MLB Wrap: Braves win 11th straight

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As the Biogenesis suspensions came out Monday, the Phillies lost left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo for 50 games (see story).

The club has been freefalling, going 1-13 in its last 14 games, but Darin Ruf has been one of the very few bright spots (see story).

Cody Asche has struggled, going 1 for 17 in the early going, but Charlie Manuel isn't worried yet and plans on sticking with him (see story).

Here's a quick wrap of Monday's notable games:

Braves win 11th straight
WASHINGTON -- Justin Upton led off the eighth inning with a tiebreaking homer, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves extended their winning streak to a season-high 11 games by beating the fading Washington Nationals, 3-2, Monday night.

Freddie Freeman drove in Atlanta's first two runs with a pair of singles in the third and fifth. Reliever David Carpenter earned the win by retiring all five batters he faced.

Upton's 20th homer came on a 3-2 pitch from Tyler Clippard, who replaced Stephen Strasburg to begin the eighth.

The Nationals again failed to provide much run support for Strasburg, who struck out nine in seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits. The last five times he's allowed two earned runs or fewer, Washington lost (see full recap).

Yankees lose in A-Rod's season debut
CHICAGO -- Alex Rodriguez blooped a single into left field in his first at-bat of the season, hours after being hit with a long suspension.

It was a nice start for the embattled slugger, but that was it. The finish belonged to the Chicago White Sox.

Rodriguez went 1 for 4 in his first game for New York, but the White Sox beat the struggling Yankees 8-1 on Monday night to snap a 10-game losing streak.

Rodriguez was suspended through 2014 by Major League Baseball in the Biogenesis case, a punishment he is appealing.

That clearly was the biggest story on a day when New York's Derek Jeter went back on the disabled list because of a strained right calf and Andy Pettitte (7-9) got knocked out early. Alex Rios drove in four runs, Alexei Ramirez added four hits and Jose Quintana (6-3) pitched into the seventh for the White Sox (see full recap).

Dodgers make it 15 in a row on road
ST. LOUIS -- Zack Greinke pitched into the seventh inning and raised his batting average to .405 with an RBI single, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win their 15th straight on the road with a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Nick Punto was productive subbing for injured shortstop Hanley Ramirez and the Dodgers got an RBI apiece from Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis while matching the Cincinnati Reds' 15-game run in 1957. They're two wins shy of the NL record set by the 1916 New York Giants.

Greinke allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings for his 100th career victory, allowing two hits in the third, fourth and fifth but no runs. Paco Rodriguez earned his second career save with a perfect ninth.

Adam Wainwright gave up three runs in seven innings and failed in his third straight attempt at winning his 14th. He's tied for the league lead in wins with teammate Lance Lynn.

Carlos Beltran and Allen Craig had an RBI apiece for the Cardinals, stifled in the opener of a 10-game homestand after totaling 44 runs the previous four games. They've lost nine of 12 overall (see full recap).

Tigers rally big late, beat Tribe
CLEVELAND -- Alex Avila's three-run homer in the ninth inning off closer Chris Perez rallied the Detroit Tigers to their ninth straight win, 4-2, on Monday night over the Cleveland Indians.

The Tigers were three outs away from having their lead in the AL Central cut to two games before their comeback against Perez, who had converted 11 consecutive save opportunities.

After Victor Martinez's RBI single made it 2-1, Perez walked Andy Dirks before Avila drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center for his ninth homer, stunning a Cleveland crowd ready to celebrate the team's biggest win this season.

Manager Terry Francona had no choice but to relieve the controversial Perez, who sullenly walked to the dugout after not retiring a batter and heard only boos from Indians fans (see full recap).

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