NL East Wrap: Braves blank Giants, take series

Braves 1, Giants 0

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ATLANTA -- Mike Minor knew he couldn't afford any big mistakes going against two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.

Instead, it was Lincecum who cracked.

Minor pitched six crisp innings and Chipper Jones homered off Lincecum for the only run, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 1-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.

"He's obviously the better pitcher," Minor said. "It's a big win."

The left-hander pitched brilliantly, allowing just four hits and one intentional walk while striking out a season-high nine. Only two runners got as far as second base against Minor (3-2), who didn't flinch when Cody Ross led off the game with a double.

"Instead of giving in, I tried to bear down," Minor said. "I knew if he scored, that would be a big run."

Lincecum (11-10) was no slouch, surrendering five hits in seven innings with seven Ks. But the wiry right-hander made one pitch he wanted back, serving up a high fastball to Jones leading off the fifth. He sent a drive soaring into the right-field seats for 11th homer, giving the Braves all the offense they would need.

"You know you're not going to hit too many homers off Lincecum," Jones said. "He made one mistake, and that's all we needed."

Lincecum was trying to go inside with the pitch, but it faded back over the plate.

"Chipper's a great hitter," the Giants starter said. "I gave up that one timely home run. That cost me."
Nationals 3, Reds 1
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WASHINGTON -- Davey Johnson isn't looking forward to the end of Jordan Zimmermann's season.

The Washington Nationals' manager has enjoyed his right-hander's comeback from 2009 Tommy John surgery, but now Johnson knows that Zimmermann has just two starts left.

At the beginning of the season, the Nationals decided to limit Zimmermann to 160 innings, and after Thursday night's 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds, he's pitched 150 2-3.

But before the game, Johnson and Washington General Manager Mike Rizzo decided the preseason quota could be exceeded, if slightly.

Will it be hard for Johnson to shut Zimmermann down?

"No question about it," Johnson said. "I got two more starts out of him."

Zimmermann and four relievers combined to limit the Reds to an unearned run. Zimmermann (8-10) allowed six hits, walking one and striking out two. He left with runners on first and second and two outs in the sixth.

"I told him after the game, 'Don't make me have to come out there. You've got unfinished business out there,'" Johnson said. "I don't like to do it. He's too good a pitcher."

Ryan Mattheus came on to strike out Paul Janish to end the inning. Mattheus did not face another batter because of a tight right shoulder.

The Reds scored the unearned run in the seventh off Henry Rodriguez. Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless eighth and Drew Storen worked the ninth for his 33rd save in 37 chances.

"I don't know how it's going to be," Zimmermann said. "I'm going to keep pitching until they tell me to stop -- one or two more starts -- I'm not sure. I watched for a whole year. I think I can handle a month."
Padres 3, Marlins 1BOX SCORE
SAN DIEGO -- Tim Stauffer had surrendered eight homers in his last two starts, including five in an ugly three-inning outing at Cincinnati.

The solution was simple: keep the ball down.

Stauffer threw seven strong innings to rebound from his worst start of the season, leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 win over the Florida Marlins on Thursday night.

It was a complete turnaround from his horrific start against the Reds on Saturday.

"I was looking forward, after that game, to getting back out on the mound as soon as possible and knowing that how that game finished wasn't what I knew I was capable of," Stauffer said. "I thought I pitched the kind of game I was capable of."

Stauffer (8-9) allowed one run -- John Buck's 15th homer in the seventh inning -- and five hits. The right-hander struck out five and walked one in his first outing since he yielded nine runs in a 13-1 loss at homer-friendly Great American Ball Park.

"Just trying to avoid the middle of the plate," Stauffer said. "You see what happens to pitches when they are in the middle of the plate. The one Buck hit there didn't do a lot and he put a good swing on it."

Jesus Guzman drove in two runs for the Padres, who beat Florida for the 10th time in 12 games. Heath Bell pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 33rd save in 36 chances.

"Last week in Cincinnati, I think there were too many pitches left out over the plate and the Reds didn't miss them," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "He was a little crisper down and the use of the change up kept those guys off balance. The big difference was more balls down in the zone."

Florida starter Javier Vazquez (7-11) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. The right-hander retired his last 14 batters but still dropped to 0-2 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts this month.

"He gave up a few in the first, and was steady the whole rest of the way, but that's not good enough," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said.
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