RESULTS

* at Philadelphia 6, Washington 0: Cole Hamels struck out 13 in eight dominant innings, Ryan Howard hit his 45th home run and the Phillies moved into sole possession of first place in the East Division. Making his third start since sitting out a month because of a strained elbow, Hamels shut down the Nationals on six hits. He walked one.

* Florida 7, at New York 4: The Mets have lost five in a row and 11 of 15 to fall one game back of the Phillies. The Mets’ eighth consecutive home loss dropped them out of first place for the first time since May 15.

* Atlanta 7, at Houston 2: Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run homer and Brandon Jones had a two-run double for the Braves. The Astros gave Manager Cecil Cooper a two-year contract before the game. He had been the interim manager since Aug. 27, when Phil Garner was fired.

* St. Louis 6, at Pittsburgh 1: Jim Edmonds broke the game open with a three-run single in the eighth inning. The loss assured the Pirates of finishing last in the Central Division.

* San Diego 6, at Milwaukee 3: Khalil Greene hit a go-ahead double and drove in three runs as the wild card-leading Padres eliminated the Brewers from postseason contention.

* Arizona 4, at Colorado 2: Brandon Webb solved the Rockies’ for the first time this season. He had been 0-3 with a 6.47 earned-run average in five previous starts against them.

* Chicago 6, at Cincinnati 0: Alfonso Soriano hit another leadoff homer and the Cubs clinched the Central Division title.

* at Dodgers 8, San Francisco 3: James Loney drove in his 32nd run of the month, the most in the majors.