LaRoche's home run lifts Nationals in 11th

National League

Nationals 5, Diamondbacks 4

WASHINGTON -- Adam LaRoche hit a game-winning solo home run with two outs in the 11th inning to help the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 Monday for their seventh consecutive victory.

It was the third walk-off victory in as many days for NL-East leading Washington.

LaRoche sent a 3-1 pitch from Will Harris (0-3) off the wall in the back of the Nationals bullpen and was mobbed by his teammates at home plate.

Winning pitcher Craig Stammen (3-4) pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the top of the inning.

Arizona tied it 4-4 when David Peralta led off the ninth with a solo home run off Tyler Clippard.

Washington trailed 3-2 when Denard Span doubled with one-out in the eighth against Brad Ziegler and Anthony Rendon followed with a triple to tie it. Jayson Werth then scored Rendon with a sacrifice fly.

Miguel Montero had three hits for Arizona, rookie Ender Inciarte extended his hitting streak to 18 games.

Arizona had taken the lead in the top of the eighth.

Jake Lamb drew a lead-off walk off Jordan Zimmermann, and Didi Gregorius sent a 3-2 fastball into the Nationals bullpen for his fifth home run.

Wilson Ramos had given Washington a 2-1 lead with a two-run home run off Arizona starter Vidal Nuno in the seventh.

Nuno, winless in eight starts with the Diamondbacks, pitched well, allowing 2 runs and 5 hits over 7 innings.

Zimmermann went seven-plus innings, allowing three runs on four hits. His three walks were a season-high.

CARDINALS 6, REDS 5 (10) Jhonny Peralta's 10th-inning single, his third hit of the game, drove in the winning run to give host St. Louis a victory over Cincinnati. Jay Bruce homered, doubled and knocked in four runs for the Reds, giving him 9 RBI in 4 games. Brandon Phillips returned from left thumb surgery wearing a brace and was 0 for 4 with a walk. Logan Ondrusek (2-3) entered with one out in the 10th and gave up consecutive singles to Matt Holliday, Matt Adams and Peralta.

BRAVES 7, PIRATES 3 Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons homered to begin a six-run first inning, and visiting Atlanta beat Pittsburgh for its fourth consecutive victory. The early outburst was enough for Ervin Santana, who allowed 3 home runs among 9 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Santana (13-6) improved to 8-1 over his past 10 starts. Pittsburgh has lost six in a row. Starling Marte hit two home runs, and Neil Walker added a home run that became the first to reach the Allegheny River beyond right field at PNC Park this season.

CUBS 4, METS 1 Kyle Hendricks and two relievers held host New York to four or fewer hits for the fifth consecutive game, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez hit long home runs, and Chicago rallied for a victory over the Mets. Hendricks (5-1) gave up three hits in seven innings, allowing only Lucas Duda's home run in the fourth. The rookie right-hander won his fourth consecutive start, yielding 4 earned runs over 29 1/3 innings. Neil Ramirez struck out two in a perfect eighth and Hector Rondon allowed a leadoff double but finished the four-hitter for his 18th save. The Cubs came back once Carlos Torres, making a spot start for Bartolo Colon, was done after five innings.

American League

ROYALS 6, TWINS 4 Erik Kratz hit two home runs after replacing an ailing Salvador Perez, and Jason Vargas pitched seven innings to lead first-place Kansas City to a victory over host Minnesota. Vargas (10-5) allowed 1 run on four hits and struck out 3, but had his scoreless innings streak snapped at 17 when Oswaldo Arcia hit a home run in the seventh. Kansas City extended its lead over the idle Detroit Tigers in the AL Central to two games.

ANGELS 4, RED SOX 2 Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit consecutive RBI doubles, and visiting Los Angeles extended its AL West lead with a victory over Boston. It was the fifth victory in six games for the Angels, who moved a half-game ahead of idle Oakland. David Ortiz reached base four times with a double, single and two walks for the Red Sox, who have lost 3 of 4 after winning 4 consecutive. Angels starter C.J. Wilson (10-8) labored through 5 1/3 innings, giving up 1 run and 5 hits with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts. Kevin Jepsen worked the ninth for his first save since 2012.

ORIOLES 8, WHITE SOX 2 Nick Markakis hit a two-run home run and prevented one with a leaping catch in right field, and Nelson Cruz and J.J. Hardy each added a home run to power visiting Baltimore past Chicago. Markakis was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs, helping the Orioles increase their AL East lead to 7 1/2 games over the idle New York Yankees. Cruz hit his 32nd home run, passing White Sox rookie Jose Abreu for the American League lead. Cruz is tied with Mike Stanton of the Miami Marlins for most in the majors.

Interleague

PHILLIES 4, MARINERS 1 Jerome Williams took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, Andres Blanco hit his first home run in three years, a three-run shot in the fifth, and host Philadelphia beat Seattle. Williams (1-0) allowed 1 run and 3 hits in 7-plus innings. Mariners rookie left-hander Roenis Elias (9-10) gave up 1 run and 3 hits in 4 innings.

Sports on 08/19/2014

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