Cincinnati ? Jimmy Haynes had never gotten three hits in a game. He’d never beaten the Houston Astros, either.

The second breakthrough meant a whole lot more than the first.

Cincinnati pitcher Jimmy Haynes throws in the first innings of Monday's game against Houston. The Reds won 7-5.

Haynes pitched six strong innings and went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 victory Monday night that kept them on their roll.

The Reds won for the fifth time in six games, taking advantage of Astros starter Carlos Hernandez (5-4), who struggled with his control and needed 47 pitches to get four outs before leaving the game.

Haynes, a .131 career hitter, drove in a run with a squeeze bunt that fell for a single, had a run-scoring double and a single to center. He became the first Reds pitcher to get three hits in a game since Ron Villone did it on Sept. 29, 2000 at St. Louis.

“I’ll take the three hits, but I’d rather pitch well,” Haynes said.

Until Monday night, the right-hander had never pitched well in five career appearances against the Astros 0-5 with a 10.13 earned run average. This time, he gave up two runs in six innings on a 92-degree evening, then turned a 7-2 lead over to the bullpen.

“I haven’t had real good success against this team in the past,” said Haynes (9-6). “Usually it’s been one big inning that gets me. In the past, I’d pitch three good innings and then have the one big inning.”

The Reds turned four double plays behind Haynes to prevent a big inning. Astros leadoff hitter Julio Lugo grounded into two of them, including one with the bases loaded in the fifth.

Both teams wore old-style jerseys to commemorate Riverfront Stadium’s opening on June 30, 1970. The stadium will be torn down after this season to make room for a new ballpark under construction beyond the left-field wall.

There was one glitch: The Reds’ uniforms were off by two years.

The Astros wore gray uniforms that matched their 1970 road outfit, but the Reds suited up in the predominantly white uniforms worn by the Big Red Machine. Those weren’t introduced until 1972.

Braves 7, Expos 5

Atlanta Matt Franco hit a grand slam in the fifth inning, and Atlanta’s bullpen pitched six scoreless innings as Atlanta won for the 11th time in 12 games. Kerry Ligtenberg (2-3) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. He replaced Tom Glavine, who left in the third inning with a blister on his index finger. Relievers Darren Holmes, Tim Spooneybarger and Chris Hammond held Montreal in check until the ninth, when John Smoltz came in to get his 28th save in 31 chances.

Phillies 6, Mets 3

Philadelphia Brandon Duckworth pitched 71/3 strong innings and Travis Lee homered and drove in four runs as Philadelphia beat New York. Duckworth (5-5) was masterful at the start, retiring the side in order in five of the first six innings. Duckworth allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter. Mesa closed out the game for his 21st save in 25 chances.

Brewers 2, Pirates 0

Pittsburgh Alex Sanchez broke up Kip Wells’ no-hit bid with one out in the eighth inning, and Jamey Wright pitched a three-hitter as Milwaukee shut out Pittsburgh. Wright (2-6) held the Pirates to three singles as he won for the first time since beating San Diego on May 24. It was his second shutout and first this season. He struck out four and walked four. Wells (9-5) struck out Wright for the first out of the eighth before Sanchez lined an 0-1 pitch over third baseman Aramis Ramirez for a single.

Cardinals 7, Padres 3

St. Louis Woody Williams hit his second career home run and won for the fourth time in five starts as St. Louis beat San Diego. Jim Edmonds, Miguel Cairo and Albert Pujols also homered off rookie Oliver Perez, 20, the youngest player in the major leagues. Williams and Cairo hit consecutive homers in the third. Williams (6-3) gave up three runs on five hits in eight innings in 96-degree weather with seven strikeouts.

Marlins 11, Cubs 1

Miami Michael Tejera allowed one run over seven innings and drove in two runs as Florida routed Chicago. Tejera (4-1) won his third straight start, striking out a career-high nine. After homering in his last start against Philadelphia, Tejera went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles as the Marlins won for only the third time in their last nine games.

Giants 8, Rockies 6

Denver Jeff Kent hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning as San Francisco rallied from a 6-5 deficit after eight innings, but Colorado closer Jose Jimenez (2-5) hit leadoff hitter David Bell and Ramon Martinez followed with a single. Kent, who is 13-for-24 with 15 RBIs since moving from cleanup to third in the lineup five days ago, then hit Jimenez’s first pitch to left field for his 14th of the season.

Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 0

Phoenix Hideo Nomo outpitched Randy Johnson and also hit a go-ahead double as Los Angeles beat Arizona, as all four Dodgers runs came with two outs. Nomo (9-5) gave up five hits in eight innings, while Eric Gagne recorded his 30th save, beating the old record of 83 games set by Bobby Thigpen and Lee Smith.