Atlanta ? Roger Clemens lost in what might have been the final start of his career, and the Atlanta Braves ended Houston’s nine-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory Friday night that hurt the Astros’ postseason hopes.

Houston’s run at one of baseball’s greatest late-season comebacks – the Astros trailed in the division by 81â2 games on Sept. 20 – was dealt another blow when first-place St. Louis beat Milwaukee, 10-5, extending the Cardinals’ lead in the NL Central to 11â2 games.

With the score 0-0 in the sixth, first baseman Lance Berkman misplayed Chipper Jones’ grounder as Atlanta’s first run scored in a two-run inning. Edgar Renteria and Jones added consecutive homers off Fernando Nieve in the eighth.

Clemens (7-6), a 44-year-old right-hander who has won seven Cy Young awards in a big-league career that began in 1984, allowed two runs – one earned – and six hits in six innings. The Rocket dropped to 348-178 in his career, and with seven strikeouts he raised his total to 4,604, second only to Nolan Ryan’s 5,714.

An emotional Clemens pounded his leg and his glove as he walked off the field following the sixth inning. The crowd of 31,034 rose in a standing ovation when Chris Burke was introduced as a pinch-hitter for Clemens in the seventh.

Dodgers 4, Giants 3

San Francisco – Russell Martin scored the go-ahead run on Mike Stanton’s wild pitch in the ninth inning after pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz singled in the tying run, and Los Angeles beat San Francisco to tie San Diego for the NL West lead.

Phillies 14, Marlins 2

Miami – Philadelphia totaled 18 hits, including five by Shane Victorino and two homers by Pat Burrell. Burrell hit a three-run homer following an intentional walk to Ryan Howard, then added a solo homer, giving him 29 this year.

Diamondbacks 3, Padres 1

Phoenix – Livan Hernandez pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning.

Rockies 5, Cubs 2

Chicago – Josh Fogg pitched seven strong innings, and Colorado scored three runs in the sixth without a hit to deny Carlos Zambrano’s bid for an NL-leading 17th win.

Reds 5, Pirates 2

Pittsburgh – Aaron Harang pitched an eight-hitter for his National League-leading sixth complete game.

Mets 4, Nationals 3

Washington – Rookie John Maine allowed only two earned runs and three hits, but didn’t factor in the decision.

Late Thursday game

Nationals 3, Phillies 1

Washington – Philadelphia waited out a rain delay of nearly 41â2 hours at the start, then fell to Washington. Brian Schneider snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the sixth.