PHOENIX — Jeff Karstens has given the Pittsburgh Pirates a perfect start.

Almost a perfect game, too.

The recently acquired right-hander set down his first 23 batters before Chris Young's two-out double in the eighth inning and finished with a two-hitter yesterday in a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Karstens (2-0) has tossed 15 scoreless innings — against a pair of first-place teams — since coming to Pittsburgh in a six-player trade July 26 that sent outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees. This masterpiece followed a 3-0 victory Friday over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

"It's been a big change," Karstens said. "I was pitching well in Triple-A and I felt like I wasn't going to go anywhere."

The 25-year-old Karstens outpitched Randy Johnson, who tossed baseball's most recent perfect game in May 2004. Karstens also got his first two major league hits off the five-time Cy Young Award winner and scored on Doug Mientkiewicz's eighth-inning double.

"After I got that second hit, I was like, 'What's going on?' " Karstens said.

He was in complete command until Young's liner for a clean double down the left-field line. Karstens walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, then made a nice stab of pinch-hitter Tony Clark's comebacker to start a double play.

After a single by Stephen Drew, Mientkiewicz smothered Orlando Hudson's grounder to first before tossing to Karstens for the final out.

Freddy Sanchez homered off Johnson (9-8) in the fourth.

Making his 11th career start and 17th appearance, Karstens struck out four and went to a three-ball count only twice through the first eight innings. He threw 72 of his 113 pitches for strikes.

Johnson had his five-game winning streak snapped despite a strong outing. He allowed two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking none.

CUBS 11, ASTROS 4

CHICAGO — Mark DeRosa hit a grand slam and Alfonso Soriano had a three-run homer during an eight-run third inning that carried Chicago past Houston. DeRosa had two hits and drove in five runs.

BREWERS 6, REDS 3

CINCINNATI — Leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks matched his career high with four hits as Milwaukee beat Cincinnati. The Brewers took two of three in a series that started with slugger Prince Fielder shoving pitcher Manny Parra in the dugout twice during a 6-3 loss Monday night, when Milwaukee's NL wild-card lead was trimmed to a half-game over St. Louis.

PHILLIES 5, MARLINS 0

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Kendrick (10-5) allowed four hits and pitched around five walks over six innings and Ryan Howard homered as first-place Philadelphia beat Florida to move 2 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins in the NL East.

CARDINALS 9, DODGERS 6

ST. LOUIS — Ryan Ludwick homered for the fifth straight game to tie a franchise record and Albert Pujols hit a grand slam as St. Louis beat Los Angeles.

PADRES 4, METS 2

NEW YORK — Jody Gerut hit Pedro Martinez's first pitch for a home run and Mets third baseman David Wright committed a costly error, helping San Diego beat New York. Martinez (3-3) allowed four hits and three runs, two earned, in 6 1/3 innings — his longest outing this season.

GIANTS 3, BRAVES 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Tim Lincecum (12-3) pitched eight innings for his first win in more than three weeks as San Francisco beat Atlanta.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RAYS 10, INDIANS 7

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Pena's three-run homer capped a six-run rally in the ninth inning that carried Tampa Bay past Cleveland. Eric Hinske had an RBI double in the ninth and Gabe Gross tied it 7-all with a two-run homer off Edward Mujica, who was trying for his first major league save.

ANGELS 9, ORIOLES 4

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Vladimir Guerrero homered and drove in four runs and Garret Anderson had three hits and two RBIs as Los Angeles rolled past Baltimore.

TWINS 7, MARINERS 3

SEATTLE — Rookie Denard Span drove in a career-high four runs and robbed Adrian Beltre of a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, leading Minnesota over Seattle.

RED SOX 8, ROYALS 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (7-8) shut down Kansas City on four hits through six innings.

YANKEES 5, RANGERS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jason Giambi homered and Sidney Ponson (7-2) gave up three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings as New York beat Texas.

WHITE SOX 5, TIGERS 1

CHICAGO — Jim Thome hit a three-run homer as Chicago beat Detroit to stay a game ahead of Minnesota in the AL Central.

BLUE JAYS 5, ATHLETICS 1

TORONTO — Rod Barajas hit a three-run homer as Toronto extended Oakland's season-long losing streak to nine games.

ELSEWHERE

Yankees: Joba Chamberlain was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday by New York with rotator cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. The club said Chamberlain will rest for about a week before beginning a throwing program.

Rangers: Texas' new closer is 37-year-old Eddie Guardado. Guardado, who's been the Rangers' most consistent setup man this season, takes over for C.J. Wilson, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with bone spurs in his left elbow.

Rockies: Livan Hernandez was claimed off waivers by Colorado from Minnesota yesterday. The former World Series MVP was 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 starts before the Twins designated him for assignment Friday.