National League roundup

Dodgers 6, Giants 2

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Andre Ethier hit a go-ahead homer off Tim Lincecum and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 on Sunday to go 30 games over .500 for the first time in almost 24 years.

Randy Wolf (11-6) shrugged off a pair of home runs by leadoff hitter Andres Torres, allowing five hits in six-plus innings for the win. The left-hander is 6-0 with a 2.41 over his last eight starts.

Ronnie Belliard added a two-run single against Lincecum (14-6), the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner.

The Dodgers, trying to win consecutive NL West titles for the first time since 1977-78, reduced their magic number to eight for clinching the division and four for securing a postseason berth for the third time in four years. Los Angeles is five games ahead of Colorado in the division race with 12 to play.

The Giants fell 41/2 games behind the Rockies for the NL wild card.

Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX (AP) - Jason Giambi homered for the second consecutive game and Ubaldo Jimenez outpitched Dan Haren to help Colorado tighten its grip on the NL wild card with a victory over Arizona.

Colorado expanded its wild-card lead on its three nearest pursuers because San Francisco, Florida and Atlanta all lost. The Rockies lead the Giants by 41/2 games, the Marlins by five and the Braves by 51/2.

Giambi, who had a three-run, pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning of Colorado's 10-4 victory Saturday night, added a two-run shot off Haren (14-9) in the eighth. That gives him 11 RBIs in his 12 games since joining the Rockies.

Jimenez (14-11) gave up a run and five hits through seven innings, striking out eight.

Cubs 6, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Jake Fox homered in the 11th inning and the Chicago Cubs benefited from a wide slide by Matt Holliday, beating St. Louis and keeping the Cardinals' magic number at four for clinching the NL Central.

An interference call on Holliday in the ninth inning cost the Cardinals a chance for a three-game sweep.

Fox hit a two-run homer in the 11th off Mitchell Boggs (2-3).

Esmailin Caridad (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for his first major league win. Carlos Marmol finished for his 14th save in 18 chances.

Phillies 4, Braves 2

ATLANTA (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies ended rookie Tommy Hanson's streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings, damaging Atlanta's faint wild-card hopes.

Brad Lidge pitched another shaky ninth inning but posted his 31st save in 41 chances. The NL East-leading Phillies took two of three in the series.

There was a rain delay of 1 hour, 51 minutes in the middle of the fifth inning, ending Cliff Lee's start for the Phillies.

Philadelphia tagged Hanson (10-4) for four runs and seven hits, including four for extra bases, in five innings.

Tyler Walker (2-0) gave up one hit in two scoreless innings following the delay. Ryan Madson struck out the side in the eighth and Lidge took over with a 4-1 lead to begin the ninth.

Reds 8, Marlins 1

CINCINNATI (AP) - Corky Miller hit a rare home run to back Kip Wells' strong pitching and Cincinnati gained a split of its four-game series against Florida.

Miller's three-run shot and Joey Votto's two-run homer created a cushion for Wells (2-4), who went seven-plus innings. It was his longest outing since being acquired by the Reds in July.

Florida starter Sean West (7-6) gave up five runs in 4 2-3 innings.

Brewers 6, Astros 0

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Prince Fielder hit his 40th homer and Yovani Gallardo pitched five solid innings to help Milwaukee complete a sweep of Houston with its fifth straight victory.

The Astros lost their seventh consecutive game, matching their longest skid this season.

Fielder, who came in tied with Albert Pujols with a major league-best 127 RBIs, hit a solo shot in the first inning and set a club record in the fifth when he walked for the 100th time this season.

Corey Hart and Jody Gerut also homered for Milwaukee.

Gallardo (13-12) became the fourth Brewers pitcher with 200 strikeouts in a season and first since Ben Sheets had 264 in 2004.

Felipe Paulino (2-10) extended his career-worst losing streak to six games. He gave up four runs in six innings.

Mets 6, Nationals 2

NEW YORK (AP) - John Maine pitched five shutout innings to earn his first win since May 31, and New York beat Washington.

Daniel Murphy had two hits and two RBIs for the Mets, who won two of three in a series between the bottom two teams in the NL East. Carlos Beltran had an RBI single and Wilson Valdez added a two-run triple in the ninth.

Maine (6-5) allowed two singles and a walk in his second start since he was sidelined for more than three months with a sore right shoulder. Francisco Rodriguez earned his 33rd save.

Garrett Mock (3-9) allowed four runs in seven innings, dropping to 0-4 with a 7.00 ERA in five starts since his last win Aug. 25 at Wrigley Field.

Padres 4, Pirates 0

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Kevin Correia added to his impressive September, pitching seven strong innings for San Diego against Pittsburgh.

Correia (11-10) allowed six hits and did not walk a batter. He is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four starts this month.

Heath Bell struck out the last two batters for his NL-leading 39th save in 44 opportunities. It was San Diego's sixth shutout this season. The Pirates have been blanked 15 times.

Oscar Salazar had three hits, including a run-scoring double, as the Padres improved to 30-20 since a 37-62 start. The Pirates lost for the 19th time in 22 games and need to win seven of their last 15 to avoid a 100-loss season.

Paul Maholm (8-9) gave up three runs in six innings.