D-backs win record 13th straight, sweep Dodgers

(TSX / STATS) -- LOS ANGELES -- The Arizona Diamondbacks are winning games in a variety of fashions, from offensive windfalls to stingy pitching, to blowouts and tight games. And all throughout their franchise-best, 13-game winning streak, the defense has been rock solid.

Yet, manager Torey Lovullo sees something he likes even more in his club that swept the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second time in a week with a 3-1 victory Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

"It's the fundamental part of the game that really excites me," Lovullo said after his club's latest victory featured steady pitching from Taijuan Walker and a two-run, game-winning rally in the seventh inning. "We're executing when we're supposed to. We're studying and paying attention and performing the way that I had envisioned."

Walker (9-7) gave up just one run over six innings and delivered some offense, too, with an early RBI double.

Adam Rosales had a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning to give Arizona (82-58) the lead for good against reliever Luis Avilan (2-2). Daniel Descalso added the final run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

But Lovullo saw other reasons to be excited, like A.J. Pollock's steal of second base in the second inning that allowed him to score on Walker's hit. And there was catcher Chris Iannetta throwing out Yasiel Puig, who was trying to steal in the fourth inning. Walker followed by retiring the final eight batters he faced.

"Some of the little things we do have helped us to win the moment," Lovullo said. "We get 90 feet (on the Pollock steal), and it puts a guy in scoring position. We have been doing that a lot lately, and those are the types of games I enjoy more than the blowouts.

"The blowouts are great -- I'll take 'em any time -- but when you are executing and winning the types of games we are winning on the road, close games, it speaks to the character of the team."

With a 10 1/2-game lead in the National League West, the Dodgers remain in a comfortable position. But they have also have lost 10 1/2 games in the standings since leading the Diamondbacks by 21 games on Aug. 25. The Wednesday defeat was their season-high sixth consecutive, and they have now lost 11 of their past 12 contests.

Los Angeles had not been swept in a series all season before losing all three games at Arizona last week, then dropping all three to the Diamondbacks at home this week.

"We're going to win the division, I can assure you of that," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "What needs to change? Just continue to stay together and to compete. There is no one who is going to feel sorry for you. You get hit in the mouth, you've got to fight back. I think there is a lot of fight left in our guys."

About the only thing the Diamondbacks have lost of late is their historic streak of innings when they have not trailed.

The Diamondbacks' run of 98 innings without trailing came to an end early Wednesday. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a fielder's choice groundout by Cody Bellinger that scored Chris Taylor from third base.

The streak of 98 innings tied a stretch by the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers for the third longest in the live-ball era (since 1920), according to STATS. The top two marks are held by the 2002 Oakland Athletics (102 innings) and the 1942 New York Yankees (101 innings).

The early run to end the streak might have come off Walker, but the big Diamondbacks right-hander was anything but flustered about it.

"It's huge to be able to go out there and contribute and go out there and get wins," Walker said. "We struggled for a little bit, but I think after the Minnesota series (Aug. 18-20), we locked it back in and now everybody is starting to get hot and play well right now."

The Dodgers (92-47) got the kind of start they were looking for from right-hander Kenta Maeda, who tied a season high with eight strikeouts in five innings. He was coming off a defeat at Arizona last week in which he gave up a career-high seven earned runs in three innings.

On Wednesday, Maeda allowed just four hits and one walk, yielding only an unearned run that scored on a second-inning double by Walker.

NOTES: Dodgers 3B Justin Turner was ejected in sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes. He likely will get the day off Thursday as INF Logan Forsythe starts against the Colorado Rockies, according to manager Dave Roberts. ... The Dodgers called up RHP Walker Buehler, a top prospect who has appeared at the Class A, Double-A and Triple-A levels this season. They added him to the major league bullpen. ... Dodgers CF Joc Pederson, who was sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City last month after a 2-for-41 dry spell, went 1-for-2 in his return Wednesday after being recalled Tuesday. ... Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt, who was cleared of any structural damage in his right elbow this week, continued to be held out of action, but he could return this weekend vs. San Diego. ... Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin, who pitches at home against the Padres on Friday, is 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA over his past five starts.

