NL roundup: Alvarez powers Pirates to win
8/24/2014MILWAUKEE — Pedro Alvarez homered twice to break out of a 5-for-34 slump, and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 10-2 on Saturday night.
Alvarez hit a three-run shot in the fourth inning and a solo drive in the fifth against starter Wily Peralta (15-8). Russell Martin also connected for a three-run homer off the right-hander, who held the Pirates hitless for 3 2/3 innings, but quickly fell apart and exited after five.
Pittsburgh starter Edinson Volquez (11-7) pitched out of trouble almost every inning to improve to 3-0 in five August starts. The right-hander allowed 11 hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, but Milwaukee only managed two runs off of him.
Each team had 12 hits, but Pittsburgh took advantage of its chances while Milwaukee squandered its opportunities.
NATIONALS 6, GIANTS 2: At Washington, Jordan Zimmermann pitched eight strong innings, Asdrubal Cabrera homered, and the Washington Nationals kept up their dominance of two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.
Jayson Werth added a pair of RBI singles and Denard Span had a triple and single for the NL East-leading Nationals, who resumed their winning ways one night after San Francisco ended their 10-game winning streak.
Zimmermann (9-5) got off to a shaky start when Angel Pagan led off with a double and Hunter Pence followed with a home run. Zimmermann quickly settled in and allowed seven hits overall, striking out eight without a walk.
Interleague
CUBS 7, ORIOLES 2: At Chicago, Chris Coghlan finally solved Bud Norris with a bases-loaded triple in a four-run second inning, leading the Cubs on a soggy day at Wrigley Field.
The game was delayed because of rain for more than three hours.
Justin Grimm (4-2) pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings after a long rain delay as the last-place Cubs won their second straight against the AL East leaders. Logan Watkins had two hits and two RBIs, and touted rookie Javier Baez hit his seventh homer in the seventh.