Reds make a winner of Narron

Backup catcher Javier Valentín had a three-run homer and four RBIs to help host Cincinnati to an 11-4 victory last night over the St. Louis Cardinals in Jerry Narron's debut as interim manager of the Reds.

Narron, who became Dave Miley's bench coach at the start of the 2004 season after serving in the same capacity for the Red Sox in 2003, was promoted earlier yesterday when Miley was fired, along with pitching coach Don Gullett, after the Reds' 27-43 start.

Joe Randa hit a solo homer and Felipe López doubled with the bases loaded to back Brandon Claussen (4-4), who allowed three runs in six innings.

Loser Jason Marquis (8-5) gave up seven hits and 10 runs -- six earned -- in 2 1/3 innings.

Cubs 4, Brewers 2 -- Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramírez homered, and Jerome Williams won his debut for visiting Chicago.

Williams (1-2) made his first start since being acquired from San Francisco May 28. Williams allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. He struck out a season-high six.

Ryan Dempster got his 10th save, retiring pinch hitter Jeff Cirillo with two on to end it.

Milwaukee's Bill Hall had his first career multihomer game, connecting in the second and fourth innings.

Braves 5, Marlins 0 -- John Smoltz pitched his first shutout in six years and Andruw Jones hit his 20th homer -- a two-run shot -- for host Atlanta.

Smoltz (7-5) fanned Matt Treanor in the seventh inning to pass Jack Morris for 28th place on the career strikeout list with 2,479.

The 38-year-old Smoltz, who earned 154 saves as Atlanta's closer before returning to the rotation this year, allowed just five hits in his 15th career shutout.

Pirates 11, Nationals 4 -- Matt Lawton homered and had five RBIs as host Pittsburgh won for only the second time in nine games.

Lawton's two-run shot in the seventh inning followed David Ross's double off Luis Ayala and gave the Pirates a 7-4 lead.

Lawton and Daryle Ward had two-run doubles in the eighth.

Mets 8, Phillies 5 -- Doug Mientkiewicz and Brian Daubach homered for visiting New York.

José Reyes had three hits and Carlos Beltrán two RBIs for the last-place Mets, who had lost three straight and nine of 11.

Padres 2, Dodgers 1 -- Woody Williams threw 6 2/3 solid innings for his first victory in nearly two months, helping host San Diego hand Los Angeles its season-high eighth straight loss.

Diamondbacks 6, Giants 4 -- Chad Tracy hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth and Arizona ended a five-game losing streak by beating host San Francisco.

Astros 6, Rockies 5 -- Lance Berkman hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning, helping host Houston to the win.