Panik helps Giants finally win at Coors Field

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- His bat was feeling a little heavy, so Joe Panik decided to choke up when the San Francisco Giants began a series at Coors Field on Monday.

The second baseman was looking for a pick-me-up in September. He ended up making franchise history Wednesday night for the Giants, who finally won a game at Coors Field when they walloped the Colorado Rockies 11-3.

Panik tied a career high with five hits Wednesday and went 12-for-15 to set a franchise record for the most hits in a three-game series. He surpassed Mike Benjamin, who had 11 hits in a 1995 series at the Chicago Cubs, and Hall of Famers Freddie Lindstrom, who had 11 hits in a three-game series in June 1928, and Bill Terry, who had 11 hits in a three-game series in June 1929.

"I was lucky and fortunate to have played (with) and managed Tony Gwynn," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He had some great series, but I don't recall him having a series like this. That's pretty amazing what Joe did."

Panik is the fourth major-leaguer to have 12 hits in a three-game series -- the first since Jerry Remy for the Boston Red Sox in 1981. No major league player has ever had 13 hits in a three-game series.

"Everything seems to go slow and it's allowing me to see the ball real well," Panik said. "It's a good feeling to be in. Every time up there, I feel I can be patient and take a strike, be aggressive and whack at the first pitch. I feel like I'm in control of the at-bat right now."

San Francisco's Gorkys Hernandez had three RBIs, and Panik drove in two runs. Austin Slater singled home two runs in the first, and Nick Hundley hit a 450-foot, two-run homer in the eighth.

It took exactly one year, but the Giants avoided more embarrassment in what has been a forgettable season. The Giants were 0-9 at Coors Field this season and had dropped 10 straight games in Denver since last winning there Sept. 6, 2016.

"It's good not to get skunked here," Bochy said. "I guess if you're going to win one, the last one is the way to go."

The Rockies, who concluded a 3-6 homestand, are two games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals and 2 1/2 games up on the Milwaukee Brewers in the race for the second National League wild card.

The Rockies begin a challenging eight-game trip Thursday against the top teams in the NL West -- four games at Dodger Stadium and four at Arizona.

"It's important for us to play the way we have the whole year," Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "Not go out and be a hero, go out and play like a team."

Johnny Cueto (7-7) limited the Rockies to five hits and one run in five innings but needed 98 pitches to get that far. Cueto is 9-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 15 career starts against the Rockies and 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA in eight starts at Coors Field.

He was making his second start after missing 45 games with blister issues and a flexor tendon strain.

"He worked hard," Bochy said. "He logged some pitches. We got him where we thought we'd get him, around 90 (pitches) or in that area. It happened to be five innings. To be honest, I was hoping it might be six or seven. But good job, good command. Held them to one run. That's a good job in this ballpark."

Charlie Blackmon hit his 34th homer, in the seventh, after Giants pinch hitter Mac Williamson hit a homer in the top of the inning off Jeff Hoffman, who gave up two runs in the sixth on Panik's double and Brandon Crawford's bloop single.

Hoffman relieved starter Kyle Freeland (11-10), who allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Freeland walked two and struck out four. It was the shortest start of his career, excluding Aug. 4 when a first-inning injury forced him out of the game.

But the story was Panik, who went 5-for-6. He raised his average 18 points in the series to .285.

"At this time of the year, you're always going up two (points), down two," Panik said. "To make that type of move, it's pretty incredible."

NOTES: Giants C Buster Posey, who was hit on the fourth finger of his right hand with a foul tip Tuesday, didn't play. The Giants hope he can play first base or designated hitter on Friday at the Chicago White Sox. ... Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu extended his season-high hitting streak to 14 games. ... 3B Pablo Sandoval took a third strike pinch-hitting in the sixth and is 0-for-38, the longest hitless streak by a Giants position player since the franchise moved to San Francisco in 1958. ... Colorado RF Carlos Gonzalez batted third for the first time since June 11. He went 2-for-2 with a walk. ... RHP Jeff Hoffman will likely make his first start for the Rockies since Aug. 17 on Sunday at the Los Angeles Dodgers when the fifth starter's turn arises. He gave up three runs in two innings Wednesday. ... Rockies OF Raimel Tapia will be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.

