Cards beat Mets for first time

The St. Louis Cardinals knew they could beat Atlanta. Jim Edmonds wanted to show they could take the New York Mets, too.

Edmonds hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night, giving the Cardinals a 6-5 win over the Mets in a meeting of NL division leaders.

The Cardinals had been 0-6 against New York this season before Edmonds connected with one out for his 37th homer.

Last week, St. Louis won three of four from the Braves.

"We played well in Atlanta," Edmonds said. "Now we've got to try to prove we can play with this team."

In other games, Houston edged Atlanta 3-2, San Francisco beat Chicago 7-2, Colorado defeated Milwaukee 5-3, Florida topped Arizona 8-7 in 11 innings, Los Angeles downed Philadelphia 2-1, Cincinnati beat Montreal 8-2 and Pittsburgh topped San Diego 3-2 in 10 innings.

Edmonds, who had been in a 2-for-26 slump, hit an RBI single in the seventh that made it 2-all at Busch Stadium. His game-winning homer came off Pat Mahomes.

"That's the way he's been most of the year," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He's been a little bit funky here lately, but mostly he's been outstanding."

The NL Central-leading Cardinals have won 12 of 16. The Mets stayed a half-game ahead of the Braves in the NL East.

Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny threw out two runners trying to steal second in the ninth inning.

Astros 3, Braves 2

Atlanta lost for the sixth time in seven games as Moises Alou and Jose Lima teamed up to lead Houston at Enron Field.

Giants 7, Cubs 2

Rich Aurilia hit a three-run homer, highlighting a six-run first inning against Kerry Wood that sent San Francisco over Chicago.

Wood (6-7) gave up six runs in an inning for the first time in the majors.

Marlins 8, Diamondbacks 7, 11 innings

Mike Lowell hit his second homer of the game, connecting for a two-run shot in the 11th inning to lift Florida over Arizona.

Rockies 5, Brewers 3

Todd Helton hit his 33rd home run, yet saw his batting average drop two points to .393.

Dodgers 2, Phillies 1

Adrian Beltre homered in the eighth inning and Los Angeles defeated Philadelphia at Dodger Stadium.

Pirates 3, Padres 2, 10 innings

Pinch-hitter Abraham Nunez's infield single drove in the tiebreaking run in the 10th inning as Pittsburgh won at San Diego.

Reds 8, Expos 2

Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the first time in 53 at-bats, ending his longest drought of the season, and Cincinnati beat Montreal.

Griffey hit his 36th home run one out after Pokey Reese homered.

The Expos began a 13-day, 14-game road trip.