Houston ? Morgan Ensberg hadn’t tried to pull off a squeeze play in a long time.

“I squeezed a few times in college,” he said. “I hadn’t done it as a pro.”

Ensberg was successful with his bunt, driving in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to lead the Houston Astros over the Florida Marlins, 5-2, Sunday for a three-game sweep.

“I wasn’t surprised we used it then,” Ensberg said. “That’s definitely a play that can be used there.”

With the score 2-all, Brad Ausmus singled off Tim Spooneybarger (1-1) leading off the eighth and took third on Richard Hidalgo’s single.

Ensberg bunted toward third to drive in Ausmus and reached on the single.

“I wasn’t nervous or anything,” Ensberg said. “You really concentrate on the pitcher bringing his arm all the way back to be sure he isn’t throwing over to third. The most important thing for us in that situation is to not show it too early.”

The bunt caught Florida off guard.

“We were looking for it, but not on that pitch,” Marlins manager Jeff Torborg said. “We were trying to figure out what count they might use it on, and we were one pitch off. They did it in spring training, so we knew they could use it.”

After the score, Lance Berkman reached on an infield single to first. When Lee hesitated and then made a bad throw to first for an error, Hidalgo scored for a 4-2 lead. Braden Looper relieved, and Jose Vizcaino hit an RBI grounder.

“It was a great play,” Derrek Lee said. “The hitter got the bunt down, and the runner timed it perfect, and it worked out good for them.”

Cardinals 6, Expos 2

Houston's Morgan Ensberg (14) puts down a bunt as teammate Brad Ausmus, right, breaks for home in a suicide squeeze play in the eighth inning of the Astros' 5-2 victory over the Marlins. Florida catcher Mike Redmond is at left. Ausmus scored the go-ahead run in the game Sunday in Houston.

St. Louis — Matt Morris pitched a six-hitter, and Scott Rolen hit a two-run homer as St. Louis wrapped up a perfect six-game homestand. The NL Central leaders have a season-best seven-game winning streak, starting with a 20-inning victory a week ago at Florida.

Mets 5, Brewers 3

Milwaukee — Cliff Floyd hit a grand slam off Matt Kinney (2-2) in the sixth, and Al Leiter (4-1) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings. He hasn’t lost to Milwaukee since June 27, 1994, while with Toronto.

Cubs 5, Rockies 4 (10)

Chicago — Alex Gonzalez homered off Steve Reed (2-1) in the 10th inning. Ramon Martinez hit a solo homer, and Hee Seop Choi drove in a pair of runs for Chicago, 3-0 in extra-inning games.

Dodgers 3, Pirates 2

Los Angeles — Kevin Brown (3-1) beat Pittsburgh for the fourth straight time, allowing four hits in eight innings and walking none for the second consecutive start. Eric Gagne finished for his 10th save in as many chances.

Giants 6, Reds 1

San Francisco — Edgardo Alfonzo homered and drove in four runs, and Kirk Rueter extended his dominance of Cincinnati. Rueter (3-1) gave up one run and four hits in six innings, improving to 10-1 lifetime against the Reds. The Giants kept up their best start in 30 years despite winning for just the third time in eight games.

Phillies 3, Padres 1

San Diego — Randy Wolf pitched into the seventh inning, reached base twice and scored once as Philadelphia beat the punchless Padres.

Braves 7, D’backs 4 (11)

Phoenix — Rafael Furcal’s foul pop led to two runs in the 11th inning.

Late Saturday Game

D’backs 7, Braves 6

Phoenix — Quinton McCracken hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning and Arizona rallied past Atlanta, ending the Braves’ six-game winning streak late Saturday night.