Nationals complete sweep of Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Ryan Zimmerman just kept running.

The Washington Nationals first baseman scored from first on a first-inning Howie Kendrick double. And after crossing home plate, Zimmerman just kept sprinting, into the dugout tunnel at Marlins Park.

That's fitting for the Nationals, who haven't stopped running past the competition all season.

On Wednesday night, Zimmerman also slugged his 31st homer and Gio Gonzalez won his 14th game as Washington swept the Miami Marlins with a 8-1 win.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker saw Zimmerman sprint into the dugout and said he was just glad he didn't get hurt. And Zimmerman acknowledged it wasn't his brightest idea ever.

"I could've stopped," Zimmerman said. "I kept going ... might as well do something stupid."

If so, that was the only dumb thing Zimmerman did on a night in which he went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

The first-place Nationals (85-54) increased their division lead over the second-place Marlins (67-72) to 18 games. The Nationals have won eight straight games in their series against Miami.

Against all competition, Miami has lost four games in a row and nine of its past 10. And the only run Miami scored on Wednesday came on an RBI groundout by Miguel Rojas in the bottom of the ninth.

"It's been awhile now," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of his team's slump. "It's been like 10 days of this. I wish I had an answer for it, but I honestly don't."

Gonzalez (14-6, 2.50 ERA) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks while pitching out of several jams. Gonzalez leads the majors in batting average allowed with runners in scoring position.

"He's like Houdini out there," Baker said.

A native of Miami Dade County, Gonzalez is 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA against the Marlins this year. For his career against the Marlins, he is 10-3 with a 1.85 ERA.

Gonzalez is now 81-0, with 21 no-decisions, when he gets four or more runs in support.

Unlike previous times when Gonzalez has pitched in Miami, his family was not at Marlins Park for this game. In fact, there were few fans of anyone at the game.

With Hurricane Irma bearing down on Miami and due to arrive by this weekend, there were less than 800 fans at Marlins Park at first pitch.

"Yes, you want fans here," Gonzalez said. "But at the same time, we prefer they be cautious, and safe and prepare for what's coming."

Miami rookie Dillon Peters (0-1), who pitched seven scoreless innings against the last-place Philadelphia Phillies last week in his major-league debut, was not as good against the first-place Nationals. He lasted just five innings and allowed six hits, two walks and three runs. He struck out six.

"They were coming ready to swing at the fastball," Peters said of Washington, "and I left a lot over the plate."

Washington opened the scoring with two runs in the first. Trea Turner hit a leadoff single, advanced on an Anthony Rendon walk and scored on Zimmerman's single. The Nationals made it 2-0 on Kendrick's RBI double.

Zimmerman led off the fourth with a homer to center to give Washington a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Miami used two walks and a single to load the bases with no outs. But J.T. Realmuto lined out to shortstop, and Gonzalez struck out Tyler Moore and rookie Brian Anderson to end the threat. Anderson, looking for an RBI walk, was called out looking at a 3-2 fastball down the middle.

Miami threatened again the fifth, getting runners on first and second. But Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 53 homers, bounced into an inning-ending double play.

After loading the bases with no outs, Washington doubled its lead to 6-0 in the sixth. The RBI sent to Jayson Werth (sacrifice fly), Jose Lobaton (walk) and Adam Lind (groundout).

Taylor, who like Gonzalez is from south Florida, made it 7-0 with his 14th homer, a solo shot in the eighth, and Rendon had an RBI single in the ninth.

"It's been hectic trying to get everything situated for myself and my family," Taylor said of the impending arrival of Irma. "But I'm kind of glad I'm here, close to home. It gives me a chance to help out before I leave."

