CHICAGO Randy Wolf pitched impressively into the eighth inning and Ramon Troncoso wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Thursday night for their fourth straight win.
Juan Pierre had two hits and scored a run for the Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball at 34-15.
The Cubs have lost nine of 11, and learned earlier in the day their ace Carlos Zambrano was suspended six games for his tirade during Wednesdays victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Wolf (3-1) allowed one run and six hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
Troncoso pitched the ninth after manager Joe Torre let him bat in the top of the inning. Torre wanted to give Jonathan Broxton the night off after he walked three in Wednesdays win at Colorado.
Chicago had the bases loaded with one out but Troncoso struck out Bobby Scales, whose leadoff homer in the eighth ended Wolfs night, and Jake Fox for his third save.
Randy Wells (0-2) pitched seven strong innings for the Cubs in his fourth career start, allowing two runs and eight hits.
Diamondbacks 5, Braves 2
PHOENIX Dan Haren outpitched Derek Lowe and Arizona took advantage of second baseman Kelly Johnsons error to score four times in the fourth inning.
Haren (4-4) retired 15 in a row before a two-out double by Johnson and RBI single by Casey Kotchman in the eighth inning. The right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings, striking out eight to earn his first victory in four starts.
Lowe (6-3) gave up five runs, three earned, and a season-high 10 hits for the Braves, who were swept in three games in San Francisco before opening a four-game set in Arizona.
Chad Qualls pitched a perfect ninth, with some defensive help from second baseman Augie Ojeda and shortstop Stephen Drew, for his 12th save in 14 opportunities.
