uspended could have floored the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead, they continue to take their swings, and another big one connected on Sunday night.
Eric Milton pitched into the sixth inning for his second straight win, and the Dodgers backed him with a five-run first on their way to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs that salvaged a four-game split and capped their winningest May in 47 years.
Matt Kemp hit his sixth homer and the Dodgers got 12 hits to finish a 5-2 trip with an easy win after being shut out for the first time the previous day.
“We feel pretty good,” Kemp said. “Everything is going the way we want to. We’re pitching good and scoring runs, doing whatever it takes to win ballgames.”
Milton (2-0) took a shutout into the sixth and left with one out after the Cubs scored twice. He allowed six hits while earning back-to-back wins after going nearly three years without one due to a left elbow injury.
Los Angeles went 20-9 in May, posting its highest win total for the month since going 21-7 in 1962.
Milton, a former All-Star who missed a year-and-a-half while recovering from Tommy John surgery, appears to be coming around and will remain in the rotation after left-hander Eric Stults went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained thumb on his pitching hand.
ount, thanks to a curve that set up his fastball and kept the Cubs off balance.
“I felt good in Colorado and felt even better tonight,” he said.
The Cubs had won four of five after dropping eight in a row, but the Dodgers pounded Sean Marshall (3-4) for eight hits and eight runs – seven earned- in 4 1-3 innings.
“I wish I could have gone out and had a good day today, but I had a little bit of trouble getting going,” Marshall said.
Phillies 4, Nationals 2
At Philadelphia, Jamie Moyer went six strong innings to win his 250th career game, and the Phillies won their third straight.
The 46-year-old Moyer is the 44th player to win 250 games, and only the 11th left-hander.
Moyer (4-5) struck out four and walked none in his first win since April 26.
Astros 2, Pirates 1
At Pittsburgh, Mike Hampton continued his mastery over the Pirates, allowing only one run in seven innings.
Hampton became only the second pitcher to win eight in a row against the Pirates since 1954. He improved to 12-3 lifetime against Pittsburgh and has won eight straight since May 9, 2000. Only the Braves’ Tom Glavine has had a streak that long against the Pirates in the past 55 years.
Chris Sampson retired the side in order in the eighth and LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth for his sixth save and first since May 14.
Padres 5, Rockies 2
major-league leading 20th home run, and Chad Gaudin struck out a season-high nine.
Brad Hawpe and Yorvit Torrealba had two hits each for Colorado, which lost for the first time under interim manager Jim Tracy, who replaced the fired Clint Hurdle on Friday.
Scott Hairston also homered and Heath Bell recorded his 15th save in 16 chances for the Padres.
Gaudin (2-3) struck out eight through the first four innings.
Brewers 5, Reds 2
At Milwaukee, Mike Cameron homered and Yovani Gallardo won his fifth game to help the Brewers to their first three-game sweep at Miller Park since July 3-5, 2006.
Gallardo had plenty of early run support when the Brewers touched Reds starter Micah Owings (3-4) for two runs in the first, one in the second and two more in the third.
Mets 3, Marlins 2
At New York, John Maine shut down Florida again before becoming the latest Mets player sidelined by sickness or injury.
David Wright made a diving grab to start a rally-killing double play, and the Mets completed a 5-1 homestand to finish 19-9 in May.
Bobby Parnell escaped an eighth-inning jam and Francisco Rodriguez struck out three in a hitless ninth for his 14th save in 14 chances.
Giants 5, Cardinals 3
5-1 homestand.
Merkin Valdez (2-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings with a 1-2-3 seventh for the win. Brian Wilson finished for his 12th save in 15 chances.
Albert Pujols doubled, singled twice and scored a run after hitting two home runs in Saturday night’s 6-2 victory. He was 7-for-11 in the series.
Adam Wainwright (5-3) took the loss.
Braves 9, Diamondbacks 3
At Phoenix, Chipper Jones homered and drove in four runs, and Garrett Anderson hit his first home run with the Braves.
Kris Medlen (1-2) allowed one run over six innings for his first career win. Medlen struck out eight and retired 14 of the first 16 batters he faced.
Reed Johnson and Yunel Escobar each had three doubles for the Braves, who won for the second time on their seven-game road trip.
The Braves wasted little time against Diamondbacks starter Max Scherzer (2-4), scoring two runs on the game’s first seven pitches.
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