Los Angeles ? Darren Dreifort certainly appeared to be on his game, striking out a career-high 12.

Yet, he credited catcher David Ross for helping him Thursday in the Dodgers’ 4-3 victory over Colorado, the seventh straight win for Los Angeles.

“I really didn’t feel like that was my best stuff or I was feeling that great, but for whatever reason it worked. It kept them off-balance,” Dreifort said. “David Ross did a heck of a job calling the ballgame, and we got ahead of a lot of hitters.”

Brian Jordan went 3-for-3 with a tiebreaking single as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep. They are on their longest winning streak since taking nine straight from June 26 to July 4, 2001.

“We’ve been coming up with some clutch hits in the late innings, and pitching and defense has been outstanding over this last week,” Dreifort said. “As long as we keep everything going at the same time, I think we should keep rolling.”

Dreifort (4-3) won his third straight decision, giving up three runs, two hits and four walks in six innings. He struck out four in the second inning, when pitcher Aaron Cook reached on a wild pitch after fanning, and struck out the side swinging in the sixth.

“They’re playing good baseball,” Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. “They’re pitching well, finding ways to capitalize on mistakes and putting together timely hits. That’s winning baseball. Hopefully, we can get home and start playing some winning baseball of our own.”

Pitching for the sixth time in seven days, Eric Gagne worked the ninth, striking out two, for his 18th save and 26th in a row dating to last season. He has saved the Dodgers’ last six victories.

“We’re still looking for some opportunity where one knockout punch gets applied every now and then,” Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. “It would be nice to get that three-run homer and take the onus off our bullpen.”

The Rockies fell to 6-19 on the road, and have lost 15 of their last 17 games.

Cubs 3, Pirates 2

Pittsburgh — Tom Goodwin, getting an infrequent start, hit a go-ahead solo homer in the ninth off Scott Sauerbeck (0-4), his 24th career homer in 14 seasons. Chicago ended a season-high three-game losing streak. The Pirates have lost 12 of 16 overall and have yet to win any of their eight series this season in PNC Park, where they are 7-17. Mike Remlinger (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory, and Joe Borowski pitched the ninth for his eighth save.

Expos 8, Marlins 2

Montreal — Livan Hernandez (4-2) scattered seven hits in his first complete game for the Expos, and Endy Chavez hit a three-run double in a four-run second as Montreal completed a three-game sweep. Florida has lost six straight, dropping to 3-7 under new manager Jack McKeon. Michael Tejera allowed seven runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.

Mets 6, Phillies 3

New York — Pinch-hitter Timo Perez delivered a two-out, two-run double off Vincente Padilla (3-6) that broke a 3-all tie in the sixth. Pedro Astacio (3-1) gave up five hits but was in frequent trouble, allowing the leadoff man to reach base in four of six innings.

Braves 9, Reds 4

Cincinnati — Javy Lopez homered twice, tripled and drove in three runs as Atlanta avoided a series sweep. Lopez tripled and scored in the second, hit a two-run shot off Ryan Dempster (1-4) in the third, then led off the sixth with his 10th homer, the most among NL catchers.

Astros 5, Cardinals 2

Houston — Jeriome Robertson won for the first time in more than a month, Jeff Kent had a pair of RBI doubles and Adam Everett hit his first major-league home run as the Houston Astros defeated the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros have won five of eight games this season against the defending NL Central champion Cardinals.