The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Albert Pujols and Edgar Renteria hit three-run homers off Rueter in an eight-run second inning as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 9-5 Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep.

The Giants were trying to complete the franchise's first four-game sweep at St. Louis since the great Christy Mathewson finished off the Cardinals on May 9, 1912.

Instead, the Cardinals roughed up Kirk Rueter, with Pujols and Scott Rolen hitting consecutive homers in the second and Renteria connecting later in the inning. Entering the game, Rueter had allowed five homers in 17 starts.

"I left some pitches up," Rueter said. "Usually, I try not to give up home runs, and they get three in one inning."

Barry Bonds got the afternoon off for the Giants, a day after hitting two home runs. The Giants have not swept any series in St. Louis since July 1987.

Rueter had one of the worst outings of his career. He had been 5-0 with a 2.28 ERA in nine starts in St. Louis, but gave up eight runs on nine hits in only three innings.

The runs allowed matched a career worst for Rueter (7-3), who fell to 9-4 for his career against the Cardinals with a 3.22 ERA. This was his first loss to St. Louis since July 22, 1998; he had been 4-0 against the Cardinals since then.

The Cardinals erupted in the second, with singles by Rolen and Eduardo Perez starting the inning and Renteria following with a home run. Bo Hart squeezed home another run in the inning, the Cardinals' biggest this season.

In the first three games of the series, the Cardinals totaled three runs on 19 hits, scoring one run each game. Pujols, Rolen, Renteria and Jim Edmonds were a collective 5-for-44 the first three games but combined for five hits, seven RBI and five runs in the finale.

Pujols, who was 1-for-12 the first three games of the series, added a sacrifice fly for a four-RBI day.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with our offense, I think we just ran into some pretty good pitching," Rolen said.

Jason Simontacchi (6-4) entered the game with a 6.57 ERA and his spot in the rotation in jeopardy. He allowed two hits the first five innings before tiring.

Rookie Dan Haren, who was impressive in his major-league debut on Monday, could take Simontacchi's spot. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa has said Haren will make two more starts before the All-Star break, but he wouldn't say whom would get bumped.

One of the things the Cardinals are considering is a six-man rotation for a short time.

"The problem is that gives us a three-man right-handed bullpen, which is not real good," La Russa said.

Astros 7, Brewers 3

HOUSTON - Jeriome Robertson won his sixth consecutive decision, and Jeff Bagwell and Geoff Blum each hit a three-run homer to lift Houston.

Robertson (7-3) hasn't lost in 12 starts since April 25 against the New York Mets and leads the team in wins. The left-hander allowed three runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings, the longest outing of his career.

Phillies 12, Cubs 2

PHILADELPHIA - Placido Polanco had three hits and three RBI and Brett Myers pitched into the seventh inning as Philadelphia won for the 13th time in its last 16 games. Jim Thome was 3-for-4 with two RBI and Marlon Byrd went 3-for-3 with two walks as the Phillies racked up 14 hits.

Damian Miller hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who have lost seven of their last nine games.