Sosa homers, leads Cubs past Giants

CHICAGO — Sammy Sosa hit a three-run homer and Carlos Zambrano won his third straight start as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 9-4 Thursday.

Sosa's 23rd homer of the season capped a four-run sixth. Chicago took two of three games from the Giants, who had won 10 of 11 coming into the series.

Sosa had 13 homers in July, the most in the major leagues, and 29 RBIs.

Zambrano (9-8) allowed four runs, nine hits and five walks in eight innings. Jim Brower (7-3) gave up five runs — four earned — and seven hits in five innings.

EXPOS 3, CARDINALS 2: At Montreal, Vladimir Guerrero homered and drove in all three runs, moving past Gary Carter into second place on Montreal's career homer list with 221, four behind Andre Dawson.

Zach Day (5-4), in his second start since a stint on the DL caused by a strained right shoulder, allowed one run and five hits in six innings. Rocky Biddle pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save.

Woody Williams (14), who had won his four previous starts, failed in his attempt to become the NL's second 15-game winner. He allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. St. Louis was 5-1 against Montreal this year, outscoring the Expos 31-9.

PADRES 10, PIRATES 7: At Pittsburgh, Gary Matthews Jr. homered and Mark Loretta drove in three runs during a four-hit day as San Diego overcome three Pittsburgh homers.

San Diego rallied from three runs down to open an 8-4 lead on Matthews' two-run homer, then withstood consecutive homers by Jose Hernandez and Craig Wilson off Adam Easton to open the Pirates' sixth.

Matt Stairs also had a three-run shot off Eaton (6-7), who won despite allowing six runs and six hits in five innings. Josh Fogg (6-6) gave up four runs and six hits in four innings.

BREWERS 4, METS 3: At New York, Matt Kinney (7-8) allowed one run and four hits in six-plus innings to win for the first time since June 27.

Scott Podsednik and Eddie Perez hit RBI singles for the Brewers, who took three of four in the series between last-place teams. The punchless Mets have lost five of six and 17 of 22.

Rookie Aaron Heilman (1-4) gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out a career-high seven and walking six.

BRAVES 7, ASTROS 4: At Atlanta, Javy Lopez hit his 30th homer, a three-run shot that finished off a six-run first in the game between division leaders.