St. Louis ? Even after getting a home run, single and double in his first three at-bats, Mark Grudzielanek wasn’t thinking about hitting for the cycle until teammate Albert Pujols began rooting him on.

“He was saying, ‘You’ve got to do it, you’ve got to do it, you’ve got to go for it,'” Grudzielanek said after helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-3, Wednesday. “I didn’t think the opportunity would come, but it sure did. It’s weird how it happens.”

Grudzielanek became the first Cardinals player to hit for the cycle in nine seasons, and Chris Carpenter equaled his career best with 12 strikeouts for St. Louis, which has won 11 of 12.

Jim Edmonds had two RBIs for the Cardinals, who at 14-5 are off to their best start since the 1968 team opened with that record. The first four in the batting order were 7-for-9 in the first four innings against Victor Santos (1-1) while building a 5-0 lead.

The Cardinals won their fifth straight over the Brewers, with their current streak beginning with a three-game sweep April 15-17 at Milwaukee. It was the first game for St. Louis since closer Jason Isringhausen, who’s 7-for-7 in save opportunities, went on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right abdomen muscle.

“The Cards have had success against everybody this year, not just us,” the Brewers’ Geoff Jenkins said. “You have to be on top of your game.”

Julian Tavarez, who entered the season with 17 career saves — four last year — struck out the side in the ninth for his first save.

“I know I can’t get too comfortable out there,” Tavares said. “It belongs to the big man, Jason, one of the best closers in the game. And I hope he can come back soon.”

Grudzielanek, batting in the No. 1 spot for the second time this year, hit the second leadoff homer of his career to kick-start a three-run first. He singled and scored in the second, had an RBI double in the fourth and tripled off Jorge De La Rosa in the sixth.

Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3

Los Angeles — Luis Gonzalez hit a tiebreaking two-run single in a three-run seventh inning to help Arizona beat Los Angeles for its sixth straight victory.

The Diamondbacks took over the NL West lead from Los Angeles with their second straight three-game sweep. They swept only one three-game set last year and never won more than two in a row on any road trip while finishing a major-league-worst 51-111.

Pirates 2, Astros 0

Pittsburgh — Kip Wells allowed four hits over seven innings, and Jose Mesa earned his 300th career save as Pittsburgh won its first series of the season, beating Houston for the Astros’ fifth consecutive loss. The Astros didn’t score in either game of the weather-shortened two-game series.

Phillies 3, Nationals 0

Washington — Jimmy Rollins broke a scoreless tie in the ninth with a leadoff homer, and Brett Myers pitched seven scoreless innings in Philadelphia’s victory over Washington.

Rollins pulled a pitch just over the right-field fence and into the Phillies’ bullpen, spoiling a masterful pitching performance by Esteban Loaiza (0-2), who faced just three batters over the minimum through eight innings.

Giants 10, Padres 3

San Francisco — Kirk Rueter finally received enough run support for his first win of the year, and Pedro Feliz hit a three-run homer on his 30th birthday in San Francisco’s victory over San Diego.

Jason Ellison had a triple among his three hits and scored three runs for the Giants, who took two of three from the Padres.

Cubs 8, Reds 7

Chicago — Derrek Lee had two home runs and six RBIs, and Corey Patterson hit a one-out homer in the ninth inning to give Chicago a victory over Cincinnati. Patterson connected off Matt Belisle (1-3) after Neifi Perez popped up a bunt to start the inning.

Lee went 4-for-4, hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning and a three-run shot in the seventh that tied the game at 7. Glendon Rusch worked a perfect eighth and LaTroy Hawkins (1-1) a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts.

Braves 8, Mets 4

New York — Andruw Jones broke out of a big slump with a homer and three hits, and Mike Hampton stayed unbeaten with another solid outing to lead Atlanta over New York. Wilson Betemit hit his first major-league home run, and Eddie Perez also connected for the Braves.