Aug 27, 2006 3 min read

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Chris Carpenter pitched eight sharp innings before leaving because of cramping, and seldom-used Gary Bennett hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth that sent the St. Louis Cardinals over the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Saturday. Carpenter held the Cubs to two hits, struck out five and walked one. He threw 100 pitches, and took the mound to start the ninth. But after throwing a few warmups, the Cardinals ace consulted with trainer Barry Weinberg and manager Tony La Russa and left.

Carpenter said his toes, forearms and calves were locking up even though it was not an especially warm day with the gametime temperature at 78 degrees. He had troubles with dehydration earlier in the season, leaving a game with cramps in his fingers.

Bennett also homered in his second straight three-hit game for the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

Preston Wilson singled off Roberto Novoa (2-1) with one out in the ninth and stole second. After Ronnie Belliard fouled out, Bennett singled to left-center field and Wilson scored easily.

Giants 4, Reds 1

SAN FRANCISCO – Shea Hillenbrand homered for the second straight game for No. 100 in his career and Noah Lowry won back-to-back starts for the first time all season for the Giants.

Hillenbrand hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning to help San Francisco win for the 10th time in 13 games. The Giants pulled within three games of the Reds in the NL wild-card race.

David Ross hit his 18th home run in the sixth, snapping a stretch of 16 1-3 scoreless innings by San Francisco starters.

Cincinnati trails first-place St. Louis by two games in the NL Central.

Braves 10, Nationals 1

ATLANTA – John Smoltz allowed one run and three hits in eight innings for the Braves.

Smoltz (12-6) won his sixth straight home start. Of the Braves’ 11 home wins since July 3, six belong to Smoltz.

The Braves are only 27-34 at Turner Field for the second-worst home record, only slightly better than the Cubs’ 27-36 mark.

Chipper Jones hit his 20th home run and Marcus Giles had three hits, stole a base and drove in two runs for Atlanta. Brian McCann had a two-run double in a four-run first inning.

Marlins 7, Brewers 2

MIAMI – Dontrelle Willis pitched seven innings to help Florida win its sixth straight game.

Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez drove in two runs apiece to help Florida pull within four games of NL wild-card leader Cincinnati.

Cabrera doubled home two runs in the first to tie the team record for RBIs in a month with 30. Mike Jacobs hit his 17th home run for the Marlins.

Willis (9-10) limited Milwaukee to seven hits and two runs, giving him back-to-back victories for only the second time this season.

Mets 11, Phillies 5

NEW YORK – Shawn Green delivered his first big hit for the Mets, a go-ahead double during a seven-run rally in the seventh inning.

Ryan Howard hit his NL-leading 46th home run, a grand slam for Philadelphia. The Phillies stayed 11/2 games behind Cincinnati in the wild-card race.

Carlos Beltran hit his 200th career homer, Carlos Delgado also connected and Endy Chavez went 4-for-4 for the Mets, who have the best record in the league.

Rick White (2-1) got the loss.

Pedro Feliciano (6-2) pitched a scoreless inning to get the win.