St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter (2-7) threw seven strong innings, allowing one, striking out seven and walking just one to end a string of seven starts without a win.

Jon Jay and Lance Berkman homered for the Cardinals, who moved into a tie with Milwaukee for the lead in the National League Central division.

St. Louis won for the first time — after two defeats — since three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols fractured his left forearm on Sunday. He will be out for up to six weeks.

Philadelphia starter Oswalt (4-6) left after two innings due to tightness in his lower back. He gave up four runs in his shortest start since 2009.

Nationals 1 Mariners 0: In Washington, manager Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned after Washington beat Seattle for their 11th win in 12 games.

General manager Mike Rizzo said that Riggleman quit after he requested the team pick up the option on his contract for 2012 and the club declined.

The team will name an interim manager before Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

Riggleman’s resignation came moments after Laynce Nix hit a game-ending sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, pushing Washington over .500 for the first time since April.

Nix’s fly to left off Chris Ray (3-2) was deep enough to score Danny Espinosa, who easily beat the throw to home.

The Nationals swept the Mariners with three one-run victories, putting Seattle (37-38) below .500 for the first time in a month.

Tyler Clippard (1-0) pitched the ninth for the Nationals to take the win.

Giants 2 Twins 1: In San Francisco, Tim Lincecum struck out 12 batters in seven superb innings to steer San Francisco past Minnesota.

Lincecum (6-6) rebounded from a rash of poor starts. He never allowed a runner past second base.

Miguel Tejada and Cody Ross drove in runs for the Giants.

Twins starter Brian Duensing (4-7) allowed just his sixth earned run in his past 22 2-3 innings and took the loss.

Diamondbacks 5 Royals 3: In Kansas City, Daniel Hudson pitched seven strong inning to win his ninth game of the season, leading Arizona over Kansas City.

Hudson (9-5) is tied for the NL lead in victories. He is 8-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his past 11 starts after losing his first four. He held the Royals to three runs while walking one.

Miguel Montero led off the second with a homer and Juan Miranda went long in the fourth as the Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep.

Arizona closer J.J. Putz worked a flawless ninth for his 20th save in 23 opportunities.

Royals starter Felipe Paulino (0-1) retired 13 straight at one point and struck out eight. He only left after allowing a single to open the ninth, and the eight-plus innings matched his longest outing.

Mets 4 Athletics 1 In New York: Chris Capuano pitched six scoreless innings before leaving with a minor injury, guiding New York past Oakland.

After the start of the game was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 15 minutes, Capuano (6-7) shut down the A’s, not issuing any walks and striking out seven. He left with discomfort in his abdomen.

Longtime second baseman Mark Ellis made his first career start at first base for Oakland, and his inexperience there showed.

Jose Reyes opened the fifth with a grounder and Ellis ranged much too far to his right, missing the ball and leaving the bag uncovered. Second baseman Jemile Weeks then zipped a throw past pitcher Graham Godfrey (1-1) for an error. A sacrifice set up Daniel Murphy’s RBI single for a 3-0 lead.