NOTES: Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki got his 25th pinch hit, three short of John Vander Wal's major-league season record set in 1995. ... In terms of multi-hit games this year, the Marlins have four of the top 11 batters in the National League: LF Marcell Ozuna (second), 2B Dee Gordon (fourth), CF Christian Yelich (sixth) and RF Giancarlo Stanton (11th). ... Washington entered with three of the top five starters in the majors in terms of ERA: Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Stasburg. ... Miami opens a four-game series at the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. ... Washington returns home Thursday to open a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Mets top Phillies in rain-shortened game

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- Nothing this season has gone according to plan for the New York Mets. Finally, on Wednesday night, they benefited from the unexpected.

Travis d'Arnaud hit a two-run homer during a three-run first inning, and Robert Gsellman, pitching hours after being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, was credited with his first complete game as the Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 in a game shortened to 5 1/2 innings by rain at Citi Field.

Such a result was hard to conceive earlier in the night for Mets manager Terry Collins, who got a foreboding weather forecast when he visited the umpires just before first pitch.

"They said at home plate that the rain was coming, they thought, about 8:30," Collins said. "We have not played the fastest games, so I thought we were going to have a tough time getting five in."

Instead, Gsellman rewarded the Mets for staking him to the early lead by offering up the kind of efficiency New York expected but rarely received from him or the rest of the ballyhooed rotation.

New York's starting staff, which consists entirely of 20-somethings, entered the season with high expectations, but injuries and ineffectiveness have befallen every projected starter except ace Jacob deGrom. Mets starters have a 5.17 ERA, which would be the second worst in franchise history behind the expansion 1962 team, whose rotation posted a 5.18 ERA for a 120-loss club.

Gsellman, who helped the Mets reach the National League wild-card game last season by going 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA in eight games (seven starts), has fit right in this year by going 6-6 with a 5.34 ERA, spending a month on the disabled list with a hamstring injury and enduring two demotions to Las Vegas.

"Every time you get sent down, it's very eye-opening," Gsellman said. "You learn a lot and you just come back a little hungrier."

Gsellman carried a three-hit shutout into the sixth, when an inning-opening error by third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera helped create the Phillies' three-run rally. The 24-year-old right-hander, who was charged with three runs (two earned), allowed five hits and one walk while striking out four.

Most impressive of all, Gsellman threw a first-pitch strike to the first 13 batters he faced Wednesday and 19 out of 24 overall. He allowed hits on the first two pitches of the game but wriggled out of the jam and retired 13 of 14 batters between the first and fifth.

"When I talked to him this afternoon about pitching today, he said, 'I was hoping I was going to get the chance,'" Collins said, "I think he has come back with a little different frame of mind, that I've got to work myself into the rotation somehow."

Cabrera had three hits, including an RBI single immediately before d'Arnaud's homer in the first for the Mets (60-79), who won the three-game series for their first series victory since taking two of three from the Phillies Aug. 11-13. Gsellman added an RBI single in the second, and Brandon Nimmo lofted sacrifice flies in the third and fifth.

Cesar Hernandez had three hits for the Phillies, including an RBI double in the sixth. Nick Williams hit a one-out, two-run homer later in the inning for Philadelphia, whose comeback hopes were squelched when the teams were pulled off the field at 9:03 p.m. EDT with one out in the bottom of the sixth and a heavy rain falling.

"It's a shame we got banged, because we started mounting a comeback," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "But it is what it is."

The game was officially called after a 58-minute delay.

"I know early this morning, obviously, the percentages were a little different," d'Arnaud said, referring to the weather forecast. "Gsellman did a great job of getting ahead of every single hitter and working really fast, and we were able to get this game in."

Phillies right-hander Nick Pivetta (5-10) took the loss after allowing six runs on 10 hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out five.

"Threw strikes, but not quality strikes," Mackanin said of Pivetta. "Too many bad pitches."

