Cubs 9, Nationals 2

Chicago – Aramis Ramirez hit a pair of three-run homers, and Ryan Dempster matched a career high with his 15th win. Mark DeRosa homered in his third straight game and Alfonso Soriano added an RBI double for the Cubs, who improved to 48-19 at Wrigley Field.

Rockies 7, Reds 6

Denver – Matt Holliday hit a three-run double that highlighted a seventh-inning rally. The Rockies trailed, 5-3, when Holliday hit reliever Nick Masset’s first pitch off the right-field wall. Brad Hawpe followed with an RBI single.

Giants 4, Padres 3

San Francisco – Rich Aurilia tripled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and San Francisco matched its season-best four-game winning streak. Barry Zito (8-15) allowed four hits in eight innings for his second straight victory.

Diamondbacks 7, Marlins 1

Phoenix – Yusmeiro Petit pitched six solid innings, and Arizona received home runs from Chris Young and Miguel Montero. Petit (3-3) allowed two hits and struck out six, matching season bests. He didn’t walk a batter and gave up just a homer by Hanley Ramirez in the fourth and a single by John Baker in the sixth.

Braves 8, Cardinals 4

St. Louis – Pinch-hitter Greg Norton delivered a tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth inning, and Atlanta beat St. Louis to snap a six-game losing streak. Albert Pujols homered and drove in three runs for the Cardinals.

Astros 8, Mets 3

New York – Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer, Brandon Backe brought his best stuff to the mound, and Houston roughed up John Maine early.

Phillies 9, Dodgers 2

Philadelphia – Pat Burrell homered and matched his career high with five RBIs, and Cole Hamels pitched effectively with some overdue run support to lead Philadelphia past Los Angeles.

Brewers 6, Pirates 3

Milwaukee – Ryan Braun homered, doubled and drove in three runs, leading Jeff Suppan and Milwaukee past Pittsburgh. The NL wild-card leaders moved to 20 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 1992 season in the AL East. Suppan (9-7) pitched seven innings and earned his fourth win in a row.