NEW YORK, N.Y. - Freddie Freeman had five RBIs in the first two innings and the Atlanta Braves battered Johan Santana in his return from the disabled list, routing the sluggish New York Mets 9-3 on Saturday night.

Michael Bourn had three hits, Chipper Jones chased Santana with an RBI single in a seven-run second inning and Atlanta sent the two-time Cy Young Award winner to the worst start of his career.

Kris Medlen (3-1) pitched effectively into the seventh inning, striking out seven while improving to 2-0 since joining the rotation.

Santana (6-8) got only four outs. He was charged with eight hits — seven singles — and a season-high eight runs in his first outing since July 20.

PADRES 5, PIRATES 0

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jason Marquis took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before settling for a two-hitter as the Padres won their 11th straight game in Pittsburgh.

Travis Snider broke up the bid with an infield single off the pitcher's mound leading off the seventh inning.

Released earlier this season by Minnesota (6-6), Marquis struck out four and walked one in the fifth shutout of his career. Pedro Alvarez was the only other Pittsburgh player to reach base. He walked in the second and singled in the eighth.

Chase Headley hit his third home run in two games for the Padres and Max Venable also went deep.

A.J. Burnett (14-4) failed in his bid to become the first Pirates pitcher to win 15 games since Todd Ritchie in 1999.

CARDINALS 4, PHILLIES 1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer and Jake Westbrook won his fifth straight start, leading St. Louis to a victory over the Phillies.

Cliff Lee (2-7) retired 12 straight before the Cardinals tagged him for consecutive hits to open the sixth inning. Holliday followed with a shot to right for his 22nd homer of the season.

He remained winless at home this year.

The World Series champion Cardinals are in the thick of the wild-card hunt and Westbrook gave them a needed 7 2-3 strong innings. Westbrook (12-8) allowed four hits, walked two and struck out three.

MARLINS 7, DODGERS 3

MIAMI (AP) — Carlos Lee hit one of the Marlins' season-high five doubles and drove in two runs, leading Miami to a win over the Dodgers.

Ricky Nolasco (9-11) allowed two runs and nine hits in five innings for Miami.

Matt Kemp had three hits, stole two bases, and drove in a run for the Dodgers.

Dodgers starter Joe Blanton (8-10) allowed just one hit through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth.

GIANTS 9, ROCKIES 3

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Buster Posey hit a home run and drove in two runs to back Matt Cain's seven solid innings and the Giants beat Colorado.

Cain (11-5) gave up two runs on seven hits in 7 1-3 innings, and added an RBI single, to win for the first time since July 15. He walked one and struck out six. Angel Pagan hit a two-run triple, and Marco Scutaro, Hunter Pence and Joaquin Arias also drove in runs for the Giants.

D.J. LeMahieu hit his first major league home run or the Rockies, who had won three of four.

Drew Pomeranz (1-7) gave up four runs on five hits over four innings to remain winless (0-4) over his last six starts.

REDS 4, CUBS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and Cincinnati rallied to a win over the Cubs.

After Drew Stubbs doubled and Brandon Phillips singled off Cubs reliever James Russell (5-1), Ludwick looped a pitch down the left-field line and into the corner.

The comeback made a winner of Bronson Arroyo (8-7), who held the Cubs to two runs and five hits over eight innings.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman continued his recent dominance by setting down three straight in the ninth and converting his 27th save, including his last 19 straight.

ASTROS 6, BREWERS 5, 10 INNINGS

HOUSTON (AP) — Scott Moore hit an RBI single with none out in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the Astros to a victory over the Brewers.

Jose Altuve led off the 10th with an infield single off Jim Henderson (0-1). Marwin Gonzalez and Steve Pearce followed with walks to load the bases before Moore singled, giving Houston consecutive wins for the first time since June 26-27.

The Astros won in their final at-bat for the second straight game.

Milwaukee rallied three times to tie the game, sending it to extras on Jean Segura's RBI groundout in the ninth inning. Rickie Weeks led off the ninth with a double off Wilton Lopez (5-1).

NATIONALS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5

PHOENIX (AP) — Ryan Zimmerman singled in two of Washington's five runs in the fifth inning, and the Nationals rallied to beat the sloppy Diamondbacks, stretching their season-best winning streak to eight games.

Jason Werth and Michael Morse each had an RBI double in Washington's big inning, which was aided by two Arizona errors and a wild pitch from Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley (12-8).

Aaron Hill homered and Justin Upton doubled twice for the Diamondbacks, losers of the first two of the series and six of eight overall.

Edwin Jackson (7-7) got the win despite giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.

News from © The Associated Press, 2012