The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - With one swing, Craig Biggio seemed to change the fortunes of two teams. Biggio's three-run homer started Houston on a big comeback and Jeff Kent hit a two-run double against his former team as the Astros sent the San Francisco Giants to just their second loss of the season, 8-5 Wednesday.

"Your luck can change almost instantly in this game," Biggio said. "One minute nothing is falling in, the next your best players are getting key hits.

"We never gave up faith even though we trailed 5-0. We finally started to catch some breaks out there."

Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner combined for five shutout innings in relief for the Astros, who rallied to avoid a three-game sweep.

"For two days nothing fell our way, but today our players finally started to find the grass and get some key knocks," Houston manager Jimy Williams said.

The Giants (13-2) had their six-game winning streak snapped and failed to match the 1918 New York Giants (18-1) for the best start in franchise history.

After the Astros tied it with a five-run fifth on Biggio's fourth homer of the season and Kent's double, pinch-hitter Orlando Merced drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the seventh off Scott Eyre.

Kent, the 2000 NL MVP who helped lead San Francisco to the World Series last season, went 2-for-9 with three RBIs in his first series back at Pacific Bell Park.

Wagner worked a hitless ninth for his fourth save.

"It was exciting out there pitching tonight," he said. "We had lost the first two games and it gave us a chance to beat the best team in the league.

Lidge (2-0) struck out three in two innings for the win.

"Coming in like I did, it was important to keep the tie," Lidge said. "Not to let them get back the momentum we had gained from that five-run inning. If we kept it, I knew we would win."

Jim Brower (2-1), who put two runners on in the seventh, was the loser.

Barry Bonds was held out by manager Felipe Alou in an effort to rest the slugger's legs. Coupled with the Giants' off day Thursday, Bonds will have two days off before opening a series in Los Angeles on Friday.

Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 3

PHOENIX - Luis Gonzalez singled home the winning run as Arizona rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to beat Colorado.

David Dellucci, who entered in the ninth after Danny Bautista left with a hip flexor, singled in two runs off Jose Jimenez to tie it at 3.

Gonzalez followed with a line drive over the head of center fielder Preston Wilson to give Arizona a dramatic and much-needed victory, just its fourth in 15 games.

Jimenez (0-2) blew a save for the first time in five opportunities as Colorado lost to the Diamondbacks for the first time in six meetings this season.

Matt Mantei (3-0) pitched a scoreless ninth to get the victory. Randy Johnson missed his scheduled start because of swelling under his right kneecap.

Todd Helton hit his fifth homer for the Rockies.

Dodgers 3, Padres 0

LOS ANGELES - Kazuhisa Ishii allowed three hits in seven innings, and slumping Fred McGriff hit a two-run double to cap a three-run sixth as Los Angeles beat San Diego.

The Dodgers had lost each of their previous four games by one run.

Ishii (1-1) walked three and struck out five. The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the eighth before Paul Quantrill struck out Mark Kotsay and Rondell White to end the inning.

Eric Gagne pitched the ninth for his third save in as many chances.

San Diego starter Brian Lawrence (2-1) took a three-hit shutout into the sixth.

Cardinals 15, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE - Scott Rolen hit a pair of two-run homers and Matt Morris pitched six solid innings and hit his first major league home run as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 15-2 Wednesday.

The Brewers managed only one unearned run off Morris (1-1). Pitching his third consecutive strong game, Morris scattered five hits while walking four and striking out seven.

One start after beating Arizona's Randy Johnson, Milwaukee starter Wayne Franklin (1-2) gave up nine earned runs on eight hits and three walks in 3 2-3 innings.

Albert Pujols, returning after missing Tuesday night's game with a bruised right thumb, had two singles, a double, two RBIs and scored twice. Mike Matheny drove in three runs with a single and a double.

Braves 3, Expos 2

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Rookie Horacio Ramirez shut out Montreal until the eighth inning and Gary Sheffield homered, leading revived Atlanta over the Expos.

Swept at home by Montreal in a three-game series to start the season, Atlanta is rapidly getting even with the Expos in Puerto Rico. And the Braves are doing it in familiar fashion - with dominant pitching.

Ramirez (2-2) blanked the Expos until Ron Calloway's two-run homer in the eighth, beating the team that defeated him two weeks ago in his major league debut.

Andruw Jones doubled, singled twice and drove in two runs. John Smoltz earned his fifth save as Atlanta matched its longest winning streak of the season at just two.

Tomo Ohka (1-2) took the loss.

Pirates 6, Mets 3

PITTSBURGH - Kevin Young's pinch-hit single in the sixth inning drove in the go-ahead run and Pittsburgh, getting a third straight effective outing from Jeff Suppan, beat New York.

The Mets finally got their first extra-base hit and first RBI from Mike Piazza - a solo homer in his 36th at-bat of the season - but still lost their seventh in eight games.

The Pirates scored more than three runs for the first time in 10 games to withstand three infield errors and end a three-game losing streak.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who had two errors, also hit his first homer, a solo shot in the first off David Cone (1-2).

Suppan (3-0) limited the Mets to two runs, one earned, and four hits in six innings to win his third consecutive start.

Marlins 3, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA - Brad Penny allowed just two hits in seven shutout innings and Ivan Rodriguez scored twice as Florida broke a three-game losing streak.

Penny (2-1) struck out eight and walked three for the Marlins, who won on the road for the first time since April 5, a four-game slide.

Vladimir Nunez escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, and Braden Looper got three outs for his second save. He has converted 15 straight chances dating to last season.

The Phillies put two on in the ninth and David Bell nearly tied it with a liner to deep left, but Todd Hollandsworth made a nice catch to end it.

Philadelphia starter Brett Myers (0-2) went seven innings, giving up three runs.