MIAMI (AP) - In his season finale, Miami Marlins rookie Jose Fernandez pitched seven innings, hit his first major league homer and engaged in a standoff with the annoyed Atlanta Braves that cleared both benches and bullpens.
When he had completed his eventful evening, Fernandez slowly walked off the mound one last time, removing his cap as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Two relievers pitched the final two innings, and the woeful Marlins beat the playoff-bound Braves 5-2.
The game was the last of the season for the demonstrative 21-year-old Fernandez because he passed his 170-inning limit set by the Marlins. A top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, he finished 12-6 with an ERA of 2.19, second-lowest in the majors behind only the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw.
Fernandez homered in the sixth inning, and after slowly circling the bases he engaged in a heated exchange with catcher Brian McCann, which prompted the other players to join them. Shoves were swapped but no punches were evident, and no one was ejected.
Mike Minor (13-7) allowed five runs, four earned, and 11 hits in six innings for Atlanta.
NATIONALS 3, METS 0
NEW YORK (AP) - Dan Haren pitched one-hit ball for six innings, Ryan Zimmerman homered and Washington earned its fifth consecutive win.
The Nationals improved to 22-9 in their late charge toward a playoff spot. They remained six games behind Cincinnati for the final NL wild-card spot with only 17 to play.
Haren (9-13) and the Washington bullpen held an overmatched New York lineup to three singles. Rafael Soriano got three outs for his 41st save.
The night was full of 9/11 tributes. Mets manager Terry Collins wore an NYPD hat during batting practice, and there were several remembrances on the field, on the scoreboard and over the public-address system of those affected by the terror attacks 12 years ago.
Zack Wheeler (7-5) gave up one run and eight hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one. He wound up with his third loss in four starts.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, DODGERS 1
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paul Goldschmidt had four hits and two RBIs, helping the Diamondbacks snap a five-game skid against the Dodgers.
Patrick Corbin (14-6) ended a three-game losing streak while improving to 2-0 in three starts at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander allowed one run and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings.
Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances.
Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (13-6) gave up three runs and 10 hits - his second-most this season - in his first start since Aug. 30. The left-hander missed his scheduled start last Friday because of a stiff back.
Los Angeles got its only run on Yasiel Puig's 16th homer in the seventh.
CARDINALS 5, BREWERS 1
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Matt Adams hit a two-run homer in St. Louis' four-run eighth inning, helping the Cardinals to their fifth consecutive win.
Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who maintained a one-game lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central.
Brewers reliever Brandon Kintzler (3-2) was charged with three runs and recorded two outs.
Carlos Beltran's sacrifice fly off Michael Gonzalez scored Carpenter to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. An error by catcher Jonathan Lucroy allowed Jon Jay to score and Adams followed with his 12th homer.
Trevor Rosenthal (2-3) had a hitless eighth inning for the win.
REDS 6, CUBS 0
CINCINNATI (AP) - Devin Mesoraco homered for the first time in a month, Jack Hannahan added his first career pinch-hit homer and the Reds avoided a sweep by the last-place Cubs.
Mesoraco broke out of his slump with three hits as the Reds closed a 7-3 homestand.
Mike Leake (13-6) allowed four hits and walked four in 5 2-3 innings en route to a career high in wins, despite humid conditions and an 84-degree temperature at gametime.
Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija (8-12) also pitched 5 2-3 innings and was charged with six runs and eight hits.
Mesoraco hit a solo drive in the fourth for his first homer in 25 games since he hit two against St. Louis on Aug. 3. Hannahan connected for a three-run shot in the sixth.
PHILLIES 4, PADRES 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Cliff Lee pitched eight sharp innings and Freddy Galvis had three hits for Philadelphia.
Lee (13-6) allowed two runs and five hits, struck out nine and walked one. It was the second straight eight-inning outing and fourth in the last six starts for Lee, who pounded his glove and skipped toward the dugout after fanning Jedd Gyorko to end the eighth.
Gyorko and Tommy Medica homered for the Padres, who had won four in a row. Medica's solo shot in the fifth was his first hit in his major league debut.
Jonathon Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 26th save in 33 chances.
The Phillies took the lead in the seventh against Nick Vincent (4-3). Galvis led off with a double, went to third on Lee's sacrifice and scored on Cesar Hernandez's weak chopper to first.
GIANTS 4, ROCKIES 3
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Marco Scutaro and Brandon Belt hit consecutive RBI singles in the eighth inning to help San Francisco rally for the victory.
The Giants loaded the bases with one out against Matt Belisle (5-7), and Scutaro followed with a tying single into right field. Belt's hit drove in Angel Pagan and gave San Francisco a 4-3 lead.
Guillermo Moscoso (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory, securing the first winning homestand for the Giants since May 20-26. Santiago Casilla finished for his second save.
Nolan Arenado had two hits and two RBIs for the Rockies, who have lost five of six. Michael Cuddyer added three hits and went 7 for 13 in the series.
INTERLEAGUE
PIRATES 7, RANGERS 5
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Clint Barmes homered and drew a bases-loaded walk as Pittsburgh completed a three-game sweep in an interleague matchup of wild-card leaders.
Justin Morneau, acquired from Minnesota less than two weeks ago, snapped an 0-for-14 slump with four hits while scoring twice for the Pirates.
Texas has lost nine of its last 12, a stretch in which the Rangers have lost four consecutive series. They have gone from a three-game lead in the AL West to entering Wednesday 2 1/2 games behind Oakland.
A.J. Burnett (8-10) struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings, though he faded late after retiring the first 13 batters he faced.