Brewers finally lose; Mets keep winning

Somebody finally managed to slow down the Milwaukee Brewers. The New York Mets? They just keep right on rolling.

Wandy Rodriguez dominated Milwaukee's potent lineup for six innings and the bullpen took care of things the rest of the way, as the Houston Astros snapped the Brewers' eight-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory Friday night.

Christopher Sampson pitched 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief and Wesley Wright retired Prince Fielder, the only batter he faced. Jose Valverde finished for his 26th save in 32 chances as the Brewers' club record of 20 consecutive games with a homer ended.

"Well, that's what it's about," Astros manager Cecil Cooper. "If you can do that to a good hitting team, you're doing some big-time pitching. That's what we got tonight."

Same as the Mets.

Mike Pelfrey won his seventh consecutive decision, getting help from another homer by Carlos Delgado, and New York beat the slumping St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 to move two games ahead in the NL East for the first time since its embarrassing collapse last September.

Jose Reyes added a two-run triple and Endy Chavez had four hits for the surging Mets, who have won 14 of 17. They're a season-best nine games above .500 and, coupled with Philadelphia's 8-2 loss to Atlanta, two games ahead in the division.

"Now, we're starting to play consistent baseball," Reyes said.

In other NL games, it was Florida 3, Chicago 2; San Diego 6, Pittsburgh 5; Colorado 7, Cincinnati 2; Arizona 10, San Francisco 2; and Los Angeles 3, Washington 2.

Sacrifice flies by pinch hitter Mark Loretta and Kazuo Matsui, and Lance Berkman's RBI single helped Houston end the Brewers' shot at winning nine in a row for the first time since taking 10 straight from Aug. 19-28, 2003.

The loss also cost Milwaukee a chance at moving into a tie for first with Chicago in the NL Central. The Cubs 3-2 to Florida.

Rodriguez (6-3) helped the Astros snap a four-game losing streak in his first start this season against Milwaukee. Houston's last win was his on Saturday, when he held the Cubs to one run in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-1 victory.

"He's pitched very well against us over the last two years," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He does a nice job when he's on his game, and he was on his game today."

Manny Parra (9-3) gave up all three runs for Milwaukee.

"They played a little bit better than we did," Mike Cameron said. "They limited our chances and capitalized on their opportunities."

The Mets, meanwhile, roughed up rookie Mitchell Boggs (3-2) for the second time in 22 days, handing the Cardinals their fifth straight defeat. Milwaukee finished a four-game sweep in St. Louis on Thursday night, the Cardinals' first four-game skid of the season.

"There's nothing wrong with the way we competed," manager Tony La Russa said. "I give Pelfrey credit. He's in a good run and he made some good pitches."

Argenis Reyes hit his first major league homer and drove in two runs as the Mets won for the 10th time in 11 home games. David Wright also had an RBI double.

Pelfrey (9-6) pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run and seven hits. He struck out five and walked none, and hasn't lost in 11 outings since May 26 against Florida.

Mets starters have pitched seven innings or more in each of the past five games, the club's longest such streak since September 2001, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"The biggest thing is confidence. I'm out on the mound and I don't feel like I have to be perfect," Pelfrey said. "I believe in myself that I'm going to win."

Braves 8, Phillies 2

Jair Jurrjens (10-5) pitched eight scoreless innings and Brian McCann hit two homers, including a grand slam, for visiting Atlanta.

McCann led off the fourth against Kyle Kendrick (8-5) with a drive to center for a 1-0 lead. He connected for his 20th homer off Brad Lidge during a seven-run ninth.

Marlins 3, Cubs 2

At Chicago, Jeremy Hermida hit a pinch-hit home run off Bobby Howry (3-4) leading off the ninth inning for Florida.

Justin Miller (3-2) earned the win by getting the final two outs in the eighth, and Kevin Gregg earned his 21st save with a perfect ninth.

Padres 6, Pirates 5

Adrian Gonzalez homered to help San Diego beat host Pittsburgh, which traded away top players Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees shortly after the game started.

Cha Seung Baek (3-4) allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, winning for only the second time in nine starts. Trevor Hoffman earned his 19th save.

Rockies 7, Reds 2

Brad Hawpe hit a two-run homer and Aaron Cook (13-6) went eight solid innings as visiting Colorado won for the seventh time in eight games.

Cincinnati's Edinson Volquez (12-4) labored through four innings, allowing five runs.

Diamondbacks 10, Giants 2

Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer, Conor Jackson and Chad Tracy also connected and visiting Arizona gave Dan Haren (10-5) plenty of early offense.

Stephen Drew and Chris Young hit two-run doubles in the Diamondbacks' five-run second inning, when the D-backs batted around against Jonathan Sanchez (8-6) on four hits, three of them doubles.

Dodgers 3, Nationals 2

Chad Billingsley (10-9) took a three-hitter into the eighth inning and Nomar Garciaparra had a two-run single in host Los Angeles' three-run sixth.

Rookie John Lannan (7-9) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings for Washington.