Washington Wins Fifth in a Row

Eight starters produced at least one hit and four players drove in runs, and the host Washington Nationals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-3, Sunday to complete a series sweep and extend their winning streak to five games.

“We have to chip away and do the little things to get a run in,” Manager Frank Robinson said. “Right now we’re doing a lot of things right.”

The Nationals sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh inning and scored six runs without the benefit of a home run.

“It’s a great team ‘W,’ ” Jose Vidro said. “Everybody put a little something there.”

Vidro had two hits in the seventh inning, including a two-run single, and drove in Washington’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

T.J. Tucker (1-0) got the win by facing only one batter -- he got Troy Glaus to fly out, ending the seventh.

The Nationals drew 116,002 for their first three home games -- or more than one-seventh of what they drew as the Montreal Expos in 81 home games at Montreal and Puerto Rico last season.

Cincinnati 6, Houston 5 -- Wily Mo Pena hit a three-run homer into the upper deck and a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning to lead the Reds at Cincinnati.

Pena’s fourth-inning home run against Brandon Duckworth landed in the upper deck in left-center field, an estimated 498 feet from home plate.

It was the second-longest homer in Great American Ball Park’s three seasons.

Chicago 4, Pittsburgh 2 -- Derrek Lee hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the top of the eighth inning and drove in three runs, and the Cubs took advantage of the first effective start this season by 300-game winner Greg Maddux, who did not get a decision.

Florida 5, New York 2 -- A.J. Burnett (2-1) pitched a four-hitter for his second consecutive complete game, and the Marlins took advantage of wildness by Tom Glavine (0-2) at New York to end the Mets’ six-game winning streak.

St. Louis 3, Milwaukee 2 -- Scott Rolen had three hits and three runs batted in, including a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning, to help the Cardinals sweep the Brewers at Milwaukee for the first time since Sept. 9-11, 2002.

San Francisco 8, Colorado 6 -- Michael Tucker hit his second grand slam against the Rockies this season and had a run-scoring double to finish with five RBIs and help the Giants rally at Denver.

Philadelphia 2, Atlanta 1 -- Placido Polanco’s bases-loaded single capped the Phillies’ two-run rally in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Raul Mondesi had a sacrifice fly in the top half of the inning.