ST. LOUIS – Ryan Ludwick hit his second home run of the game off Dan Wheeler in the 10th inning, allowing the St. Louis Cardinals to recover after squandering a four-run cushion in a 9-8 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Albert Pujols also homered and had two RBIs a day after his 42-game streak of reaching base ended, helping the Cardinals win for only the third time in 11 games. The AL East-leading Rays lost for just the second time in 10 games.

Ludwick hit the first pitch from Wheeler (0-3) with one out in the 10th an estimated 402 feet over the wall in left-center for the second winning homer of his career. He has four career two-homer games, including two this season.

Mets 7, Yankees 4

NEW YORK – Johan Santana (5-2) pitched into the eighth inning and the Mets got home runs from Jose Reyes and David Wright to top the Yankees in the opener of a rain-shortened Subway Series.

Billy Wagner got four outs for his ninth save in nine chances – one day after manager Willie Randolph held a closed-door meeting in response to remarks by the closer that some perceived as critical of his teammates.

Reds 4, Indians 2

CINCINNATI – Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Masa Kobayashi, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to their season-high fifth straight victory.

Dunn’s third homer in three games helped the Reds survive another shutdown pitching performance by Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona, who turned a 2-1 lead over to a bullpen in transition.

Bill Bray (1-0) pitched out of a scoring threat in the ninth to get the win.

Pirates 7, Cubs 6

CHICAGO – Nate McLouth hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Carlos Marmol in the ninth to help Pittsburgh overcome Alfonso Soriano’s second straight two-homer game.

Freddy Sanchez beat shortstop Ryan Theriot’s throw to first on a grounder up the middle with one out before McLouth’s drive off Marmol (1-1) helped Pittsburgh win for the ninth time in 12 games.

Matt Capps gave up a two-out RBI single to Ryan Theriot after Soriano doubled for his fifth hit of the game, but retired Derrek Lee on a fly to right for his 10th save.

Dodgers 6, Angels 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. -Blake DeWitt hit a two-run homer in the second inning and the Dodgers handed Ervin Santana his first loss of the season.

Chan Ho Park made his first start for the Dodgers in almost seven years, limiting the Angels to two runs – one earned – over four innings. The 34-year-old right-hander gave up three hits, walked two, hit Vladimir Guerrero with a pitch and struck out three. He left with the Dodgers up 4-2.

Santana (6-1), coming off his worst outing of the season, gave up four runs on five hits in six innings. He walked three, hit a batter and struck out five.

Athletics 5, Braves 4

ATLANTA – Jack Cust hit a solo home run and Ryan Sweeney added a three-run shot, and the Oakland Athletics held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Saturday night to end a season-worst four game losing streak.

Rich Harden (2-0) pitched seven strong innings in ending Atlanta’s eight-game home winning streak. The right-hander allowed four hits, one earned run, walked one and struck out eight.

The Braves rallied from a 5-1 deficit with three runs in the ninth off Huston Street.

Marlins 7, Royals 3

MIAMI – Wes Helms hit a three-run, pinch-hit homer and Mike Jacobs added a two-run shot in the seventh inning to help Florida snap a season-high four-game losing streak.

The Marlins also denied Kansas City its first six-game winning streak since 2003.

Logan Kensing (3-0) pitched one inning in relief of Scott Olsen. Brian Bannister (4-5) gave up six runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Blue Jays 6, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA – Rod Barajas hit grand slam and a solo shot and A.J. Burnett pitched impressively into the seventh inning to lead Toronto to a win.

Burnett (4-4) allowed two runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out eight. Scott Downs escaped a jam in the seventh and B.J. Ryan pitched a scoreless ninth for his eighth save.

Rangers 6, Astros 2

ARLINGTON, Texas – Milton Bradley and Marlon Byrd hit two-run homers off Roy Oswalt (4-4) and the Rangers clinched their seventh consecutive series by beating Houston.

The last time the Rangers won seven series in a row was 1999, the season they won their last AL West title. They have won 15 of 21 games in this span, getting back to .500 three weeks after having the worst record in the major leagues.

Orioles 6, Nationals 5

BALTIMORE – Nick Markakis homered and drove in three runs and Brian Burres (4-4) allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings as the Orioles won their fourth straight victory.

Ryan Zimmerman hit a home run and Aaron Boone had two RBIs for Washington, which has dropped three of five games.

Jay Payton added a two-run homer and Alex Cintron matched a career high with four hits for Baltimore. George Sherrill got three outs for his 17th save in 19 chances.

Odalis Perez (1-4) departed after yielding a season-high six runs on 10 hits, walking two and striking out two in five innings.