Ambriz hurls Aces past Grizzles

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Matt Holliday had four hits and an RBI just hours after being traded to St. Louis, and the Cardinals beat Philadelphia 8-1 on Friday night.

Acquired from Oakland for a package of prospects earlier in the day, Holliday had two soft hits and a stolen base to help the Cardinals build a 5-0 lead. He ripped a double in the seventh and got his second infield single in the ninth.

Joel Pineiro (9-9) tossed six scoreless innings for the win, allowing four hits.

Julio Lugo homered and tripled in his first game with St. Louis and Rick Ankiel went 3 for 4 with four RBIs.

The Phillies lost for the third time in 18 games.

Philadelphia starter J.A. Happ (7-1) gave up five runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Holliday was in New York for Oakland's series against the Yankees when he learned of the trade. He rode public transportation with his wife and two sons to Philadelphia to avoid traffic, and arrived at the ballpark in plenty of time to play left field and bat cleanup behind Albert Pujols.

Marlins 6, Dodgers 3

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pinch-hitter Jeremy Hermida drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan homered in the eighth for Florida.

All-Star Josh Johnson (9-2) pitched seven innings as the Marlins followed a three-game sweep in San Diego with a victory over the major league-leading Dodgers, whose five-game winning streak ended.

After Andre Ethier's two-run double in the sixth tied it at 3 for Los Angeles, Cody Ross singled off reliever James McDonald (2-2) before Hermida drove him home with a single off Brent Leach.

Coghlan then led off the eighth with the first pinch-hit homer of his career. Jorge Cantu added an RBI single moments later for Florida, which had 14 hits.

Leo Nunez pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

Clayton Kershaw, who hasn't lost since June 10, allowed nine hits and three walks in six innings while yielding two earned runs for just the second time in eight starts.

Johnson allowed five hits and three runs while winning for the sixth time in seven decisions.

Cubs 8, Reds 5

CHICAGO (AP) - Aramis Ramirez homered, doubled twice, singled and drove in three to lead Chicago.

Mike Fontenot, Jeff Baker and Derrek Lee also homered for the Cubs, who have won eight of their last 11 games.

The Reds dropped their sixth straight road game despite starting pitcher Aaron Harang's first career home run.

Ramirez's leadoff homer in the sixth put the Cubs ahead 4-3 and aided starter Randy Wells (6-4), who is 6-0 when receiving at least four runs of support. The rookie allowed seven hits in six innings.

Kevin Gregg gave up Willy Taveras' two-run single in the ninth.

Harang (5-11), who gave up nine hits and four runs in six innings, is 0-7 with a 5.17 ERA in his last 11 starts.

Padres 6, Nationals 2

WASHINGTON (AP) - Mat Latos pitched into the sixth inning to notch his first career victory, and light-hitting Luis Rodriguez homered and matched a career high with three RBIs as San Diego snapped a five-game losing streak.

Latos (1-1), who lost in his major league debut July 18, allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Cristian Guzman and Ryan Zimmerman homered for the Nationals, who have lost 13 of 16 and have the majors' worst record at 28-68. Washington committed four errors for the third time this season.

Washington starter Garrett Mock (0-4) yielded five runs - three earned - and nine hits.

Giants 3, Rockies 1

DENVER (AP) - Matt Cain became the major league's second 12-game winner, scattering three hits over seven innings and San Francisco pulled even with Colorado in the NL wild-card race.

Fred Lewis finished a home run shy of the cycle and Nate Schierholtz hit a solo shot in the fourth, snapping the Giants' seven-game homerless streak.

Cain (12-2) gave up one run and struck out five as he moved to 37-6 all-time when the Giants score three or more runs for him.

Jeremy Affeldt pitched a perfect eighth - his 27th straight scoreless inning - and Brian Wilson got Troy Tulowitzki to hit into a game-ending double play for his 25th save.

Cain joins Colorado's Jason Marquis as the only 12-game winners this season. Marquis was scheduled to pitch Friday, but was bumped due to a bothersome blister on his right middle finger.

Jason Hammel (5-5) filled in, giving up three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Braves 9, Brewers 4

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Chipper Jones, Martin Prado and Nate McLouth homered to pace a 17-hit effort by Atlanta and Javier Vazquez struck out nine in seven innings.

Prado hit a three-run homer in the third, Jones the go-ahead solo shot in the sixth and McLouth a two-run insurance drive in the eighth for the Braves, who have won seven of nine since the All-Star break.

Vazquez (8-7) gave up four runs and seven hits and struck out home run derby champ Prince Fielder four times. He allowed three walks and a two-run homer to Ryan Braun to tie it at 4 in the fifth before Jones answered off Carlos Villanueva (2-7).

Braun's shot snapped a streak of 77 2-3 innings by Braves pitchers without allowing a home run.

Manny Parra allowed four runs and in five innings for Milwaukee, which has lost 13 of 19.

Astros 5, Mets 4

HOUSTON (AP) - Houston starter Mike Hampton hit a two-run homer off New York ace Johan Santana, handing him a rare loss after the All-Star break.

Chris Coste had a two-run double for the Astros, who have won seven of the last nine meetings with the Mets at Minute Maid Park.

Santana (11-8) went 8-0 in 15 second-half starts last season and beat Atlanta on Saturday, his first start after the break. He allowed 12 hits Friday, matching a career high, in 6 2-3 innings and lost for the third time in five starts.

Hampton (6-7) struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings, guiding the Astros to their 10th win in 13 games. Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

Omir Santos hit a solo homer for the Mets, who have lost six of eight. The Mets finished with 13 hits, but stranded 10 runners and scored fewer than five runs for the 15th time in 20 games.

Pirates 10, Diamondbacks 3

PHOENIX (AP) - Zach Duke won for the first time in a month and rookie Garrett Jones hit his major league-best 10th homer in July to lead Pittsburgh.

A first-time All-Star this season, Duke (9-9) gave up three runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings to win for the first time since June 24 against Cleveland.

Jones snapped a 2-all tie in the fifth with a two-run homer that triggered a four-run rally. It was Jones' first homer with a runner on this season.

Ryan Doumit and Steve Pearce followed with singles to chase starter Yusmeiro Petit (0-5). Brandon Moss singled home a run and Ramon Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2.

The Pirates added four runs in the eighth.

Ryan Roberts had two hits for Arizona, including his second major league home run.