The Philadelphia Phillies marked a dubious milestone in US sport as they suffered the 10,000th defeat in franchise history on Sunday.
They became the first US pro sports club to reach the 10,000-loss plateau -- or trough -- in front of a sell-out home crowd against the St Louis Cardinals.
Adam Wainwright threw seven scoreless innings for the Cardinals, who won 10-2 to avoid being swept in the three-game series.
Philadelphia posted a combined 23 runs and 37 hits in taking the first two games of the series -- and putting off the unwelcome achievement -- but could not solve Wainwright.
Wainwright's outing provided some rest for an overworked bullpen, which totaled 12 innings of action in two days.
A converted closer, Wainwright held the Phillies -- who have scored the most runs in the National League -- to just six hits, recording five strikeouts and two walks.
As impressive as Wainwright was on the mound, the St Louis offense was just as good. St Louis exploded for 10 runs, 14 hits and six home runs off the NL's worst pitching staff by ERA (4.88). David Eckstein was the only starter not to record a base hit.
Albert Pujols had three hits, including a pair of home runs, and knocked in three runs.
The 2005 NL Most Valuable Player, the Dominican slugger now has four homers in his last 12 at-bats.
Pujols has homered in three consecutive games after coming into the series with a career-worst streak of 72 at-bats without a home run.
cubs 7, astros 6
Derrek Lee broke a streak of 126 at-bats without a home run with a three-run shot in the second inning to help the Chicago Cubs complete a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-6 win.
The Cubs have won 15 of their past 19 games and swept the Astros in a three-game series at Wrigley Field for the first time since May 1984.
Ryan Theriot and Angel Pagan also homered for the Cubs.
Mets 5, Reds 2
In New York, Jose Reyes homered, Oliver Perez won in his return from the disabled list and New York got another big hit from Lastings Milledge in a victory.
Reyes connected for the second time in the series, helping the Mets take three of four from Cincinnati. Major League Baseball's National League East Division leaders.
The Reds, who have won eight of 10 at home, remained one and a half games ahead of second-place Atlanta.
In other National League action on Sunday it was:
* Dodgers 5, Giants 3
* Braves 5, Pirates 1
* Brewers 4, Rockies 3
* Marlins 5, Nationals 3
* Padres 4, Diamondbacks 0
Results of Sunday's American League games:
* Baltimore 5, White Sox 3
* Toronto 2, Boston 1
* NY Yankees 7, Tampa Bay 6
* Minnesota 4, Oakland 3
* Cleveland 5, Kansas City 3
* Detroit 11, Seattle 7
* Texas 5, LA Angels 4 (11 innings)
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