Pirates 7, Mets 5

New York – Steve Pearce hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning, and Pittsburgh became the latest team to take advantage of the Mets’ shaky bullpen.

The Mets led 5-1 when Pedro Martinez left after six innings, but five relievers couldn’t preserve the edge. The Pirates, in town to play a makeup game, scored three times in the seventh and three more in the ninth.

It marked the ninth time this season New York lost a game in which it led in the eighth inning or later.

Aaron Heilman (2-7) began the ninth with a 5-4 lead, but allowed four straight Pirates to reach after striking out leadoff hitter Nate McLouth. Ryan Doumit tied it with a single off the right-center fence.

Scott Schoeneweis relieved Heilman and got Brandon Moss to ground into a forceout at the plate. Pearce followed with his tiebreaking single to center.

Brewers 7, Nationals 1

Milwaukee – Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart homered, and Dave Bush pitched Milwaukee past Washington for its sixth straight victory.

Weeks hit a leadoff homer, and Hart added a two-run shot in the fourth for the Brewers, who finished a four-game sweep. It was the second consecutive season that the Nationals were swept at Miller Park.

Milwaukee stayed three games ahead of St. Louis for the NL wild-card lead despite the absence of Ryan Braun for the second straight game. Out because of a lower-back injury, he is day to day.

Bush (7-9) won his third start in a row against Washington.

Cardinals 4, Marlins 2

Miami – Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer, Joel Pineiro pitched seven strong innings, and St. Louis beat Florida in a matchup of surprising playoff contenders.

Joe Mather added a pinch-hit home run in the ninth for the Cardinals, who took the opener of a four-game series to keep pace with Milwaukee in the wild-card race. The low-budget Marlins fell six games off the wild-card pace.

Astros 3, Giants 1

Houston – Brandon Backe threw seven effective innings, Ty Wigginton homered and drove in three runs, and Houston beat San Francisco to win its fifth straight.

Dodgers 8, Phillies 6

Los Angeles – Casey Blake hit a two-run homer, and Manny Ramirez doubled home two more during a six-run third inning that carried Derek Lowe and the Dodgers to a victory over Philadelphia.