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NATIONAL LEAGUE: Utley homers again as Phillies defeat Colorado

Chicago Cubs center-fielder Felix Pie, left, and right-fielder Kosuke Fukudome of Japan celebrate their win over the New York Mets at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday. The Cubs won 7-1. PHOTO: AP

Now that there's no playoff pressure, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies with relative ease.

Chase Utley homered for the fifth straight game, Jason Werth hit an inside-the-park home run and Philadelphia rallied for a 9-5 win over Colorado on Monday night in the first meeting between the teams since the Rockies- first-round sweep last October.

Utley hit his major league-leading ninth home run - his sixth in five games.

Garrett Atkins and Yorvit Torrealba homered for the Rockies, who blew an eighth-inning lead for the second straight day.

The Phillies mounted the winning rally off Taylor Buchholz (1-1) with two outs and no one on. Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell singled, and Pedro Feliz walked. Brian Fuentes came on in relief, and Carlos Ruiz doubled down the right-field line to drive in two runs.

Philadelphia added three runs in the top of the ninth off Micah Bowie on doubles by Werth and T.J. Bohn. Rudy Seanez (2-1) got the win in relief.

Braves 7, Nationals 3

At Atlanta, Tim Hudson pitched six scoreless innings before tiring and drove in two runs, leading the Braves past Washington for Atlanta's fifth straight win.

The Braves have allowed only six runs during their winning streak, which pushed them above .500 for the first time this season at 10-9.

Diamondbacks 4, Giants 2

At Phoenix, Eric Byrnes hit the go-ahead, two-run homer, and Micah Owings became the season's third four-game winner when Arizona beat San Francisco.

Arizona is 13-3 against NL West foes.

Cubs 7, Mets 1

At Chicago, Carlos Zambrano pitched seven strong innings, and Aramis Ramirez and Felix Pie homered as the surging Chicago beat New York for its 12th win in 15 games.

Cardinals 4, Brewers 3

At Milwaukee, Skip Schumaker doubled in the go-ahead run in the ninth and St. Louis overcame a fielding blunder in the eighth to beat Milwaukee in the opener of a two-game set.

Astros 10, Padres 3

At Houston, Roy Oswalt won consecutive starts for the first time since August, and Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman drove in three runs each to lead Houston over San Diego.

Dodgers 9, Reds 3

At Cincinnati, Nomar Garciaparra hit his first home run since Sept. 14 and drove in three runs, Brad Penny stayed perfect at Great American Ball Park and Los Angeles beat Cincinnati.

Marlins 10, Pirates 4

At Pittsburgh, Hanley Ramirez, Josh Willingham and Dan Uggla homered and Mark Hendrickson, normally one of the majors- worst hitters, had two hits while pitching eight innings in Florida's win over slumping Pittsburgh.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

AP, BOSTON

Clay Buchholz pitched six shutout innings, David Ortiz drove in three runs with a pair of doubles and the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with an 8-3 win on Monday.

Julio Lugo went 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI as the Red Sox scored at least five runs for the ninth straight game. Boston has won nine of 10 overall.

Tigers 5, Blue Jays 1

In Toronto, Major League Baseball rookie Armando Galarraga won his second straight start, Edgar Renteria homered and the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays.