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The older Jamie Moyer gets, the better he dominates the Florida Marlins.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Wilfredo Lee

Florida Marlins' Ricky Nolasco prepares to deliver a pitch during a downpour in the third inning.

The 45-year-old left-hander beat Florida for the 10th time in as many career starts, pitching six innings Friday night to help the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-2 victory. All of Moyer's games against the Marlins have come in the past three years. He defeated them for the third time since June 1, and his ERA in five lifetime starts in Miami is 1.34.

"I don't know how he does it at 45 years old," said Florida's Cody Ross, who went 0-for-3 to end a career-best 17-game hitting streak. "You see his 82 m.p.h. fastball, and it looks good to hit. But it's never down the centre of the plate."

Philadelphia's Ryan Howard hit his 29th home run, most in the majors. Geoff Jenkins added his eighth homer and singled home a run for the Phils, who took over sole possession of first place in NL East with the New York Mets' defeat.

Moyer (9-6) outpitched Ricky Nolasco (10-5) and foiled the Marlins' bid to tighten the division race. Florida began the night 1 1/2 games behind the Phillies and Mets.

"We just have to take care of our own business," Moyer said.

The Marlins lead the majors in home runs, but their four hits off Moyer were all singles. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in Miami last month, and this time he retired the first nine batters as the Phillies built a 4-0 lead.

"He's such a good pitcher, sometimes he can use a team's aggressiveness against them," said Brad Lidge, who completed Philadelphia's five-hitter with a perfect ninth. "Florida has a very aggressive team - they hit a lot of home runs. Jamie's style matches up good against them. He's such a master of what he's doing, he can see what they're swinging at and move it a couple of inches."

Elsewhere in the NL it was: Cincinnati 5, New York 2; Atlanta 7, Washington 6; Houston 2, Chicago 1; St. Louis 11, San Diego 7; Colorado 5, Pittsburgh 2; Milwaukee 9, San Francisco 1; and Los Angeles 8, Arizona 7.

At Miami, the Marlins almost managed a breakthrough off Moyer in the fourth. Hanley Ramirez walked to start the inning and came around on singles by Jeremy Hermida and Jorge Cantu. Mike Jacobs singled to load the bases with no outs.

But Dan Uggla hit into a double-play, and Josh Willingham fouled out to leave Florida trailing 4-2.

Moyer, who rarely topped 80 m.p.h. on the scoreboard radar gun, declined to offer an explanation for his domination of the Marlins.

"I've been asked this same question many times," he said. "I don't have an answer. They're all good hitters. They give you good at-bats. They battle. . . . It's a matter of making pitches."

Moyer departed for a pinch-hitter after throwing 100 pitches. Lidge, the Phils' third reliever, earned his 21st save in as many chances.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was ejected in the fifth inning by plate umpire Jim Joyce for arguing that Shane Victorino had been hit by a pitch.

Nolasco lost for the first time in his past six decisions. He pitched seven innings and allowed the Phils four runs, including both homers.

"You make a mistake against them, and they're going to make you pay," Nolasco said. "I left some pitches up, and you cannot do that against their hitters."

There were no long balls against Moyer, who became the first pitcher to sweep his first 10 starts against a team since Pedro Martinez won his first 12 against Seattle from 1998 to 2004.

The Marlins aren't the only team keeping Moyer in the majors: He has allowed fewer than four earned runs in his past eight starts.

But Florida's futility against him seems chronic. Willingham 1-for-18 against Moyer, Uggla is 2-for-24 and Ross is 3-for-25.

"He has our number," Jacobs said. "We're going to face him a few more times this year. We have to find a way to turn the tables on him."

Reds 5, Mets 2

At Cincinnati, Bronson Arroyo allowed four hits over eight innings Friday night, and the Reds snapped New York's 10-game winning streak with a 5-2 victory.

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Braves 7, Nationals 6

At Atlanta, Brian McCann's three-run double gave the Braves the lead in the third inning, and Atlanta survived a ninth-inning rally.

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Astros 2, Cubs 1

At Houston, Hunter Pence drove in the game-winning run with a double off Bob Howry in bottom of the ninth inning for the Astros.

