WASHINGTON – Chase Utley homered in a five-run fifth inning and Philadelphia beat Washington 8-5 on Wednesday night to move back atop the NL East with its fourth straight victory.

Shane Victorino had three hits and three RBIs, including a solo homer, to help Jamie Moyer (10-6) win his third straight decision.

The 45-year-old Moyer earned his 240th career victory, tying him with Frank Tanana for 12th place among left-handers in major league history.

Moyer went six innings, allowing three runs – on first-inning homers by Willie Harris and Jesus Flores – and six hits. Brad Lidge pitched around a leadoff double in the ninth for his 26th save in as many chances.

Marlins 7, Mets 5

MIAMI – Josh Johnson pitched 6 2-3 innings for his first victory in almost two years for Florida.

Jeremy Hermida and Cody Ross both tripled in a five-run fourth inning against Mike Pelfrey (9-7), who lost for the first time in his past eight decisions.

Johnson (1-0) allowed eight hits and four runs in his fourth start since returning from reconstructive elbow surgery in August 2007. Johnson, who doubled home a run, last won on Aug. 28, 2006.

Pinch-hitter Damion Easley hit a three-run homer off Johnson in the seventh to cut the Mets’ deficit to 5-4.

But Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer in the eighth for Florida.

Cardinals 7, Braves 2

ATLANTA – Chris Carpenter pitched four solid innings in his first start since April 2007 for St. Louis.

Albert Pujols drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh for the Cardinals and Joe Mather put the game out of reach with a two-run homer in the eighth.

Carpenter, who won the NL Cy Young Award in 2005, spent the past year recovering from ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow. He allowed one run and five hits. He threw 67 pitches, striking out two and walking two.

Rockies 7, Pirates 4

PITTSBURGH – Aaron Cook won his 14th game and Troy Tulowitzki had three hits as Colorado avoided a sweep.

Chris Iannetta hit a three-run homer and Garrett Atkins, Matt Holliday and Willy Taveras had two hits each for Colorado, which improved to 10-3 since the All-Star break.

Cook (14-6) pitched seven solid innings to tie Arizona’s Brandon Webb and Cleveland’s Cliff Lee for the major league lead in wins. Cook allowed four runs and nine hits to win his third straight start. He had never won more than nine games in any of his first six seasons.

Rays 3, Blue Jays 2

TORONTO – Carlos Pena homered and Edwin Jackson won consecutive starts for the first time since April as Tampa Bay beat Toronto 3-2 on Wednesday.

The Rays won for the fourth time in six road games after losing seven straight away from home earlier this month.

Jackson (7-7) gave up two runs and seven hits in five innings. The right-hander had not won consecutive starts since his first two outings of the season.

Four relievers each worked a scoreless inning with Troy Percival getting his 23rd save. It was the 346th of his career, tying him with Randy Myers for eighth on the all-time list.

Yankees 13, Orioles 3

NEW YORK – Bobby Abreu hit two homers and Alex Rodriguez also went deep as New York avoided a three-game sweep.

Abreu also doubled and had three RBIs as the designated hitter. Rodriguez and Xavier Nady both had two hits for the Yankees. New York had been outscored 20-10 the first two games of the series, but still hasn’t been swept by the Orioles in a three-game set at Yankee Stadium since 1986.

Joba Chamberlain won consecutive starts for the first time. He gave up two runs – one earned – and five hits in six innings, striking out six without a walk.

Chamberlain (4-3) has allowed two earned runs over his last three starts covering 19 innings.

Baltimore starter Dennis Sarfate (4-2), a career reliever, left after four innings, allowing five runs – three earned – and two hits with three walks.

Royals 4, Athletics 3, 10 innings

OAKLAND, Calif. – Jose Guillen drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th and Kansas City completed its first three-game sweep in Oakland in 20 years.

The Royals last swept the A’s in a series in 1999 in Kansas City, but had not done so in Oakland since June 1988.

The A’s fell to 2-10 since the All-Star break, the worst record in the majors, and fell under .500 (53-54) for the first time since April 6.

Pinch-hitter Esteban German walked to lead off the 10th against closer Huston Street (2-4), then took third when Mike Aviles doubled. After an out and an intentional walk, Guillen’s fly ball to center scored German.

Ramon Ramirez (2-1) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings, while Joakim Soria pitched a perfect 10th for his 30th save.