Moyer finally claims 250th career victory

PHILADELPHIA – Jamie Moyer pitched six strong innings to win his 250th career game as the Philadelphia Phillies claimed their third straight victory, 4-2, over the bumbling Washington Nationals in the National League on Sunday.

The 46-year-old Moyer is the 44th player to win 250 games, and only the 11th left-hander to joint the exclusive list. It was his sixth try at 250 after going winless in his last five outings while allowing 38 hits and 26 earned runs in 24 1-3 innings.

But Moyer (4-5) had one of his best starts of the season Sunday, striking out four and walking none while registering a season-low hits allowed. It was Moyer’s first win since April 26.

At Chicago, Eric Milton pitched into the sixth inning for his second straight win as Los Angeles had a five-run first while beating Chicago, 8-2, to salvage a four-game split.

Matt Kemp hit his sixth homer and finished with two hits. Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, Mark Loretta and James Loney each added two apiece as the Dodgers banged out 12 in all, and Los Angeles finished a 5-2 trip with an easy win after getting pounded 7-0 and shut out for the first time the previous day.

Milton (2-0) took a shutout into the sixth and left with one out after the Cubs scored twice. He allowed six hits while earning back-to-back wins after going nearly three years without one.

At Pittsburgh, Mike Hampton continued his mastery over Pittsburgh, allowing only one run in seven innings in Houston’s 2-1 win.

Hampton became only the second pitcher to win eight in a row against the Pirates since 1954. He improved to 12-3 lifetime against Pittsburgh and has won eight straight since May 9, 2000. Only the Braves’ Tom Glavine has had a streak that long against the Pirates in the past 55 years. (AP)