PHILADELPHIA – After spending a few days relaxing at his parents’ suburban house, Dave Bush dominated at the Phillies’ home.

Bush held Philadelphia hitless for 7 1-3 innings before pinch-hitter Matt Stairs homered off the foul pole, and the Milwaukee Brewers cruised to a 6-1 win Thursday.

One batter after third baseman Bill Hall made a tremendous play to preserve Bush’s try, Stairs batted for reliever Chad Durbin and launched a high fly that hit the pole in right field.

“I figured it was going to be way fair at first, then I saw the ball bending a little bit,” Bush said.

The big story on the mound early in the game was Cole Hamels. The World Series MVP was forced to leave after getting hit in the left shoulder by Prince Fielder’s line drive. The team said Hamels had a bruise.

Reds 7, Cubs 1

CHICAGO – Aaron Harang allowed only one unearned run over seven innings and Joey Votto homered, doubled twice and singled, leading the Cincinnati Reds over the sloppy Chicago Cubs 7-1.

The Reds went 7-3 on their first road swing of the season, marking the first time since 2004 they’d won three series on the same trip.

Harang (2-2) scattered seven hits in outpitching Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano (1-1), who hasn’t won at Wrigley Field since last Aug. 21.

Dodgers 2, Astros 0

HOUSTON – Chad Billingsley pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning and Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake each drove in a run, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros.

It was Billingsley’s fourth win of the season, making him the first Dodgers pitcher to win his first four starts since Kazuhisa Ishii won his first six in 2002.

Cardinals 12, Mets 8

ST. LOUIS – Albert Pujols homered twice and Kyle Lohse hung on for another win as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 12-8 to complete a three-game sweep.

Rick Ankiel homered and doubled twice and Skip Schumaker hit a pair of RBI doubles as the Cardinals punished Livan Hernandez and won their seventh in a row at home. The Mets lost their fourth straight overall.

Indians 5, Royals 2

CLEVELAND – Grady Sizemore greeted reliever Ron Mahay with a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2.

Royals starter Gil Meche (1-1) had retired 16 straight batters and took a 2-1 lead into the eighth. An error by second baseman Alberto Callaspo let the tying run score and finished Meche.

Jensen Lewis (2-2) worked two scoreless innings for the victory. Kerry Wood pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Mariners 1, Rays 0

SEATTLE – Ichiro Suzuki lined James Shields’ second pitch of the game for a home run and ace Felix Hernandez helped his injury riddled team with a seven-inning gem in the Seattle Mariner’s 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

David Aardsma pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts. Brandon Morrow worked out of his own jam in he ninth for his fifth save in five chances.

Orioles 6, White Sox 2

BALTIMORE – Adam Eaton took a four-hitter into the eighth inning to earn his first victory with Baltimore, and the Orioles roughed up Bartolo Colon in a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Eaton (1-2) allowed six hits, struck out nine and walked none in 7 1-3 innings. The right-hander left with runners at the corners in the eighth, and Jim Thome ruined the shutout bid with a two-out, two-run single off Jim Johnson.

Blue Jays 5, Rangers 2

TORONTO – Alex Rios hit a two-run homer, Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay also connected and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 5-2.

Josh Hamilton and Chris Davis hit solo shots for Texas, with six of the game’s seven runs coming on homers.

Texas has hit a major league-leading 29 home runs this season. Toronto is second with 28.

Toronto won its AL-high 12th game and has won all five series so far. The Blue Jays have not lost consecutive games this season.

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