Houston ? Mike Lamb homered in the first inning, and the Houston Astros went on to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night, their fifth win in six games.

Taylor Buchholz (6-6) pitched six solid innings for Houston and Brad Lidge got four outs to earn his 21st save and 14th in his last 15 opportunities.

Jim Edmonds homered for St. Louis, which lost for the 10th time in its last 11 road games.

The Cardinals’ starting pitchers had an 8.30 earned-run average in their last 15 games and Sidney Ponson (4-4) looked like he might be in for a rough night when Lamb hit his eighth homer to right in the first. Ponson did not allow a home run in his last five starts.

Buchholz, meanwhile, wasn’t as sharp as he was in his last start, when he allowed two hits in seven innings in a 7-0 win overt Texas.

Buchholz beaned Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina leading off the third and Molina was replaced by Gary Bennett. Molina suffered a mild concussion.

With one out in the fourth, Albert Pujols smashed a hard single to left and Edmonds followed with his 10th homer.

Braves 8, Reds 7, 10 innings

Atlanta – Jeff Francoeur’s two-out single in the 10th inning drove in Chipper Jones with the winning run. Despite rallying with five runs in the ninth, the Reds lost their sixth straight.

Jones hit a one-out double, his third hit of the game, in the 10th. Todd Coffey (3-4) struck out Andruw Jones before intentionally walking Brian McCann to face Francoeur, who laced a single to left. Jones just beat Adam Dunn’s throw to the plate. Ken Ray (1-0) earned the win.

Nationals 8, Marlins 7, 11 innings

Washington – Two days after hitting a game-ending home run, Ryan Zimmerman delivered a game-winning, two-out single in the 11th inning. Zimmerman hit a 3-1 pitch from reliever Jason Vargas through the middle to score Nick Johnson, who had started the inning by reaching base on an error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Giants 5, Dodgers 4

Los Angeles – Pedro Feliz had three hits and drove in two runs, reliever Brad Hennessey worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam, and San Francisco beat Los Angeles. Feliz hit a run-scoring single in a three-run first inning and an RBI grounder in a two-run third to help the Giants take a 5-0 lead against Mark Hendrickson (0-2).

Brewers 2, Cubs 0

Milwaukee – Chris Capuano pitched a six-hit shutout to continue his mastery of Chicago. Capuano (10-4) struck out six and walked none for his second career shutout and complete game. The left-hander has not allowed a run in 26 innings against the Cubs this season in three starts – all wins.

Mets 7, Pirates 5

New York – Cliff Floyd and David Wright each drove in two runs, and Steve Trachsel allowed seven hits, working into the seventh inning. Floyd doubled in two runs off Pirates rookie starter Tom Gorzelanny (0-1) in the second inning. Wright hit his 19th homer, a two-run shot, in the fifth.

Padres 5, Phillies 3

Philadelphia – Rookie Josh Barfield had a career-high four hits to help San Diego win its second straight game. Chan Ho Park (6-4) survived a shaky start to earn his fourth win in his last five decisions.