Cubs Overmatched Against Redding

Tim Redding gave up two hits in seven innings and Jeff Bagwell homered as the Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, Saturday at Houston.

Redding (7-9) didn’t yield a hit until Aramis Ramirez tripled with one out in the fifth inning. Ramirez singled in the seventh for the other hit.

“Redding spotted his fastball and he was staying away from our hitters,” Cub Manager Dusty Baker said. “He was keeping it away. We didn’t hit many balls hard. They say good pitching beats good hitting. That’s what you saw today.”

The Central Division-leading Astros took a 3-1 lead on Bagwell’s 22nd homer in the sixth.

San Diego 2, San Francisco 1 -- Phil Nevin hit his first home run of the season -- a two-run shot in the second inning at Pacific Bell Park -- to help stop the Giants’ nine-game winning streak. Kevin Jarvis (4-2) won his fourth straight start.

Florida 10, Philadelphia 5 -- Two errors by center fielder Marlon Byrd led to a pair of unearned runs and Josh Beckett (5-4) yielded one run in six innings to help the Marlins move three games behind the Phillies, who lead the NL wild-card race.

The win at Miami enabled the Marlins to climb six games above .500 for the first time since they finished the 1997 season with a 92-70 record. That team won the World Series.

Cincinnati 8, New York 3 -- Jose Acevedo overpowered the Mets at Shea Stadium, striking out 10, including four straight in the fourth and fifth innings in his first complete game. He has won two in a row since being recalled from triple-A Louisville on July 18.

Atlanta 15, Montreal 4 -- Javy Lopez’s bases-loaded triple keyed a five-run first inning and Andruw Jones had four hits and three RBIs at Montreal. Lopez is 18 for 34 (.529) with 18 RBIs during his nine-game hitting streak.

Colorado 13, Milwaukee 8 -- The Brewers built leads of 4-1, 5-2 and 8-5 but couldn’t hold off the Rockies at Coors Field. Preston Wilson had two homers and three RBIs for the Rockies. He raised his homer total to 27 and his RBI total to a league-leading 100.