PHILADELPHIA — Now, the Philadelphia Phillies can rest and prepare to defend their World Series title.

Kyle Kendrick pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Pedro Martinez and the Phillies beat the Houston Astros, 10-3, last night to clinch their third straight NL East crown.

Raul Ibanez hit his career-high 34th homer and Jimmy Rollins had a double and triple for Philadelphia, which is heading to the postseason for the third straight year.

The Phillies are trying to become the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three World Series in a row from 1998-2000. Cincinnati was the last NL team to win two straight in 1975-76.

"We've done it again, back-to-back-to-back," center fielder Shane Victorino said. "We've shown what it's about."

With four games left this year, Philadelphia has a chance to rest its regulars and set up a postseason pitching rotation.

MARLINS 5, BRAVES 4

Ricky Nolasco (13-9) struck out nine straight en route to 16 strikeouts as visiting Florida handed Atlanta its second straight loss.

PADRES 5, DODGERS 0

Clayton Richard (5-2) gave up one hit over seven innings, helping host San Diego stop Los Angeles from clinching the NL West title with its fourth straight loss.

REDS 6, CARDINALS 1

Laynce Nix hit a grand slam off John Smoltz (1-3) to help host Cincinnati hand St. Louis its third straight loss since clinching the NL Central.

NATIONALS 7, METS 4

Justin Maxwell's grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning lifted host Washington to its first win all season when trailing after eight innings.

PIRATES SWEEP CUBS

Ryan Doumit had four hits and four RBIs to help visiting Pittsburgh beat Chicago, 8-2, for a doubleheader sweep. Charlie Morton threw a four-hitter in a 4-0 victory in the first game.

ROCKIES 10, BREWERS 6

Todd Helton, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki each hit a two-run homer, and host Colorado extended its NL wild-card lead to four games over Atlanta with four to play.

GIANTS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1

Brad Penny (4-1) pitched a six-hitter for his first complete game in more than four years and Eli Whiteside homered host San Francisco beat Arizona.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

WHITE SOX-INDIANS SPLIT

Mark Buehrle (13-10) pitched six shutout innings and Paul Konerko drove in the only run as visiting Chicago beat Cleveland, 1-0, to split a doubleheader. Before the first game, a 5-1 victory for Cleveland, Eric Wedge was fired as the Indians manager.

TIGERS 7, TWINS 2

Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run double and host Detroit beat Minnesota to reduce its magic number for clinching the AL Central title to two.

ANGELS 5, RANGERS 0

Matt Palmer (11-2) gave up a leadoff single in the first inning to Julio Borbon in his five innings of work and four relievers finished the one-hitter as host Los Angeles beat Texas.

BLUE JAYS 12, RED SOX 0

Roy Halladay (17-10) pitched a three-hitter for his second consecutive shutout as visiting Toronto sent Boston to its sixth straight loss.

ROYALS 4, YANKEES 3

John Buck tripled off Sergio Mitre to score Mark Teahen and break a 4-all tie in the top of the seventh, lifting Kansas City over New York.

RAYS 5, ORIOLES 3

Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer and Carl Crawford also homered as host Tampa Bay handed Baltimore its 13th straight loss.

MARINERS 7, ATHLETICS 0

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a three-run homer — his 629th — and Brandon Morrow (2-4) allowed one hit over eight innings, sending host Seattle over Oakland.