NL East Wrap: Uggla extends streak in Braves' win

Braves 8, Marlins 5

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MIAMI -- Dan Uggla often wins praise for his hustle, and a short sprint helped him extend his hitting streak to 29 games Monday night.

The slugging second baseman beat out a grounder to shortstop and subsequently scored on a three-run homer by Alex Gonzalez to help the Atlanta Braves beat the slumping Florida Marlins 8-5 Monday night.

"Every hit counts," Uggla said. "You take the infield ones with the doubles in the gap. Hitting ain't easy."

Uggla has the longest active hitting streak in the majors, and he's tied with Rowland Office for the second-longest streak in franchise history behind Rico Carty's 31 in a row in 1970.

The streak comes after the two-time All-Star endured a miserable first three months of the season. Traded from Florida to Atlanta in November, Uggla was last in the majors in batting at .173 when the streak began, but he's up to .220 now.

"For what he went through in April and May, and keeping levelheaded, it's nice for him to do what he signed up for," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I give him all the credit in the world, because there would be a lot of guys moping around. He stayed the same guy."

After Uggla and Chipper Jones singled in the fifth, Gonzalez hit his 10th home run off Brad Hand (1-4).

Uggla added a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Atlanta's Michael Bourn drove in a run with his 30th infield hit, most in the NL, and added his 42nd stolen base. Freddie Freeman, whose career-best 20-game hitting streak ended Sunday, had a two-run single.

The short-handed Marlins fell to 0-5 on their homestand. They were without three starters injured in the past week -- Hanley Ramirez, Omar Infante and Logan Morrison -- which further hampered an offense that has scored 24 runs in 10 games against Atlanta this season.

Mets 9, Padres 8

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NEW YORK -- If there's been one game that has summed up the New York Mets' resiliency this season, this was it.

Lucas Duda's two-run single capped a three-run ninth against All-Star closer Heath Bell, and the banged-up Mets rallied past the San Diego Padres 9-8 on Monday night.

Angel Pagan, Jason Bay and David Wright homered for the Mets, who started strong and finished with a flourish after putting their top two hitters on the disabled list.

"We're not conceding anything," Wright said. "There are a lot of games left. Crazier things have happened."

Shortstop Jose Reyes is sidelined with a strained left hamstring, the same problem that landed the NL's leading hitter on the disabled list for 16 days last month. Daniel Murphy, who filled in admirably for injured first baseman Ike Davis, is likely done for the season because of a left knee injury.

"It really is going to take everybody. Tonight was a perfect example," Bay said.

Pagan moved up to Reyes' spot at the top of the lineup and hit his third career leadoff homer.

Ruben Tejada, recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, started at shortstop and made a tough defensive play in an important situation.

"We'd love to have Jose Reyes, Daniel Murphy, Ike Davis right now. But give these young guys an opportunity and let them grab it and take hold of it," Wright said.

Jason Bartlett's bases-loaded double capped a four-run eighth that gave the Padres an 8-4 lead. But their normally reliable bullpen couldn't hold it, and San Diego's four-game winning streak was snapped.

"Best in baseball," manager Bud Black said about his relief corps. "It doesn't happen, so it's a rarity. But I think it just goes to show you that players aren't invincible."

Cubs vs. Nationals (Postponed)

CHICAGO -- Starlin Castro and Matt Garza have been a big part of the recent surge by the Chicago Cubs, which has brought a little optimism to an otherwise disappointing season.

Garza and Castro, probably the only sure bets to be with the Cubs in future seasons, turned up their play during the recent seven-game winning streak.

On Monday, Castro was named the NL player of the week. In his last seven games, Castro had 17 hits and is currently third in the majors with 150.

"Good for him. Hopefully it will be a long list of accolades for him. If he keeps his head screwed on and keeps getting better he will be fun to watch for a lot of years," Cubs manager Mike Quade said before Monday's game against the Washington Nationals was postponed because of rain.

The game will be made up Thursday at 1:20 p.m. Both teams will continue with its current pitching rotation. Garza and Chien-Ming Wang, Monday's starters, will be pushed back to Tuesday night.
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