Obermueller Stops the Astros

Wes Obermueller pitched the best game of his career and prevented the Houston Astros from making up ground in the wild-card race.

Obermueller (6-8) pitched a six-hitter for his first career shutout, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-0 victory Saturday at Milwaukee.

With Chicago’s 4-3 loss to the New York Mets in 11 innings, Houston remained 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs. The Astros have only seven games left, and the Cubs have eight.

“This could be the season,” Houston starter Pete Munro said. “It’s a tough loss to take. We just ran into the wrong team at the wrong time.”

Obermueller struck out three, walked one and retired the final 13 batters he faced in his first complete game. He also had two singles and scored a run.

Munro (4-7) gave up three runs -- two earned -- and five hits in four innings.

St. Louis 10, Colorado 6 -- John Mabry hit a three-run homer and Roger Cedeno had a disputed two-run shot for the Cardinals at Coors Field.

Former USC star Randy Flores threw two scoreless innings to earn his first major league win. Jason Isringhausen got the last out for his 46th save.

With one on and none out, Cedeno hit a ball to left off Tim Harikkala (6-5) that appeared to hit near the top of the wall and bounce onto the field. Cedeno thought it stayed in, stopping briefly at second before being waved in for his 13th homer.

Atlanta 1, Florida 0 -- Mike Hampton pitched seven scoreless innings on an ailing knee, and a homer by light-hitting Dewayne Wise provided the only run at Atlanta.

Hampton (12-9) made his first start since Sept. 11, when he tore cartilage in his left knee while pitching against Montreal. The left-hander will need surgery to repair the damage, but he’s trying to make it through the season first. He yielded three hits and didn’t walk anyone.

The defending World Series champion Marlins are virtually eliminated from playoff contention. They have lost a season-high five in a row, leaving them eight games behind the Cubs in the wild-card race.

Philadelphia 4, Montreal 3 -- Mike Lieberthal hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning and Ryan Howard hit a run-scoring double for the Phillies.

About 500 Expo fans held a 30-minute rally before the game in the faint hope of dissuading Major League Baseball from moving their hometown team.

The Expos, who are likely to be moved to Washington, D.C., before next season, drew 8,491 fans to Olympic Stadium. Montreal has four home games left.

Cincinnati 7, Pittsburgh 4 -- At Pittsburgh, the Reds used a five-run first inning to win their fourth in a row and hand the Pirates their fifth loss in a row.

Paul Wilson (10-6) gave up one run and six hits in seven innings to win for the first time since July 8 at Milwaukee -- a span of 10 starts.

San Diego 6, Arizona 5 -- Ryan Klesko hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning and finished with four RBIs to help keep alive the Padres’ faint playoff hopes.

The Padres pulled to within 3 1/2 games of Chicago in the wild-card race, with Houston and San Francisco also ahead of them, and within 4 1/2 of the Dodgers in the West Division.