The Washington Nationals' new owners couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

With the fans waving their red "rally towels," Tony Armas Jr. pitched seven strong innings, Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Church homered, and the Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 7-1 Sunday to complete their first home sweep in more than a year.

"It never hurts to have a lot of fans out here in the stands, rooting for you, behind you. It makes you feel good, no doubt about that," manager Frank Robinson said. "But you still have to go out and perform. We did that today. It kind of gets you up before the game starts, and we carried it into the game."

Soriano's homered in five consecutive series — but who knows how much longer he'll be helping the Nationals.

"We love Alfonso, we love what he does — lots of people do. Let's face it: He's a potential MVP candidate. It goes without saying that he's a superior player," Kasten said. "But, you know, our No. 1 mission is getting to be the best team we can as soon as possible."

If you ask Soriano, he wants to stay, but doubts a new contract can be worked out by the July 31 trade deadline.

"I don't think so. I think that my agent and the club, they have to talk a lot," Soriano said. "If we have something working, we need a little bit more time."

Soriano isn't the only big name player who has been mentioned in trade talks that thinks he will stay put.

Dontrelle Willis pitched six innings without getting a decision Sunday in a 5-4 win over visiting Pittsburgh. Widely projected to lose at least 100 games this season, the Marlins are 34-21 since May 22.

"I don't hear about myself anymore," Willis said. "I don't think they want me anymore. When I was 1-6, everybody wanted me. Now I've battled back and I don't hear anything. Nobody wants me anymore, but I'm happy where I'm at."

Jason Marquis (12-7) became the NL's first 12-game winner, Juan Encarnacion homered twice and visiting St. Louis swept the season series from Los Angeles for the first time in the 115-year rivalry.

Edgar Renteria homered and doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to lift Atlanta.Jeff Francoeur added a three-run homer in the ninth for the Braves, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Pitcher Roy Oswalt touched off a four-run Houston rally with his second hit of the game for visiting Houston.The victory ended a three-game losing streak for the Astros, who avoided a weekend sweep.

Tomo Ohka allowed three hits in eight innings, a sign that he has recovered from shoulder problems, and the visiting Brewers avoided a three-game sweep.Brady Clark singled home a pair of runs off left-hander Eric Milton (6-6), and the Brewers tacked on two in the seventh against recently acquired reliever Gary Majewski.

Mike Cameron tripled leading off the 12th inning against Brian Wilson (0-3) and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Eric Young, and San Diego avoided its first four-game sweep in San Francisco in nearly 13 years.The Padres regained the NL West lead, moving a half-game ahead of the Giants by ending a four-game skid and snapping San Francisco's season-best five-game winning streak.

Garrett Atkins hit a two-run double with one out in the ninth inning to help visiting Colorado.Diamondbacks closer Jorge Julio (1-4) blew his second save in 14 chances, giving up an RBI single to Clint Barmes with one out before Atkins' double. Todd Helton added another run with a single off Brandon Medders.