MIAMI (AP) - Anibal Sanchez allowed only an unearned run in seven innings to remain unbeaten in 19 starts against Washington, and the Miami Marlins beat the Nationals 3-1 Tuesday night to break the franchise record for victories in a month.
The Marlins are 20-8 since May 1, best in the majors, and they're six games above .500 for the first time since last June 4.
Greg Dobbs, pinch-hitting for Sanchez, drove in the run that put Miami ahead to stay with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Hanley Ramirez hit his eighth homer leading off the eighth.
Sanchez (3-3) allowed only three hits and one walk and lowered his ERA to 2.56.
Edwin Jackson (1-3) allowed only two runs, one earned, in 6 2-3 innings.
BRAVES 5, CARDINALS 4
ATLANTA (AP) - Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer, Michael Bourn also went deep and the Braves snapped their longest losing streak in more than two years, holding off the Cardinals after an eight-game skid.
Bourn led off the bottom of the first with his fifth homer of the season, tying a career high. Uggla made it 4-0 in the third, sending one into the seats in left-center.
Randall Delgado (3-5) worked into the sixth, allowing three runs, and the Cardinals closed within a run in the seventh on Yadier Molina's third RBI of the night, a run-scoring single. Molina went 4-for-4, including a solo homer. But Craig Kimbrel got the final three outs for his 14th save in 15 chances.
Jake Westbook (4-4) took the loss.
CUBS 5, PADRES 3
CHICAGO (AP) - Alfonso Soriano homered, Jeff Samardzija struck out eight in seven innings and the Cubs beat the Padres.
Soriano hit a solo homer to center field in the sixth. After going homerless in his first 30 games this season, Soriano has seven home runs in his last 13 games.
Samardzija (5-3) allowed eight hits and was one strikeout from tying his career high. He departed after Will Venable's RBI triple with no outs in the eighth. Shawn Camp kept the lead intact, getting Carlos Quentin on a fly to left to end the inning.
James Russell got the last two outs for his first career save.
Quentin homered and had three hits for San Diego. His drive on the first pitch of the fifth was his first home run as a Padre.
METS 6, PHILLIES 3
NEW YORK (AP) - Jeremy Hefner earned his first victory in the majors, highlighting the occasion by homering for his first big league hit as the Mets beat the Phillies.
The 26-year-old rookie became the first major league pitcher to hit his first homer in his first win since 2002, when Dennis Tankersley did it with San Diego, STATS LLC said.
Pinch-hitter Scott Hairston had a two-run homer and newcomer Omar Quintanilla doubled twice and singled to help New York win for the fourth time in five games. After a storm delay of 64 minutes in the eighth inning, the Mets improved to 6-2 against Philadelphia this year.
REDS 8, PIRATES 1
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jay Bruce had three hits, including a pair of doubles, Todd Frazier drove in two runs to cap an eventful day and the Reds cruised by the Pirates.
Homer Bailey (4-3) gave up one run on four hits, walking one and striking out four while pitching his second career complete game.
Frazier doubled and tripled in his first two at-bats hours after saving a Pittsburgh restaurant-goer from choking on a piece of steak by giving him the Heimlich maneuver.
Charlie Morton (2-6) struggled with his trademark sinker and the Reds took advantage by knocking him around soggy PNC Park following a nearly 2-hour rain delay.