Nationals 7, Marlins 1

Stephen Strasburg struck out 12 in 6 2-3 innings on a day Washington really needed to rest its relievers, and Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond homered, leading the Nationals past Miami Thursday for a three-game sweep.

Strasburg (1-1) got 14 consecutive outs in one stretch and allowed only three hits, including Marcell Ozuna's homer in the seventh. The right-hander's lone walk was to the last batter he faced.

Washington's starter Wednesday, Jordan Zimmermann, left after a career-low 1 2-3 innings, leaving the bullpen "taxed," as manager Matt Williams put it. The Nationals won that game 10-7 on Werth's go-ahead grand slam in the eighth, and this time he connected in the third - a two-run shot off Tom Koehler (1-1) that put Washington ahead 2-0.

Werth hit a 3-0 pitch just to the left of straightaway center. After driving in a total of one run over the season's first seven games, Werth has seven RBIs in the past two.

Astros 6, Blue Jays 4

Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar homered off R.A. Dickey and Houston avoided a three-game sweep, beating Toronto.

Dallas Keuchel pitched seven strong innings for the Astros. Keuchel (1-1) allowed one run and five hits, walked two and struck out six.

Villar hit a three-run homer, Robbie Grossman had a two-run shot and Jason Castro added a solo shot as the Astros won for just the second time in eight games.

Villar connected on the first pitch he saw from Dickey in the seventh inning for his second of the season.

Grossman homered on a 3-0 pitch from Dickey in the fifth for his first of the season.

Brewers 6, Phillies 2

Carlos Gomez had three hits with an RBI and hot-hitting Milwaukee extended its winning to six games with a victory over Philadelphia.

The Brewers' wins have all come on the road during the streak. They came to Philadelphia following a three-game sweep at defending World Series champion Boston.

They battered the Phillies with 25 runs and 38 hits in the three-game sweep. Milwaukee has batted .320 and has outscored opponents 42-18 during the streak.

Ryan Braun had two hits and an RBI, ending the series 6 for 12 with 10 RBIs while increasing his lifetime total to 24 RBIs in 21 games at Citizens Bank Park. Braun opened the series by homering three times in Tuesday's 10-4 win.

Athletics 6, Twins 1

Dan Straily pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and Sam Fuld hit a rare home run to help Oakland complete a three-game sweep of Minnesota.

Straily (1-1) gave up one run and struck out five. The Athletics have gone nine straight games to start the season without their starter allowing more than three runs.

Fuld hit just his sixth homer in 738 career plate appearances and singled. Josh Donaldson also hit a two-run homer.

Mike Pelfrey (0-2) gave up six runs on nine hits and four walks in five innings. The Twins have had only one quality start in their first nine games.

Pirates 5, Cubs 4

Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run seventh inning and Jason Grilli retired Emilio Bonifacio on a bases-loaded grounder to end the game, giving Pittsburgh a victory over Chicago.

The Pirates trailed 4-0 heading into the seventh, but two big drives changed things.

Pinch hitter Travis Snider cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer off Brian Schlitter. Alvarez put Pittsburgh ahead with his three-run drive against James Russell (0-1), his third homer in two games.