NEW YORK -- Carlos Delgado hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning to help New York to a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday that gave the Mets sole possession of first place in the NL East.

Oliver Perez struck out 12 in 7 23 innings, and Billy Wagner got three outs for his second save in as many days. The Mets took two of three in the series after blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning of the opener. They are alone on top for the first time since April 19.

New York improved to 9-4 against the Phillies this year, after going 6-12 against them last season and losing the final eight meetings.

Eric Bruntlett had three hits for the Phillies.

Wagner, who earned his 26th save, missed the opener with a sore left shoulder.

Delgado doubled off J.C. Romero (4-3) with two outs in the eighth after David Wright was intentionally walked.

Jayson Werth led off the seventh with his 13th homer to tie it at 1.

Giants 1, Nationals 0

SAN FRANCISCO -- Matt Cain pitched a four-hitter and Dave Roberts singled home a run in the eighth for San Francisco, which earned its first three-game home sweep of the season.

Cain (6-8) retired his first 11 batters and didn't issue a walk for the first time this year. He struck out four to boost his season total to 130.

Cain's other shutout came May 21, 2006, at Oakland. This was the Giants' seventh shutout this year and the 13th time Washington has been blanked, a major league high.

With his fourth career complete game, Cain became the first San Francisco pitcher to throw a shutout since Noah Lowry on Aug. 21, 2006, against Arizona.

Tim Redding (7-5) allowed seven hits in eight-plus innings, struck out five and didn't walk a batter for the second time in three starts.

Pirates 9, Padres 1

PITTSBURGH -- Yoslan Herrera pitched six shutout innings for his first major league win, and Pittsburgh got back-to-back homers from Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.

Nate McLouth homered and had three RBIs for the Pirates, who have won four straight. They stopped a six-game skid against the Padres, who have lost nine of 10 overall.

San Diego owns the worst record in the major leagues at 38-65.

Herrera (1-1), making his third big league start since being called up from Double-A on July 12, allowed six singles and one walk while striking out four.

Bay and Nady opened the fourth with home runs against Clay Hensley (1-1) to give Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead.

Hensley, making his first start of the season, allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings.

Cubs 6, Marlins 3

CHICAGO -- Carlos Zambrano pitched seven solid innings and Chicago snapped a 10-game losing streak to Florida.

After a 2-4 road trip, the Cubs got home runs from Henry Blanco and Ronny Cedeno and two-run double from Aramis Ramirez to improved to 38-12 at Wrigley Field.

Hanley Ramirez homered for the Marlins, who have lost three of four overall and lost to the Cubs for the first time since April 25, 2006.

Brewers 4, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Braun had four hits for a second straight game, including a two-run homer in the ninth, as Milwaukee beat St. Louis Cardinals.

The Brewers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to sweep a series in St. Louis for the first time since September 1999.

Braun, who had four hits in Wednesday's 3-0 victory, has reached safely in his last nine plate appearances. His home run off Ryan Franklin (3-4) gave the Brewers a 4-3 lead and was his 26th of the season. It allowed the Brewers to set a franchise record with a home run in their 20th consecutive game.

Eric Gagne (3-2) picked up the win with one scoreless inning of relief. Solomon Torres recorded his 19th save in 23 chances by striking out the side in the ninth.

Ben Sheets gave up two earned runs in seven innings for Milwaukee.