Braves close in on NL wild card

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves boosted their National League wild-card hopes with a 3-2 win over Florida Marlins on Tuesday.

Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and Atlanta improved its wild card chances.

The Braves' win, coupled with San Diego's loss, gave Atlanta a 1-1/2 game lead in the wild-card race.

Trailing 1-0, the Braves rallied for three runs in the seventh off Anibal Sanchez (12-12). Brooks Conrad knocked in the first run with a triple. Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead.

Atlanta reliever Craig Kimbrel (4-0) got the win with a hitless seventh, and Billy Wagner earned his 36th save with a scoreless ninth.

Reds 3, Astros 2

In Cincinnati, the hosts clinched the NL Central title, earning a first trip to the playoffs in 15 years, with a win over Houston.

Jay Bruce hit a game-ending line-drive homer off Tim Byrdak (2-2) with the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth, sparking fireworks overhead.

Cincinnati has won with its last at-bat 22 times this season.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman (2-2) pitched a perfect ninth.

Dusty Baker joined Bill McKechnie as the only managers to lead three different NL teams to the playoffs. Baker has made it with San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs.

Cincinnati finished fourth last season, its second under Baker, but the franchise thought it had the makings of something and kept the roster intact.

The Reds have struggled against other top teams. They have gone 58-28 against losing teams, only 30-41 against those with .500 or better records.

Nationals 2, Phillies 1

In Washington, Adam Dunn led off the bottom of the ninth with his 38th homer of the season, to give Washington victory over Philadelphia.

Dunn's homer off Jose Contreras (6-4) did little to dampen enthusiasm among a Philadelphia team preparing for the playoffs.

Nationals closer Drew Storen (4-4) earned the win by pitching the ninth.

Dodgers 9, Rockies 7

In Denver, Los Angeles eliminated Colorado from the playoff race.

The Rockies' loss, combined with Atlanta's win over Florida and San Francisco's defeat of Arizona, ended Colorado's chances of getting the wild card.

Casey Blake homered twice and Rafael Furcal had two triples for the Dodgers, who blew a four-run lead but came back in the eighth off Rockies reliever Octavio Dotel (3-4). Colorado has lost eight of nine.

L.A. reliever Ronald Bellisario (3-1) got the win, pitching two-thirds of an inning.

Cubs 5, Padres 2

In San Diego, the hosts dropped back sharply in the wild-card race by losing to Chicago.

Cubs slugger Alfonso Soriano homered twice, including a two-run shot off struggling San Diego ace Mat Latos (14-9), who fumed after Chicago scored two unearned runs in the fifth, and lost his fourth straight start, his worst stretch this season.

The Padres led the NL West by 6-1/2 games a month ago, but now trail leader San Francisco by two games.

Chicago starter Ryan Dempster (15-11) struck out nine in seven innings.

Giants 4, Diamondbacks 2

In San Francisco, Juan Uribe matched a career best with his 23rd home run as San Francisco increased its NL West lead by beating Arizona.

Uribe hit a tying solo drive leading off the fourth for the Giants, who have a magic number of four to clinch their first playoff berth since 2003.

San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez (12-9) struck out six in six innings to reach 200 Ks in a season for the first time in his career.

Arizona's Rodrigo Lopez (7-15) went 5 2-3 innings and took the loss.

Mets 4, Brewers 3

In New York, light-hitting New York rookie Ruben Tejada laced a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Mets over Milwaukee.

Brewers closer John Axford (8-2) escaped an eighth-inning jam, but Ike Davis opened the ninth with a double. Josh Thole got a one-out single that put runners at the corners and Tejada drove the next pitch up the left-center alley for his third hit, and second double, of the game.

The Mets opened their final homestand of the season with their third consecutive win.

New York's Elmer Dessens (4-2) worked a perfect ninth inning for the win.

Pirates 7, Cardinals 2

In St. Louis, Garrett Jones homered on a three-hit night and drove in three runs as Pittsburgh downed St. Louis.

St. Louis was officially eliminated from playoff contention when Cincinnati won. The Cardinals had a 12-6 record against the Reds this season, but is 46-50 against teams with a losing record.

Brian Burres pitched effectively into the sixth inning for the Pirates.