Ty Wigginton, Jason Phillips and Roger Cedeno each had two RBIs, leading the New York Mets over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Tuesday.
Rookie center fielder Jeff Duncan and 20-year-old shortstop Jose Reyes -- the top two hitters in the order -- each had two hits and reached base a total of seven times.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"You have to like what you see," Mets manager Art Howe said. "It's nice to have those two weapons at the top."
Steve Trachsel (9-6) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. New York took two games from the Phillies after losing four straight in Atlanta.
Dan Wheeler got the final out for his second save, striking out Pat Burrell with runners on second and third.
Kevin Millwood (10-7) allowed five runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings. Philadelphia has lost two straight after winning eight of 10.
"It was just a bad day. I didn't have my control," Millwood said.
Marlins 9, Expos 1
In Miami, Carl Pavano pitched a four-hitter as Florida beat Montreal and dropped the Expos to .500 for the first time since April 9.
Derrek Lee had four RBIs, and Luis Castillo went 4-for-4 for the Marlins.
Astros 2, Pirates 0
In Pittsburgh, Jeriome Robertson shut out the Pirates on three hits for 7 1-3 innings to win his ninth straight decision help Houston avoid being swept in Pittsburgh for the second time this month.
Morgan Ensberg hit his 19th homer and Robertson added an RBI single as the teams split the two-game series. Houston, the National League Central leader, had lost four straight in Pittsburgh but has won six of seven and 11 of 13 overall.
Brewers 6, Reds 4
In Cincinnati, Bill Hall drove in runs with a triple and a double in his first start of the season as Milwaukee held on for a victory over Cincinnati.
The NL Central's lowliest teams split their two-game series.
The Reds hit two batters -- one with the bases loaded -- and the majors' worst defense committed two more errors, setting up an unearned Milwaukee run.
Braves 8, Cubs 4
In Atlanta, Greg Maddux won his third straight start to go over .500 for the first time this season and Vinny Castilla hit a two-run homer as Atlanta beat Chicago.
Giants 3, Diamondbacks 1
In San Francisco, Damian Moss pitched seven strong innings and San Francisco beat Arizona ace Curt Schilling for the second time in 10 days to win their sixth straight.
Dodgers 5, Rockies 2
In Los Angeles, Paul Lo Duca had three hits and three RBIs and Shawn Green added three hits with a pair of doubles as Los Angeles beat Colorado.
Padres 3, Cardinals 2
In San Diego, Oliver Perez pitched seven solid innings and Rondell White drove in two runs to lift San Diego over St. Louis.
AP, ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Ramon Ortiz allowed an unearned run and three hits over seven innings as the Anaheim Angels stopped a season-high five-game losing streak by beating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3-1 on Tuesday.
Ortiz (12-7) kept the Devil Rays hitless in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position.
"It was big by Ramon," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. "For him to go seven innings and pitch as effectively as he did is important. Our starting pitching has picked up the last month, and Ramon has been a big part of it."
Tim Salmon had two RBIs for the World Series champions. Brendan Donnelly and Troy Percival, who worked the ninth for his 21st save, completed the three-hitter.
Joe Kennedy (3-7) gave up three runs and six hits in eight innings.
"I had pretty much every pitch working," Kennedy said. "I just got some bad breaks."
Athletics 10, Royals 0
In Kansas City, Missouri, Tim Hudson (8-4) allowed one hit in seven innings, combining with John Halama on a three-hitter.
Erubiel Durazo hit two homers and drove in three runs for Oakland, which handed Kansas City only its second shutout loss this year.
White Sox 5, Indians 2
In Chicago, Bartolo Colon (7-9), who had been 0-4 in seven starts since beating the Dodgers on June 7, gave up two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings. Damaso Marte finished the six-hitter for his sixth save in 13 chances.
Orioles 12, Rangers 6
In Baltimore, Jay Gibbons homered and drove in four runs as Baltimore extended a winning streak to six for the first time since June 2000.
Mariners 10, Twins 8
In Minneapolis, Randy Winn capped a five-run sixth inning with a two-run homer as Seattle rallied past Minnesota.
The American League West-leading Mariners stopped a three-game losing streak, which matched their season high.
Red Sox 7, Tigers 4
In Boston, Derek Lowe pitched eight strong innings and Kevin Millar and Jason Varitek hit back-to-back homers in the fourth off Mike Maroth (5-14) as Boston beat Detroit.
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