WASHINGTON (AP) — Yadier Molina drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, backing Shelby Miller’s strong start Monday night, and the St. Louis Cardinals returned to the site of their Game 5 NL division series victory last season with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

The other big hit for St. Louis was Allen Craig’s two-run double in the third.

Miller (3-1) struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits.

All the Cardinals’ runs came against Dan Haren (1-3), who gave up three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.

Edward Mujica pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save. The Cardinals have alternated wins and losses over their last nine games.

Washington has lost seven of 10.



GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandon Belt hit a game-winning single in the ninth inning after Buster Posey tied the score with a two-run homer in the eighth, and San Francisco rallied to beat Arizona for its seventh straight victory at home.

Posey’s drive to straightaway center was his second homer of the year, both in the past two days.

Belt’s first career game-ending hit came against Tony Sipp (1-1), who allowed a leadoff single to Andres Torres. Brandon Crawford sacrificed him to second.

Jose Mijares struck out two in the ninth before yielding Cliff Pennington’s double. Sergio Romo (1-1) relieved in a double switch as Belt entered at first base. Romo retired pinch-hitter Eric Hinske on a first-pitch grounder.

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley hit his first career home run and Eric Chavez also connected.



PHILLIES 3, PIRATES 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jimmy Rollins hit a tiebreaking single in the sixth inning and Jonathan Pettibone had an impressive major league debut to lead Philadelphia past Pittsburgh.

Pettibone allowed two runs and six hits, striking out six in 5 1-3 innings. Raul Valdes (1-0) got two outs in the sixth and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his fourth save.

Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin hit solo homers for the Pirates on a chilly night when the temperature dipped below 50 degrees.

Pirates starter A.J. Burnett gave up two runs and five hits, fanning seven in five innings. Jared Hughes (1-2) retired his first two batters in the sixth before running into trouble.



REDS 5, CUBS 4, 13 INNINGS

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jay Bruce hit a tying double and scored on Cesar Izturis’ two-out single in the 13th inning, rallying Cincinnati to a victory that gave Chicago its fourth straight loss.

Luis Valbuena hit a two-run homer in the top of the 13th off Alfredo Simon (2-1) for a 4-2 Cubs lead.

Michael Bowden (0-1) couldn’t hold it. He gave up a single by Xavier Paul, Brandon Phillips’ double and Bruce’s two-run double that tied it.

Izturis’ single past diving shortstop Starlin Castro sent the Reds to their seventh victory in eight games on their homestand.

Bruce also hit his first homer of the season to start Cincinnati’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the seventh.

The Cubs have dropped seven of eight and 12 of 15, leaving them in last place in the NL Central at 5-13. David DeJesus hit a leadoff homer for Chicago.



BREWERS 7, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer and Yuniesky Betancourt had a three-run shot off Jason Marquis in the first inning to help Milwaukee beat San Diego for its eighth straight victory.

Kyle Lohse (1-1) went five innings, allowing one run and five hits, but left in the sixth after dislocating his left pinkie on a play at first base. He said he expects to make his next start.

Marquis (1-2) was rocked for seven runs in four-plus innings as the Padres dropped their fourth in a row overall and sixth straight at home.

The homer for Braun was his sixth of the season. He added an RBI single in the fifth and has 19 RBIs.



AMERICAN LEAGUE

RED SOX 9, ATHLETICS 6

BOSTON (AP) — Mike Napoli hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Will Middlebrooks busted out of a slump with a three-run homer and the Boston Red Sox rebounded from a doubleheader sweep by beating the Oakland Athletics 9-6 on Monday night.

The Red Sox, swept by Kansas City Sunday, scored three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth. Napoli’s fourth career slam keyed the five-run fifth and helped end Oakland’s eight-game winning streak against Boston.

The Athletics dropped their season-high fourth straight.

Felix Doubront (2-0) allowed three runs on three hits, walking five. He also threw two wild pitches and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings.

A.J. Griffin (2-1) was tagged for a career-worst nine runs — seven earned — and eight hits in four-plus innings.



ORIOLES 2, BLUE JAYS 1

BALTIMORE (AP) — Nick Markakis singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Orioles a victory over the Blue Jays.

Toronto reliever Aaron Loup (1-2) began the ninth by hitting Chris Davis with a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt, Steve Pearce popped out and Nolan Reimold received an intentional walk before Alexi Casilla reached on a throwing error by shortstop Munenori Kawasaki that loaded the bases.

Markakis then sliced an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field near the left-field line.

Jim Johnson (1-1) worked a perfect ninth for the Orioles, now 5-2 on a nine-game homestand that ends Wednesday.



RAYS 5, YANKEES 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Matt Moore became the first Rays pitcher to win his first four starts of a season, Ryan Roberts homered twice and Tampa Bay beat CC Sabathia and the Yankees.

Moore (4-0) allowed one run, two hits, three walks and had nine strikeouts over eight innings. Roberts connected in the first and third to help the Rays take an early 5-0 lead.

Yankees infielder Kevin Youkilis, who left Saturday’s game at Toronto with lower back stiffness, was a late scratch Monday after the back tightened up following batting practice.

Sabathia (3-2) had a three-game winning streak end. The left-hander gave up five runs and seven hits over seven innings.