Tomko Pitches In and Shuts Down Philadelphia, 3-0

Brett Tomko pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning and Scott Rolen had a big game with three hits and three key plays at third base, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-0, Sunday at St. Louis.

The Cardinals, tied with Houston for the National League Central Division lead, won two of three in the series. The Phillies have lost five of six since sweeping the Cardinals last week at Philadelphia. They lead Florida by half a game in the wild-card race.

Tomko (10-8), who was leading the league in hits, runs and home runs allowed, had given up six runs in three innings at Philadelphia in his previous start.

But Sunday he didn’t give up a hit until Jimmy Rollins’ two-out single in the fifth inning and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. He gave up five hits and left with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Rolen grabbed Pat Burrell’s liner to end the fourth and fielded a tough hop on Marlon Byrd’s grounder to end the fifth.

But his best play was a diving stop to his left on Chase Utley’s bases-loaded grounder in the sixth, which he turned into an inning-ending forceout at second base.

Houston 6, Cincinnati 3 -- Jeriome Robertson stayed unbeaten against the Reds and tied the club record for rookie wins at Houston.

Richard Hidalgo homered, tripled and hit a go-ahead single. He drove in three runs and picked up his 20th assist, most among major league outfielders.

Robertson (12-6) has won all four of his starts against the Reds this season with a 2.42 earned-run average. He gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings. He tied the club mark of 12 victories set by Jim Deshaies in 1986.

Florida 7, San Francisco 4 -- Miguel Cabrera and Derrek Lee each homered and drove in three runs, and Carl Pavano pitched seven solid innings to help the Marlins end a five-game losing streak.

Pavano (10-11) gave up seven hits and struck out four. Kirk Rueter (7-4) was roughed up in his return from the disabled list and the Giants lost for only the fourth time in 25 home games.

Florida handed the West Division-leading Giants their only loss on a six-game home stand. With their first win over San Francisco in six games this season, the Marlins closed within half a game of Philadelphia in the wild-card race.

Chicago 5, Arizona 3 -- At Phoenix, Matt Clement dominated the Diamondbacks for seven innings to help the Cubs keep pace in the Central Division.

Randall Simon and Kenny Lofton each drove in two runs to help the Cubs stay half a game behind Houston and St. Louis.

Clement (11-11), who pitched eight innings in a 2-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Aug. 3, gave up two runs and five hits, and struck out nine. He left after giving up a leadoff single to Danny Bautista in the eighth.

Montreal 8, San Diego 4 -- Brad Wilkerson homered and drove in three runs, and Jose Vidro hit a two-run homer at San Diego to help the Expos end a four-game losing streak.

Wilkerson homered against Kevin Jarvis (4-6) in the fifth inning, when the Expos took a 4-0 lead. Vidro’s homer in the seventh against Joe Roa gave the Expos a 6-3 lead.

Milwaukee 10, Pittsburgh 9 -- Richie Sexson hit a run-scoring single with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Brewers their first six-game winning streak in more than five years.

Milwaukee swept a three-game series each from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for its first six-game winning streak since June 22-27, 1998.