Chicago, IL -- Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Ryan Ludwick hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, in the nightcap of a double-header from Wrigley Field. Carlos Zambrano hit a solo homer and threw six efficient innings, while Micah Hoffpauir added a three-run blast, as the Cubs topped the Cardinals, 7-3, in the opener of the double-dip. Adam Wainwright (10-5) got the win as he went eight innings and gave up two runs on seven hits while fanning five and walking three batters. Ryan Franklin struck out the side in the ninth for his 21st save of the 2009 campaign. The Cardinals snapped a two-game slide and earned a split of the four-game set with the Cubbies. The Red Birds head into the All-Star break with a 49-42 record and sit atop the NL Central. Kyle Lohse (4-5), who hadn't pitched since June 3 due to a strained right forearm, gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings for the Cardinals in the day game. Randy Wells (4-4) took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work while Zambrano (5-4) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven in Chicago's earlier victory. The Cubs are 2-4 over their last six games and are 43-43 on the season. The North-Siders sit 3 1/2 games behind the Cardinals for the NL Central lead.

Final Score: New York 9, Cincinnati 7

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Brian Schneider and Fernando Tatis homered in the seventh inning to break the Mets' dry spell, and New York held on to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 9-7, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Mike Pelfrey (7-4) got the win after limiting the Reds to three runs on five hits and two walks in seven innings. Luis Castillo had three hits, while Gary Sheffield went 2-for-5 and drove in three for the Mets, who won the final two games of this series. They go into the All-Star break with a 42-45 record, 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Phillies. Reds starter Aaron Harang (5-9) gave up five runs on eight hits in three innings, and took the loss. Willy Taveras went 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Brandon Phillips added two hits and drove in two runs. Cincinnati goes into the All-Star break at 42-45, having lost seven of its last 10 games.

Final Score: Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 2

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Pedro Feliz's grand slam highlighted a five-run first inning and rookie J.A. Happ had another solid outing, as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh with a 5-2 win. Feliz also doubled and Ryan Howard added a sacrifice fly for Philadelphia (48-38), which has won five straight and finished an incredible 9-1 on its 10- game homestand. Happ (6-0) allowed one run on four hits and struck out four over seven innings. The Phillies will enter the All-Star break in sole possession of first place in the NL East for the second consecutive season. Freddy Sanchez had an RBI double and Garrett Jones homered for the third consecutive game for the Pirates (38-50), who have lost seven of their last eight games and sit in the basement of the NL Central. Pittsburgh starter Virgil Vasquez (1-3) only lasted 1 1/3 innings on the mound, surrendering five runs and four hits while walking three. Four relievers combined to limit the Phillies to just two hits the rest of the way.

Final Score: Houston 5, Washington 0

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Kaz Matsui clubbed a three-run homer and Brian Moehler pitched into the seventh inning, as the Astros blanked Washington, 5-0, at Minute Maid Park. Moehler (6-5) scattered seven hits and walked two over 6 1/3 innings. Alberto Arias and Jose Valverde each tossed 1 1/3 innings of relief, with the latter notching his eighth save of the season. Miguel Tejada drove in a run for Houston (44-44), which has won six of its last eight. Jordan Zimmermann (3-4) made the start for the Nationals, surrendering four runs -- three earned -- on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings to take the loss. Wil Nieves had a career- high four hits for Washington (26-61), which has lost six of seven.

Final Score: Los Angeles 7, Milwaukee 4

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Orlando Hudson homered from both sides of the plate and Manny Ramirez finished with three hits and a walk, as the Los Angeles Dodgers closed out a strong first half of the season with a 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Clayton Kershaw (7-5) pitched six-plus strong innings to get the win. He walked five but gave up only one run and two hits and struck out four. Hiroki Kuroda allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief, but James McDonald and Ramon Troncoso combined to throw a scoreless final 1 2/3 frames to secure the win. The victory improved LA's record to an MLB-best 56-32 going into the All-Star break. Brad Ausmus also homered for the Dodgers, who posted two wins in this three-game series that ended a nine-game road trip. James Loney went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI. Yovani Gallardo (8-7) took the loss after he surrendered five runs on six hits and four walks in five frames. Bill Hall and Mike Cameron each doubled and drove in one for Milwaukee (45-43), which has lost three of four.

Final Score: Colorado 8, Atlanta 7

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Brad Hawpe's shot into the right-field gap drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning, as Colorado earned a split in the four-game series against Atlanta with an 8-7 decision. Hawpe, who earlier in the week was selected to the All-Star game, Seth Smith and Troy Tulowitzki each homered for the Rockies (47-41), who have won five of seven overall and sit in the middle of the pack of the NL West. Huston Street (3-1) earned the win with a perfect ninth inning behind Jason Hammel, who was touched for five runs on nine hits in just three innings. Brooks Conrad fell a double short of the cycle during a three-RBI effort, and Martin Prado went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Braves (43-45), who had won four of five coming in and reside in third place in the NL East. Nate McLouth finished with two doubles, two walks and two runs scored in the loss. Kris Medlen lasted into the fifth in a spot-start, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks in the no-decision. Luis Valdez (0-1), making his MLB debut, took the loss.

Final Score: Florida 8, Arizona 1

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Cody Ross doubled twice and knocked in three and Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run homer, as the Florida Marlins crushed the Arizona Diamondbacks, 8-1, in the finale of a four-game set at Chase Field. Hanley Ramirez finished 3-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored for the Marlins (46-44), who came back to even the series after dropping the last two games. Florida has split its last 10 overall and are in second place in the National League East, four games behind Philadelphia. Josh Johnson (8-2) earned the win after pitching 6 2/3 solid innings. The righty allowed one run on seven hits, walked two and struck out seven. He has now won five of his last six decisions. Stephen Drew had three hits and an RBI for Arizona (38-51), which lost for only the second time in its last nine games. The Diamondbacks sit in fourth place in the NL West. Doug Davis (4-9) was saddled with the loss after getting touched for seven hits and five runs in four innings of work. The lefty struck out seven and walked three.

Final Score: San Diego 10, San Francisco 4

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Kevin Kouzmanoff and Eliezer Alfonzo each blasted a three-run homer, as San Diego pounded the Giants, 10-4, to salvage the finale of a four-game series at AT&T Park. Kouzmanoff finished 4-for-5 and scored three runs for the Padres (36-52), who snapped a seven-game losing streak. Will Venable collected four hits, including a solo shot, and scored four times. Kevin Correia (6-7) allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to get the win. John Bowker went 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs batted in for San Francisco (49-39), which had won five of six entering play and reside in second place in the NL West at the All-Star break, seven games behind Los Angeles. Barry Zito (5-9) was charged with nine runs and 10 hits in just 4 1/3 innings of work to absorb the loss.