HOUSTON - Jeriome Robertson has found the secret to pitching in the major leagues - don't think. Robertson won for the first time in more than a month, pitching 5 2-3 innings to help the Houston Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 Thursday night.

Robertson (2-3) allowed one run on four hits, striking out four and walking none for his first win since beating Cincinnati on April 10. He had had four no-decisions and two losses since his previous victory.

After starting off 1-3 with an 8.36 ERA in his first six starts, Robertson went down to the minors May 2, but was recalled 10 days later. Now he knows what the key is to winning.

"I'm not thinking now," Robertson said. "I'm just letting Zaunie (catcher Gregg Zaun) call the game. I'm not worrying about what I need to do with a hitter. I just throw whatever he wants and where he wants it."

Zaun, who catches all of Robertson's games, was impressed.

"He looked settled out there, too. He was deliberate and poised. I hope he can build on this."

The Cardinals were baffled by the rookie left-hander.

"We hit some balls good in one inning," Fernando Vina said. "But he wasn't throwing anything straight. Everything was moving. Give him credit. He's a major league pitcher."

St. Louis has lost five of eight games against the Astros this year, but no one is worrying.

"Why should we?" Mike Matheny said. "It's only May. We've got a good lineup and good pitchers and we're going to win a lot of games."

Jeff Kent had a pair of RBI doubles and Adam Everett hit his first major league home run for Houston.

Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances. It was his 193rd career save, moving him past Mitch Williams into fifth place on the major league list for saves by a left-hander.

Brett Tomko (2-3) went 4 1-3 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits.

Dodgers 4, Rockies 3

LOS ANGELES - Darren Dreifort struck out a career-high 12, and Brian Jordan went 3-for-3 with a tie-breaking single as the Dodgers got their seventh straight win.

The Dodgers are on their longest winning streak since taking nine straight from June 26 to July 4, 2001.

Dreifort (4-3) gave up three runs, two hits and four walks in six innings. In the second, when Aaron Cook (1-4) reached on a wild pitch after fanning, Dreifort became the first Dodgers pitcher to strike out four in an inning since Don Drysdale on April 17, 1965.

Eric Gagne worked the ninth for his 18th save. Colorado has lost 15 of 17.

Expos 8, Marlins 2

MONTREAL - Livan Hernandez (4-2) scattered seven hits in his first complete game for the Expos, and Endy Chavez hit a three-run double in a four-run second as Montreal completed a three-game sweep.

Hernandez struck out four, walked one and had an RBI single for Montreal, which has swept six series this season.

Florida has lost six straight, dropping to 3-7 under new manager Jack McKeon. Michael Tejera allowed seven runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.

Mets 6, Phillies 3

NEW YORK - Pinch-hitter Timo Perez delivered a two-out, two-run double off Vincente Padilla (3-6) that broke a 3-all tie in the sixth.

Pedro Astacio (3-1) gave up five hits but was in frequent trouble, allowing the leadoff man to reach base in four of six innings.

David Weathers and Armando Benitez finished up, with Benitez getting his 13th save.

Cubs 3, Pirates 2

PITTSBURGH - Tom Goodwin, getting an infrequent start, hit a go-ahead solo homer in the ninth off Scott Sauerbeck (0-4), his 24th career homer in 14 seasons.

Chicago ended a season-high three-game losing streak. The Pirates have lost 12 of 16 overall and have yet to win any of their eight series this season in PNC Park, where they are 7-17.

Mike Remlinger (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory, and Joe Borowski pitched the ninth for his eighth save.