Cubs Beat Padres, Go 6-1 in the West

Southern California was incredibly agreeable to Derrek Lee, Carlos Zambrano and the rest of the resurgent Chicago Cubs.

Zambrano combined with two relievers on a four-hitter, and Lee, who has the top batting average in the majors, had three hits to lead the Cubs over San Diego, 4-0, Sunday.

The Cubs, who have won nine of 10, won three of four against the National League West-leading Padres, including two shutouts, and were 6-1 on a swing through Los Angeles and San Diego.

The trip started three days after Mark Prior suffered a compression fracture near his right elbow when he was hit by a line drive. He joined fellow starter Kerry Wood on the disabled list.

“Without a doubt, with all the adversity we had, I think people expected us to go the other way,” Lee said. “We haven’t. We’ve kept our heads up and we’ve been playing great baseball.”

Lee raised his average to .385. Neifi Perez had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Lee had 16 hits on the seven-game trip, and Perez had 14.

“Just keep it coming,” Manager Dusty Baker said.

San Francisco 6-1, New York 3-12 -- Cliff Floyd homered twice and drove in four runs, Kris Benson pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and the Mets cruised in the second game at New York to earn a split.

In the first game, Brett Tomko played a major role in ending San Francisco’s eight-game skid, hitting a three-run double and pitching into the eighth inning.

Houston 6, St. Louis 4 -- Roger Clemens won his 332nd game with some rare run support.

Morgan Ensberg and Jason Lane homered in a five-run first at Houston to help Clemens (4-3) overcome early struggles and outlast left-hander Mark Mulder (7-3), who lost his second in a row.

Washington 6, Florida 3 -- Ryan Church hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to help the Nationals complete a sweep of the Marlins.

The win, coupled with Atlanta’s loss to Pittsburgh, put a team called Washington in first place this late in a season for the first time since 1933, when the Washington Senators won the American League pennant.

Pittsburgh 5, Atlanta 2 -- Rob Mackowiak hit a go-ahead two-run homer, and Oliver Perez (4-4) gave up four hits in seven innings at Pittsburgh to win his third in a row.

Mackowiak, who had three hits, followed Daryle Ward’s leadoff double in the sixth with his sixth homer, a drive into the right-field seats.

Philadelphia 7, Arizona 6 -- Mike Lieberthal hit a three-run homer to help lift the host Phillies to their sixth consecutive win.

Diamondback outfielder Luis Gonzalez hit his 300th homer.

Colorado 8, Cincinnati 6 -- Todd Greene homered and drove in three runs at Denver to help the Rockies win their fourth in a row.