PHILADELPHIA — Brad Lidge escaped another bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies held off the Colorado Rockies 5-4 Monday to complete a four-game sweep.
Backup catcher Brian Schneider's two-run triple sent the Phillies toward their fifth straight win.
The two-time NL champions, still minus injured All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, pulled within 41/2 games of idle East-leading Atlanta.
Seth Smith hit a two-out, two-run homer off Lidge in the ninth and Colorado went on to load the bases, but Ryan Spilborghs hit a tapper to the left side of the plate. Lidge came in and made a strong throw to first base for the final out, getting his 10th save in 13 chances.
BREWERS 3, REDS 2: At Milwaukee, pinch-hitter Jim Edmonds homered with two outs in the eighth after just missing a go-ahead shot on the previous pitch and Milwaukee rallied to beat Cincinnati. Rickie Weeks hit a two-run homer in the third inning as Milwaukee won its fifth straight to match a season-best streak after trailing 2-0 early.
CUBS 5, ASTROS 2: At Houston, Geovany Soto drove in two runs and Alfonso Soriano had two doubles and an RBI to help the Chicago win. Cubs starter Carlos Silva (10-4) yielded five hits and one run with four strikeouts to get his 10th win of the season. Carlos Marmol allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning for his 19th save in 23 opportunities.
MARLINS 4, GIANTS 3: At San Francisco, Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco won his sixth game in seven starts, allowing just one earned run in 6 1/3 innings.