NOTES: The rain-shortened game was the first for both teams since the Mets beat the Phillies 5-4 in seven innings on Sept. 21, 2013. ... Mets RHP Matt Harvey, who was scheduled to start on three days' rest Wednesday before being scratched late Tuesday night due to the weather forecast, will start the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. ... Mets OF Michael Conforto (left shoulder) underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn posterior capsule. He is expected to need six months to recover. ... The Phillies traded RHP Juan Nicasio to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for minor league INF Eliezer Alvarez. ... Phillies CF Odubel Herrera, who has a 19-game hitting streak, did not play.

Cubs beat Pirates 1-0 on Avila's triple in ninth

(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- It wasn't a trick question. Just an inquiry about an unusual situation.

So, Alex Avila, how many broken-bat triples have you had in your career?

"Not many," Avila said, shaking his head. "I haven't broken many bats (at all), either."

Avila hit just such a liner down the right-field line in the ninth inning Wednesday night. It drove in the only run to break up a pitchers' duel as well as Chicago's three-game losing streak, lifting the Cubs to a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Anthony Rizzo drew a one-out walk against Pittsburgh reliever Daniel Hudson (2-6) in the ninth. Pinch-runner Leonys Martin stole second, and after Ian Happ struck out, Avila drove in the winner.

Chicago (76-63) has a chance to split the four-game series Thursday. The Pirates (67-73) saw their four-game win streak end.

Pedro Strop (4-4) pitched the eighth inning for the win. Wade Davis tossed the ninth for his 29th save.

Pitching was the story for most of the game as starters Gerrit Cole and Jose Quintana matched shutout innings.

Cole, the Pittsburgh starter, in particular, was stellar. He pitched eight scoreless innings, giving up two hits -- an infield single by Javier Baez in the second and a broken-bat single to left by Jon Jay in the eighth. He struck out eight and walked four, throwing 108 pitches.

"Cole pretty much had no-hit stuff," said Avila, who struck out two of the three times he face Cole. "The way he was locating with 97 (mph on his fastball), slider, curveball, he was excellent. You just had a feeling that we weren't going to have many opportunities against him. If he made a mistake, we weren't able to capitalize on it.

"He had unbelievable stuff. Just try to outlast him and keep the game where it was until we got into their bullpen and see if we got an opportunity there."

It was a strong bounce-back effort from Cole's previous start, when he gave up five earned runs in six innings against the Cincinnati Reds, but he still hasn't won at PNC Park since June 13.

"I was able to get the pitch count back down in the middle innings," Cole said. "They needed to try to put something together and we just kept making good pitches early in the count and got rewarded for it."

Quintana, who won three of his previous four starts, threw six scoreless innings. He allowed six hits and one walk with six strikeouts. He threw 105 pitches.

"I felt pretty good," Quintana said. "It was a battle, a really good game, both starters. My mind was, 'Keep the game close.'"

The Cubs had runners on first and second in each of the first two innings. After back-to-back one-out walks in the first, Cole got Rizzo to ground into a double play.

The Cubs got a two-out walk and Baez's infield single in the second before Cole struck out Quintana.

Cole, particularly in the first, showed some frustration with the calls from plate umpire Paul Nauert.

"It wasn't like he wasn't efficient in the first," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "There was some calls that could have gone our way and could have shortened that inning up. To make the pitch to get out of that inning was pretty impressive, as well, and then he just stayed on a roll."

Quintana's strikeout was the start of Cole's string of setting down 14 Cubs in a row, until Happ drew a one-out walk in the seventh. Happ advanced to second on a grounder but was stranded.

Pittsburgh got runners to first and second with two outs in the fourth, but Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made a leaping snag of a liner by Jordy Mercer to end the inning.

"You have to pitch better than good pitching to win. We did," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "That's exactly what happened.

"We had a real (good) level of mental energy; it's just that their pitcher was that good."

