Philadelphia ? St. Louis manager Tony La Russa expected a high-scoring game where the bullpens would get stretched thin.

Instead, the Cardinals’ relievers kept it under control.

Hector Luna’s three-run homer capped a five-run first inning and the Cardinals received three scoreless innings from five relievers for a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

“It looked like it would be a 12-10 game,” La Russa said. “Our bullpen had a great series. This is a tough park to pitch in. This is a tough lineup. You can only pat them so much. This is May and they’re going to be out there until the end.”

The Cardinals quickly ended Randy Wolf’s 21-inning scoreless streak and improved to 9-3 on the road.

It’s their best road start since they were 10-2 in 1946. They won the three-game series thanks to nine scoreless innings overall from the bullpen.

Jeff Suppan (3-3) pitched six shaky innings, allowing six hits and four runs. But the Cardinals got a break in the first inning on an error and another misplayed ball which helped score four unearned runs.

Jason Isringhausen got four outs for his fourth save. He came in the eighth with runners on first and second and two out, and got pinch-hitter Jason Michaels to strike out looking.

Michaels was furious over the call and was quickly tossed by plate umpire Dana DeMuth, who also ejected Phillies manager Larry Bowa in the ninth when he came out to argue after a close call at the plate.

Reds 9, Brewers 6

Cincinnati — Dropped below the cleanup spot for the first time in 14 years, Ken Griffey Jr. homered and drove in a season-high five runs to send Cincinnati past Milwaukee. Griffey hit fifth, his lowest slot in the lineup since June 22, 1990, for Seattle at Texas.

Griffey missed the previous two starts because of a tight right hamstring and began the night hitting only .226.

But he hit a two-run homer, his fourth of the year, in the sixth inning. The Reds then capitalized on three errors during a five-run rally in the seventh, with Griffey hitting a two-run single and later scoring on Jeff Bennett’s wild pitch.

Mets 2, Giants 1, 11 innings

New York — Mike Piazza hit another big home run to make sure Barry Bonds’ return to the Giants’ lineup didn’t stop San Francisco’s latest skid. Piazza homered off Jim Brower with two outs in the 11th inning, giving New York a victory and a three-game sweep of the last-place Giants.

A night earlier, Piazza hit his 352nd home run as a catcher, passing Carlton Fisk and setting a major league record he’s coveted for years.

Bonds, who had missed three starts because of a sinus infection, was 0-for-3 with a pair of intentional walks. Bonds didn’t threaten to clear the fences, flying out in the second and seventh innings around a foulout in the fourth — Piazza reached over the railing by the Mets’ dugout to make the catch.

Expos 3, Rockies 1

Montreal — Livan Hernandez pitched a five-hitter for Montreal’s first complete game of the season, escaping a late jam to give the Expos a victory over Colorado. Hernandez breezed through the first eight innings.

Dodgers 9, Marlins 4

Miami — Shawn Green homered twice and drove in four runs to back Kazuhisa Ishii, who earned his fifth win. Juan Encarnacion homered and knocked in three runs for Los Angeles, Milton Bradley hit a solo shot and Eric Gagne extended his major league record to 72 consecutive saves.

Padres 7, Braves 3

Atlanta — Khalil Greene led off the game with a home run and Jay Payton also connected in the first inning, sending Brian Lawrence and San Diego over Atlanta.

Cubs 11, Diamondbacks 3

Chicago — Derrek Lee went 5-for-5 and drove in five runs and Matt Clement won his fifth straight start, leading Chicago over Arizona. Lee homered in setting a career high for hits. His three-run shot keyed a five-run fifth inning for the Cubs, who were shut out Wednesday and had managed only 22 runs in their previous nine games.

Astros 5, Pirates 2

Houston — Wade Miller shut out Pittsburgh for 71/3 innings and Houston completed a three-game sweep. The Pirates have won only one of their last 14 games at Houston. Miller (4-2) gave up six hits.