PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers beat a pair of Arizona aces to stay in the playoff race.

Sparked by first-inning homers from Andre Ethier and Casey Blake, the Dodgers roughed up Brandon Webb and Arizona, 8-1, yesterday, climbing within 2 1/2 games of the staggering Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Derek Lowe (11-11) tossed six shutout innings as the Dodgers took the final two games of a three-game series from Arizona. The two victories came against Webb, who was trying to become the first 20-game winner this season, and Dan Haren by a combined score of 14-3.

The Dodgers had lost their previous eight games before beating the Arizona aces.

"It was a nightmarish start to the road trip, and you look up and there's two All-Stars coming at you," Lowe said. "You've got to give the guys a lot of credit for finding a way to beat these two guys after losing eight in a row on the road."

Los Angeles won a road series for the first time since July 20, when it also took two of three in Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks have dropped six of seven, but have only lost a half-game to the Dodgers in that stretch.

Webb (19-6) allowed six earned runs, eight hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings, matching his shortest outing of the season.

Nationals 8, Braves 4: Aaron Boone failed to lay down a sacrifice, then slammed a three-run, eighth-inning home run to lift host Washington to its season-high sixth straight win. Called on to bunt after a single by Ryan Zimmerman and a walk to Elijah Dukes, Boone popped Elmer Dessens' first offering foul. Boone sent the next pitch from Dessens (0-1) into the left-field bullpen for his sixth homer.

Padres 2, Rockies 1: Trevor Hoffman blew the save after a terrific outing by Jake Peavy, but Luis Rodriguez singled in the winning run in the ninth to give host San Diego a victory over Colorado. Peavy had a season-high 13 strikeouts over eight shutout innings but Hoffman (3-6) surrendered a pinch-hit RBI single to Chris Iannetta that tied it at 1.

Reds 9, Giants 3: Joey Votto went 4 for 4 with four RBIs, Bronson Arroyo turned in another impressive start and Cincinnati beat San Francisco to complete its first three-game sweep of the Giants at home in 14 years. Arroyo (13-10) allowed two runs and 10 hits in seven innings to win his third straight start. He has allowed just four runs in his last 23 innings.Phillies 5, Cubs 3: Jayson Werth hit another home run against Chicago and 45-year-old Jamie Moyer got his 12th win, helping visiting Philadelphia salvage a split of its four-game series at Wrigley Field. Werth is 11 for 21 with four homers and 10 RBIs against the Cubs this season. Moyer (12-7) gave up eight hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Mets 6, Marlins 2: Pedro Martinez pitched six innings for only his second victory since July 7, and visiting New York homered three times to beat Florida. Martinez (5-3) gave up seven hits but only one walk. Carlos Beltran, Nick Evans and David Wright homered for New York.

Astros 3, Cardinals 0: Ty Wigginton hit his 12th home run of August and four Astros pitchers combined to shut out visiting St. Louis. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (8-6) left after 5 2/3 innings with a strained right oblique muscle. Club officials said he is day-to-day.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

WHITE SOX 4, RED SOX 2: Jim Thome tied Mickey Mantle for 14th place with his 536th career homer, Gavin Floyd won his fifth straight decision and visiting Chicago beat Boston. Thome hit a two-out, two-run drive off Tim Wakefield (8-9) in the first inning for his 29th of the season. Floyd (15-6) allowed one run and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Tigers 4, Royals 2: Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in four runs in host Detroit's win over Kansas City. Kip Wells (0-1) came in to a tie game in the eighth and loaded the bases by hitting a batter and walking two. Ramon Ramirez replaced him, and Cabrera ripped Ramirez's 3-2 pitch past third baseman Mark Teahen and into the left-field corner.

Rays 10, Orioles 4: James Shields allowed one run over seven innings, and Jason Bartlett hit his first homer in over a year to help host Tampa Bay complete a three-game sweep. Shields (12-8) gave up six hits to match his career high for wins set last season.

Blue Jays 6, Yankees 2: Roy Halladay won his fourth straight start, giving him four wins over the Yankees this season, and Scott Rolen homered for visiting Toronto. Halladay (17-9) pitched seven effective innings, allowing only solo homers to sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi.

Rangers 4, Angels 3: Josh Hamilton and Marlon Byrd hit home runs and visiting Texas avoided a sweep. Kevin Millwood (9-7) won his third straight start, allowing two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings following back-to-back complete-game victories over Detroit and Kansas City.

Twins 12, Athletics 4: Justin Morneau homered and drove in four runs, Scott Baker won for only the second time since the All-Star break and visiting Minnesota earned a split of the four-game series. Baker (8-4) scattered six hits over six innings.

Mariners 6, Indians 4: Adrian Beltre homered twice and visiting Seattle beat Cleveland to complete a three-game sweep. Beltre's third multihomer game of the season and 19th of his career helped the Mariners win for the seventh time in nine games.