Chicago, IL (Best E Casino) - Alfonso Soriano hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh to help give the Chicago Cubs an 11-7 victory over the Houston Astros in the second of three games at Wrigley Field. Soriano's homer saved the Cubs, who blew a 6-1 lead. The Chicago left fielder finished the day hitting 3-for-5 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Derrek Lee added four hits, two runs scored and an RBI while Mark DeRosa went 3-for-5, scoring a run and knocking in three. The victory gives the Cubs eight wins in their last ten games. Although Bob Howry (4-4) struggled, giving up two runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings of work, he received the win after Chicago's five-run outburst in the seventh. Rich Harden had his worst outing since coming to the Cubs from Oakland. The righty threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits, fanning eight and walking one. In Harden's four Chicago starts prior to Tuesday, he had given up only three runs and 14 hits in 24 1/3 innings. Darin Erstad led the way for Houston, batting 4-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Carlos Lee and Geoff Blum added two-run homers, while Ty Wigginton added a solo shot in defeat.

Final Score: Florida 8, Philadelphia 2

Philadelphia, PA (Best E Casino) - Jeremy Hermida finished 2-for-4 with four runs batted in, and Josh Johnson threw six scoreless innings, as Florida downed Philadelphia, 8-2, in the opener of a three-game set with the Phillies. Johnson (2-0) gave up five hits and walked four, but escaped trouble and won his second consecutive start. The Marlins have won two of three, and trimmed the Phillies' lead in the NL East to 1 1/2 games. Hanley Ramirez added two hits and an RBI, and stole his 26th base of the season, while Alfredo Amezaga had two hits and two RBI. Jamie Moyer (10-7) came into the contest with a 10-0 record and 3.03 earned run average in 10 career starts against the Marlins. But he took his first loss when facing Florida after giving up two runs on six hits and three walks in five innings. Shane Victorino hit a controversial two-run home run for the Phillies, who had won two in a row and seven of eight.

Final Score: New York 6, San Diego 5

Flushing, NY (Best E Casino) - Fernando Tatis clubbed two home runs and drove in four, as the New York Mets overcame a late-inning charge by the San Diego Padres to secure a 6-5 win in the opener of a three-game set from Shea Stadium. Carlos Beltran finished 2-for-4 and scored twice for the Mets, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Dan Murphy recorded his first career double and collected the first RBI of his career. New York's Mike Pelfrey (10-7) gave up nine hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings to get the win. He has won eight of his last nine decisions. The Mets are third in the tight National League East, two games out of first place and a half-game behind the second-place Marlins. New York picked up a game on the first- place Phillies after Florida posted an 8-2 win in Philadelphia Tuesday. Prior to the game, the Mets placed closer Billy Wagner on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left forearm and recalled pitcher Ruddy Lugo from Triple-A New Orleans. Jody Gerut was 3-for-5 with a three-run homer for San Diego, which has dropped five of its last six contests. Kevin Kouzmanoff and Adrian Gonzalez each belted a solo home run. Chris Young went 5 1/3 frames and allowed two runs on just one hit with five walks and five strikeouts, but did not factor in the decision. Mike Adams (1-1) surrendered two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.

Final Score: Milwaukee 8, Cincinnati 1

Cincinnati, OH (Best E Casino) - Corey Hart finished 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, and Dave Bush threw seven solid innings, as Milwaukee crushed Cincinnati, 8-1, in the second of three games with the Reds. Bush (6-9) surrendered just one run on three hits and two walks, and struck out seven for the Brewers, who snapped a two-game slide. Bush rebounded from a rough start on July 31, in which he gave up seven runs -- six earned -- in 7 1/3 frames against the Cubs. Prince Fielder hit a two-run home run, while Jason Kendall went 2-for-4 with two RBI for Milwaukee. Ryan Braun had three hits, including a double. Edinson Volquez (13-5) was touched for five runs on nine hits in just five innings of work to absorb the loss for the Reds, who have lost four of five overall. Edwin Encarnacion snapped an 0-for-16 streak and finished with one hit and Cincinnati's sole RBI.

Final Score: St. Louis 6, Los Angeles 4 (11 innings)

St. Louis, MO (Best E Casino) - Ryan Ludwick smacked a one-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a much- needed 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a rain-soaked opener of a three-game series. Albert Pujols also smacked a two-run homer, while Adam Kennedy was 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jaime Garcia (1-1) was credited with the win for tossing a scoreless inning of relief for St. Louis, which had lost three of its previous four games. Manny Ramirez was 2- for-3 with a pair of walks, Jeff Kent was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Andruw Jones hit a pinch-hit solo homer for the Dodgers, who had won seven of their previous 10 games. Jason Johnson (1-1) surrendered Ludwick's homer and took the loss after recording one out in the 11th. Two rain delays shortened each starter's outing to just five innings apiece. St. Louis' Chris Carpenter, in his first home start since Opening Day 2007, allowed just three hits, while Chad Billingsley allowed a run on six hits with six strikeouts for LA.

Final Score: Colorado 8, Washington 2

Denver, CO (Best E Casino) - Ian Stewart and Brad Hawpe knocked in two runs each as Colorado rallied past Washington, 8-2, in the second test of a four- game set from Coors Field. Matt Holliday added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Rockies, who have won three of five. Willy Taveras, Jeff Baker and Seth Smith were credited with an RBI each. Manny Corpas (2-3) allowed two hits in a scoreless eighth to earn the win. Starter Jorge De La Rosa was solid, going seven innings and yielding six hits and two runs. Jesus Flores knocked in a run for the Nationals, whose four-game win streak ended. Luis Ayala (1-7) was saddled with the loss, charged with three runs, one hit, one walk and a hit batter. It spoiled a great outing by starter John Lannan, who let up five hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out eight.

Final Score: Arizona 3, Pittsburgh 1

Phoenix, AZ (Best E Casino) - Brandon Webb took a shutout into the ninth inning and survived a pesky Pirates rally, as the Diamondbacks ace became the first 16-game winner in the majors with Arizona's 3-1 win over Pittsburgh in the second test of a three-game series. Webb (16-4) allowed one run on nine hits, while walking none and striking out four in his third complete game of the year and 15th of his career. The right-hander recorded a whopping 21 ground-ball outs in the win. Chris Young provided most of Arizona's offense with a two-run homer, as Arizona won its second straight game despite registering only six hits. Zach Duke (4-10) remains winless in his last 10 starts despite a solid seven-inning start, as the lefty was credited with two runs on four hits to go with a walk and six strikeouts for the Pirates, who have dropped four in a row. Doug Mientkiewicz went 2-for-4 while driving in Pittsburgh's only run.

Final Score: Atlanta 11, San Francisco 4

San Francisco, CA (Best E Casino) - Mike Hampton was solid on the mound to pick up his first win since August 14, 2005, and added an RBI double, as the Atlanta Braves pounded the San Francisco Giants, 11-4, in the second contest of a three-game set. Hampton (1-0), who has been sidelined by two elbow surgeries, a strained chest muscle and an injured groin, tossed seven frames and was touched for just two runs on four hits to move to 14-4 lifetime against the Giants. Yunel Escobar and Omar Infante had a hit and two RBI apiece for the Braves, who still only have three wins over their last 11 games. Kelly Johnson went 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored three times. Jonathan Sanchez (8-8) took the loss as he yielded three runs on seven hits while striking out five. Sanchez is 0-4 over his last six starts, recording his last win on June 29 and his last home win on June 2. Fred Lewis had a solo home run, the first homer since July 27 for the Giants, who have dropped two of their last three overall. Aaron Rowand, Bengie Molina and Jose Castillo each added an RBI in defeat.