The Associated Press

HOUSTON - Roger Clemens got his 325th win to pass Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton for sole possession of 12th place on the career list, and Houston won its season-high seventh consecutive game, 8-6 over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Jeff Bagwell, Carlos Beltran, Craig Biggio and Jose Vizcaino homered for Houston, which has won 10 of 11 and closed within 2 1/2 games of the Chicago Cubs, the National League wild-card leader.

Clemens (15-4), who won his third straight start, took a 7-0 lead into the seventh inning but tired and wound up allowing four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He added an run-scoring single in the sixth for his seventh RBI of the season, chasing Pittsburgh starter Oliver Perez (9-8).

Jose Castillo hit a two-run single, and Bobby Hill and Jason Kendall hit run-scoring singles off Clemens. Russ Springer gave up a two-run triple to Jack Wilson that cut the Astros' lead to 7-6.

Craig Wilson popped out to second for the final out of the inning, Dan Wheeler pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge got three outs for his 19th save in 22 chances.

Clemens improved to 3-0 against the Pirates. He got plenty of help from the Astros' offense, which has scored at least seven runs in his last three starts.

Pittsburgh has lost six of its last eight games overall and dropped to 1-7 in Houston this season.

Perez had his worst outing of the season, allowing seven runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old left-hander hadn't given up more than three runs in 15 starts since June 10.

Phillies 8, Mets 1

PHILADELPHIA - Gavin Floyd, the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft, made the most of his major-league debut, holding New York to four hits over seven innings. Pat Burrell helped him out, homering in his first game since Aug. 3, and Jason Michaels homered twice and Placido Polanco once for the Phillies, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0

ST. LOUIS - Matt Morris pitched a two-hitter and struck out a season-high 11, leading St. Louis to its seventh straight victory. Morris (15-8) won his third straight start and walked none, pitching the low-hit complete game of his career. The only hits he allowed were singles by Jose Lima in the third and Robin Ventura in the fifth.

Reggie Sanders homered, doubled and had two RBI and Mike Matheny also homered for the Cardinals, who have won 11 of their last 13 games overall and are a major-league best 90-44.

Braves 7, Expos 1

MONTREAL - Paul Byrd pitched eight strong innings and Eli Marrero homered to help Atlanta extend its winning streak to four games.

Byrd (6-4) held the Expos scoreless into the eighth before Maicer Izturis hit a leadoff triple and scored on pinch hitter Ryan Church's RBI grounder.

Byrd, who returned June 19 from elbow surgery that caused him to miss the 2003 season, allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two.

J.D. Drew hit an RBI single in the third to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. The Braves finished with nine hits, ending a streak of 12 straight games of 10 or more.