NOTES: Pittsburgh RF Gregory Polanco and INF/OF Adam Frazier, both on the disabled list with hamstring injuries, ran the bases. ... Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli (left quadriceps) has hit a plateau in his rehab. ... Pittsburgh RHP George Kontos (groin) threw a simulated game Tuesday with no problems afterward or Wednesday. ... Pittsburgh RHP Ivan Nova is expected to start Sunday at St. Louis after his spot was skipped Tuesday so he could regroup. ... Chicago C Willson Contreras (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with high Class-A Myrtle Beach. ... Cubs 2B Ben Zobrist was given the night off from the starting lineup in favor of Tommy La Stella, who went 0-for-3. ... Chicago hired former major leaguer Will Venable as a special assistant to the president and general manager.

Castillo strikes out career-high 10 as Reds rout Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds knew they were getting a quality pitcher when they acquired right-hander Luis Castillo in a trade with the Miami Marlins in January. But the 24-year-old has exceeded most expectations and now appears penciled into the Reds' rotation for 2018.

On Wednesday afternoon, Castillo allowed one run with a career-high 10 strikeouts in his final start of the season, lifting Cincinnati to a 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

"We knew what we were getting stuff-wise," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Castillo. "He's a tough kid. Hard worker. Tremendous confidence. He's the real deal."

Castillo (3-7) retired 22 of the last 24 batters he faced during his eight-inning stint. He threw 111 pitches on Wednesday, his second-most this season.

"After the first inning, he eliminated their ability to get the barrel on the ball," Price said. "He was outstanding. How many guys can come up from Double-A and do what he's done?"

Among his seven losses, Castillo (3-7) twice was the victim of blown saves and absorbed a 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Price confirmed earlier in the week that this was Castillo's final start. He finished with 169 1/3 innings between Double-A and the majors this season. Castillo had 131 2/3 innings in the minors last year.

"I feel really happy that I had a great year," Castillo said through a translator. "I'm going to take this offseason, go back to the Dominican, and work hard."

Zack Cozart and Jose Peraza each homered for the Reds (61-79), who swept the Brewers for the first time since May 10-12, 2013, at Great American Ball Park.

"They outplayed us," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "We didn't have a good series. Today, we ran into a good pitching performance. We didn't get anything going against their starting pitching."

Neil Walker hit a solo home run for Milwaukee (72-68), which has lost four of its past five games and trails the first-place Chicago Cubs by four games in the National League Central standings.

The Cubs played at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. Milwaukee begins a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday.

Perhaps, Milwaukee was looking ahead?

"We had good energy every day before the games," Counsell said. "It's something I was aware of. We've struggled holding this team down offensively. We knew going in that they could score some runs."

Milwaukee collected only four hits off Castillo -- two in the first inning.

Castillo struck out three batters in the first but also allowed Walker's 13th home run of the season to open the scoring.

It was the first and only lead for the Brewers in the series -- and that was all the offense Milwaukee could muster against Castillo.

"They're a really good team," Castillo said. "I just wanted to compete and make my pitches. I had really good command."

Brewers starter Matt Garza (6-9) allowed five earned runs on six hits over 2 2/3 innings.

The Reds collected three consecutive singles in the third, including an RBI hit by Adam Duvall to tie the score at 1.

A fourth straight hit loaded the bases with one out and Garza walked Scott Schebler to force in the go-ahead run.

"Matt just had some bad luck," Counsell said. "I don't think he had too many pitches he wished he had back -- maybe the walk to Schebler. They had some jam shots and the double play we couldn't turn. I thought he pitched OK."

Walker couldn't handle Hernan Perez's throw to complete a potential inning-ending double play on Peraza's grounder, allowing two more runners raced home giving the Reds a 4-1 lead.

Cozart collected his 18th home run, a solo shot off Jeremy Jeffress in the seventh inning. Peraza homered off Corey Knebel in the eighth.

"It sucks, but we still have three weeks left," Garza said. "We can turn it around and get back in this thing. We've got the off day tomorrow to regroup and get right back at it."

NOTES: Reds CF Billy Hamilton left the game in the third inning with a fractured left thumb, which isn't necessarily season-ending. ... Reds recalled RHP Luke Farrell from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Farrell is the son of Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell. ... Reds RHP Sal Romano will start Sunday against the New York Mets at Citi Field. His turn in the rotation was pushed back due to a cut on his right index finger. ... Brewers RHP Taylor Williams made his major league debut in the eighth inning, retiring both batters he faced.

