NL roundup: Padres break out the brooms in Chicago

CHICAGO — Will Venable hit a two-run single in the seventh inning, and the San Diego Padres rallied to beat the Cubs 5-3 Thursday, completing their first four-game sweep of Chicago in their 42-year history.

The four-run seventh — capped by Venable's dash home when the Cubs weren't paying attention to him — made a winner of Mat Latos and helped the NL West-leading Padres to their 10th victory in 11 games. The Cubs lost their seventh straight at home, their longest skid at Wrigley Field since 2006

Latos (13-5) had a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings, yielding two runs and five hits. Heath Bell allowed Blake DeWitt's RBI single in the ninth but still earned his 24th consecutive save and 37th in 40 attempts this season. Cubs reliever Sean Marshall (6-4) recorded just one out in the seventh and was charged with four runs

NATIONALS 6, BRAVES 2: At Atlanta, Nyjer Morgan had two hits and scored two runs in his return from the disabled list, leading the Nationals to the victory. John Lannan (5-5) gave up two runs and seven hits in 51?3 innings to win his third straight start. Willie Harris padded Washington's lead with a two-run homer in the ninth. Derek Lowe (11-11) pitched seven innings for Atlanta, yielding four runs and six hits.The NL East-leading Braves, who had won four straight, wrapped up a 5-2 homestand and will get a boost today when newly acquired first baseman Derrek Lee makes his first start for Atlanta in the opener of a weekend series in Chicago. Lee was acquired from the Cubs on Wednesday for three minor leaguers.

GIANTS 5, PHILLIES 2: At Philadelphia, Jonathan Sanchez allowed just two hits while pitching into the ninth inning and Buster Posey lined a pair of RBI doubles. The Giants averted a sweep in a matchup of NL wild-card contenders. San Francisco stopped its three-game losing streak and ended the Phillies' four-game winning string. Sanchez (9-8) became the first Giants starting pitcher to record a win in 15 games, dating to his victory over Colorado on Aug. 3. No runner reached second base against the lefty, who retired 15 straight after hitting Chase Utley with a pitch in the fourth.Pablo Sandoval homered for the Giants, his ninth. The Giants, who had scored three or fewer runs in each of their past five games, jumped on Cole Hamels (7-10) for three first-inning runs. Freddy Sanchez singled and scored on the first of Posey's doubles. The Giants rookie is 11-for-25 (.444) in his last six games.