ST. LOUIS – Rick Ankiel homered twice and drove in three runs, the latest power display by the former pitcher, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 on Saturday.

Ankiel hit the first pitch he saw in the first and seventh innings to right field, giving him three home runs since he was called up from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday. He also singled and scored in a three-run third to help the Cardinals win for the third time in four games.

After an embarrassing bout of wildness and an arm injury, the one-time phenom scrapped his pitching career during spring training in 2005. He capped his first game back in the majors – as an outfielder – with a three-run homer against San Diego on Thursday.

Braden Looper (10-9) outpitched Derek Lowe, giving up four hits in six innings to earn his third victory in four starts. The four hits were the fewest he’s allowed in a game since giving up four on July 2 against Arizona.

Brewers 7, Astros 4

HOUSTON – Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer and Prince Fielder followed with a solo shot, both off Astros closer Brad Lidge, as the Brewers rallied in the ninth.

Scott Linebrink (4-3) pitched the eighth inning for Milwaukee, which won its second straight over Houston. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 36th save in 42 chances.

Marlins 7, Mets 5

NEW YORK – Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and Josh Willingham had his first career grand slam for the Marlins.

David Wright homered twice for NL East-leading New York, which has lost three straight. It was Wright’s ninth career multihomer game and first since May 19 against the New York Yankees.

D-backs 1, Nationals 0

PHOENIX – Brandon Webb pitched his second shutout in a row to extend his scoreless inning streak to a club record 33, leading the Diamondbacks to their 17th victory in 20 games.

Webb’s complete-game followed a three-hit, 3-0 complete-game victory at Los Angeles last Sunday.

Braves 7, Phillies 5

PHILADELPHIA – Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur homered, and Atlanta’s bullpen pitched five effective innings to lead the Braves past their NL East rival.

Jimmy Rollins and Aaron Rowand homered for the Phillies, and Tadahito Iguchi added a two-run double.

Rockies 15, Cubs 2

DENVER – Jamey Carroll hit a pinch-hit grand slam to break open a tie game in the sixth and Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki each drove in three runs to lead Colorado.

Carroll, who’s only other home run this season also came against the Cubs, hit a 1-2 pitch from Rich Hill just over the left field wall for his ninth career homer.

Reds 8, Padres 3

CINCINNATI – Bobby Livingston pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning and Jeff Keppinger backed him with three RBIs to help the Reds.

Pirates 13, Giants 3

SAN FRANCISCO – Freddy Sanchez homered and drove in a career-high five runs, and Adam LaRoche connected for the second consecutive game to lead the Pirates.

Sanchez snapped a scoreless tie with his two-run homer into the left-field seats in the fourth for the first of his four hits.

Yankees 11, Indians 2

CLEVELAND – Alex Rodriguez kept up his unrelenting surge against the Cleveland Indians – six homers in five games – and New York cruised to an easy victory that gave Mike Mussina his 100th win with the Yankees.

Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run homers as the hottest team in the majors did everything right. Jason Giambi added a pinch-hit homer and Jose Molina had a career-high four hits.

Mariners 7, White Sox 6

CHICAGO – Yuniesky Betancourt hit his first career grand slam, Raul Ibanez had a three-run homer and Seattle held on to beat Chicago.

The Mariners have won 10 of 14 after losing a season-high seven straight. They remained one percentage point ahead of the Yankees for the AL wild-card lead.

Tigers 5, Athletics 2

DETROIT – Magglio Ordonez homered and Justin Verlander won for the first time in four weeks to help Detroit beat Oakland.

Verlander (12-4), who hadn’t won since July 15, gave the Tigers only their second win from a starter in 24 games.

Royals 4, Blue Jays 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Alex Gordon went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and Leo Nunez combined with two relievers for a four-hitter as Kansas City defeated Toronto.

Gordon, who also tripled and singled, connected off Dustin McGowan (8-6) with Billy Butler aboard in the sixth.

Devil Rays 3, Rangers 0

ARLINGTON, Texas – Edwin Jackson pitched a four-hitter for his first career complete game, sending Tampa Bay to a victory over Texas.

Jackson (3-11) struck out eight, walked one and allowed only one runner past second base in Tampa Bay’s first shutout of the season. Delmon Young doubled twice and scored for the Devil Rays, who had been the only major league team without a shutout this year.

Jackson, who started the night with a 6.35 ERA, retired his first 10 batters before Brad Wilkerson doubled. The right-hander threw 79 of his 110 pitches for strikes. Played in 96-degree heat, the game took only 2 hours, 14 minutes.

Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead off John Rheinecker (1-1) on RBI doubles by Young in the first inning and Greg Norton in the second.