MIAMI – Mike Lowell homered twice, and Josh Beckett rebounded from his worst start of the season, leading the Florida Marlins to a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Lowell’s two solo home runs gave him 13 this season, tying him with Colorado’s Jeromy Burnitz and Arizona’s Steve Finley for the major league lead.

Beckett (4-3) allowed five hits and two runs in 7 2-3 innings.

Athletics 3, Tigers 2

OAKLAND, Calif. – Erubiel Durazo scored on Eric Munson’s throwing error in the eighth inning after reaching base on another miscue, and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-2.

Brewers 3, Expos 2

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Scott Podsednik hit the go-ahead home run off closer Rocky Biddle in the ninth inning Thursday to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Expos.

Cardinals 11, Mets 4

NEW YORK – So Taguchi had four hits, driving in two runs and scoring two more Thursday to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the New York Mets 11-4.

Phillies 4, Dodgers 0

PHILADELPHIA – Brett Myers pitched a five-hitter for his second career shutout and the Philadelphia Phillies sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to their seventh straight loss, 4-0.

Braves 5, D-backs 1

ATLANTA – Horacio Ramirez pitched a three-hitter for his second career complete game and even helped out on offense, leading the Atlanta Braves past the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1.

Giants 5, Cubs 3

CHICAGO – Neifi Perez hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning Thursday, spoiling another dramatic home run by Moises Alou and lifting the short-handed San Francisco Giants to a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Reds 3, Rockies 1

CINCINNATI – Paul Wilson pitched eight solid innings for his career-high sixth straight win, and Danny Graves became the Cincinnati Reds’ all-time saves leader in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Pirates 9, Padres 7

PITTSBURGH – Daryle Ward and Jason Bay each homered twice and drove in three runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates overcame a six-run San Diego first inning to rally past the Padres 9-7.

White Sox 10, Twins 3

MINNEAPOLIS – Frank Thomas had a season-high four hits, including a three-run homer, and Esteban Loaiza snapped a three-start losing streak to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Minnesota Twins 10-3 Thursday night.

Rangers 6, Royals 3

ARLINGTON, Texas – Rod Barajas had a three-run double and Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer in a five-run second inning, and the Texas Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Barajas entered the game in the second inning in place of rookie catcher Gerald Laird, who tore a ligament in his left thumb on a tag play in the first inning. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Laird began the night leading AL rookies in hits (27), runs (14), batting average (.307) and on-base percentage (.374).

Kevin Mench also homered for the Rangers, who had lost four of five.

Rangers starter Kenny Rogers (6-2) allowed three runs and 10 hits over 6 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Francisco Cordero got three outs for his 13th save in as many chances.

Ken Harvey and Adrian Brown had two hits each for the Royals, who went without a homer after hitting six while winning the first two games of the three-game series.

The Royals took a 2-0 lead in an odd first inning.

Harvey hit a bases-loaded grounder that was headed toward Rangers shortstop Michael Young, who was set to attempt to start a double play. But the ball struck the foot of baserunner Mike Sweeney between second and third base before it could reach Young, with Sweeney being called out and Harvey credited with a single to keep the bases loaded.

Rogers hit Joe Randa with a pitch to force in one run. Benito Santiago followed with a single that drove in Juan Gonzalez from third, but Harvey was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second while Laird injured his thumb as he applied the tag.

Texas rallied to take a 5-2 lead against Darrell May (1-6) in the second, loading the bases with one out. Mench led off with a single, Eric Young reached on third baseman Randa’s fielding error. After an out, Laynce Nix singled to load the bases and Barajas followed with his three-run double. One later, Blalock hit his 12th homer.

Mench’s solo homer in the third extended Texas’ advantage to 6-2. Angel Berroa’s sacrifice fly in the fourth made it 6-3.

May allowed six runs and eight hits over four-plus innings.

Notes: Texas manager Buck Showalter argued that Harvey did not make an effort to get out of the way of the ball that hit him in the first. If Showalter prevailed, the Rangers would have been credited with a double play.

AP-ES-05-20-04 2305EDT