Atlanta’s Mark Kotsay, right, is caught stealing second base by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Angel Berroa for the last out of the eighth inning Wednesday. Associated Press Photo.

Derek Lowe flirted with perfection before settling for a stingy start, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers climb into a first-place tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Carlos Zambrano was just as good for the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs, who might be alone in first for a while the way they’re going.

Lowe retired the first 18 batters before Gregor Blanco led off the seventh with a clean single to center, and Matt Kemp provided some offense with a homer that helped the Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.

Jonathan Broxton replaced Lowe after Jeff Francoeur homered in the eighth, and Takashi Saito pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 17th save in a game that lasted exactly 2 hours.

“You know every pitch can change the outcome of the game,” Lowe said, “so I think mentally you really grind out every single pitch maybe where you wouldn’t if it was a bigger lead.”

Lowe extended the Dodgers’ streak of exceptional starts, this time outpitching Tim Hudson (9-7), who did not permit a runner until James Loney’s leadoff double in the fifth.

On Monday night, Hiroki Kuroda took a perfect game into the eighth before Mark Teixeira hit a leadoff double — it turned out to be the Braves’ only baserunner. And on Tuesday night, Chad Billingsley held the Braves hitless through the first four innings.

Lowe (7-8) gave up one run, walked two and struck out four in 7 2-3 innings. Hudson allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings.

“It’s hard to have the kind of pitching we’ve had on such a consistent basis,” Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said. “That’s something you can look back and say, ‘Yeah, I remember that.’

“We’ve struggled scoring runs and the only reason we’re sitting where we are now is basically because of our starting pitchers.”

Cubs 5, Reds 1

Zambrano didn’t come nearly as close to a no-hitter, but he dominated once it was taken out of the equation. Big Z allowed just a second-inning homer to Adam Dunn over eight innings, retiring the final 20 batters he faced in the Cubs’ 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

The performance came in Zambrano’s second start since he was activated from the disabled list, where he landed with a right shoulder strain — the main reason he didn’t come out for the ninth.

“He wanted to go out and finish it, but it’s only his second time out being off the DL and we were on a game plan of 100 to 105 pitches,” manager Lou Piniella said.

Zambrano (10-3) walked none and struck out five while throwing 103 pitches for the Cubs. His next appearance could be in the All-Star game.

“Tonight he was really, really good,” Dunn said. “The pitch I hit was probably the only mistake he made the entire game. That’s probably the best I’ve seen him in a long time.”

Phillies 4, Cardinals 2

At Philadelphia, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz hit solo homers in the eighth inning to help Philadelphia end a four-game losing streak.

Mets 5, Giants 0

At New York, Johan Santana (8-7)tossed five effective innings before his night was cut short by a rain delay, Ramon Castro hit a three-run homer and the Mets won their fifth straight.

Rockies 8, Brewers 3

At Milwaukee, Garrett Atkins hit two homers for Colorado, helping Glendon Rusch win as a starter for the first time in exactly two years.

Rusch (2-3) had not won as a starter since he was pitching for the Cubs. He missed all of last season while recovering from a blood clot in his lung.

Nationals 5, Diamondbacks 0

At Washington, Jesus Flores’ three-run, pinch-hit homer in the sixth inning helped the Nationals snap a six-game losing streak.

Marlins 5, Padres 2

At San Diego, Scott Olsen allowed four hits over eight innings before getting lifted for a pinch hitter, and Mike Jacobs and Hanley Ramirez homered for Florida.

Astros 6, Pirates 4

At Pittsburgh, Geoff Blum hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Houston avoided a three-game sweep despite blowing a four-run lead.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

A semblance of order and familiarity has been restored to the AL East. For the second straight day, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees posted victories and picked up ground on the Tampa Bay Rays.

It’s still unusual to see perennial cellar-dwelling Tampa Bay atop the powerhouses who share their division, but the race tightened a bit Wednesday when the Yankees edged the Rays 2-1 in 10 innings at New York and Boston moved within two games of the lead with an 18-5 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Both the Yankees and Red Sox trimmed a game off their deficits on Tuesday, too, when New York started its two-game series sweep of the Rays.

“They know we’re still around. They know that,” Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said after New York closed to six games behind the Rays, who still own the best record in the majors (55-35).

Yankees 2, Rays 1

Sidney Ponson limited Tampa Bay to one run in six innings, and Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth and Rivera (4-3) combined for hitless relief.

Bobby Abreu fouled off four straight fastballs from Grant Balfour in the 10th, took a ball, and then doubled home Derek Jeter from first by lining a changeup up into the gap in right-center.

“This is no time to be in any state of emergency,” said Rays starter Edwin Jackson, who allowed a run and six hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Including two wins against the Red Sox during the Fourth of July weekend, the Yankees have four straight victories after losing five of six. New York is 4-1 since manager Joe Girardi chewed out and challenged his players following a 7-0 loss to Boston last Thursday.

Tampa Bay has lost three in a row for the first time since the Rays were swept at Boston from June 3-5. They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 2-for-28 (.071) during the skid.

“This is not even adversity,” designated hitter Cliff Floyd said. “When you’re playing good teams, you’ve got to score some runs.”

Red Sox 18, Twins 5

The Red Sox used some good fortune to turn a tight game into a rout of the Twins.

Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run double, and Boston scored seven times in the seventh inning — all the runs coming after a triple play was wiped out — to complete a three-game sweep of Minnesota.

Jacoby Ellsbury had a career-high four hits, and Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis and Sean Casey had three apiece to help Boston set season highs for hits (23) and runs. The Twins loaded the bases in the seventh and failed to score, but they trailed just 7-5 in the bottom half when they appeared to escape a jam on what was initially ruled a triple play.

“I know what the score ended up being, but the game wasn’t played like that,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

The Red Sox had runners on second and third when Jason Varitek hit a sinking liner to center and Denard Span slid for the ball, backhanding it and then holding up his glove as if he caught it. The runners took off and, after the umpires belatedly signaled a catch, Span threw to second to double off Casey.

Second baseman Alexi Casilla leisurely threw to third to get Mike Lowell, who had already crossed the plate. (Lowell appeared to have tagged up, but he was rung up anyway.)

The call was reversed — correctly, replays confirmed — and irate Twins manager Ron Gardenhire came out of the dugout for an argument that led to a quick ejection.

“I’m not going to tell you guys what I think,” said Gardenhire, whose team had won 16 of 18 before coming to Fenway Park. “Every time I say what I say, I get in trouble.”

Tigers 8, Indians 6

At Detroit, Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and the Tigers rallied from an early six-run deficit and sent Cleveland to its 10th straight loss.

Blue Jays 9, Orioles 8

At Toronto, Alex Rios and David Eckstein drove in two runs apiece and A.J. Burnett won for the third time in four starts for the host Blue Jays.

White Sox 7, Royals 6

At Kansas City, Mo., Carlos Quentin hit two two-run homers and Chicago rallied from a five-run deficit, scoring the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning balk.

Rangers 5, Angels 4

At Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off major league saves leader Francisco Rodriguez (0-2), who gave up three runs in only his third blown chance this year in 38 chances.

Mariners 6, Athletics 4

At Oakland, Calif., Jose Lopez hit a three-run double, Adrian Beltre drove in two runs and Seattle ended a three-game slide.

Roy Corcoran (1-0) won his first major league game with 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.