St. Louis ? Derrek Lee matched his career best for home runs with 65 games to spare. Of more concern to him is whether the Chicago Cubs can use the rest of the season to make a playoff run.

“It feels good,” Lee said after hitting his major-league-leading 32nd homer in a 6-5 victory Saturday over the St. Louis Cardinals. “But it was a huge game for us. We just have to find a way to put it together and keep it together.”

The Cubs are 49-48 and in third place in the NL Central, 13 games behind the Cardinals.

“We’ve got to start winning eight or nine out of 10 to get into these playoffs,” Lee said.

Jeromy Burnitz and Aramis Ramirez also connected, and Ramirez had three hits to help the Cubs end a three-game losing streak in 93-degree heat by beating an injury-ravaged lineup that featured only three opening-day starters.

Albert Pujols was scratched because of a mild left-shoulder strain, although he drew an intentional walk as a pinch-hitter in the seventh ahead of Mark Grudzielanek’s RBI single that cut the deficit to 6-5 and then stayed in the game.

Pujols called missing only his third start of the season a “miscommunication” after early batting practice and said his performance proved it.

“You didn’t see me swing?” Pujols said. “I feel fine. Like I say, can you guys change the subject?”

Pujols’ liner to shortstop with runners on first and second turned into a game-ending double play when Abraham Nunez was caught off second.

“I was just trying to think lucky,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. “We haven’t had many breaks here.”

The Cardinals' Matt Morris regroups after a Jeremy Burnitz home run. The Cubs beat St. Louis, 6-5, Saturday in St. Louis.

Still, the Cardinals have the NL’s best record at 62-35 and a double-digit lead in the NL Central.

Mets 7, Dodgers 5

New York – Jose Reyes had four hits, including his major-league-leading 10th triple, to lead Pedro Martinez and New York to a comeback victory over Los Angeles. Reyes scored three runs and stole two bases.

Phillies 2, Padres 0

Philadelphia – Chase Utley homered for the second straight game, and rookie Robinson Tejeda allowed only two singles in six innings to help Philadelphia defeat San Diego. The NL West-leading Padres lost their sixth straight.

Nationals 4, Astros 2

Washington – Tony Armas allowed only one hit in seven innings, and slumping Washington capitalized on Willy Taveras’ misplay of Carlos Baerga’s bases-loaded fly to center in the first inning to beat Houston.

Taveras came in on the ball, then retreated as it sailed over his head. The three-run double gave the Nationals all the runs they needed to break a three-game skid and win for just the fifth time in 17 games.

Armas (5-4) allowed only a two-run homer by Lance Berkman in the sixth to help end the Astros’ six-game winning streak

Pirates 5, Rockies 3

Pittsburgh – Dave Williams limited Colorado to one hit over six innings, and rookies Ryan Doumit and Brad Eldred drove in all but one of Pittsburgh’s runs. Williams (8-7) was only 2-5 with a 6.91 ERA in PNC Park before sending the Rockies to their seventh loss in 10 games. He permitted only Desi Relaford’s double in the fifth.

Brewers 11, Reds 7

Cincinnati – Lyle Overbay hit two homers, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-high six runs as Milwaukee roughed up Brandon Claussen and beat Cincinnati. Carlos Lee also homered.

Braves 3, D’backs 2

Phoenix – Andruw Jones led off the ninth inning with his 30th home run to lift Atlanta over Arizona. Chris Reitsma (2-2) pitched the final 12â3 innings.

Marlins 16, Giants 4

San Francisco – Carlos Delgado and Miguel Cabrera hit back-to-back homers in a five-run fifth inning, Josh Beckett won in his return from the disabled list, and Florida beat San Francisco.