From Wire Reports

MIAMI -- A rain delay was worth the wait for Alfredo Amezaga and the Florida Marlins.

Amezaga hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in seventh inning when play resumed after a 1½-hour delay, and the Marlins beat the Washington Nationals yesterday 4-2.

Florida trailed 2-1 when the game was halted with two outs in the seventh for 1 hour, 35 minutes. Cody Ross had singled with one out off starter Odalis Perez, and Matt Treanor grounded out before play was stopped.

Charlie Manning (0-2) relieved after the delay, and Amezaga connected on his third pitch.

Ricky Nolasco (9-4) improved to 4-0 in his last five starts, allowing two runs and three hits in seven innings. Renyel Pinto pitched a hitless eighth, and Kevin Gregg threw a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 19 chances.

Florida won two of three and is 10-2 against the Nationals this season.

AROUND THE MAJORS

Blackburn, two others pitch 5-hitter

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nick Blackburn combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, and Joe Mauer's two-out, two-run single sparked a five-run third inning that led the surging Minnesota Twins over the Detroit Tigers 7-0 Wednesday.

Minnesota took two of three from the Tigers and has won 13 of its last 15 games. Detroit, which had won 18 of 22 coming into the series, was shut out for the 10th time this season, the most in the major leagues.

The Twins have outscored the Tigers 39-17 in six games at the Metrodome this year, winning five.

Saunders gets 12th victory

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Joe Saunders pitched into the seventh inning to match Brandon Webb for the major-league lead with his 12th win, and Juan Rivera and Eric Aybar homered in the Los Angeles Angels' 7-4 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Saunders (12-4) allowed four runs -- two earned -- and six hits in 61/3 innings to help the Angels open up a 5½-game lead over their AL West rivals. The left-hander became the first Angels pitcher with at least 12 wins before the All-Star break since 1991, when Chuck Finley and Mark Langston did it.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his major league leading 34th save in 36 attempts, tying John Smoltz's 2003 record for the most before the All-Star break.

NOTABLE

Pirates Capps out with shoulder injury

CINCINNATI -- Closer Matt Capps will be sidelined for about eight weeks with a shoulder injury detected yesterday. He is the fourth Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to go on the disabled list in the last two weeks.

Capps blew save chances in the first two games of a series against the Cincinnati Reds, then flew to Pittsburgh for an MRI on his tender shoulder. The test indicated he has bursitis and tightness that prevents him from getting full extension during his delivery.

Padres sign 2 from Dominican Republic

SAN DIEGO -- Two players from the Dominican Republic were among five players signed by the San Diego Padres yesterday, the beginning of the period when 16-year-old international players who will turn 17 before the end of 2009 minor league season can commit to big-league teams.

Shortstop Alvaro Aristy and right-hander Elvin Tavarez signed along with infielder/outfielder Corey Adamson of Australia, and outfielder Luis Domoromo right-hander Adis Portillo of Venezuela.

The Padres have signed players from five countries since November, including seven from the Dominican Republic.

Furcal reports discomfort in his back

HOUSTON -- Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal left a rehab assignment with the team's Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas on Tuesday and returned to Los Angeles after experiencing discomfort in his back.

Furcal has been on the disabled list since May 6 with a lower back strain.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers activated Hiroki Kuroda and optioned rookie left-hander Clayton Kershaw to Double-A Jacksonville.

A's sign teen pitching prospect

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- The Oakland Athletics and prized 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa agreed to a minor league contract with a $4.25 million signing bonus.

That is an A's record for a signing an amateur player. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound right-hander is widely considered the top prospect in his country and much of Latin America and is scheduled to play in the Dominican Summer League. ELSEWHERE