ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals sure aren’t playing like World Series champions.

Tom Gorzelanny and Matt Capps combined on a four-hitter and Adam LaRoche hit a three-run homer, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-1 victory Tuesday for a two-game sweep.

The Cardinals’ 6-7 start is the worst by a World Series winner since the 1998 Florida Marlins were 1-11. St. Louis completed a 1-3 homestand, scoring 10 runs in a victory over Milwaukee and totaling five runs in the losses. After going 49-31 last season, the NL’s second-best home record, the Cardinals are 1-6 at Busch Stadium.

Padres 4, Cubs 3, 14 innings

CHICAGO – Geoff Blum doubled in the go-ahead run in the 14th inning and the San Diego Padres defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Tuesday.

Khalil Greene led off the 14th with a double to the right-field corner against Will Ohman (0-1), and with one out, Blum sent a shot to left that Jacque Jones let skip by him.

Braves 6, Nationals 4

WASHINGTON – John Smoltz moved within one strikeout of Cy Young and within five wins of 200, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

Smoltz (2-1) didn’t allow an earned run until the seventh inning, Chipper Jones homered, and Kelly Johnson had a career-high four hits.

Reds 11, Brewers 5

CINCINNATI – Ryan Freel had four hits Tuesday night, and singled to start a seventh-inning rally that swept the Cincinnati Reds to an 11-5 victory and a two-game split with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mets 8, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA – Freddy Garcia’s long-anticipated debut with the Phillies was a bust.

Moises Alou homered twice and drove in three runs, Tom Glavine got his 293rd win and David Wright extended his career-best hitting streak to 24 games as the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 8-1 Tuesday night.

Garcia (0-1) allowed three runs and eight hits, striking out six in 4 2-3 innings.