Brewers Start With Three Straight Homers, Top Reds 10-5

Sunday, September 9th 2007, 8:57 pm

By: News On 6

CINCINNATI (AP) _ The Brewers became only the third team in U.S. Major League Baseball history to open a game with three straight home runs when Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun connected Sunday off Phil Dumatrait in Milwaukee's 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Weeks and Braun each hit another homer and J.J. Hardy added two doubles _ all in the first four innings _ to keep Milwaukee in first place in MLB's National League Central Division.

Johnny Estrada also homered to give Milwaukee six in a game for the first time since April 29, 2006, in a 16-2 win over the Cubs at Chicago.

Pirates 10, Cubs 5

In Pittsburgh, Freddy Sanchez's bases-loaded triple highlighted Pittsburgh's six-run second inning and rookie Nyjer Morgan make an exceptional catch and drove in two runs as the Pirates knocked the Cubs from first place in the Central Division.

Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson had doubles to add to Sanchez's three-run triple in the sixth. Rookies Morgan and Steve Pearce also had run-scoring singles.

Diamondbacks 6, Cardinals 5

In Phoenix, Jose Valverde retired pinch-hitter Yadier Molina with the bases loaded for the final out, and the Diamondbacks held off the Cardinals for their fifth straight victory.

Tony Clark's two-run double capped a four-run rally in the seventh that put Arizona up 6-4. Justin Upton tied the score with his first homer since Aug. 7 and Chris Young also connected for the Diamondbacks, who moved three games ahead of second-place San Diego in the West Division.

The Cardinals fell three behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Mets 4, Astros 1

In New York, Pedro Martinez tossed five shutout innings in his first start at home this season, outpitching Roy Oswalt and leading the Mets past the Astros.

Martinez (2-0) had shoulder surgery in October and worked five innings in his return to MLB last Monday at Cincinnati, earning the win. He followed that up with a more impressive outing, scattering six hits and striking out four against the skidding Astros.

Phillies 8, Marlins 5

In Philadelphia, Pat Burrell homered and drove in three runs, and the Phillies' Jamie Moyer overcame one awful inning to remain unbeaten against Florida.

Carlos Ruiz also homered for the Phillies, who tagged Dontrelle Willis (8-15) for seven runs in three innings and took two of three from the Marlins.

Rockies 4, Padres 2

In Denver, Garrett Atkins hit a two-run homer and Todd Helton had two of Colorado's four hits to help the Rockies close within three games of wild card-leading San Diego.

Matt Holliday hit his 26th home run for Colorado, and Helton became the first player in MLB history to have 35 doubles in 10 consecutive seasons.

Josh Fogg (9-9) went five innings, allowing one run and seven hits for his second straight win, helped out by two runners getting thrown out at the plate.

Giants 4, Dodgers 2

In San Francisco, pinch-hitter Ray Durham hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Giants spoiled another chance for the Dodgers to gain ground in the playoff race.

Jeff Kent homered twice against his former club but the Dodgers couldn't hold a late lead and remain 2 1/2 games back of San Diego in the wild-card standings.

Nationals 7, Braves 4

In Atlanta, Ryan Church hit a three-run homer and D'Angelo Jimenez drove in three runs with three hits for the Nationals.

The Braves led 3-1 through five innings before Church hit the go-ahead homer off Lance Cormier in the sixth. Ryan Zimmerman also went deep for Washington.

Jason Bergmann (4-5) gave up two hits in the first, including Chipper Jones' two-run homer, but yielded only two hits and one more run over the next five innings.