St. Louis ? Matt Morris was on his game again, keeping the St. Louis Cardinals close in the NL Central.

Morris pitched no-hit ball into the seventh inning and finished with a three-hitter in a 9-0 victory Sunday over Cincinnati.

After winning 39 games in 2001 and 2002, he’s struggling much of the year, and this victory gave him double digits in wins.

“As far as the stats and numbers, it’s a disappointing year for me because I set high goals,” Morris said. “But to keep this snowball rolling and to end hopefully in a playoff spot and do some damage in the playoffs, that’s the way I can save my season.”

Fernando Vina had a season-high four hits and Orlando Palmeiro, and Mike Matheny homered for St. Louis, which is 11/2 games out of first in the NL Central.

“I love this time of year,” Vina said. “I love the challenge, I love the pressure. I think that makes me play a little better.”

The Cardinals took two of three from the decimated Reds, who have lost 11 of 14 with a roster filled with young players.

The Reds had only one baserunner in the first six innings, that coming on Tim Hummel’s second-inning walk.

Mets 5, Phillies 4 (11)

Philadelphia — Marlon Byrd’s bases-loaded single in the 11th inning gave the Phillies their sixth straight victory.

The Phillies have won eight of 10 following a six-game losing skid and hold a one-game lead over Florida in the wild-card race.

Byrd went 8-for-16 in the series and drove in the winning run twice. Nick Punto’s RBI single in the ninth tied it at 4 for the Phillies, who had been 0-51 when trailing after eight innings.

Padres 7, Astros 1

San Diego — Brian Giles hit his first home run for San Diego. Giles homered off Wade Miller (12-12) in the first inning.

Gary Bennett hit a three-run double in the sixth, and Ramon Vazquez had an RBI single that gave San Diego a 7-1 lead. Jake Peavy (11-10) beat the Astros for the second straight start.

Cubs 9, Brewers 2

Milwaukee — Randall Simon homered twice and drove in five runs, and Sammy Sosa added a solo shot to help Kerry Wood (12-11) win for the first time in a month.

Wood gave up eight hits and two runs in seven innings and had six strikeouts to raise his major-league-leading total to 234.

Sosa hit his 34th home run to lead off the seventh for a 7-2 lead.

Braves 2, Pirates 1

Atlanta– Javy Lopez hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh, and Mike Hampton pitched four-hit ball over eight innings. Lopez also hit a two-out double in the fourth before his leadoff homer in the seventh. Hampton (13-7) snapped a two-game losing streak, allowing just one hit over his final five innings.

Dodgers 6, Rockies 2

Denver– Adrian Beltre drove in three runs and had four hits. Shawn Green had two RBIs including a solo homer, his 14th of the season. Eric Gagne recorded three outs for his 49th save this season and 57th straight dating to last season, both records.

Marlins 3, Expos 1

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Dontrelle Willis pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning. Willis (12-6) struck out six in seven-plus innings. Braden Looper finished the win for his 27th save in 31 chances.

D’backs 9, Giants 6

Atlanta — Pinch-hitter Danny Bautista hit a tiebreaking two-run single to highlight a five-run eighth. The winner was Edgar Gonzalez (2-1), who pitched one inning. John Patterson pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth for his first save.

Saturday’s late game

Astros 10, Padres 4

San Diego — Morgan Ensberg drove in four runs, including a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning, and Geoff Blum hit a three-run double in the ninth.