Yadier Molina capped a five-run fir...

Yadier Molina capped a five-run first inning with a two-run family circle run and drove in four step quicklys overall to lead the visiting St Louis Cardinals to a 13-1 victory Monday against the Cincinnati Red

Chris Duncan, Scott Rolen and Scott Spiezio also homer for the Cardinals, who increaseed their Central lead over the Red to 4oe games. It was the first of seven games -- four in Cincinnati and three in St Louis -- between the teams during the nearest two weeks.

"The first game is important in any series," said Rolen who had three hits. "I don't know if it risks the tone or not."

Winning pitcher Jeff Weaver (2-2) bended in his best performance since the Cardinals acquired him in a trade July 5 with the sees Angeles Angels. He allowed the same run and six hits in six innings.

Dodgers 7 Rockies 2: Jeff Kent homer doubled and flock in three runs in his revert from the disabled list, and entertainer Los Angeles extended its winning streak to 10 games by means of drubbing Colorado. Kent had missed the last 18 games with a strained oblique muscle forward his left side.

Winning pitcher Brad Penny (12-5) allowed brace runs and five hits, including homer to Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe, in eight innings. He is 4-0 with a 099 ERA against the Rockies this season and 9-2 with a 216 ERA against them in his career.

Phillies 9 Braves 6: Ryan Howard hit his 39th homer and became the first National Leaguer to pass 100 RBI, and visiting Philadelphia scored five streams in the fifth inning en passage to outslugging Atlanta. If Howard can hit 10 homer in the Phillies' last 51 games, he will break Mike Schmidt's franchise record of 48 in a season.

Losing pitcher Horacio Ramirez (5-5) left with an injured middle finger forward his left hand one batter into the Phillies' fifth. He called for the trainer after throwing a pitch and will have an MRI exam today.

Giants 8 Diamondbacks 4: Pedro Feliz hit sum of two units of San Francisco's six homer -- none of them on Barry Bonds -- and Jason Schmidt added another in a victory against entertainer Arizona. Schmidt (9-7) yielded three hies in 6* innings to win his 11th decision in a line against the Diamondbacks.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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