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Cardinals 11, Padres 7

At St. Louis, Yadier Molina's two-run single with the bases loaded broke an eighth-inning tie for the Cardinals.

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Rockies 5, Pirates 2

At Denver, Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and Seth Smith homered to lead Colorado with Smith's an inside-the-parker.

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Brewers 9, Giants 1

At San Francisco, CC Sabathia pitched a four-hitter to win his third straight start since joining Milwaukee.

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Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 7 (11 innings)

At Phoenix, James Loney homered leading off the 11th inning for Los Angeles.

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If the Tampa Bay Rays were looking to cure their seven-game losing streak, they found a sure-fire antidote in the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer and James Shields allowed one run over seven innings to help the Rays beat the Blue Jays 2-1 on Friday. The Rays have been able to count on Toronto for wins - they are six for seven against the Blue Jays this season.

Zobrist hit his fourth homer of the season off A.J. Burnett (10-9) to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the seventh. All four of the homers by the ninth-place hitter have come in his last 11 games.

"It felt great," Zobrist said. "Burnett was pitching a great game. He was just real hard to hit. I was fortunate to get that fastball over the middle of the plate and put a good swing on it."

Six of Tampa Bay's losses during the losing streak came on the road. Friday's victory improved the Rays' home record to 37-14.

"We've been doing it all season here at home," Shields said. "It's a great one for us."

Elsewhere in the AL it was: New York 7, Oakland 1; Baltimore 7, Detroit 4; Minnesota 6, Texas 0; Chicago 9, Kansas City 5; Los Angeles 11, Boston 3; and Seattle 8, Cleveland 2.

At Toronto, Zobrist's two-out shot came after third base umpire Mike Everitt ruled Eric Hinske checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch to draw a walk. It appeared on a TV replay that the call was correct.

"The umpire did a good job, he did not swing," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "That's why we preach the good at-bat and accepting your walks when they're there. They matter. I know Burnett did not want to do that, and it gave Zoey a chance to do what he did."

Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston agreed the call was right.

"I think it was a checked swing," he said. "I don't think he swung at it."

Shields (8-6) gave up four hits, two walks and had four strikeouts for Tampa Bay, which started Friday one-half game behind AL East-leading Boston.

Grant Balfour got the final four outs for his fourth save.

Tampa Bay has won 33 of 40 at home since April 22. The Rays are 19-25 on the road.

"There's definitely a comfort about it," Maddon said about playing home games. "You can't deny that. As long as we maintain this kind of intensity and this kind of play at home I believe before the year is over we'll become a much better road team also."

Burnett went seven innings, giving up two runs and five hits. He won his two previous starts.

"It's the only mistake all tonight," Burnett said of the pitch to Zobrist. "I kept the team in it as long as I could. One pitch determined the outcome of the whole game."

Burnett has been mentioned in trade speculation, but it appears he will remain with the Blue Jays.

"I don't see A.J. going anywhere," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said before the game.

Adam Lind put the Blue Jays ahead 1-0 on a solo homer in the third. He has four homers and 17 RBIs in 18 games since being recalled from triple-A Syracuse on June 21.

Tampa Bay went 5-for-53 with runners in scoring position over the previous seven games and failed to convert on five more chances during the first two innings. They didn't have any chances with runners on after that.

Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg talked with his team before batting practice. Tampa Bay finished in last place nine times in its first 10 years.

"We have a chance for an incredible two months," Sternberg said.

Yankees 7, Athletics 1

At New York, Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer and Alex Rodriguez also connected for the Yankees.

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Orioles 7, Tigers 4

At Baltimore, Luke Scott homered twice and Baltimore also got home runs from Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff.

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Twins 6, Rangers 0

At Minneapolis, Glen Perkins pitched six innings for the Twins as Texas was shut out for the first time this season.

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White Sox 9, Royals 5

At Chicago, Jermaine Dye's two-run single highlighted a six-run first inning that featured seven White Sox hits.

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Angels 11, Red Sox 3

At Anaheim, Calif., Garret Anderson was 4-for-4 with a go-ahead solo homer and five RBIs to lead Los Angeles.

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Mariners 8, Indians 2

At Seattle, Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam to back another strong start from Felix Hernandez and the Mariners ended Cleveland's five-game winning streak.