Pittsburgh ? Just when Matt Morris’ injury threatened to unravel the St. Louis Cardinals’ suspect starting pitching staff, Garrett Stephenson came out of the bullpen to serve as a fill-in ace.

Stephenson made his second straight strong start by limiting Pittsburgh to five hits over eight innings and Tino Martinez homered, leading the Cardinals past the Pirates 4-3 Thursday.

Albert Pujols singled in the first to set up the Cardinals’ first run and extend the majors’ longest hitting streak this season to 28 games. St. Louis took three of four in the series and went 5-2 in Pittsburgh this season.

All but one of the Cardinals’ 11 hits was a single — Martinez led off the sixth with his 12th homer — as they won their fifth in six games and sixth in eight games.

Stephenson (7-11) allowed just one run for the third time in four starts. He beat the Expos 2-1 with a complete game July 29 and the Braves 3-1 Saturday, when he lasted seven innings.

“He didn’t throw the ball hard but he really pitched smart,” the Pirates’ Jose Hernandez said. “He kept going in and out, getting guys out with his changeup. He certainly didn’t overpower anybody, but he shut us down for the most part.”

It’s a big turnaround from a month ago when, with Stephenson coming off a stretch of five consecutive losses that dropped his record to 4-10, he was temporarily sent to the bullpen against his wishes.

“I still didn’t think I was pitching that bad,” Stephenson said. “Sometimes you’re going to catch breaks and sometimes you’re not. … Right now, the results are pretty good.”

Cubs 7, Astros 1

Chicago — Alex Gonzalez homered and drove in three runs, and five Chicago pitchers combined on a five-hitter. Chicago starter Matt Clement (10-10) lasted 5 2/3 innings, leaving after walking Adam Everett with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Dave Veres relieved and retired Morgan Ensberg on a pop out and the Cubs bullpen shut the Astros down for a second straight day.

Dodgers 6, Marlins 4

Miami — Adrian Beltre and Jeromy Burnitz hit two-run homers for Los Angeles.

Kevin Brown (12-6) pitched seven innings and allowed three runs, all on Miguel Cabrera’s homer in the second.

Los Angeles’ Shawn Green went 3-for-4 with a walk.

Phillies 4, Brewers 3

Philadelphia — Placido Polanco’s solo homer sparked a three-run rally, and Mike Williams earned his first save with the Phillies.

Randy Wolf (12-7) recorded his first victory since July 23, giving up two runs and six hits in seven innings. Williams walked two in the ninth before retiring Eric Young on a groundout to end the game.

Reds 3, Diamondbacks 2

Cincinnati — Aaron Harang won his second start, and D’Angelo Jimenez and Sean Casey delivered clutch singles as the Cincinnati Reds snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Diamondbacks.

The Reds hadn’t beaten Arizona since May 21, 2001. Harang allowed three hits and a season-high four walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Braves 7, Padres 4

Atlanta — Russ Ortiz became the first 17-game winner in the majors, Javy Lopez hit two more homers and the Atlanta Braves defeated the San Diego Padres.

Gary Sheffield extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a homer, tying his career high. Keeping with the theme of the night, Chipper Jones homered for the third game in a row — all since getting hitting tips from his father, a former college coach.

Ortiz (17-5) pitched into the eighth.

Mets, Giants ppd

New York — The game between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets scheduled for Thursday night was postponed because of the power blackout.