NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves Beat Padres, Move Past Giants

Ron Gant hit a three-run home run, his 33rd, and matched his career high with six runs batted in as the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres, 13-1, Saturday night at San Diego to take a one-game lead over San Francisco in the National League West.

The Braves, who trailed San Francisco by 10 games on July 22, have won five in a row and 26 of 31 games. They’ve also won six straight against the Padres.

Atlanta moved into sole possession of first place earlier in the day when the Giants lost, 3-1, to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the first time Atlanta was alone in first since April 13.

Gant hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a two-run, bases-loaded single in the eighth. Gant homered to center with two out in the ninth on a 3-2 pitch from Rudy Seanez, the sixth Padre pitcher. Greg Olson singled to open the ninth, his third hit of the game, and scored on Sid Bream’s grounder.

Fred McGriff also hit his 33rd homer, a three-run shot, and John Smoltz allowed three hits in seven innings. McGriff capped a five-run eighth by hitting his homer against Tim Mauser.

Smoltz (14-10) beat Andy Benes (15-12) for his sixth win in his last seven decisions. Smoltz allowed three hits in seven innings, struck out eight and walked one.

Chicago 4, New York 3--Mike Harkey combined with two relievers on a six-hitter at New York as the Cubs handed the Mets their eighth consecutive loss.

Starter Anthony Young fell to 1-16, and the Mets dropped to 47-95, the worst record in baseball.

Young, who set a major league record for consecutive losses with 27 earlier in the year, allowed four runs and four hits in five innings. His lifetime record is 5-35.

Colorado 3, Pittsburgh 2--Pitcher Kent Bottenfield had three hits and drove in two runs as the Rockies beat the Pirates for the sixth straight time at Pittsburgh.

Bottenfield (3-5) had three singles to help the Rockies win for the eighth time in 11 games against the Pirates.

Loser Tim Wakefield (4-10) allowed three runs, one earned. Dante Bichette singled with two out in the first, advanced to third on Andres Galarraga’s bloop single to short right and scored when second baseman Carlos Garcia mishandled the ball for an error.

Houston 4, Philadelphia 1--Mark Portugal overcame early wildness to win his ninth consecutive decision, and Steve Finley drove in three runs as the Astros beat the Phillies at Philadelphia.

Portugal (15-4), who also drove in the tying run, allowed three hits in 8 1/3 innings, struck out seven and walked five. His nine-game winning streak ties teammate Darryl Kile for the longest winning streak in the majors this season.

Todd Jones came on after Portugal walked two batters in the ninth to get the final two outs for his second save.

Andujar Cedeno was three for three and scored three times for the Astros.

Montreal 4, Cincinnati 2-- Denis Boucher got his first National League victory as the Expos beat the Reds at Montreal.

Montreal has won five straight and 14 of 15, and now trails the Philadelphia Phillies by six in the NL East. The Expos were 14 1/2 games behind on Aug. 20.

Boucher (1-0), making his second start for the Expos, gave up a run and four hits and struck out four before leaving for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning.

John Wetteland, the third Montreal pitcher, got the final two outs for his 36th save.