National League
Cubs clip Cardinals ST. LOUIS (AP) – Jacque Jones hit a bases-loaded triple in Chicago’s seven-run fifth and Carlos Zambrano pitched seven innings in the Cubs’ 8-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.
Zambrano (2-2) is unbeaten against the Cardinals in his last eight starts, going 5-0 with a 1.54 ERA (58 2-3 innings) over that stretch. He ended a three-game winless streak by allowing one run and seven hits with two strikeouts.
Jones had two hits in the fifth and went 3-for-4 overall with four RBIs. Derrek Lee continued his hot start for the Cubs, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Lee has reached safely in all 23 games he’s played and is batting .391 (36-for-92).
Albert Pujols led off the seventh with his sixth homer of the season for St. Louis. It was the 256th of his career, moving him ahead of Ken Boyer and into second place on the Cardinals’ career home run list behind only Stan Musial (475).
Astros 10, Brewers 1
HOUSTON – Craig Biggio had a triple and three RBIs and Houston snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Lance Berkman, Mark Loretta and Adam Everett each had two RBIs and the Astros shook out of an offensive slump with their highest run total of the season. Houston came into the game batting only .240 and had scored a total of 11 runs in its previous five games.
Chris Sampson (3-1) struck out eight, his highest total in seven career starts.
Dave Bush (2-2) gave up eight runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings, losing to the Astros for the first time in six career starts. The Brewers lost for just the third time in 10 games.
Marlins 11, Phillies 5
PHILADELPHIA – Miguel Cabrera had a career-best five hits for Florida and Dontrelle Willis won despite struggling through 6 1-3 innings.
Cabrera had four singles and his seventh homer of the year. Josh Willingham added a three-run home run and Dan Uggla also went deep for the Marlins, who have averaged 8.2 runs when Willis is on the mound.
Willis (5-1) allowed nine hits and five runs. He gave up five runs in a win over Atlanta on Monday, and has a 5.35 ERA in six starts.
Aaron Rowand extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games and Rod Barajas homered for the Phillies, who got a poor outing from Adam Eaton (2-2).
Braves 6, Rockies 2
DENVER – John Smoltz continued his mastery of Colorado and Chipper Jones drove in two runs for Atlanta.
Smoltz (3-1) allowed two runs, nine hits, and struck out eight in seven innings to improve to 11-4 with nine saves and a 3.43 ERA in his career against the Rockies.
The 39-year-old was aided by an efficient offense that used three hits including a two-run single by Jones, a solo home run by Jeff Francoeur and a triple by Kelly Johnson in the first four innings to build a 5-2 lead.
Colorado starter Jason Hirsh (2-2) allowed five runs, five hits and four walks over six innings.
Matt Holliday was 2-for-4 with two doubles and Troy Tulowitzki hit his second home run in two nights for the Rockies.