NL roundup: Dodgers, Cardinals close in on clinching playoff spots

HOUSTON — Joel Pineiro allowed five hits in seven innings, Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer and St. Louis inched closer to the NL Central title with an 11-2 win over Houston on Tuesday night.

Colby Rasmus added a solo shot as the Cardinals reduced their magic number for clinching the division to two. Pineiro (15-11) struck out four to win for the first time in four starts.

The Astros have dropped nine straight, their longest skid since losing 10 straight in May 2007.

DODGERS 14, NATIONALS 2: At Washington, Rafael Furcal drove in four runs and Hiroki Kuroda allowed four hits over six innings for Los Angeles. The Dodgers' sixth win in seven games lowered their magic number for clinching a postseason berth to three. Kuroda (8-6) won his third straight start, benefiting from two innings in which the Dodgers sent 11 men to the plate.

PHILLIES 9, MARLINS 3 (1ST GAME); MARLINS 3, PHILLIES 0 (2ND GAME): At Miami, Anibal Sanchez allowed two hits in eight innings to beat Philadelphia for the first time in five career decisions and give Florida a doubleheader split. Joe Blanton (11-7) gave up two hits in seven shutout innings to outpitch Marlins ace Josh Johnson in the first-game win that reduced to five the Phillies' magic number for clinching the NL East. Sanchez (3-7) struck out seven and walked two in his longest outing since Sept. 16, 2006. Dan Uggla hit his 30th home run and Cody Ross added a career-high 23rd for Florida.

BRAVES 3, METS 1: At New York, Jair Jurrjens dominated New York again and Yunel Escobar hit a two-run single for Atlanta. The surging Braves kept up their late playoff charge, though their chances for a postseason spot are slim. Atlanta remained five games behind Colorado for the NL wild card and eight behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East.

CUBS 7, BREWERS 2: At Milwaukee, Derrek Lee hit his 35th homer and drove in two runs for a career-high 109 total to lead Chicago. Lee is hitting .408 in September and is 6-of-8 in this series with two home runs and six RBIs. Lee has 10 homers in his last 20 games and leads the majors with 24 since July 1. Brewers slugger Prince Fielder hit his 41st home run to extend his franchise-best RBI mark to 129.

REDS 10. PIRATES 4: At Pittsburgh, Scott Rolen had three hits and three RBIs, Joey Votto had three doubles and Cincinnati's win meant Pittsburgh clinched its third straight last-place finish in the NL Central. Pittsburgh (56-93) lost for the 21st time in 24 games, the Pirates' worst stretch since they lost 24 of 28 from July 13-Aug. 15, 1985.

ROCKIES 11, PADRES 10: At Denver, Brad Hawpe homered for the first time since Aug. 29, Clint Barmes added an inside-the-park homer and Colorado beat San Diego despite a rare rough outing from lefty Jorge De La Rosa and a four-run, ninth-inning rally by the Padres.

DIAMONDBACKS 10, GIANTS 8: At Phoenix, Miguel Montero had three hits and Arizona scored nine runs in the second and third innings to drive Matt Cain out of the game, dampening San Francisco's NL wild card chances. Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds struck out three times to break his own MLB record for strikeouts in a season with 206.