The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Kenny Lofton's 26-game hitting streak is history. And so is Woody Williams' 10-game winning string.

Lofton went 0-for-5 to end his streak, but the Pittsburgh Pirates handed Williams his first loss in nine months in a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

"The media made a big deal of it, but it was fun and a little mind-boggling at the same time," said Lofton, who turned 36 on Saturday. "I hit the ball hard, it just didn't fall in today."

The Pirates have won five of six, including the first two games of the three-game series. The Cardinals fell to 2-4 on a 13-game homestand, their longest of the season, despite the return of center fielder and cleanup hitter Jim Edmonds - who missed two games with bruised ribs.

The defending NL Central champions are 27-27.

"It makes no difference what the rest of the league is doing," manager Tony La Russa said. "If we're at .500, that's not good enough.

"But I'm satisfied with the way we're going about it and I think we'll finish well over .500 and in contention."

Williams (7-1) failed in his bid to become the NL's first eight-game winner, allowing four runs - two earned - in eight innings. He lost for the first time in 15 starts since Aug. 29, 2002 at Cincinnati, although his ERA remained at an NL-leading 2.19.

"I didn't pitch the way I should have pitched," Williams said. "I got outpitched. It's over now."

Lofton struck out, reached on an error, flied out twice and lined out to the mound in the ninth to end the streak that was tied with Boston's Nomar Garciaparra for the longest in the major leagues this season. Garciaparra's streak ended Wednesday.

Lofton batted .406 (43-106) during the streak, which fell one shy of the team record set by Jimmy Williams in 1899. He lobbied just a bit after the game that a grounder that shortstop Edgar Renteria bobbled to start the third could have been ruled a hit.

"I'm surprised he even got a glove on it," Lofton said. "It hit off the dirt and kind of handcuffed him, but that's just the way those things go."

Kip Wells (2-2) made his first start in 15 days due to blisters on his pitching hand and worked five innings, allowing solo homers by J.D. Drew and Albert Pujols. He struck out one and walked three to win for the first time since May 1.

Mets 4, Braves 2

NEW YORK - Jae Seo pitched into the ninth inning to win for the first time in more than six weeks and Tsuyoshi Shinjo hit a two-run double to lead New York.

On a rainy day at Shea Stadium, the Mets had their former ace Mike Hampton (2-3) in constant trouble. New York put the leadoff man on base in each of the first five innings and had a runner in scoring position in each of those frames.

Seo (2-2) benefited from the early offense in his second straight strong start against the first-place Braves. He got a no-decision last Sunday despite holding the NL's top-scoring team to one run in seven innings.

Phillies-Expos doubleheader today

PHILADELPHIA - The game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos was postponed due to rain after waiting 1 hour, 5 minutes.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader beginning at 1:05 p.m. today.

It was the Phillies' first postponement at Veterans Stadium since June 6, 2002 against the Florida Marlins.