NL | Dodgers turn back Braves; Mets down Diamondbacks

ATLANTA - Derek Lowe outpitched Tim Hudson, giving up three hits and an unearned run in seven innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves, 6-3, last night in a matchup of first-place teams.

Lowe (3-3) had eight strikeouts and walked two. He retired the final nine batters he faced.

"That's the nastiest stuff I've seen since I've been up," said Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur, who was 0 for 4.

Hudson (3-1) also pitched well while taking his first loss in eight career starts against the Dodgers. Hudson gave up seven hits and three runs in eight innings.

"Sometimes as a team, facing a guy like Hudson, I think it brings maybe a different intensity to the game," Lowe said. "You know you have to bring your 'A' game that day."

Mets 6, Diamondbacks 2

PHOENIX - Jorge Sosa outpitched reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb, Shawn Green homered and drove in three runs, and New York beat Arizona for its 13th straight victory at Chase Field.

Carlos Delgado was 2 for 2 with a double, two walks and two runs scored for the Mets, who won their fourth straight overall.

Sosa (1-0), making his first start of the season after being recalled from triple-A New Orleans earlier in the day, allowed two runs and four hits over 61/3 innings.

Brewers 6, Pirates 3

MILWAUKEE - Jeff Suppan won his fifth straight start, J.J. Hardy hit a three-run homer, and Milwaukee went to 10 games over .500 for the first time since 1998.

Suppan (5-2) pitched 52/3 innings, allowing two runs and eight hits.

Pittsburgh has lost six of eight, and Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke (1-3) once again struggled early. He has given up 12 runs in the first inning of his last five starts.

Padres 7, Marlins 6

MIAMI - Josh Bard's single in the 12th inning brought Brian Giles home with the eventual winning run as San Diego rallied late and went on to beat Florida.

Astros 13, Cardinals 0

ST. LOUIS - Matt Albers pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning for his first major-league win, and fellow rookie Hunter Pence hit a grand slam for his first career homer in Houston's win over St. Louis.

Cubs 5, Nationals 3

CHICAGO - Aramis Ramirez homered, Chicago benefited from three bases-loaded walks by an emergency reliever, and the Cubs won for the seventh time in eight games.

Rockies 9, Reds 7

CINCINNATI - Chris Iannetta and Matt Holliday hit two-run homers off Cincinnati's battered bullpen, powering Colorado to a victory and its first winning series on the road.