Lohse's 10th victory carries Cardinals past Mets

Several New York Mets hitters came in with gaudy career numbers against Kyle Lohse. They did next to nothing against the St. Louis Cardinals' resurgent right-hander.

Lohse, who allowed just 1 unearned run in 7 innings of the host Cardinals' 7-1 victory on Monday night, showed them he is not the same guy who entered the year 11 games below .500 for his career and had to wait until mid-March for a free agent deal.

"That's in the past," said Lohse (10-2). "I've been doing a lot of stuff different this year. I feel like a different pitcher."

Albert Pujols had 2 hits and 2 RBI to back Lohse's seventh straight win. Chris Duncan added a 2-run homer, his first since May 16, and Aaron Miles had 3 hits while extending his hitting streak to 12 games.

The Cardinals won the opener of a four-game series against a team that's dominated them lately - at least in the regular season. They won the 2006 World Series after upsetting the Mets in a seven-game NLCS, but had lost eight of the previous 10 regular-season meetings.

John Maine (8-6) lasted only 4 innings to match his season worst for the Mets, who have lost three of four and dropped the opener of an eight-game trip against the Central-contending Cardinals and NL East-leading Phillies. This is the Mets' first trip to St. Louis since they opened the 2007 season with a three-game sweep, outscoring the defending champs 20-2.

In Monday's series opener they were hampered by 3 errors, matching a season high.

"We didn't do too much of anything right," interim manager Jerry Manuel said. "We didn't do too much defensively, we didn't do much offensively."

Mark Mulder got the last three outs, making the first relief appearance of his career in his season debut. He missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury. Throwing from a lower arm angle after problems cut short one rehab assignment earlier in the year, he allowed 2 hits with a strikeout.

"Of course I want to be starting, but right now I really could care less," Mulder said. "It's just a relief to be out there and feeling good about what you're doing."

Lohse allowed 5 hits against a lineup loaded with hitters with big career numbers against him, striking out four and walking two. Carlos Beltran, 15-for-29 with 4 homers and 11 RBI entering the game, had a single and walk. Carlos Delgado (7-for-13 with three homers) was 0-for-2 with a hit by pitch and a rare double-play ball in the sixth, with third baseman Troy Glaus handling the relay in an overshifted defense.

David Wright and Ryan Church both had been 4-for-8, while Brian Schneider was 3-for-8 and Jose Reyes 3-for-8. Together, those six hitters were 2-for-16 against Lohse.

"There's a reason why he's got 10 wins now," Schneider said. "He kept all of his pitches going and went back and forth."

Lohse reached double figures in victories for the first time since 2003, also his last winning record when he was 14-11 for the Twins. He's won 7 of 8 starts with a 2.44 ERA since May 24, the no-decision coming in his last outing when he surrendered 5 runs on 11 hits in 4 innings at Detroit.

Duncan homered just inside the right-field foul pole and over the fence off Carlos Muniz for a 7-1 lead in the fifth.

Reds 4, Pirates 3: Ken Griffey Jr. hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally host Cincinnati past Pitsburgh.

Griffey's 603rd homer came off Matt Capps (1-3), who started the ninth with a 3-2 lead but couldn't get an out. David Ross opened with a double, and Griffey - who got into the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth - hit the second pitch he saw into the seats in right-center.

Francisco Cordero (3-1) escaped a bases-loaded threat in the ninth to get the win.

Adam LaRoche hit a sacrifice fly and a 2-run homer off Aaron Harang, helping the Pirates take a 3-2 lead into the ninth.

Astros 4, Dodgers 1: Houston's Roy Oswalt struck out nine in 6 strong innings, then left with a strained hip as the host Astros beat Los Angeles.

Oswalt (7-8) allowed 1 run and 6 hits, but he walked off the field with a trainer after throwing his warmup pitches for the seventh. Manager Cecil Cooper said Oswalt strained his left hip abductor in the sixth inning. Cooper said Oswalt was "day to day."

Lance Berkman homered and Brad Ausmus added a 2-run single off Eric Stults (2-1) to help the Astros win for the seventh time in 10 games. Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 22nd save.

Marlins 6, Nationals 5 (10): Josh Willingham hit a home run in the bottom of the 10th for Florida after Hanley Ramirez had forced extra innings with a homer in the ninth as the Marling beat visiting Washington.

American League

Rays 5, Red Sox 4: James Shields (6-5) scattered 5 hits over 6 innings, and B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross homered Monday to help host Tampa Bay beat Boston to open a 1-game lead in the AL East.

The Rays (50-32), surprising owners of the best record in baseball, have won six of seven and ended a six-game losing streak to the Red Sox.

Shields limited Boston to two runs before Tampa Bay's bullpen barely held on, giving the Red Sox their first three-game losing streak in more than a month.

Rangers 2, Yankees 1: Scott Feldman and a reshuffled Texas bullpen shut down host New York on 4 hits.

The win moved Texas to 43-41, the first time since Sept. 22, 2006, the Rangers have been two games over .500.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 534th home run for the Yankees, tying Jimmie Foxx for 14th place on the career list.

Royals 6, Orioles 5 (11): Miguel Olivo homered off George Sherrill with two outs in the ninth to force extra innings, and Jose Guillen singled in the tiebreaking run in the 11th as visiting Kansas City beat Baltimore

The Royals rallied from a 4-run deficit to win their sixth straight on the road, the team's longest run since 1999.

Tigers 5, Twins 4: Curtis Granderson's go-ahead RBI single capped Detroit's 2-run eighth inning. in its win over host Minnesota

The Twins had runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth, but Alexi Casilla flied out and Joe Mauer grounded out.