Marlins edge closer to Phillies; Cubs snap Rockies

PHILADELPHIA – The Florida Marlins edged closer to divisional rival Philadelphia, beating the Phillies, 6-4, in the National League on Saturday.

Cody Ross hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning as Florida moved within five games of NL East-leading Philadelphia.

Five Marlins relievers held the Phillies to one run over five innings after starter Sean West gave up three in four innings.

In Denver, Colorado’s run of 15 straight wins over NL Central teams was narrowly ended by Chicago in a 6-5 win over the host team.

Kosuke Fukudome and Derrek Lee homered for the Cubs, who remained a game behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

Chicago pitcher Ryan Dempster ended a four-game road skid for his first win away from Wrigley Field in four months.

In Houston, Prince Fielder and Mike Rivera drove in three runs apiece and Milwaukee torched Houston’s bullpen for a 12-5 victory.

Fielder hit his 27th home run of the season as the Brewers finished with 14 hits.

Milwaukee led 3-0 when Houston pitcher Mike Hampton left after two innings with a sprained right knee. The Astros’ bullpen gave up nine runs the rest of the way and the Brewers reached their highest run total since mid-June.

In San Francisco, Bengie Molina homered among his three hits and drove in three runs as San Francisco downed Cincinnatti, 4-2.

Giants pitcher Barry Zito gave up only three hits over six innings.

In Pittsburgh, Albert Pujols hit a three-run double to reach the 100 RBIs mark for the ninth consecutive time to start his career, helping St. Louis beat Pittsburgh, 5-3. (AP)