Thursday’s results

Cubs 4, Brewers 3: At Chicago, Ryan Braun hit a two-run double off Kerry Wood during Milwaukee’s three-run ninth inning and the Brewers rallied to beat the Cubs. Wood blew his third save in seven chances and wasted a fine performance by Carlos Zambrano, who pitched 61/3 innings and helped himself with his 13th career homer – tying the team record held by Ferguson Jenkins.

Dodgers 5, Marlins 3: At Miami, Matt Kemp drove in the tiebreaking run with a ninth-inning single and Los Angeles completed its second consecutive series sweep. The Dodgers have won six straight, their longest winning streak since taking seven in a row to close the 2006 season. The Marlins have lost three in a row for the first time this year.

Phillies 3, Padres 2: At Philadelphia, Ryan Howard hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning to lift the Phillies over San Diego. Tom Gordon (3-2) pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge retired the side in the ninth for his seventh save in as many chances. Lidge hasn’t allowed an earned run in 12 innings this season.

Nationals 3, Pirates 2: At Washington, Austin Kearns broke a tie with a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning, and the Nationals defeated Pittsburgh to run their winning streak to a season-high four games. After Cristian Guzman singled and Nick Johnson was hit by a pitch, Kearns drove an outside pitch to right off John Grabow (1-1) to score Guzman, who barely beat the throw from Xavier Nady. Luis Ayala (1-1) pitched the eighth to get the victory in a game played at a torrid pace – 2 hours, 4 minutes.

Associated Press