If the Los Angeles Dodgers end up winning the National League West, this weekend’s series against Arizona might be the catalyst that got them there.

The Dodgers took two of three from Arizona to pull even with the Diamondbacks in the NL West. Los Angeles rallied for five runs in the ninth inning off Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon to win 6-5 on Sunday.

“That was a huge win,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. “It was nice to be able to steal that one.”

The plucky St. Louis Cardinals staged their own ninth-inning rally to beat San Diego 9-5 on Aaron Miles’ game-winning grand slam. It was the first game-ending hit of his career and helped the Cardinals recover from another blown save by Jason Isringhausen. St. Louis swept a four-game set from San Diego.

“That’s a feeling I wasn’t sure I was going to get to experience, that walk-off homer,” Miles said. “I’ve never done it before, not in the minor leagues or on any field. That’s a great feeling.”

At Arizona, Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks staked Lyon to a three-run lead, but the Diamondbacks closer, pitching in his third straight game, couldn’t hold it.

Nomar Garciaparra doubled and James Loney singled. Andruw Jones hit what could have been a double-play grounder to Stephen Drew, but the shortstop bobbled the ball and had to throw to first for the out as Garciaparra scored.

“If we turn that it’s potentially a different outcome,” said Arizona manager Bob Melvin. “You never know where the game goes after that.”

In St. Louis, Troy Glaus’ three-run homer off Heath Bell in the eighth gave the Cardinals a two-run lead but the Padres rallied against Isringhausen, who blew his eighth save in 19 chances. He was booed by a sellout crowd after allowing three straight one-out hits, including an RBI double by Edgar Gonzalez.

Isringhausen got the shot at his first save since May 5 because replacement closer Ryan Franklin, who is 14-for-18, needed a day off after a two-inning save on Saturday.

“No matter how much a veteran he is, he’s trying to do more,” La Russa said. “And today, it was less.”

Marlins 3, Phillies 2, 11 innings

At Miami, Jorge Cantu hit a bases-loaded single off the scoreboard with none out in the 11th inning, and the Florida Marlins tightened the NL East race by beating the Phillies.

Alfredo Amezaga led off the 11th with a single against Clay Condrey (2-2), and Hanley Ramirez walked on a 3-2 pitch. Jeremy Hermida bunted to Condrey, who looked to third base before throwing late to first, and the infield single loaded the bases.

Cantu singled on a 1-1 pitch and was mobbed by his teammates.

Florida’s Doug Waechter (2-2) struck out pinch hitter Chris Coste with runners at second and third to end the top of the 11th.

By winning two of three games in the series, the Marlins closed to within one-half game of the Phillies and New York Mets.

Cubs 9, Astros 0

At Houston, Ryan Dempster struck out seven in eight shutout innings to earn his first road win in two years, and Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Houston.

Mike Fontenot hit a solo homer and a two-run double and Derrek Lee had three RBIs to help Chicago shake out of a mini-offensive slump that bridged the All-Star break.

Dempster (11-4) allowed six hits, all singles, and got his first road win since June 2, 2006, at St. Louis. He’s 10-1 in 12 starts at Wrigley Field this season, but was 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA in eight starts away from home before Sunday.

Mets 7, Reds 5, 10 innings

At Cincinnati, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion hit one of Cincinnati’s three homers off Mike Pelfrey, then made a throwing error in the 10th inning that helped New York rally for a victory and a split of their four-game series.

The Mets have won 11 of their last 13 games, salvaging their season one month after they fired manager Willie Randolph.

Robinson Cancel opened the 10th with a double off Bill Bray (2-1), his first extra-base hit in the majors since 1999 with Milwaukee. Jose Reyes then bunted for a single, his fourth hit of the game.

Argenis Reyes grounded to Encarnacion, who looked Cancel back to third and then tried to start a double play. Instead, he threw the ball into center field, letting in the go-ahead run.

Rockies 11, Pirates 3

At Denver, Matt Holliday and Jeff Baker homered and had three hits each, Aaron Cook won his team-leading 12th game and Colorado completed a four-game sweep of Pittsburgh.

Cook (12-6) was roughed up for three runs in the first but gave up just one hit over his final six innings to get the victory.

Brewers 7, Giants 4

At San Francisco, Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs, pitcher Manny Parra had an RBI single en route to winning his eighth straight decision and Milwaukee completed a season sweep of San Francisco.

Tim Lincecum (11-3) struck out eight in his first start since missing last Tuesday’s All-Star game and being hospitalized in New York with the flu and dehydration.

Parra (9-2) struck out a career-high nine batters and pitched 7 2-3 innings for his longest career outing. He hasn’t lost since May 3, a span of 14 starts. Salomon Torres got one out for his 17th save.

Nationals 15, Braves 6

At Atlanta, former Braves outfielder Willie Harris drove in five runs and reached base five times, Jesus Flores had five hits and Austin Kearns hit a two-run homer as Washington routed Atlanta.

Washington outscored Atlanta 23-8 to win the last two games of the series.

The only highlights for Atlanta were two homers by Mark Teixeira, who had three hits and drove in three runs, and a two-run homer by Martin Prado in the fourth off Odalis Perez (3-7).

The Nationals rocked Jo-Jo Reyes (3-9) for seven hits and six runs in 2 1-3 innings and then added six runs in 1 2-3 innings against Buddy Carlyle.