CHICAGO – Ryan Dempster bounced back from his worst start of the season, pitching seven sharp innings for the Chicago Cubs in a 7-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Milton Bradley had three hits and Reed Johnson homered for the Cubs, who have won four of five since losing a season-worst eight straight games. Mike Fontenot had two extra-base hits and two RBIs.

Dempster (4-3) allowed just three hits with one walk, striking out five. The Dodgers were shut out for the first time this year in their largest loss of the season.

The Dodgers, who own the best record in the majors, have dropped two straight after winning four in a row. Los Angeles has not lost more than two consecutive games all year.

Los Angeles starter Eric Stults (4-2) lasted three-plus innings, giving up four runs and six hits.

Marlins 7, Mets 3

NEW YORK – Jeremy Hermida homered and drove in four runs to help Josh Johnson improve to 6-0 in eight career starts against New York.

Jorge Cantu added two RBIs for the Marlins, who battered starter Tim Redding (0-2) in building a 7-1 lead by the fifth.

Johnson (4-1) allowed two runs in seven innings against a makeshift Mets lineup missing most of its big boppers. David Wright, Gary Sheffield and Luis Castillo were given the day off, and Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado and Ryan Church are still out with injuries.

Leo Nunez struck out Fernando Martinez with two runners on for his first major league save.

D-backs 3, Braves 2

PHOENIX – Eric Byrnes singled home Mark Reynolds in the 11th inning to give Arizona a victory over Atlanta.

Reynolds opened the 11th with a ground-rule double off Jeff Bennett (2-2) and moved to third on Miguel Montero’s sacrifice. With the infield playing in, Byrnes hit a dribbler up the middle.

Tony Pena (5-2) pitched two perfect innings for the win.

Javier Vazquez blanked the Diamondbacks through six innings but didn’t make it through the seventh, when pinch-hitter Chris Young tied it at 2 with an RBI single.

Phillies 9, Nationals 6

PHILADELPHIA – Ryan Howard hit his club-record eighth career grand slam and added a solo homer to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

Trailing 3-2 in the third, Howard connected on his slam to move past Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. Howard had given the Phillies their first run with a solo shot in the second inning.

He is now has four hits, including three homers, and nine RBIs against Martis.

Cole Hamels (3-2) gave up six runs and eight hits in six innings for the win. He struck out seven in his worst start this season since allowing seven against Colorado to open the season.

Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.

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