J.J. Hardy hit a grand slam and Tony Gwynn Jr. played a fantastic all-around game to back a solid pitching performance by Ben Sheets and lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the sloppy New York Mets 12-3 on Saturday.
Bill Hall added three hits, Gwynn scored three times from the leadoff spot and the Brewers got two key runs on a sacrifice fly that turned into a double play for the Mets. Milwaukee has won 11 of 13 and 18 of 23 to improve Major League Baseball's best record to 25-11.
Sheets (3-2) yielded three runs and four hits in six innings.
Two hit batters helped Milwaukee load the bases in the eighth, and Gwynn hit an RBI single for his third hit. Hardy followed with his second career slam and third homer in four games to make it 9-3.
Phillies 11, Cubs 7
At Philadelphia, Greg Dobbs was 4-for-4, including a go-ahead two-run triple in the seventh inning for Philadelphia.
Carlos Ruiz and Chase Utley homered, Abraham Nunez drove in three runs and right fielder Shane Victorino threw two runners out at the plate, helping Philadelphia (17-19) win its third straight game.
After blowing a lead by allowing six runs in the top of the seventh, the Phillies answered with six runs against relievers Will Ohman and Bob Howry (0-3) in the bottom half.
Antonio Alfonseca (2-1) got the final two outs in the seventh.
Braves 9, Pirates 2
At Pittsburgh, Chuck James held slumping Pittsburgh hitless until Jason Bay singled in the seventh, Scott Thorman homered twice and Atlanta extended its winning streak to five.
James (4-3) allowed one hit in seven innings.
Pirates starter Tony Armas (0-3) gave up five runs -- four earned -- in two-plus innings.
Astros 10, Diamondbacks 4
At Houston, Luke Scott hit a three-run homer and Hunter Pence finished with three RBIs to back Houston ace Roy Oswalt.
Pence hit a solo homer and a two-run double, and Mike Lamb and Carlos Lee also had solo drives for the Astros.
Rockies 6, Giants 2
At Denver, Matt Holliday homered twice on slow curveballs from Barry Zito, Jeff Francis allowed four hits over eight innings and Colorado beat San Francisico.
Holliday went 2-for-4 with four RBIs in his seventh career multihomer game.
Francis (2-4) struck out five in his longest outing of the season.
Cardinals 5, Padres 0
At San Diego, Braden Looper pitched seven strong innings and So Taguchi hit a three-run double as St. Louis blanked San Diego.
Looper allowed just one baserunner to reach third base. He combined with Russ Springer and Tyler Johnson on a four-hitter.
Dodgers 7, Reds 3
At Los Angeles, Brad Penny allowed four hits over 6 1-3 innings to remain unbeaten for Los Angeles.
Penny (5-0) struck out four and retired 17 consecutive batters after giving up a one-out walk in the first to Josh Hamilton.
Nationals 7, Marlins 3
At Washington Ryan Zimmerman's grand slam off Jorge Julio with two outs in the bottom of the ninth lifted Washington over Florida.
The game started on Saturday and ended at 1:42am yesterday after more than three-and-a-half hours of rain delays. It gave the Nationals their first series victory of the season.
Florida led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Taylor Tankersley (2-1) got the loss.
Jon Rauch (2-0) earned the win by pitching the ninth.
Bartolo Colon matched a major league record by winning his 12th straight start against the Texas Rangers, pitching six innings in the Los Angeles Angels' 6-3 victory in the American League on Saturday.
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