Rafael Furcal had a pinch hit RBI single in the eighth inning, providing the victory that gave the NL-leading Dodgers a 29-21 record during Ramirez's absence. The 12-time All-Star, who needs three home runs to tie Mickey Mantle for 15th place on the career list at 536, will return to the lineup Friday for the a three-game series at San Diego.

Brad Ausmus led off the eighth with a single and advanced on a sacrifice. Catcher Russell Martin ran for Ausmus and scored when Furcal stroked a single to right field.

Cardinals 2, Giants 1, 10 innings In St. Louis, Colby Rasmus made the most of a let-off dropped catch, hitting a leadoff homer in the 10th inning to give St. Louis a narrow win over San Francisco.

Earlier in the at-bat, San Francisco rookie third baseman Pablo Sandoval dropped Rasmus' pop fly, arriving late and stabbing at the catching attempt with his glove. Three pitches later, Rasmus homered to straightaway center for his first game-ending hit.

Rasmus leads NL rookies with eight homers and 29 RBIs. The Cardinals closed within a game of NL Central leaders Milwaukee.

Mets 1, Brewers 0 In Milwaukee, New York arrested a five-game losing streak with a tight victory over Milwaukee. Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey got through 7-2/3 scoreless innings, laying the foundation for a win brought about by Ryan Church's sixth inning RBI single.

Young Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo threw a career-best 12 strikeouts to no avail.

Braves 11, Phillies 1 In Atlanta, pitcher Jair Jurrjens eyed off a no-hitter, and guided Atlanta to a crushing win over Philadelphia.

Jurrjens didn't give up a hit until there were two outs in the seventh inning. He began the night with the seventh-lowest run support in the majors, including just five runs in his past four losses, but got plenty of help from his batters Wednesday.

Jurrjens gave up only one unearned run in seven innings, striking out six, as the Braves notched a third straight win.

Cubs 4, Pirates 1 In Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome homered as Chicago overcame Pittsburgh. Pitcher Randy Wells' seven effective innings limited the Pirates to one run and he recorded his third consecutive victory. In that winning trot, his ERA has been an impressive 2.18.

The Cubs took two of three in this series. They have won eight of the past nine series against the Pirates dating to 2007.

Lee hit a two-run homer three batters into the game. Fukudome made it 3-1 in the sixth.

Astros 7, Padres 1 In San Diego, Houston piled on six runs in the fourth inning, cruising past San Diego.

Astros pitcher Brian Moehler pitched six strong innings, striking out eight in winning his third straight decision.

Houston has won seven of the past eight against San Diego.

Reds 1, Diamondbacks 0 In Cincinnatti, pitcher Johnny Cueto settled in after two wild innings, steering Cincinnatti past Arizona.

Arizona managed only one infield hit during six innings against Cueto and a bunt single off the bullpen.

Joey Votto singled home a run in the sixth inning for the Reds, who got their seventh shutout of the season.

Marlins 5, Nationals 3 In Miami, Hanley Ramirez extended his RBI streak to 10 games as Florida defeated Washington. Pinch-hitter Wes Helms beat out a potential double-play ball to put Florida ahead in the eighth inning and the Marlins improved to 9-0 against the hapless Nationals this season.

Ramirez hit a two-run double, making him the first shortstop in NL history with an RBI streak of double-digit games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Washington stranded 13 runners, and gave up a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning.