Alou powers Cubs to win over Astros at Wrigley

CHICAGO Moises Alou hit a three-run homer and Chicago's bullpen didn't allow a run over the final 4 2-3 innings as the Cubs beat the Houston Astros 6-4 Wednesday.

Houston lefty Jeriome Robertson (11-6), bidding to become the first rookie this season with 12 wins, entered the fifth with a 4-3 lead before giving up singles to Kenny Lofton and Alex Gonzalez.

Dan Miceli relieved and struck out Sammy Sosa before Alou lofted a long drive to left for his 18th homer, sending the Cubs ahead 6-4.

Braves 7, Padres 1

ATLANTA Mike Hampton extended his winning streak to seven, Chipper Jones and Vinny Castilla homered, and Atlanta got some payback over San Diego.

Hampton (10-5) allowed only three hits in eight innings, but he didn't get a chance for his second straight complete game. Manager Bobby Cox lifted his starter for a pinch-hitter, deciding that 99 pitches was enough with a comfortable lead.

Phillies 11, Brewers 4

PHILADELPHIA Jim Thome homered twice and Kevin Millwood pitched seven solid innings, leading Philadelphia over Milwaukee.

Keith Ginter hit a three-run homer for the Brewers.

Bobby Abreu had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Placido Polanco had two hits and scored three runs for the Phillies.

Diamondbacks 3, Reds 1

CINCINNATI Luis Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, capping an eighth-inning rally that sent the Arizona to their 16th consecutive win over Cincinnati.

Gonzalez's 21st homer, off Felix Heredia (5-2), capped a three-run inning and led Arizona to its fourth win in a row.

Pirates 6, Cardinals 5

PITTSBURGH Randall Simon's pinch-hit single with the bases loaded in the ninth gave Pittsburgh a victory over St. Louis.

The Cardinals, who lost for the first time in five games, trailed 2-0, only to go ahead 4-2 with a four-run sixth keyed by Albert Pujols' second three-run homer in as many nights. Consecutive homers by Craig Wilson and Reggie Sanders to start the eighth briefly put the Pirates up 5-4, but Edgar Renteria's RBI single in the ninth tied it at 5 against reliever Julian Tavarez.

Pujols' homer ran his hitting streak to 27 games, the longest in the majors this season.

Mets 9, Giants 2

NEW YORK Mike Piazza homered and drove in five runs in his long-awaited return to the lineup, propelling the New York Mets over San Francisco.

Marlins 2, Dodgers 1, 11 inn.

MIAMI Utility infielder Mike Mordecai hit the second game-winning homer by a reserve for Florida in as many nights.

Third-string catcher Ramon Castro beat the Dodgers with a two-out homer in the 13th inning Tuesday.

Florida, which moved atop the wild-card standings for the first time this season Tuesday, remained one-half game ahead of Philadelphia. Los Angeles fell 4 1/2 games back.

Expos 6, Rockies 5

MONTREAL After an electrical failure briefly plunged the ballpark into complete darkness, Brian Schnieder and Javier Vazquez provided the power for Montreal in a win over Colorado.

Schneider hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Vazquez had an RBI triple in the fourth after a delay of 1 hour, 16 minutes.

The power went out in Olympic Stadium in the second inning while Vazquez (10-9) was in the middle of his windup. Preston Wilson homered, his 30th, off Vazquez to start the inning to put the Rockies up 1-0.

Todd Helton hit his 26th homer, a two-run shot in the fifth.

Vazquez gave up five runs three earned and six hits in six-plus innings, becoming the second Montreal pitcher to reach double digits in wins after Livan Hernandez.