Ramirez’s Hat Trick Powers Cubs

Aramis Ramirez sat out 11 games this month because of a sore groin and is still running the bases at less than full speed.

But it seems that all he needs is his home run trot.

Ramirez hit three homers Friday to rally the Chicago Cubs over the slumping Philadelphia Phillies, 10-7, at Wrigley Field.

“I’m not 100%, but I can play and I proved today I can,” Ramirez said.

City officials gave the go-ahead to play the game after the Cubs installed safety nets to ensure fans would not be hit by any crumbling debris that has fallen three times this season at the 90-year-old ballpark.

Ramirez hit three homers while with the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Houston Astros on April 8, 2001.

Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell homered twice for the Phillies against Mark Prior.

The Cubs trailed, 6-3, when Ramirez led off the sixth inning with his second homer against Eric Milton. He hit a bases-empty shot against Roberto Hernandez in the seventh, giving him 21 this season.

Abreu, who had five runs batted in, hit his second of the game and 22nd this season, a three-run shot in the fifth that made it 6-3.

Prior, still looking for his first victory since June 25, had words for plate umpire Paul Schrieber on his way to the dugout after being replaced. Prior gave up eight hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

He said his performance wasn’t related to a sore elbow that cost him a start earlier this month.

St. Louis 7, San Francisco 4 -- Barry Bonds hit his 685th homer, but Jim Edmonds had a two-run triple in the Cardinals’ six-run sixth inning at San Francisco.

Tony Womack tripled to start the Cardinal rally and Mike Matheny hit a two-run double. St. Louis has won five in a row.

Atlanta 3, New York 1 -- Marcus Giles had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run at Atlanta, and the Braves handed the Mets their 12th loss in 17 games.

Montreal 9, Florida 0 -- Livan Hernandez (8-10) pitched a three-hitter and hit a two-run double at Miami, and Brad Wilkerson and Nick Johnson homered to help the Expos spoil the return from the disabled list of Josh Beckett (4-6).

Milwaukee 5, Pittsburgh 0 -- Doug Davis (10-9) gave up four hits in seven innings to end a three-game skid, and Brady Clark hit a two-run double to lead the host Brewers.

Colorado 4, Arizona 1 -- Randy Johnson gave up four runs and struck out six at Denver in what might have been his last start for the Diamondbacks. The Rockies beat Johnson, the subject of trade speculation, for the second time in less than a week.

Houston at Cincinnati -- Jeff Bagwell’s single drove in the tying run moments before a third rain delay resulted in a suspended game in the top of the sixth inning. The game will resume today with the score tied, 2-2, and two Astros on base.