MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun is not scoreboard watching — yet. He does know, however, exactly where the Milwaukee Brewers are in the NL Central standings: tied for first place with the Chicago Cubs.

Braun homered and drove in four runs, Bill Hall hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and the Brewers grabbed a share of the NL Central lead with a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros last night.

Milwaukee has won nine of 10 to tie the Cubs, who lost 3-2 to the Florida Marlins in 12 innings yesterday.

"It really is pretty incredible to make up five games this quickly," Braun said, alluding to the five-game lead the Cubs had over the Brewers at the All-Star break, just nine games ago.

"The roles are kind of reversed," Braun said. "The pressure is on them this year. All the expectations are on them. We learned a lot last year, the importance and significance of every game and not really focusing on what the Cubs are doing or what the Cardinals are doing, but focusing on ourselves. We've done a good job of that so far."

The Brewers tied it with two runs in the seventh and went in front in the eighth. Corey Hart hit Doug Brocail's first pitch of the eighth for a double and Hall followed with a bloop single to right-center on the next offering.

Hall went to second on a balk by Brocail (4-5), and later scored on a groundout by Jason Kendall.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, GIANTS 3

Brandon Webb struck out eight to pass 1,000 for his career and got the win in a matchup with fellow All-Star right-hander Tim Lincecum, leading visiting Arizona over San Francisco.

Webb (14-4) allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings, winning his third straight decision to become the second pitcher in the majors with 14 victories.

Lincecum had a career-high 13 strikeouts in seven innings, and left with a 3-2 lead.

CARDINALS 10, METS 8

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the 14th inning for his fifth hit of the night, Skip Schumaker did him one better with a career-best six hits and visiting St. Louis snapped a season-worst five-game losing streak.

Schumaker singled with one out in the 14th against Aaron Heilman (1-4). Ryan Ludwick struck out before Pujols hit a 2-0 pitch to left field for his first home run since July 4.

DODGERS 6, NATIONALS 0

Derek Lowe allowed one hit over eight innings, and Matt Kemp and Nomar Garciaparra homered as host Los Angeles beat Washington.

Lowe (8-8) threw 107 pitches and gave up his only hit when Ronnie Belliard doubled off the center-field fence with one out in the fourth. The right-hander struck out four, walked one and retired his last 13 batters.

Joe Beimel allowed a one-out single by Willie Harris in the ninth before Cory Wade finished the combined two-hitter.

PHILLIES 10, BRAVES 9

Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs delivered a three-run homer in a seven-run fifth inning and host Philadelphia rallied past Atlanta to spoil Mike Hampton's return to the major leagues.

Making his first appearance since Aug. 19, 2005, Hampton gave up six runs and eight hits in four-plus innings and couldn't protect a 9-3 lead. The two-time All-Star overcame two major operations on his left elbow and an assortment of other injuries to finally make it back.

MARLINS 3, CUBS 2

Jeremy Hermida hit two homers and scored the decisive run on Jorge Cantu's 12th-inning double to lead visiting Florida over Chicago despite 20 strikeouts by Cubs pitchers.

Rich Harden struck out 10 for the third time in three starts with Chicago.

Hermida doubled with two outs in the 12th off Chad Gaudin (0-1) and scored on Cantu's double down the left-field line.

PADRES 9, PIRATES 6

Adrian Gonzalez hit two of visiting San Diego's four home runs while driving in four runs against Pittsburgh.

Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff hit three-run homers off John Van Benschoten (1-3), who gave up seven runs, four extra-base hits and walked four in 1 2/3 innings.

Nick Hundley hit his first homer of the season for San Diego.

ROCKIES 5, REDS 1

Colorado piled up 15 hits in less than five innings off Homer Bailey, another offensive splurge that sent Jorge De La Rosa and the visiting Rockies over Cincinnati.

Every Rockies starter had at least one hit off the right-handed Bailey (0-4), who left after De La Rosa (5-5) singled home a pair of runs with two outs in the fourth for a 5-1 lead.