ST. LOUIS — Scott Rolen's biggest day of the season helped beat his old team. Helped keep Johnny Cueto off the hook, too.

Rolen homered twice and doubled with four RBIs in a homecoming that still provided sparks even though he was traded after the 2007 season in the Reds' 9-8 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals last night.

"Good fans, good people," Rolen said. "A little anxiety, a little anticipation. I'll enjoy getting on the plane, too."

Jonny Gomes' RBI single and Drew Stubbs' go-ahead sacrifice fly off Blake Hawksworth put the Reds ahead to stay in the seventh inning after Brendan Ryan's two-run double put the Cardinals ahead 8-7 the inning before.

Joey Votto homered and had four hits, showing no rust from a six-game absence due to a sore neck, and helped the Reds rally after blowing a four-run lead to reclaim first place in the NL Central. The Cardinals won the opener of a three-game series Monday to tie for the lead.

Cueto blew leads of 7-3 and 3-0, finally leaving after giving up a walk and three singles to start the sixth. He was charged with eight runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings.

BRAVES 7, PHILLIES 3

Troy Glaus hit a three-run homer and Tim Hudson (6-1) pitched around a long rain delay, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings to lead host Atlanta to its seventh straight victory.

PIRATES 3, CUBS 2

Neil Walker hit his first major league home run, a two-run shot off Ted Lilly (1-5) in the bottom of the eighth inning, to help Pittsburgh beat Chicago.

MARLINS 6, BREWERS 4

Jorge Cantu broke a 3-all tie with an RBI double and in the bottom of the seventh and Ronny Paulino added a two-run single to lift Florida over Milwaukee.

ASTROS 8, NATIONALS 7

After Washington rallied to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the ninth, Lance Berkman singled in two runs with two out in the bottom half off NL saves leader Matt Capps to lift Houston.

METS 4, PADRES 2

David Wright and Ike Davis homered, and Mike Pelfry (8-1) pitched eight innings to win his fourth straight start as visiting New York beat San Diego.

DODGERS 1, DIAMONDBACKS 0

Matt Kemp led off the bottom of the 10th by hitting a 2-2 pitch for a homer off reliever Juan Gutierrez, lifting Los Angeles over Arizona.

ROCKIES 2, GIANTS 1

Clint Barmes hit a two-out RBI double in the 11th inning and Colorado won its season-high fourth straight road game by beating San Francisco.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

INDIANS 3, TIGERS 2

Russell Branyan and Shin-Soo Choo hit solo homers, and Jake Westbrook (3-3) gave up a run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings, lifting visiting Cleveland over Detroit.

YANKEES 3, ORIOLES 1

Javier Vazquez (4-5) gave up a run and four hits over seven innings and Miguel Tejada's two-out, two-run throwing error in the bottom of the seventh gave New York a 3-1 lead.

ROYALS 6, ANGELS 3

David DeJesus hit a two-run triple, Jose Guillen homered and visiting Kansas City beat Los Angeles to end a three-game losing streak.

RAYS 7, BLUE JAYS 6

Sean Rodriguez hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the ninth inning that featured two ejections as visiting Tampa Bay rallied past Toronto.

MARINERS 7, TWINS 1

Jose Lopez homered and drove in three runs and host Seattle used a four-run fourth to beat Minnesota and end a three-game losing streak.

RED SOX 9, ATHLETICS 4

Victor Martinez had five hits, including a career-high four doubles, and host Boston rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Oakland.

RANGERS 9, WHITE SOX 6

Ian Kinsler had two hits and drove in three runs and Craig Gentry hit a two-run single to rally visiting Texas past Chicago.