Strasburg struggles as Nats lose another

MIAMI — Stephen Strasburg pitched as badly as his teammates have been playing.

Strasburg gave up a career-high seven runs in five innings Tuesday night and the first-place Washington Nationals' losing streak reached five games when they were beaten by Ricky Nolasco and the last-place Miami Marlins 9-0.

Nolasco (10-12) allowed five hits in his third career shutout and eighth complete game.

Strasburg (15-6) came into the game with a streak of 27 consecutive scoreless innings against Miami in five starts since last September. But he gave up a homer to his second batter, Justin Ruggiano, and trailed 5-0 by the third inning.

PHILADELPHIA — Ike Davis hit a tiebreaking double during a four-run 10th inning, Kelly Shoppach had a two-run homer and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-5 Tuesday night for their third straight victory.

Shoppach hit a tying double in the eighth and then connected off B.J. Rosenberg (0-2). Mike Baxter also hit a two-run shot for the Mets, who are 6-1 in Philadelphia this season.

It was the first time in 10 games New York scored more than three runs.

Ryan Howard hit a grand slam and Chase Utley had a solo shot for the Phillies, who had won four straight.

PITTSBURGH — Pedro Alvarez homered twice and drove in four runs, James McDonald scattered two hits over seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beats the St. Louis Cardinals 9-0 on Tuesday night.

Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the third to give the Pirates a comfortable lead, added an RBI double in the fourth then hit a 469-foot blast to center in the sixth. He went 4 for 5 as Pittsburgh drew within two games of the Cardinals in the race for the NL's second wild-card spot.

McDonald (12-6) gave up two hits, walked one and struck out six to beat the Cardinals and Jake Westbrook (13-10) for the second time in the last two weeks.

CHICAGO — Jeff Bianchi hit a three-run shot for his first big league homer, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Bianchi went deep off Travis Wood (4-11) with two outs in the second for Milwaukee, which has won seven of eight overall and has beaten the Cubs seven straight times.

HOUSTON — Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez connected on the go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants rallied for a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

The Giants were down 2-1 entering the ninth. Brandon Belt singled off Wesley Wright to start inning before pinch-hitter Joaquin Arias doubled down the left field line off Wilton Lopez (5-3) to score Belt and tie it 2-2.