Milwaukee, WI (Best E Casino) - Jim Edmonds hit a grand slam and a solo home run as the Chicago Cubs completed the four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with an 11-4 win at Miller Park. Chicago held a slim one-game lead for first place in the NL Central against Milwaukee when the series started on Monday. Now, though, the Cubs are up five games on Milwaukee and also five games ahead of St. Louis for the top spot in the division. The Cubs dominated the series as they outscored the Brewers, 31-11, in the four games. Kosuke Fukudome added a two-run home run while Alfonso Soriano hit a solo homer for the Cubs, who have won five straight games. Rich Harden (1-1) got his first win with Chicago since being acquired from Oakland on July 8. He gave up one run on six hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings of work. In his four starts with Chicago this season he has allowed just three runs while striking out 39 over 24 1/3 innings of work. Prince Fielder hit a solo home run while Dave Bush (5-9) was tagged for seven runs -- six earned -- on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of work for the Brewers, who have dropped five straight and six of seven overall.

Final Score: Philadelphia 8, Washington 4

Washington, DC (Best E Casino) - Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer, drove in three and scored twice to back a strong showing from Kyle Kendrick, as the Philadelphia Phillies brought out the brooms in an 8-4 victory to complete a three-game sweep of Washington. Kendrick (9-5) gave up just two runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 frames. The right-hander peppered the strike zone with four strikeouts and just one walk. Jayson Werth also homered and Shane Victorino finished 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, for the Phillies, winners in five straight and now one-game ahead of the New York Mets in the National League East. The five straight victories matches a season high. John Lannan (6-11) labored through 5 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs -- six earned -- on nine hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Jesus Flores drove home a run for the Nationals, losers in nine straight contests.

Final Score: Atlanta 9, St. Louis 4

Atlanta, GA (Best E Casino) - Clint Sammons hit his first career homer and drove in three runs, as the Atlanta Braves avoided a four-game sweep with a 9-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Sammons, who was called up from the minors on Monday, was appearing in his sixth major league game and recorded his first RBI of his career. Mike Hampton was touched for four runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings. Hampton also chipped in two RBI. Jeff Bennett (2-4) earned the win as he threw two innings of perfect relief. Omar Infante added a solo homer and finished with two RBI for the Braves, who halted their five-game skid. Yunel Escobar and Mark Kotsay both drove in a run for Atlanta. Joel Pineiro (3-5) took the loss as he was roughed up for six runs on 10 hits over six innings. Pineiro had a run-scoring double, as St. Louis pitchers have clubbed a major league-best 22 RBI on the season. Albert Pujols had an RBI double for the Cardinals, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end. Ryan Ludwick drove in the other run for St. Louis.

Final Score: Florida 12, Colorado 2

Miami, FL (Best E Casino) - Jeremy Hermida drove in two runs and scored three, and Anibal Sanchez was sharp in his 2008 debut, as the Florida Marlins walloped the Colorado Rockies, 12-2, in the opener of a four-game set at Dolphin Stadium. Making his first start in the majors since May 2, 2007, Sanchez (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings to get his first win since April 21 of last year. Sanchez went 2-1 with a 4.80 earned run average in six games for the Marlins last year before undergoing right shoulder surgery on June 21. The right-hander won 10 games and threw a no- hitter against Arizona as a rookie in 2006. Hermida finished with three hits for the Marlins, who have won five of their last seven contests and trail the Philadelphia Phillies by 1 1/2 games for first place in the tight NL East. Dan Uggla finished 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs, while Jorge Cantu and Hanley Ramirez each belted a solo home run. The Marlins bolstered their bullpen before the non-waiver trading deadline on Thursday, acquiring left- handed reliever Arthur Rhodes from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor league pitcher Gaby Hernandez, but lost out on left fielder Manny Ramirez. Florida was reportedly engaged in serious talks with Boston to acquire the slugger, but a deal never materialized. Ramirez was eventually dealt to Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-way deal involving the Pittsburgh Pirates. Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa (5-6) lasted only 1 2/3 frames and was victimized for seven runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Kip Wells surrendered four runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Omar Quintanilla and Ian Stewart each knocked in a run for the Rockies, who have dropped three of their last four games.

Final Score: Arizona 2, Los Angeles 1

Los Angeles, CA (Best E Casino) - Chris Snyder drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh and made a diving tag to preserve the lead in the eighth, as Arizona came away with a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles on the day the Dodgers pulled off a three-team blockbuster trade to acquire Manny Ramirez. This four-game series will add a new face sometime this weekend, and the Dodgers hope the slumbering offense on display Thursday night is awakened by Ramirez's presence and bat. The former Red Sox slugger -- a sure fire Hall of Famer with consistently eye- popping numbers throughout his big league career -- wanted out of Boston, pouting, not hustling and even telling cameras he'd welcome a trade to Green Bay for quarterback Brett Favre during games. And Green Bay doesn't even have a baseball team. Ramirez's wish was granted just before the 4 p.m. (et) trade deadline in a deal that also included the Pittsburgh Pirates, who landed a pair of minor leaguers from both Boston and Los Angeles. Third baseman Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris were the prospects sent from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. The Pirates received two more minor leaguers from Boston with Jason Bay filling Ramirez's void with the Red Sox. On Thursday, Ramirez was not at Chavez Ravine. Yet, the lackluster offense that has kept the Dodgers behind Arizona in the National League West was on full display. Andruw Jones went 0-for-4 and is now batting .163. Juan Pierre scored the lone Dodgers run and finished 2- for-3 and Matt Kemp's sixth-inning single extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Ramirez will join the crowded outfield that also includes promising youngster Andre Ethier. Russell Martin drove in the only Dodgers run, but his battery mate counterpart and Brandon Webb stole the show. Webb (15-4) won his big-league best 15th game, scattering six hits and one run over eight frames with one walk and six strikeouts. Webb has won eight straight decisions against the Dodgers and four in a row overall. Brandon Lyon pitched the ninth for his 23rd save. Stephen Drew had three hits, while Mark Reynolds and Snyder drove in the runs for Arizona, winners in three straight, six of seven and eight of 10. The Diamondbacks hold a two-game edge on the Dodgers in the division race. Derek Lowe (8-9) was the hard-luck loser, giving up two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in 6 1/3 innings. Lowe threw 58 of his 87 pitches for strikes. The Dodgers saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.