LOS ANGELES – The Arizona Diamondbacks gave Manny Ramirez three chances to hurt them Saturday. He came through twice, and that was enough for the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie and added a two-run double in the sixth, helping the Dodgers beat Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks 7-2 to take over sole possession of first place in the NL West for the first time since April 4.

Chad Billingsley (14-10) took a shutout into the seventh for Los Angeles. By winning their seventh straight after an eight-game skid, the Dodgers moved a half-game ahead of Arizona entering Sunday’s finale of their three-game series. Four of those wins have come over the slumping Diamondbacks, who have dropped nine of 12.

Webb (19-7), who issued a career-high six walks while failing in his third attempt to reach 20 wins for the first time.

Brewers 1, Padres 0

MILWAUKEE – Ben Sheets pitched a five-hitter for his career-high 13th win and Milwaukee beat San Diego.

Sheets struck out seven in his fourth career shutout – third this season – and 18th career complete game.

Sheets outpitched Padres ace Jake Peavy (9-10), who allowed a run and five hits with four walks in seven innings. It was just the third time this season in 25 starts that Peavy walked four or more batters.

Prince Fielder’s RBI double in the third accounted for the only run for the Brewers, who came in trailing the first-place Chicago Cubs by four games in the NL Central.

Sheets (13-7) Sheets retired nine of the first ten before Luis Rodriguez singled leading off the fourth. Sheets got the next seven before Rodriquez doubled with two out in the sixth. He also had an infield single to start the ninth.

Cubs 14, Reds 9

CINCINNATI – Alfonso Soriano homered three times at the top of Chicago’s retooled batting order, and the first-place Cubs emerged from their longest losing streak, ending a six-game slide with a win over the Reds.

Soriano hit two solo homers off rookie Johnny Cueto (8-13), then connected for a three-run shot off Jared Burton, sending a two-strike pitch deep into the seats in left field. Soriano resisted tens of thousands of Cubs fans who wanted him to take a curtain call – bad form on the road – but briefly tipped his cap when he went back to left field.

The third three-homer game of Soriano’s career got the Cubs’ offense rolling. Mark DeRosa added a three-run drive and Jason Marquis (10-8) had a solo shot as Chicago piled up a season-high five homers. Derrek Lee had four hits on his 33rd birthday.

The Cubs pulled ahead 9-1, substituted for many of their starters, then held on. Cincinnati’s Jolbert Cabrera hit his first career grand slam in the ninth off Carlos Marmol.

Cardinals 5, Marlins 3

ST. LOUIS – Albert Pujols hit a two-run home run and Todd Wellemeyer pitched a season-high eight innings to help St. Louis beat Florida.

Pujols hit his 31st home run of the season in the first off Scott Olsen to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

Wellemeyer (12-6) gave up five hits and struck out seven. Ryan Franklin got the final two outs to record his 15th save.

Felipe Lopez drove in two runs for the Cardinals, who won for the second time in eight games and remained six games behind the Brewers in the wild card race.

Olsen (6-10) lost his sixth straight decision. Olsen, who last won July 19 against Philadelphia, went six innings, gave up five hits and four runs.

Astros 2, Rockies 0

DENVER – Roy Oswalt threw a one-hitter and Hunter Pence hit a two-run home run to help Houston beat Colorado.

Roy Oswalt (14-9) struck out six, walked two and hit two batters. He threw 102 pitches and gave up only a leadoff single to Brad Hawpe in the fifth inning.

It was the third time in Coors Field history that a pitcher threw a one-hitter or better. Hideo Nomo of the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a no hitter on Sept. 17, 1996, and Pat Rapp of the Florida Marlins threw a one-hitter on Sept. 17, 1995.

Reggie Abercrombie was 3-for-4 with two doubles for the Astros, who won for the ninth time in 10 games and remained seven games back of Milwaukee in the NL wild card race. The Brewers beat the Padres 1-0.

Jeff Francis (4-9) allowed two runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. Francis, who missed all of July with inflammation in his left shoulder, has put together five quality starts, but has one win to show for it.

Nationals 8, Braves 5, 10 innings

ATLANTA – Ryan Langerhans hit a 10th-inning homer, the Nationals’ fifth of the game, and Washington recovered from blowing a two-run lead in the ninth.

The Nationals matched their season high for homers, including two by Elijah Dukes. Langerhans’ go-ahead shot in the 10th off Mike Gonzalez (0-2) was his second this season, both as a pinch hitter.

Dukes had four hits, including a run-scoring single in the Nationals’ three-run 10th inning, and drove in three runs.

The Braves rallied from a 5-3 deficit against Joel Hanrahan in the ninth. Kelly Johnson tied the game with a bases-loaded double, but the drive bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, preventing the winning run from scoring.

The Nationals rebounded from the third blown save in 10 chances for Hanrahan (6-3).