Diamondbacks Too Much for Cubs

Danny Bautista and Robby Hammock both matched a career high with four runs batted in as the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Chicago Cubs, 13-2, Saturday at Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks closed within 2 1/2 games of Philadelphia in the wild-card race.

Cub center fielder Kenny Lofton made his first error in 265 games, ending the longest errorless streak in the majors among outfielders. His last error came on Sept. 2, 2001, when he was with Cleveland.

Miguel Batista (8-7) ended a six-game winless streak, getting his first win since he shut out San Diego with a five-hitter July 18.

St. Louis 5, Philadelphia 3 -- Matt Morris returned to the mound for the Cardinals and received some help from his two new teammates at St. Louis. He yielded a run and six hits in five innings in his first start since July 21, when a line drive hit by San Diego’s Mark Kotsay broke his hand.

Sterling Hitchcock won in his St. Louis debut, pitching a scoreless inning in relief as the Cardinals defeated the Phillies for the first time in eight meetings.

Hitchcock started the sixth with the Cardinals trailing, 1-0. He gave up a hit to Bobby Abreu to start the inning, but nothing else.

Mike DeJean also made his first appearance for the Cardinals. He pitched a scoreless seventh but gave up two runs and two hits in the eighth.

Jim Edmonds went four for four for St. Louis.

Cincinnati 3, Houston 1 -- The Astros lost for the eighth time in 11 games and fell into a tie for first in the Central Division with St. Louis. Paul Wilson (8-10) beat the Astros for the second time in a week and Juan Castro hit a two-run double at Houston.

Atlanta 5, Colorado 4 -- At Denver, Mike Hampton (12-5) won his ninth consecutive decision, Gary Sheffield had a three-run double and Andruw Jones hit his 31st homer as the Braves beat the Rockies for the sixth time in a row.

Milwaukee 7, Pittsburgh 6 -- Royce Clayton had an RBI single with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Brewers their season-high fifth consecutive victory.

With runners on first and second, Clayton hit a long fly off Mark Corey (0-1) that bounced off Brian Giles’ outstretched glove and allowed Mark Smith to score from second.

San Diego 1, Montreal 0 -- Expo closer Rocky Biddle walked Mark Kotsay with two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, scoring Brian Buchanon with the winning run.