The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Matt Morris pitched eight solid innings, helping the St. Louis Cardinals win their third straight game with a 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night.

So Taguchi and Jim Edmonds homered and Edgar Renteria had two hits and two RBI for the Cardinals, who won the series opener 5-1. They have won three in a row for the first time since April 20-22.

Morris (4-3) kept the Braves off-balance with an assortment of mostly off-speed pitches, allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk. He beat the Braves for the first time in eight career starts after entering 0-5 with a 3.44 ERA against them.

The loss ensured the Braves of losing five series in a row for the first time since Aug. 8-24, 1988. The finale of the three-game series is today.

Mets 1, Diamondbacks 0

PHOENIX - Kazuo Matsui's home run to start the game gave Tom Glavine and New York the victory over Randy Johnson.

Glavine and Johnson each allowed three hits in a duel between two of the game's best lefties. Glavine (5-2), who has not thrown a complete game in two years, struck out three and walked two, one intentionally, in 7 2/3 innings.

It was the first time that two left-handers with at least 233 wins apiece have faced each other, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Glavine entered with 255, Johnson 233.

Marlins 5, Astros 2

HOUSTON - Dontrelle Willis pitched a six-hitter and Mike Lowell homered twice for Florida. Coming off his first loss of the season against Los Angeles last week, Willis (4-1) bounced back with a strong performance facing the NL's top-hitting team.

Brewers 4, Expos 3

MILWAUKEE - Lyle Overbay extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games with a two-run double that helped Milwaukee to its second straight come-from-behind win over the Expos. Overbay's big hit came during a four-run sixth inning that erased a 3-0 deficit.