Wagner Continues Strong Turnaround

National League

Paul Wagner is so far ahead of last year’s pace he could take the next four months off.

Wagner won his third consecutive start with seven strong innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 Thursday at St. Louis.

Last year, Wagner didn’t win his third game until Aug. 29 and ended up leading the major leagues with 16 losses.

“It’s a nice feeling after last season to get off to a fast start,” Wagner said. “When you use your fielders and throw strike one, good things will happen.”

Wagner (3-0) gave up his first run of the season on Pat Borders’ RBI single in the second, ending a run of 17-1/3 scoreless innings that included a brief relief stint.

Al Martin and Orlando Merced homered on consecutive at-bats in the fourth to power Pittsburgh.

Marlins 5, Braves 3

Atlanta

Charles Johnson hit a two-run homer and Gary Sheffield added a solo shot as Florida beat Atlanta to snap a four-game losing streak.

Sheffield has six homers this season, one behind Atlanta’s Ryan Klesko, the N.L. leader.

Phillies 9, Expos 8

Montreal

Todd Zeile hit two homers, including a three-run shot in the ninth that rallied Philadelphia over Montreal.

Zeile, who hit a solo homer in the eighth, capped a four-run comeback in the ninth.

Cubs 7, Giants 6

Chicago

Luis Gonzalez had three hits, including a two-run double in a five-run first inning, and Chicago took advantage of four errors to beat San Francisco.

Clearing the bases

Chicago starter Frank Castillo is 0-5 in 13 career starts in April. … St. Louis reliever Dennis Eckersley has retired 11 consecutive batters in his last four outings. … Florida leads the majors with 23 double plays. … Montreal averaged less than 9,000 in attendance for its three-game series with Philadelphia.