WASHINGTON (AP) - Manager Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned after the surprising Washington Nationals beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 Thursday for their 11th win in 12 games.
General manager Mike Rizzo said that Riggleman quit after he requested the team pick up the option on his contract for 2012 and the club declined.
The team will name an interim manager Friday before the Nationals face the White Sox.
Riggleman has been seeking more security for some time. He took over for Manny Acta on an interim basis during the 2009 season.
Riggleman's resignation came moments after Laynce Nix hit a game-ending sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, pushing Washington (38-37) over .500 for the first time since April 20.
Nix's fly to left off Chris Ray (3-2) was deep enough to score Danny Espinosa, who easily beat a throw from Mike Carp that was well up the first-base line.
The Nationals swept the Mariners with three one-run victories, putting Seattle (37-38) below .500 for the first time since May 25.
Tyler Clippard (1-0) pitched the ninth for the Nationals.
Mets 4, Athletics 1
NEW YORK (AP) - Chris Capuano pitched six scoreless innings before leaving with a tweak on his right side and Jose Reyes took advantage of Oakland's shaky new first baseman in the Mets' win.
After the start of the game was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 15 minutes, Capuano (6-7) shut down the A's on five hits without a walk and struck out seven. He left with discomfort in his abdomen.
Longtime second baseman Mark Ellis made his first career start at first base, and his inexperience there showed.
The speedy Reyes opened the fifth with a grounder and Ellis ranged much too far to his right, missing the ball and leaving the bag uncovered. Second baseman Jemile Weeks made a clean pickup, but zipped a throw past pitcher Graham Godfrey (1-1) for an error. A sacrifice set up Daniel Murphy's RBI single with two outs for a 3-0 lead.
Giants 2, Twins 1
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Tim Lincecum struck out 12 in seven superb innings, Miguel Tejada and Cody Ross drove in runs for the Giants, who won their second straight following a season-long five-game skid.
Michael Cuddyer extended his hitting streak to 12 games with three hits and an RBI for Minnesota, which lost its second in a row after a season-best eight-game win streak.
Lincecum (6-6) rebounded from a rash of poor starts. He gave up three hits, walked two and never allowed a runner past second base.
Brian Duensing (4-7) allowed just his sixth earned run in his past 22 2-3 innings.
Diamondbacks 5, Royals 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Daniel Hudson pitched seven strong inning to win his ninth game, and Miguel Montero and Juan Miranda each homered to lead Arizona over Kansas City.
The Diamondbacks swept the three-game series at Kansas City and are 15-4 in their past 19 road games.
Hudson (9-5) is tied for the National League lead in victories. He is 8-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his past 11 starts after losing his first four starts. He held the Royals to three runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out one.
Montero led off the second with his ninth homer, while Miranda connected in the fourth.
J.J. Putz worked a flawless ninth for his 20th save in 23 opportunities.
Royals right-hander Felipe Paulino (0-1) retired 13 straight, striking out six, after Miranda's home run before Stephen Drew singled to open the ninth. His eight-plus innings matched his longest outing. He allowed five runs on nine hits, one walk and eight strikeouts.
Cardinals 12, Phillies 2
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Chris Carpenter threw seven strong innings and Jon Jay and Lance Berkman homered to lead St. Louis over Philadelphia.
Carpenter (2-7) picked up his first victory since May 10. He allowed one run and five hits to end a string of seven successive starts without a win. Carpenter struck out seven and walked one.
St. Louis won for the first time since three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols fractured his left forearm on Sunday. The Cardinals managed just two runs and 11 hits during the first two games without Pujols, who is out 4 to 6 weeks.
Philadelphia starter Roy Oswalt (4-6) left after two innings due to tightness in his lower back. He gave up four runs and five hits in his shortest start since a two-inning outing in a 9-7 loss to Atlanta on September 10, 2009.