NL roundup: Hamels hit by line drive

PHILADELPHIA " Dave Bush held Philadelphia hitless for 7 1-3 innings before pinch-hitter Matt Stairs homered off the foul pole, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Phillies 6-1 Thursday.

Several innings after World Series MVP Cole Hamels was forced to leave after getting hit in the left shoulder by Prince Fielder's line drive, Bush (1-0) became the big story on the mound.

Bush was the sixth pitcher to take a no-hit bid into the late innings this season. All of them got broken up.

Right after third baseman Bill Hall made a tremendous play to preserve Bush's try, Stairs launched a high fly that hit the pole in right field.

This was the third time Bush took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Raised in nearby Conestoga, Pa., he gave up two hits in 7 2-3 innings. Bush walked three, struck out four and hit two batters, including Jimmy Rollins leading off the first.

Hamels (0-2), also the MVP of the 2008 NLCS, struck out six in the first three innings. One pitch after giving up Braun's two-run homer in the fourth, Hamels was struck on the front of his left shoulder by Fielder's liner that went for an infield single.

Hamels said he was OK and did not expect to miss a start.

Cardinals 12, Mets 8

ST. LOUIS " Albert Pujols homered twice and Kyle Lohse hung on for another win as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets to complete a three-game sweep.

Rick Ankiel homered and doubled twice and Skip Schumaker hit a pair of RBI doubles as the Cardinals punished Livan Hernandez and won their seventh in a row at home. The Mets lost their fourth straight overall.

Reds 7, Cubs 1

CHICAGO " Aaron Harang allowed only one unearned run over seven innings and Joey Votto homered, doubled twice and singled, leading the Cincinnati Reds over the sloppy Chicago Cubs.

The Reds went 7-3 on their first road swing of the season, marking the first time since 2004 they'd won three series on the same trip.

Dodgers 2, Astros 0

HOUSTON " Chad Billingsley pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning and Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake each drove in a run, leading the Dodgers over the Astros.

Billingsley (4-0) has won his first four starts of the season, the first Dodgers pitcher to do so since Kazuhisa Ishii won his first six in 2002.