PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Rowand's swinging bunt took three small hops until it trickled to a stop 45 feet down the third-base line, the baseball's stitches kissing the chalk.

Ryan Howard's hefty cut went 400 feet and sent the Phillies faithful into a frenzy.

Howard's two-run home run off Guillermo Mota in the 10th inning won it after Rowand's dribbler in the eighth tied the score and helped the Phillies to a 4-2 win over the New York Mets last night.

"Every game down the stretch is a playoff-atmosphere type game, especially with the Mets in town," Howard said. "That's all you can ask for. You just want to get the feel for it."

The Phillies are back in the thick of the NL East race, trailing the division-leading Mets by four games after taking the first two of a pivotal four-game series.

Hawai'i's Shane Victorino, a St. Anthony alum who scored the tying run in the eighth, opened the 10th with a bloop single off Mota (1-1). Then Howard hit a 1-2 pitch deep the opposite way into the left-field seats for his 35th homer.

Cubs 5, Brewers 3: Jacque Jones hit a game-tying two-run double in the bottom of the seventh and scored the go-ahead run on an error in the four-run inning as Chicago increased its lead in the NL Central to 2 1/2 games.

Cardinals 7, Astros 0: Chris Duncan hit a three-run homer and an RBI single to help visiting St. Louis beat Houston and ruin manager Cecil Cooper's first game as Phil Garner's successor.

Marlins 4, Braves 3: Alejandro De Aza's sacrifice fly scored Alfredo Amezaga in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift Florida over Atlanta, which struck out 19 times.

Pirates sweep Reds: Freddy Sanchez drove in five runs in a 6-4 first-game victory, and tripled and scored the winning run in the eighth inning of the second game to give host Pittsburgh a 3-2 win and a doubleheader sweep.

Padres 6, Diamondbacks 4: Mike Cameron homered to start a four-run rally off reigning NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb (14-9) in the sixth inning as visiting San Diego closed to one game of NL West-leading Arizona.

Dodgers 4, Nationals 3: Andre Ethier's sacrifice fly broke a seventh-inning tie and host Los Angeles won its third straight to close to 4 1/2 games of NL West-leading Arizona.

Giants 3, Rockies 1: Matt Cain (7-13) struck out eight in seven innings, Bengie Molina homered and Randy Winn drove in two runs as host San Francisco won its sixth straight.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankees 5, Red Sox 3: Johnny Damon hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning and Andy Pettitte (12-7) won his sixth straight start to help New York win the opener of a three-game series with Boston.

Indians 6, Twins 5: Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer, Grady Sizemore added a solo shot and closer Joe Borowski gave up two runs in the ninth before striking out Justin Morneau with a runner on to preserve Cleveland's victory.

Royals 6, Tigers 3: Brian Bannister (11-7) gave up two runs and 11 hits in six innings, Alex Gordon hit a three-run double and Billy Butler added a two-run homer to lead host Kansas City past Detroit.

Devil Rays 15, Orioles 8: Tampa Bay scored 11 runs in the top of the eighth inning for a 14-6 lead and Baltimore wasted six home runs in losing its seventh straight loss.

Rangers 4, White Sox 3: Marlon Byrd hit a tiebreaking single in eighth inning and Texas won its third straight, while handing Chicago its seventh straight loss on the road.

Blue Jays 5, Athletics 4: Matt Stairs homered and Lyle Overbay hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the top of the eighth inning to lift Toronto over Oakland.

Angels 10, Mariners 6: Vladimir Guerrero had four hits and three RBIs as visiting Los Angeles rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Seattle.