By The Associated Press

MIAMI – Josh Beckett pitched seven innings and had an RBI single to help Florida defeat San Diego 2-0, the Marlins’ second straight shutout over the Padres.

Beckett (12-6) allowed four hits, two walks and struck out six in winning his fourth straight decision.

Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 26th save. The shutout tied Florida’s team record of 14 set last year.

Reds 4, Giants 2

CINCINNATI – Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 530th career home run and Felipe Lopez also connected as the Cincinnati Reds avoided a sweep with a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Ramon Ortiz pitched a season-high 7 2-3 innings in helping prevent the Giants’ first four-game sweep in Cincinnati since May 1983.

Pirates 5, Mets 0

NEW YORK – Rookie Zach Duke of the Pittsburgh Pirates won his sixth straight decision, limiting the New York Mets to two hits in seven innings of a 5-0 victory.

Pitching with the poise of a veteran, the 22-year-old left-hander allowed just four baserunners. He struck out five and walked one.

Brewers 5, Astros 2

HOUSTON – The Milwaukee Brewers got to Roger Clemens for four runs in the seventh inning to rally for a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros. Damian Miller’s bases-loaded, two-run double put the Brewers ahead and highlighted the seventh inning as Milwaukee won its third straight and fourth in the last five games.

Dodgers 7, Braves 4

ATLANTA – It’s too early to give the NL East to the Atlanta Braves – or even to count out Los Angeles in the NL West.

Jeff Weaver won his fourth straight decision and Milton Bradley hit a three-run homer as the Dodgers tightened the races in both divisions by beating the Braves 7-4.

Phillies 2, Nationals 1,

Nationals 5, Phillies 4

PHILADELPHIA – Carlos Baerga’s go-ahead single in the eighth inning lifted the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory and a split of a day-night doubleheader with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the opener, Vicente Padilla kept up his recent run of outstanding starts and Bobby Abreu delivered a key two-RBI double in Philadelphia’s 2-1 win.

Diamondbacks 9, Cardinals 2

ST. LOUIS – Claudio Vargas worked six solid innings and Luis Gonzalez homered twice, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-2 to avoid a three-game sweep.

Cardinals pitcher Jason Marquis had an infield hit and an RBI double his first two at-bats, giving him six straight hits, before flying out in the seventh.

American League

Indians 9, Rangers 4

CLEVELAND – Jake Westbrook won for the fifth time in six starts and the Cleveland Indians moved closer in the AL wild-card race, beating the Texas Rangers 9-4.

Jhonny Peralta had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Indians pulled within 21/2 games of idle Oakland. Coco Crisp and Travis Hafner each drove in two runs.

Twins 7, Mariners 3

MINNEAPOLIS – Matthew LeCroy hit his third homer in two games, leading Minnesota to its fifth straight victory.

Justin Morneau had two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the third, and Shannon Stewart had his second four-hit game of the season in Minnesota’s seventh win in eight games.