Atlanta ? Jeff Francoeur made sure the Braves didn’t get swept again.

Francoeur homered and had a career-high five RBIs, leading Atlanta to an 8-5 victory over the New York Mets that snapped a five-game losing streak Sunday.

The Braves lost the first two games in the series, scoring only two runs, and dropped seven games behind first-place New York in the NL East – their largest deficit since being 71â2 off the lead on June 2, 2001.

Atlanta dropped three straight in Milwaukee last week and was on the verge of its first back-to-back sweeps (in series of at least three games) since 1985, six years before the team began its run of 14 straight division titles.

Francoeur, snapping out of a slump that sent his average back below .200, went 4-for-5, the four hits equaling his career high set last August during a brilliant rookie season that he’s struggling to duplicate.

Brewers 9, Cubs 0

Chicago – Carlos Lee hit his 10th homer to set the Brewers’ record for April, and Chris Capuano pitched a five-hitter for his first career complete game.

Astros 3, Reds 2

Cincinnati – Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer, and rookie Taylor Buchholz earned his second consecutive win for the Astros.

Cardinals 9, Nationals 2

St. Louis – Jeff Suppan held Washington to two runs in six innings to complete a record-setting April for the St. Louis Cardinals. Jim Edmonds and So Taguchi drove in three runs apiece for the Cardinals, who finished the month with a 17-8 record.

Phillies 5, Pirates 1

Pittsburgh – Pat Burrell drove in two runs with a home run and a double, and the Phillies avoided a three-game weekend sweep.

Padres 6, Dodgers 5, 10 innings

San Diego – Mark Bellhorn hit an RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Padres snapped a five-game losing streak. San Diego scored five runs in the ninth inning to tie it.

Rockies 3, Marlins 1

Miami – Byung-Hyun Kim struck out a career-high nine in his first start of the season to help the Rockies complete a three-game sweep. Kim (1-0) pitched four times for South Korea in the World Baseball Classic and had been on the disabled list after straining a hamstring on March 28 in his only spring training appearance for the Rockies.

Diamondbacks 8, Giants 2

San Francisco – Johnny Estrada went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBIs, and the Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep.