Milwaukee ? The Atlanta Braves, baseball’s best team, sure are glad they don’t have to face the sad-sack Milwaukee Brewers more often, because slugger Richie Sexson feasts on their pitching staff.

Sexson homered twice, leading the Brewers to a 4-3 victory Tuesday over the Braves. In his only other multihomer game this season, Sexson had three homers in a 12-5 victory April 25 at Atlanta.

“Just timing,” Sexson said. “By no means is Atlanta Braves pitching just easy money.”

His teammates can attest to that. They were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, a matter made moot by Sexson’s two big swings.

“He gets the ball out over the plate, he’s going to crush it,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s hit us real good this year. He hits a lot of people good.”

With Milwaukee down 3-2 in the seventh and a runner on first after Geoff Jenkins drew a walk, Sexson hit a 430-foot shot off Darren Holmes (1-2) that hit the scoreboard in center field.

He reached 30 homers for the third time in his career with a 425-foot solo shot off starter Horacio Ramirez in the fifth that gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

Mike DeJean (3-7) picked up the victory with two innings of hitless relief.

Marlins 4, Cardinals 0

St. Louis — Brad Penny allowed four hits in seven sharp innings as Florida beat Woody Williams and St. Louis. Juan Encarnacion was 3-for-4, and Miguel Cabrera and Alex Gonzalez each drove in a run for the Marlins, who have won eight of 10.

Penny (10-8) tied his career high for wins, striking out five and walking three. His biggest scare came in the fourth when Tino Martinez walked following Pujols’ double and Scott Rolen flied out to the wall in left.

Mets 10, Astros 1

Milwaukee's Richie Sexson, right, celebrates with Geoff Jenkins after Sexson hit a two-run home run. Sexson hit two home runs in the Brewers' 4-3 win Tuesday over Atlanta in Milwaukee.

Houston — Vance Wilson’s three-run homer keyed a seven-run fifth inning, and Al Leiter (11-5) had another strong outing for New York. Astros starter Ron Villone (3-2) allowed six runs on seven hits.

D’backs 8, Expos 5

Phoenix — Shea Hillenbrand homered and drove in four runs for Arizona. The Expos chased Randy Johnson (2-4) with a four-run rally in the sixth inning.

Giants 3, Pirates 0

San Francisco — Jason Schmidt won his fourth straight start with seven innings of four-hit ball, and Jose Cruz Jr. had a two-run single as San Francisco beat Pittsburgh. Schmidt (12-4) made quick work of his former Pittsburgh teammates, retiring 16 of the first 18 hitters he faced.

Cubs 3, Padres 0

San Diego — Mark Prior returned from the disabled list and won his first start in his hometown, combining with four relievers on a three-hitter for the Cubs. Prior (9-5) allowed two hits in six innings.

Phillies 7, Rockies 2

Denver — Bobby Abreu and Ricky Ledee homered, and Brett Myers pitched into the eighth inning to lead Philadelphia past Colorado. Myers (11-6) allowed two runs and eight hits.

Dodgers 5, Reds 2

Los Angeles — Kevin Brown (11-5) won for the first time in seven starts, and Alex Cora homered as Los Angeles beat Cincinnati. Paul Quantrill pitched a scoreless eighth, and Eric Gagne got three outs for his 44th consecutive save and 36th this season.