 5, NATIONALS 1: In Washington, Tyler Colvin homered twice off Stephen Strasburg to back a masterful pitching performance by Drew Pomeranz and lead Colorado. Colvin hit a solo shot in the second inning and a two-run drive in the fourth to become the first player to hit two home runs against Strasburg in the same game. Strasburg (9-4) lost a third straight start for the first time in his three-year career.
BREWERS 7, ASTROS 1: In Houston, Norichika Aoki and Ryan Braun hit consecutive homers in the first inning and Rickie Weeks later hit a two-run shot for Milwaukee.
The Astros lost their season-worst ninth game in a row.
Yovani Gallardo (7-6) beat Houston for the eighth straight start.
MARLINS 3, CARDINALS 2: In St. Louis, Ricky Nolasco gave up an unearned run in six innings and Jose Reyes got the go-ahead RBI with an infield hit in the seventh to lead Miami.
Logan Morrison added his second home run in three games in the eighth for the Marlins, who won their third in a row.
