Derek Lowe flirted with perfection before settling for a stingy start, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers climb into a first-place tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Carlos Zambrano was just as good for the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs, who might be alone in first for a while the way they're going.

Lowe retired the first 18 batters before Gregor Blanco led off the seventh with a clean single to center, and Matt Kemp provided some offense with a homer that helped the Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves Wednesday.

Jonathan Broxton replaced Lowe after Jeff Francoeur homered in the eighth, and Takashi Saito pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 17th save in a game that lasted exactly 2 hours.

"You know every pitch can change the outcome of the game," Lowe said, "so I think mentally you really grind out every single pitch maybe where you wouldn't if it was a bigger lead."

Zambrano didn't come nearly as close to a no-hitter, but he dominated once it was taken out of the equation. Big Z allowed just a second-inning homer to Adam Dunn over eight innings, retiring the final 20 batters he faced in the Cubs' 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

The performance came in Zambrano's second start since he was activated from the disabled list, where he landed with a right shoulder strain — the main reason he didn't come out for the ninth.

"He wanted to go out and finish it, but it's only his second time out being off the DL and we were on a game plan of 100 to 105 pitches," manager Lou Piniella said.

Lowe extended the Dodgers' streak of exceptional starts, this time outpitching Tim Hudson (9-7), who did not permit a runner until James Loney's leadoff double in the fifth.

Lowe (7-8) gave up one run, walked two and struck out four in 7X\c innings. Tim Hudson (9-7) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings for the Braves.

Zambrano (10-3) walked none and struck out five while throwing 103 pitches for the Cubs. His next appearance could be in the All-Star game.

"Tonight he was really, really good," Dunn said. "The pitch I hit was probably the only mistake he made the entire game. That's probably the best I've seen him in a long time."

Phillies 4, Cardinals 2

At Philadelphia, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz hit solo homers in the eighth inning to help Philadelphia end a four-game losing streak.

Howard drove an 0-2 pitch from Kyle McClellan (1-4) for his 25th homer, rallying the Phillies after they blew a 2-0 lead. Feliz added his shot off Chris Perez.

Mets 5, Giants 0

At New York, Johan Santana pitched five effective innings before his night was cut short by a rain delay, Ramon Castro hit a three-run homer and the Mets won their fifth straight.

Santana (8-7) was 0-4 despite a 2.48 ERA in his previous six starts.

Rockies 8, Brewers 3

At Milwaukee, Garrett Atkins hit two homers for Colorado, helping Glendon Rusch win as a starter for the first time in exactly two years.

Ben Sheets (10-3) struck out a season-high 11 over six innings, giving up three runs.

Nationals 5, D'Backs 0

At Washington, Jesus Flores' three-run, pinch-hit homer in the sixth inning helped the Nationals snap a six-game losing streak.

Marlins 5, Padres 2

At San Diego, Scott Olsen allowed four hits over eight innings before getting lifted for a pinch hitter, and Mike Jacobs and Hanley Ramirez homered for Florida.

Olsen (5-4) allowed one run and broke his career-worst winless streak of 11 games. Joe Nelson allowed Chase Headley's RBI single before Kevin Gregg got two outs for his 17th save.