Beltran, Astros Pound Cubs

Carlos Beltran had another big day at Wrigley Field, hitting two home runs to lead the Houston Astros over Kerry Wood and the Chicago Cubs, 15-7, Friday.

Beltran finished with four hits, and he has homered in five consecutive games.

In two series at Wrigley Field since being traded from Kansas City in June, Beltran is 11 for 21 with seven homers and 11 runs batted in.

Beltran had plenty of help as the Astros chased Wood early and ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak.

Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman hit consecutive solo shots off Wood to help Houston win for the ninth time in 12 games. The Astros moved to within six games of Chicago in the wild-card race.

Beltran hit a solo homer in the first inning off Wood and a three-run shot in the ninth to highlight a six-run inning against Kyle Farnsworth.

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Atlanta 5, San Francisco 3 -- Barry Bonds hit a three-run shot for his 694th career homer, but Chipper Jones’ two-run homer helped the Braves beat the Giants at Atlanta for their fifth consecutive victory.

After Edgardo Alfonzo hit a two-out single off Chris Reitsma in the eighth inning, Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox brought in left-handed reliever Tom Martin to face Bonds, who took a called third strike to end the inning.

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Montreal 10, San Diego 3 -- Brad Wilkerson homered and had three RBIs, and Tony Batista hit a two-run homer to lead the Expos at Montreal.

Montreal shortstop Maicer Izturis made his major league debut after having his contract purchased from triple-A Edmonton earlier in the day. Izturis, the younger brother of Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis, singled in his first major league at-bat.

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Florida 3, Colorado 0 -- Ismael Valdez (11-7) yielded only four hits before leaving in the seventh inning because of a strained left Achilles’ tendon. Luis Castillo drove in the only run he needed in the second inning at Miami.

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St. Louis 8, Pittsburgh 5 -- At Pittsburgh, Jim Edmonds hit a pair of two-run homers and matched a career high with five RBIs to help the Cardinals beat the Pirates for the fifth consecutive time. Edmonds’ home run in the third was his 35th of the season and came one night after his streak of reaching base in 47 consecutive games ended.

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Philadelphia 6, Milwaukee 1 -- Vicente Padilla (5-6) pitched seven shutout innings for his first win in more than three months, and the Phillies sent the Brewers to their ninth loss in a row. The Phillies ended a seven-game home losing streak.

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Arizona 4, Cincinnati 3 -- Alex Cintron hit a run-scoring single with one out in the top of the 11th inning for the Diamondbacks. Andy Green tripled off the right-field wall with one out. After Quinton McCracken walked, Cintron singled to center.