The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - After failing to get a bunt down, Mike Cameron just wanted to put the ball in play. Instead, he hit it over the fence.

Cameron's three-run homer off Jose Mesa in the ninth inning led the Seattle Mariners to their ninth straight victory, 5-4 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.

"I won't screw up that many," Cameron said of the his failed bunt attempts. "This time, it worked out for us."

After rallying in the top of the ninth, the Mariners escaped a bases-loaded jam when Kazuhiro Sasaki struck out Jim Thome and retired Bobby Abreu on a fly ball.

The victory was a team-record 13th straight on the road for Seattle. Overall, the Mariners are on their longest winning streak since taking 10 straight from April 8-17 last year.

Julio Mateo (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for Seattle. Mesa (1-4) blew his third save of the year.

Padres 5, Tigers 1

SAN DIEGO - Keith Lockhart, making a rare start, hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and San Diego beat Detroit to avoid a three-game sweep.

And just like that, the Tigers (16-41) once again were saddled with baseball's worst record, having given it up for one day to the Padres. San Diego (18-43) pulled percentage points ahead.

"It's definitely a good feeling not to get swept by a team that you're basically battling for the worst record in baseball," winning pitcher Adam Eaton said.

Adam Bernero (1-7) took the loss. Adam Eaton (2-4) got the win.

Pirates 5, Red Sox 4

PITTSBURGH - Kenny Lofton homered and hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak.

Jeff Reboulet had an infield single off reliever Ramiro Mendoza (1-2) in the eighth, stole second base and moved to third on Abraham Nunez's pinch-hit single. Lofton then delivered a long fly ball to center field.

Pittsburgh reliever Brian Boehringer (3-1) got two outs for the victory. Mike Williams pitched the ninth inning for his 16th save.

Marlins 2, Athletics 0

MIAMI - Rookie Dontrelle Willis pitched seven impressive innings, outdueling Ted Lilly and leading Florida over Oakland.

Willis (4-1), an Oakland native who grew up an Athletics fan, gave up five hits. He struck out four and walked three.

The lefty has given up one run or less in each of his last three outings.

Rockies 7, Indians 4

DENVER - Bobby Estalella homered and drove in three runs and Larry Walker had three RBI as the Colorado Rockies beat the Cleveland Indians for their eighth consecutive home win.

Braves 8, Rangers 4

ATLANTA - Javy Lopez made sure he didn't have to run hard on his sore hamstring.

Lopez trotted around the bases after hitting a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves over Texas.

Cubs 8, Devil Rays 1

CHICAGO - While he waited Thursday to learn what his punishment would be for using a corked bat, Sammy Sosa went to work at Wrigley Field.

Sosa hit an RBI single in the first inning and also reached on an error during Chicago's seven-run third as the Cubs routed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays behind the strong pitching of Matt Clement. An announcement on Sosa's possible suspension could come as early as today, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.

Cardinals 13, Blue Jays 5

ST. LOUIS - Woody Williams held Toronto hitless until Orlando Hudson singled with one out in the eighth inning and St. Louis Cardinals romped in a game the Blue Jays played under protest.

The Cardinals swept the three-game series, outscoring Toronto 32-15. Williams (8-1) hit a bases-loaded triple and drove in four runs. Mark Hendrickson (4-5) lasted only 2 2/3 innings for Toronto.

The Blue Jays lodged their protest in the second inning after an umpire's reversal on a fly ball cost them a triple play. Toronto manager Carlos Tosca was ejected for the first time in his major-league career arguing the call.

Astros 11, Orioles 1

HOUSTON - Roy Oswalt struck out a season-high 11 and Brian Hunter drove in four runs with four hits as Houston beat Baltimore for a three-game sweep.

Expos 8, Angels 7, 14 innings

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Ron Calloway was a perfect fill-in for the injured Vladimir Guerrero, hitting a game-ending, two-run single with two outs in the 14th inning to lead the Montreal Expos over Anaheim.

White Sox 3, Diamondbacks 2, 10 innings

PHOENIX - Frank Thomas homered and doubled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the Chicago White Sox snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Arizona.