Rally in ninth stuns Phillies

WASHINGTON — Ryan Zimmerman has now done it eight times, and it never gets old.

Watch the ball sail out of the park. Slap hands with the first base coach. Slap hands with the third base coach. Toss the helmet and jump into the pile of teammates waiting at home plate.

For the eighth time in his seven-year big league career, the Washington Nationals third baseman ended the game with a home run. This time, it was a grand slam, hit with a full count and two outs in the bottom of the ninth against one of the best closers in the league.

Zimmerman's line drive over the left field wall against Ryan Madson capped a six-run ninth Friday night, giving the Nationals an 8-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

"It's the ultimate thing," said Zimmerman, who also got a Gatorade shower and whipped cream in the face, "because when you come around third, your teammates are waiting there."

Washington was trailing 4-2 entering the ninth, but they sent eight men to the plate against Madson (3-2), who had previously blown only one save this season and hadn't allowed six runs in a game since becoming exclusively a relief pitcher in 2007.

Zimmerman was 8-for-22 in his career with no homers and four RBIs against the Phillies' formidable closer, including 0-for-3 this year.

That RBI total doubled in a hurry. The slam was Zimmerman's third in his career, and the second one to end a game.

"Just trying to get it out of the infield," Zimmerman said. "I guess you could say he's dominated me throughout the whole time. It's one of those at-bats where I don't know really how it happened, but I guess it happened.

"The pressure's on him, man. It's not on me. I'm, like, 0-for-whatever against him — I'm supposed to get out," he added.

Dodgers 8, Rockies 2

In Denver, Hiroki Kuroda pitched six strong innings for his first career win against Colorado, and Rod Barajas and Tony Gwynn hit home runs for Los Angeles.

Kuroda (9-14) had entered 0-5 with a 5.81 ERA in nine previous starts against the Rockies in his four-year major league career. He allowed four hits and two runs with five strikeouts and three walks.

Padres 4, Marlins 3

In San Diego, Kyle Blanks hit a two-run homer and made a great catch in left to lift the Padres.

Brewers 6, Mets 1

In New York, Prince Fielder hit two RBI singles and streaking Milwaukee waited out a rain delay of nearly three hours before beating the Mets.

Shaun Marcum pitched the Brewers to their 20th win in 23 games, giving them a season-high 7½-game lead in the NL Central.

Braves 4, Diamondbacks 2

In Atlanta, Derek Lowe combined with four relievers on a six-hitter and the Braves hit three homers in the matchup of NL playoff contenders.

Astros 6, Giants 0

In Houston, Wandy Rodriguez pitched eight innings and had a two-run single to lead the Astros to a win over San Francisco.

The Giants have lost 15 of their last 21 games.

Cubs 5, Cardinals 4 (10)

In Chicago, Tyler Colvin's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th off Octavio Dotel lifted the Cubs to the victory.

Geovany Soto led off the inning with a single off Dotel (0-2), advanced to second on Marlon Byrd's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Colvin's hit to center field just hours after Chicago fired general manager Jim Hendry.

Reds 11, Pirates 8

In Pittsburgh, Joey Votto hit his 21st homer of the season and later scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth to lead Cincinnati.

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