Associated Press
The National League roundup …
ST. LOUIS ó The St. Louis Cardinals blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning and hurt their wild-card hopes when shortstop Rafael Furcal misplayed a potential double-play grounder, allowing the New York Mets to rally for an 8-6 win Thursday.
Ahead 6-2, the Cardinals walked three batters in helping the Mets take the lead with a six-run burst. Willie Harris drew a walk to begin the inning and capped it with a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs.
The loss dropped St. Louis two games behind idle Atlanta for the wild card. Each team has six games left. The Cardinals lost for only the third time in 16 games.
The Mets, who had lost nine of their previous 11, came back against three St. Louis relievers.
Jason Motte walked three of the five batters he faced, including pinch-hitter Justin Turner with the bases loaded. Marc Rzepczynski (0-3) allowed Jose Reyesí RBI single.
Manny Acosta (4-1) won.
Nationals 6, Phillies 1
PHILADELPHIA ó Brad Peacock, making just his second major league start, pitched 5 2-3 scoreless innings and Michael Morse hit a three-run homer.
Roger Bernadina drove in two runs for the Nationals (76-79), who handed the division champions their sixth straight loss. Washington has won five straight overall and eight in a row on the road, and needs to win five of its last six for the organizationís first season over .500 since 2003.
Carlos Ruiz had three hits and an RBI for the Phillies (98-58), who clinched their fifth straight NL East title on Saturday night but havenít won since. The season-high six-game skid is Philadelphiaís longest since last May and it was the first time the Phillies have been swept in a series of more than two games since last August.
Philadelphia played all but three regulars, resting first baseman Ryan Howard, right fielder Hunter Pence and third baseman Placido Polanco, and continued to have trouble offensively. The Phillies managed just four hits off Peacock and five relievers.