Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam and Carlos Zambrano pitched eight sharp innings, sending the Chicago Cubs to a 10-1 rout of the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
Cliff Floyd had three hits and an RBI in his first start at Shea Stadium since spending the previous four seasons with the Mets, and Chicago handed John Maine (5-1) his first loss of the year.
Daryle Ward hit a two-run double in the first, Michael Barrett doubled twice and drove in two runs, and left fielder Alfonso Soriano threw out a runner at the plate in the second to keep the score 3-0.
Ramirez's seventh career slam, off Scott Schoeneweis, broke it open in a six-run sixth. Barrett added a run-scoring double and Jacque Jones had an RBI single in Chicago's largest victory of the season. The Cubs finished with 15 hits.
Zambrano (4-3) allowed six hits, walked three and struck out three. He has won three of his past four starts.
Phillies 4, Brewers 3
At Philadelphia, Carlos Ruiz hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth to lift the Phillies.
Brett Myers allowed Johnny Estrada's tying solo homer in the ninth for his first blown save, but Ruiz connected off Derrick Turnbow (1-2) for his first career game-winning homer.
Braves 6, Nationals 2
At Washington, Edgar Renteria hit two home runs, Tim Hudson allowed three hits over seven innings, and the Braves ended the Nationals' four-game winning streak.
Renteria went 3-for-5, homering in the first and seventh innings as the Braves snapped a two-game losing streak. Atlanta has won six of its last eight.
Marlins 9, Pirates 3
At Pittsburgh, Dan Uggla drove in four runs while hitting two of Florida's four homers, helping Sergio Mitre win for the first time in more than a year.
Hanley Ramirez also homered while reaching base five times for Florida, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Jeremy Hermida hit a solo shot as the Marlins won for only the fifth time in their last 18 games in Pittsburgh.
Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 0
At Denver, Randy Johnson allowed one hit over six innings and outdueled Jason Hirsh.
For the second straight start, Johnson (1-2) looked like the Big Unit who won five Cy Young awards. Johnson, who underwent back surgery last October, struck out nine and walked none in winning for the first time since his return to Arizona after two frustrating seasons with the Yankees.
Astros 6, Giants 5, 10 innings
At Houston, Carlos Lee hit a solo home run, his second of the game, in the 10th inning off Jonathan Sanchez to lift the Astros.
The Giants rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but Hunter Pence tied it with a two-run drive off Armando Benitez. Lee then won it with his ninth homer of the season.
Reds 2, Padres 1, 12 innings
At San Diego, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a leadoff homer in the 12th inning to snap a four-game losing streak as Cincinnati edged past San Diego.
Griffey hit his eighth of the season and career homer No. 571 off Heath Bell (0-2) on a full-count fastball. Griffey has hit all of his home runs this season in the last 18 games.
The Reds won for just the third time in 14 games and also broke a six-game road losing streak,
David Weathers (1-2) pitched two perfect innings and Mike Stanton retired the Padres in order in the 12th to finish off the two-hitter and pick up his first save.
Griffey's big hit came after the Padres tied it in the eighth on a balk by Cincinnati's Aaron Harang. The right-hander had allowed just two hits when he committed the balk.
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