Big inning helps Braves salvage DH split with Rangers

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- No one was happier to see that five-run second inning go up on the Atlanta scoreboard than Braves' ace Julio Teheran.

The right-hander, who was only 2-9 at home, was staked to the early lead and made it stand up. Teheran, along with four Atlanta relievers, combined for a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers in the nightcap of a doubleheader at SunTrust Park.

"We had the offense early in the game," Teheran said. "Always it's good to have that offense."

Texas won the first game Wednesday 12-8.

Freddie Freeman's two-run double highlighted the five-run second inning in the second game. Freeman was 1-for-4 in that game and finished 3-for-7 for the doubleheader as the Braves salvaged one game of the three-game interleague series.

Teheran (10-11) pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits and a season-high five walks. He struck out three.

"He was working really hard to get through that inning," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "It's good to see him never give in."

Teheran said, "I know I was facing a really good team. Obviously, I don't want to give in or make a mistake. I think overall I was good. I had to battle. That's part of the game."

The Rangers closed the gap to 5-4 in the sixth when Will Middlebrooks led off with a pinch-hit triple off reliever A.J. Minter and scored on Cole Hamels' grounder to second base. Middlebrooks became the first player in major league history to record a pinch-hit triple in both games of a doubleheader.

"Our guys continued to stay engaged, continued to battle," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "We just came up short. It's a challenge to sweep a doubleheader."

Texas was trying to sweep a day-night doubleheader for the first time in nine tries.

Atlanta's Sam Freeman pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Jose Ramirez got two outs in the eighth for his 25th hold. Arodys Vizcaino allowed two hits in the ninth but retired Joey Gallo on a flyout to end the game and pick up his 10th save.

Hamels (9-3) pitched six innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. After allowing all five runs in the second inning, Hamels retired nine consecutive batters and gave up just one hit and one walk in his final four innings.

The Braves sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five times in the second inning. Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte both drove in a run with singles, Kurt Suzuki scored on a throwing error by Hamels, and Freeman launched a two-run double that almost left the park.

"It was a situation in the second inning where he kind of lost a little bit of command with the secondary stuff," Banister said. "He just couldn't find the range with the soft stuff."

Hamels said, "When I get two strikes for some reason I can't locate a pitch in a better area where I can at least get a punchout or a weak groundball or weak flyball. Get behind a guy and come all the way back and know what pitch will get the job done and I can't execute the pitch. That's the very frustrating part."

The Rangers cut the deficit to 5-2 in the third on Nomar Mazara's two-run homer, his 18th.

Texas added a run in the fifth when Carlos Gomez doubled to dead center field over the head of Inciarte, allowing Mazara to beat the relay to the plate.

In the first game of the twinbill, Elvis Andrus went 4-for-5 and hit his 20th home run to spark a team-best nine extra-base hits. Mike Napoli clubbed his 29th homer. Austin Bibens-Dirxx (5-2) earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

Atlanta rookie Luiz Gohara (0-1) lasted four innings and allowed six runs in his major league debut. Inciarte went 4-for-5 and hit his 11th homer, and Matt Kemp hit his 17th home run.

Both teams have completed interleague play. The Rangers finished 15-5 against the National League. The Braves finished 9-11 against the American League.

NOTES: Texas C Robinson Chirinos doubled in his first at-bat of the second game and extended his on-base streak to 22 games. ... Atlanta C Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch for the 11th time, second on the club behind fellow C Tyler Flowers with 18. Texas CF Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch for the 19th time, matching his career high. ... Texas RF Nomar Mazara left the second game in the sixth inning with tightness in his left quad. Mazara seemed to struggle while scoring on a double in the fifth inning. ... Texas LF Delino DeShields was hitless in the nightcap and saw his streak of reaching base in consecutive games end at 19. ... Atlanta begins a four-game series with Miami on Thursday. ... Texas returns home to start a three-game series with the New York Yankees on Friday.