Pittsburg ? Pedro Martinez struggled in his first start in more than a month and the New York Mets missed a chance to clinch the NL East, losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-3, on Friday night.

Martinez (9-6) had been on the disabled list because of a strained right calf since Aug. 14. Mets manager Willie Randolph said Martinez would be on a pitch count of 60-to-80 pitches.

Martinez allowed four runs in three innings. He threw 68 pitches and gave up six hits, walked one, hit a batter and made a throwing error. He struck out four.

Television cameras showed Martinez appearing distraught in the dugout and being consoled by Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson after leaving the game.

Paul Maholm (8-10) allowed only one run and two hits in seven innings as the Pirates beat the Mets for the first time in six tries this season.

Maholm, who walked three batters and hit three, is 4-0 in his last seven starts.

Jason Bay hit his 33rd homer and drove in three runs. Jose Reyes had two hits and two RBIs for the Mets.

Pittsburgh jumped on Martinez in the first inning when Bay doubled home Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez. Sanchez went 2-for-4, but lost his lead in the NL batting race to Florida’s Miguel Cabrera.

Dodgers 3, Padres 1

Los Angeles – Greg Maddux no-hit San Diego through the first 61â3 innings, and Los Angeles beat the Padres to build its NL West lead to 11â2 games.

Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1

Phoenix – Brandon Webb threw a six-hitter to become the National League’s second 16-game winner.

Phillies 4, Astros 3

Houston – Pat Burrell hit a grand slam in the first inning off Roger Clemens. Philadelphia starter Brett Myers (11-6) allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings to win for the third time in five starts.

Cardinals 14, Giants 4

St. Louis – Scott Rolen hit two home runs and drove home a career-high seven runs, and rookie Chris Duncan also homered twice.

Marlins 6, Braves 4

Atlanta – Dontrelle Willis pitched seven strong innings before tiring in the eighth. Dan Uggla hit his 25th homer, most in major-league history for rookie second basemen.

Brewers 5, Nationals 2

Washington – Carlos Villanueva earned his first major-league victory with six-plus innings in relief of injured starter Tomo Ohka, and Geoff Jenkins homered twice.

Reds 4, Cubs 0

Chicago – Bronson Arroyo pitched eight strong innings, David Ross hit a three-run homer, and Cincinnati beat Chicago despite managing just four hits.