ATLANTA — The Philadelphia Phillies' three-game sweep of Atlanta left the Braves fearing they could be on the verge of being left out of the NL East race.

Ryan Howard drove in two runs in the ninth inning with his third double of the game and the streaking Phillies beat Atlanta, 6-3, yesterday to complete the sweep.

Howard finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs and the first three-double game of his career. The Phillies have won four straight and 12 of 14.

"We're playing some great ball," Howard said. "I think our best play is still ahead. It's just a feeling. Our pitchers are throwing well right now and we're getting timely hitting."

The game was tied at 3 through eight innings, but the Phillies bullied Blaine Boyer (1-4) for four hits and three runs in the ninth, including a single by Maui's Shane Victorino that drove in the go-ahead run.

The Phillies boosted their road record to 18-13, best in the National League, and have won 15 of 19 overall.

The Braves played without Chipper Jones, who said he has a small tear of his right quadriceps. He also could miss one or two games at the Chicago Cubs this week.

The Braves, a miserable 7-21 on the road, begin a 10-day, 10-game road trip tomorrow against another first-place team in Chicago.

"We're heading out on the road where we haven't exactly lit it up," Jones said. "I don't want to come back from this road trip and be out of the race."

Cardinals 5, Astros 4: Brendan Ryan hit a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning to cap a St. Louis comeback fueled by two Houston errors. Kyle Lohse (7-2) gave up a three-run homer to Lance Berkman, but went six innings to beat the Astros for the third time this season. The Astros unraveled in the seventh, when the visiting Cardinals scored five runs to rally from a 3-0 deficit.

Marlins 9, Reds 2: Hanley Ramirez homered twice and drove in four runs, and Ryan Tucker (1-0) won his major league debut as host Florida beat Cincinnati. Tucker allowed one run, two hits and five walks (one intentional) in five innings. He struck out six. Ken Griffey Jr. remained one home run shy of becoming the sixth player to reach 600. He went 0 for 1 with two walks.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 1: Jason Marquis took a two-hitter into the seventh inning and visiting Chicago extended Brad Penny's winless streak to seven starts with a victory, salvaging a split of the four-game series with Los Angeles. Marquis (4-3) allowed an unearned run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings, walked one and struck out two. Penny (5-8) gave up three runs and six hits. Mark DeRosa was 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs for the Cubs.

Padres 8, Mets 6: Pinch-hitter Tony Clark connected for a go-ahead, three-run homer off Billy Wagner with two outs in the eighth inning to give host San Diego a four-game sweep of New York. Wagner (0-1) relieved Duaner Sanchez with two outs and runners on first and second. The left-hander gave up an RBI single to Jody Gerut that cut New York's lead to 6-5. Clark then hit a full-count fastball over the center-field wall.

Brewers 3, Rockies 2: Jeff Suppan and three relievers limited Colorado to six hits as visiting Milwaukee snapped a six-game slide at Coors Field. Suppan (4-4) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs — one earned. He tied a season high with five walks.

Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 4: Jason Bay's two-run double completed Pittsburgh's five-run fourth inning and the Pirates shook off Mark Reynolds' two home runs to beat visiting Arizona. Phil Dumatrait (3-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits while walking two.

Giants 6, Nationals 3: Barry Zito earned his second win of the season and Ray Durham finished with four hits, leading San Francisco past host Washington. Zito (2-9) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Rangers 6, Rays 3: David Murphy hit one of Texas' three homers and the host Rangers beat bickering Tampa Bay despite playing without ailing hitting stars Josh Hamilton (viral infection) and Michael Young (sore groin). The game featured a dugout scuffle between pitcher Matt Garza (4-3) and catcher Dioner Navarro after the Rangers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Rookie right-hander Doug Mathis (2-1) allowed five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Yankees 6, Royals 3: Jason Giambi hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth and Bobby Abreu finished with a home run and three RBIs to help host New York beat Kansas City. New York's Joba Chamberlain allowed three runs — two earned — and five hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. Dan Giese (1-1) replaced Chamberlain and pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings for his first major league win.

White Sox 12, Twins 2: Nick Swisher and Alexei Ramirez homered as host Chicago routed Minnesota for its sixth straight win. Swisher's three-run homer off Kevin Slowey (2-6) in the second made it 3-1 and Chicago broke it open with five more in the third. Gavin Floyd (7-3) struck out a career-high nine and walked one while allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings.

Athletics 7, Angels 3: Mark Ellis hit a grand slam with two outs in the 12th inning, and host Oakland ended Los Angeles' season-best seven-game winning streak. Ellis hit the first pitch from Chris Bootcheck (0-1) just inside the left-field foul pole for his second career game-ending homer and his third grand slam.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 1: Justin Masterson pitched six strong innings and J.D. Drew hit a go-ahead homer as host Boston beat Seattle. Masterson (3-0) gave up one run on three hits and struck out four. Drew greeted Seattle reliever Sean Green (1-2) with his eighth homer of the season in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie.

Blue Jays 5, Orioles 4: Roy Halladay won his fourth straight start, Vernon Wells homered and host Toronto beat Baltimore. Halladay (8-5) allowed four runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. Marco Scutaro drove in two runs for Toronto.

Tigers 5, Indians 2: Curtis Granderson homered and Placido Polanco hit a key two-run single in a three-run fourth inning as host Detroit beat Cleveland. Armando Galarraga (5-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings.