The Associated Press

DENVER - Mark Prior is back on track, and the Chicago Cubs are rolling at exactly the right time.

Prior pitched six scoreless innings for his first win in more than a month, and the Cubs won their fourth straight by completing a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 5-1 victory Thursday.

"It just goes to show you how strong our starting rotation is," said catcher Paul Bako, who had a two-run single. "We're just happy to have everybody healthy. He looked great. I think he's had great stuff since he's come back."

Prior missed the first two months of the season with right Achilles' tendinitis.

Derrek Lee and Corey Patterson each hit a solo home run for the Cubs, who moved a season-high 12 games over .500 (60-48) and swept Colorado at Coors Field for the first time. It was the Cubs' first sweep against the Rockies in Denver in 10 years - since they took three straight July 18-20, 1994, at Mile High Stadium.

"It's a tough feat to sweep them here," Chicago manager Dusty Baker said. "We got some key hits and played a great series. . . . It starts at one (win), and then it goes from there. We've got to keep rolling."

Cardinals 2, Expos 1

ST. LOUIS - Scott Rolen hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning, and Chris Carpenter pitched St. Louis to victory. Jim Edmonds also connected for the Cardinals, who have won 13 of their last 17 games to move a season-high 31 games over .500.

Jose Vidro had an RBI double for Montreal.

Braves 6, Astros 5

HOUSTON - Pinch hitter Marcus Giles' sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth for Atlanta.

Eli Marrero hit a two-run homer and Julio Franco also drove in two runs for the Braves, who have won seven of their last eight games and 11 of 13.

Mets 11, Brewers 6

MILWAUKEE - David Wright homered and drove in six runs, helping former Tampa Bay pitcher Victor Zambrano win his Mets debut.

Wright, who entered with only four career RBI, hit a three-run homer in the first inning and a three-run double in the fourth as New York completed a three-game sweep. He finished one short of the team record for RBI by a rookie, set by Jeromy Burnitz on Aug. 5, 1993, against Montreal.

Dodgers 8, Pirates 3

LOS ANGELES - Milton Bradley hit two home runs, including one of three straight by Los Angeles in the first inning to finish the Dodgers' first season sweep of any NL team since moving to the West Coast in 1958.

Jayson Werth, Adrian Beltre and Jose Hernandez also homered for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who outscored the Pirates 30-16 in their six meetings and outhomered them 13-3.

Marlins 11, Diamondbacks 5

PHOENIX - Carl Pavano pitched into the eighth inning on three days' rest and hit an RBI single, helping to snap the Marlins' season-worst four-game losing streak.

Paul Lo Duca and Miguel Cabrera homered for the Marlins, who also stopped a five-game skid on the road.

Phillies 5, Padres 3, 10 innings

SAN DIEGO - David Bell hit a two-run single off Trevor Hoffman in the 10th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Bell singled to right field in front of a diving Brian Giles to score Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco. The win was the Phillies' third straight, and kept them 41/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East.

Felix Rodriguez (4-5) pitched a hitless inning for the win, and Tim Worrell got three outs for his 13th save in 17 chances.