Chipper Jones Powers Braves to 4-2 Victory

Chipper Jones’ power isn’t exactly a secret. Still, Monday’s display surprised him.

Jones hit two two-run homers, the second in the top of the ninth inning off reliever Kerry Wood, and Tim Hudson pitched his first complete game of the season to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

It was Jones’ first multihomer game since Aug. 25, 2004, against Colorado, and the 31st of his career, and it came on a night the wind was blowing in at Wrigley Field.

Marcus Giles singled with one out in the ninth. Jones then connected on a 2-and-2 pitch from Wood (3-4), sending his 13th homer over the wall in right-center.

“I never would have thought that I would have hit home runs off of both those guys,” said Jones, who homered in the fourth off starter Carlos Zambrano. “Both those guys have dominant, No. 1-type stuff. It was just one of those nights where I got a couple of pitches that I was looking for.”

San Francisco 5, Philadelphia 0 -- Noah Lowry pitched into the ninth inning at San Francisco to win his fourth straight start and become a 10-game winner in his first full big league season.

Lowry (10-11), utilizing his improved curveball, gave up five hits with one walk and six strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings and also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Houston 6, San Diego 2 -- Roy Oswalt threw six strong innings for his 15th win and Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer at San Diego.

Oswalt and three relievers combined on a five-hitter for the Astros, who moved half a game in front of Philadelphia and Florida in the wild-card race.

New York 4, Arizona 1 -- Tom Glavine pitched into the ninth inning and Jose Reyes and Victor Diaz homered for the Mets at Phoenix.

Cliff Floyd drove in two runs for New York, which got another strong outing from Glavine in the opener of a seven-game trip.

St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 1 -- Mark Mulder beat the Pirates for the fifth time in as many starts against them, limiting them to three hits at Pittsburgh.

Abraham Nunez, a former Pirate infielder who was released by one of the majors’ worst teams after last season only to hook on with one of its best, went three for four to raise his average to .311 for the Cardinals.

The utility infielder drove in a run and figured in both of their scoring innings.