Cards split doubleheader

The Chicago Cubs and St Louis Cardinals split a doubleheader at Wrigley Field on the final day before the All-Star break.

The Cubs won the opener 7-3 behind a strong all-round performance from Carlos Zambrano, but could not solve Adam Wainwright in the night-cap as they went down 4-2.

The day began with Zambrano striking out seven while allowing three runs in six innings, but also showing off his offensive talent by smashing the go-ahead home run in the fourth inning.

The Cubs have jumped into a lead on Micah Hoffpauir's three-run shot in the first, but Zambrano's 19th career blast was needed after Albert Pujols hit a two-run double and then scored on a Joe Thurston single.

The Cubs then added insurance runs thanks to an uncharacteristic fielding error from Pujols.

However, the Cubs could not make an impression on the Cardinals' lead at the top of the National League Central as they dropped the second game.

Cubs rookie Randy Wells struggled early, coughing up a first-inning two-run homer to Ryan Ludwick, who would add a second two-run blast - again off Wells - in the sixth to account for all the Cardinals' offence.

Wainwright held the Cubs to two runs in eight innings, striking out five.

The Cardinals hold a 3 1/2 game lead over the third-placed Cubs, while the second-placed Milwaukee Brewers are 2 1/2 games back after losing 7-4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Clayton Kershaw held the Brewers to one run through six innings, and the Dodgers roughed up Milwaukee's Yovanni Gallardo for five runs in five innings as Orlando Hudson hit two home runs after Brad Ausmus also went deep.

The New York Mets' struggling offence came alive as they beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-7.

Luis Castillo had three hits and three runs and Gary Sheffield provided three RBIs, but the biggest surprises were a pair of home runs from Brian Schneider and Fernando Tatis as the Mets snapped a run of 80 innings without going deep.

The Mets built a 7-0 lead before letting the Reds rally.

Cincinnati scored four runs in the final two innings to close the gap back to two, but Francisco Rodriguez shut the door for his 23rd save of the season.

The Mets remain three games under .500 and have a lot of work to do in the second half to chase down the division leading Philadelphia Phillies, who are 6 1/2 games ahead after beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2.

JA Happ held the Pirates to one run on four hits in seven innings to improve to 6-0 on the season, and the Phillies jumped all over Pirates starter Virgil Vazquez, scoring five runs in the first inning - four on Pedro Feliz's grand slam.

The Phillies hold a four-game lead in the division over the Florida Marlins, who romped to an 8-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks thanks in large part to 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball from first-time All-Star Josh Johnson.

Superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez had three hits, scoring two runs and adding an RBI, while Jeremy Hermida cranked a two-run homer.

The Atlanta Braves have fallen to six games behind after the Colorado Rockies scored five runs in the final three innings in a stunning come-from-behind 8-7 victory at Coors Field.

Trailing 7-3 in the seventh, Clint Barmes singled to score Dexter Fowler before Seth Smith crushed a two-run homer that closed the gap to one.

Ryan Spilborghs' double then scored Ian Stewart to tie it in the eighth, and the Rockies won as Brad Hawpe's two-out double plated Smith in the bottom of the ninth.

San Diego Padres bats came alive as they scored a season-high 10 runs to beat the San Francisco Giants 10-4.

Will Venable and Kevin Kouzmanoff combined for eight hits and two home runs as the Padres snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Jose Valverde recorded his 150th career save and Brian Moehler tossed 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball as the Houston Astros beat the Washington Nationals 5-0.