Cincinnati ? Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer and the surging Cincinnati Reds defeated Chicago’s Cubs, 7-1 on Thursday for the Reds’ eighth straight victory.

Cincinnati opened the month of June five games behind St. Louis in the NL Central, but jumped a half-game ahead of the idle Cardinals with its latest win.

Bronson Arroyo (8-2) beat the Cubs for the third time this season. The right-hander gave up five hits, including Tony Womack’s first homer, in seven innings. Arroyo is 4-0 in six starts at Great American Ball Park this season.

Chicago has lost three in a row, getting a total of 15 hits and two runs in those games.

Nationals 5, Phillies 2

Washington – Alfonso Soriano hit his 23rd home run and scored four runs for the Nationals. Soriano and Mike O’Connor, who allowed three hits over six innings, teamed to stop the Phillies’ four-game winning streak. Soriano finished with two walks, a hit by pitch and a seventh-inning solo homer to left. He has homered in 11 consecutive series.

Brewers 4, Padres 3

Milwaukee – Bill Hall homered to lead off the bottom of the 10th. Padres closer Trevor Hoffman took a 3-2 lead into the ninth. With two outs and a runner on first, shortstop Khalil Greene misplayed a grounder by Rickie Weeks and Brady Clark followed with a tying single. Hall connected against Scott Cassidy (4-3) for his second game-ending home run of the season and third of his career.

Astros 7, Braves 4

Houston – Lance Berkman homered twice and Orlando Palmeiro had a pinch-hit, two-run single to lead the Astros. Berkman had a solo shot and a three-run drive.

Mets 7, Diamondbacks 1

Phoenix – Orlando Hernandez tossed a three-hitter against his former team to lead the Mets. Hernandez (4-5) took a shutout into the ninth and picked up his ninth career complete game.

Giants 5, Pirates 4

San Francisco – Eliezer Alfonzo scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Matt Capps with two outs in the ninth inning. Moises Alou hit a two-run homer for the win.