STARS
Thursday
—Alfonso Soriano, Nationals, hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning and sparked Washington's 6-5 win over San Francisco.
—Adam Dunn, Reds, went 3-for-3 with four RBIs to lead Cincinnati to an 8-4 victory at Houston.
—Jamey Carroll, Rockies, singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Colorado a 9-8 win over San Diego.
UTLEY'S CHASE
Chase Utley extended the longest hitting streak in the major leagues this season to 27 games in Philadelphia's 5-2 win over Arizona on Thursday. Utley, who led off the fifth inning with a single, tied Billy Hamilton for the third-longest streak in Phillies history. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has the longest at 38 games and Ed Delahanty had a 31-game stretch in 1899.
ALL THE WAY AT RFK
Washington recorded its season-high sixth victory in a row and second straight series sweep at home by beating San Francisco 6-5 on Thursday. The Nationals had gone all season without a sweep at RFK Stadium before doing it in consecutive three-game sets.
TURNAROUND
Florida won a series in Atlanta for the first time in almost four years with a 6-1 victory over the Braves on Thursday. The Marlins won two of three to end a streak of 10 straight series at Turner Field that were either lost or split. Florida's last series win in Atlanta came Sept. 20-22, 2002.
STREAKING
Vernon Wells extended his hitting streak to 12 games, but Toronto lost to Oakland 5-2 on Thursday night.
SPEAKING
"It's a very good feeling, especially if it's my last game — I hit a leadoff homer for my fans here in D.C. I'm going to be very sad if I have to leave." — Alfonso Soriano after helping Washington complete its first undefeated homestand of at least six games since the Montreal Expos went 6-0 from Sept. 6-12, 1993. Soriano, the subject of trade rumors, homered in his first at-bat to lead the Nationals to a 6-5 victory over San Francisco on Thursday.
SEASONS
July 29
2001 — Craig Monroe homered in his first major league at-bat as the Texas Rangers beat Tampa Bay 2-0.
2003 — Boston's Bill Mueller became the first player in major league history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a game and connected for three homers in a 14-7 win at Texas.