Philadelphia ? Brett Myers is earning respect all around the National League.

Pat Burrell had three hits and two RBIs, and Myers had another solid outing, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-4 victory Thursday over the St. Louis Cardinals.

“He’s the real deal,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s got a lot of weapons.”

Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds homered for the NL Central-leading Cardinals, who lost a road series for just the second time this season.

Myers (4-2) gave up three runs and six hits, striking out nine in seven innings. His earned-run average rose from 1.63 to 1.87 as he allowed more than two runs for only the second time in nine starts.

“I tried to stop overthrowing and make good pitches,” said Myers, who has pitched well this season after struggling last year. “I made two mistakes, and they hit them out.”

It was an important victory for the last-place Phillies, who begin a difficult nine-game road trip against Baltimore, Florida and Atlanta.

Chase Utley’s infield single drove in the go-ahead run against Jason Marquis in the fourth inning, giving the Phillies a 4-3 lead.

Marquis (5-3) nearly worked out of a jam after Jimmy Rollins and Bobby Abreu walked and pulled off a double steal. The right-hander struck out Burrell for the second out, but Utley beat Marquis to the bag on a grounder to first base, scoring Rollins.

Philadelphia's Brett Myers delivers against St. Louis. Myers and the Phillies defeated the Cardinals, 7-4, Thursday in Philadelphia.

Burrell’s RBI double off the wall in center field made it 5-3 in the sixth. He drove in the first run on a single in the first.

Pinch-hitter Jose Offerman hit a solo homer off Julian Tavarez in the seventh to give the Phillies a three-run cushion.

Marquis allowed four runs, seven hits and tied a career high with six walks in four innings. It was his shortest outing since lasting only four innings against Pittsburgh last May 26.

“I just didn’t have it. I couldn’t get anything going,” Marquis said.

Nationals 3, Brewers 2

Washington – Livan Hernandez won his sixth straight start, and Washington beat Milwaukee to cap a 5-2 homestand.

Hernandez shook off the inflamed knee that has bothered him for several days, allowing one run in six innings. Jamey Carroll went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI to lift the Washington franchise five games over .500 for the first time since the Montreal Expos were 81-76 on Sept. 22, 2003.

Jose Vidro is on the disabled list, and Jose Guillen missed the last three games because of a strained rib muscle, yet the Nationals took three of four from Milwaukee.

Rockies 3, Giants 1

Denver – Rockies rookie Jeff Francis stayed undefeated at Coors Field, throwing six innings and allowing one run in Colorado’s victory over San Francisco.

Francis (4-1), considered one of the best pitchers in the minors last year, improved to 5-0 at the ballpark most pitchers love to hate, dating to late last season when he was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Francis allowed seven hits and struck out five. His ERA at Coors fell to 2.77 this season.

Luis Gonzalez hit a solo homer off Brett Tomko (3-6), and Garrett Atkins hit another off Matt Herges.

D’backs 6, Astros 1

Houston – Arizona rookie Brad Halsey outpitched Roger Clemens, and Luis Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to lead the Diamondbacks. Halsey (3-2) had the best start of his young career in his hometown of Houston, allowing just one run in seven innings.

Three Arizona relievers worked in and out of trouble to protect a 3-1 lead in the eighth, then Gonzalez gave the Diamondbacks cushion in the ninth with his sixth homer off Astros rookie reliever Mike Burns. Jose Valverde recorded the final four outs for his first save as Arizona goes with a bullpen by committee with closer Brandon Lyon on the DL.