ATLANTA -Ryan Howard homered twice, Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run shot, and the Philadelphia Phillies overcame a shortened start by rookie J A Happ to end Atlantas seven-game winning streak with a 9-4 victory Friday night.
Philadelphia, which has won six straight, snapped the Braves longest stretch of consecutive victories since July 2006, dropping Atlanta 8 1/2 games back in the National League East and hurting their fading wild-card chances.
Howards 39th and 40th homers came off Tim Hudson (1-1), who gave up six hits, three runs and one walk with three strikeouts in seven innings.
Rollins 19th homer and Ben Franciscos fifth homer, a solo shot, accounted for Philadelphias four-run ninth against Manny Acosta.
Kyle Kendrick (2-1) won his second consecutive appearance with four scoreless innings.
Marlins 4, Reds 3
CINCINNATI – John Bakers RBI single highlighted Floridas four-run rally in the ninth inning on Friday night, and the Marlins snapped their nine-game losing streak in Cincinnati with a victory over a Reds team that had been previously perfect at holding such leads.
The Reds were 57-0 when leading after eight innings, the only NL team left with a perfect mark. Manager Dusty Baker decided to try to protect a 2-0 lead by having closer Francisco Cordero (2-6) pitch for the fifth day in a row. He soon regretted the choice.
Brendan Donnelly (3-0) got the win despite giving up Joey Vottos RBI single in the eighth. Leo Nunez gave up a solo homer by Juan Francisco in the ninth, but got his 23rd save in 29 chances.
Nationals 6, Mets 5
NEW YORK – Ryan Zimmerman hit his 30th homer, Josh Bard drove in three runs and the Nationals held off the free-falling Mets.
New York rallied for three runs in a wild ninth inning and had runners at second and third when Jeff Francoeur hit a comebacker that knocked Mike MacDougals glove off his hand. With his mitt on the ground in front of him, the reliever picked up the ball barehanded and lobbed a shaky throw to first for the final out.
Francoeur, who had three hits and a stolen base, tossed down his helmet in frustration.
New York (63-85) dropped 22 games below .500 for the first time since finishing 66-95 in 2003.
Pirates 5, Padres 1
PITTSBURGH – Charlie Morton allowed one run in seven innings, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates win for only the third time in their past 20 games, over the Padres.
Morton (4-8) had lost six of his past seven decisions and had a 7.13 ERA since the beginning of August but shook off a rough first inning Friday to allow only six hits and a walk to win for only the second time since July 18.
Lastings Milledge went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Garrett Jones was on base three times for last-place Pittsburgh, which entered the game on a three-game losing streak and having lost eight of nine.
