The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - There is seemingly little the Atlanta Braves can't do these days. Behind a grand slam by Gary Sheffield and Vinny Castilla's two home runs, the Braves won for the 26th time in 31 games, 12-2 over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Shane Reynolds (3-1) was outstanding over seven innings as Atlanta improved to 30-13, the best record in the major leagues.

"It's been unbelievable," said Reynolds, signed as a free agent on April 10. "These guys come in every day expecting what happened tonight to happen every game."

Sheffield, who also had a sacrifice fly and had five RBIs, said the Braves are gaining confidence.

"It's one of those things that build," Sheffield said. "The more you win, the more confident you become. It doesn't get much better than this."

After allowing a two-run homer to Xavier Nady in the second inning, Reynolds proved tough for San Diego, whose record is the worst in the NL at 13-30.

Reynolds gave up two runs and five hits, and allowed only one runner past second base after the second inning.

"Shane pitched really great," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "After the second inning, he really got it together."

Reynolds struck out five and walked two.

"I made a mistake to Nady," he said. "But then I got into a groove and started using my splitter effectively. It definitely helps when you have a great defense playing behind you."

Castilla's first home run, a two-run drive in the eighth off Mike Bynum, gave the Braves some breathing room at 6-2. Castilla's solo homer in the ninth, also off Bynum, gave him 27 multihomer games in his career and five home runs this season.

Dodgers 4, Marlins 1

LOS ANGELES - Paul Lo Duca went 4-for-4 with a tiebreaking solo homer.

Odalis Perez (2-3) allowed three hits in eight innings, including a first-inning homer by Luis Castillo. He struck out eight, walked two and did not give up a hit after Alex Gonzalez doubled with one out in the second.

Eric Gagne finished for his 14th save of the season and 22nd straight.

Michael Tejera (0-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings, including homers to Lo Duca and Jolbert Cabrera.

Pirates 8, Diamondbacks 5

PHOENIX - Kevin Young hit a three-run homer, and Pittsburgh won a series at Arizona for the first time since 1998.

David Dellucci drove in three runs with a double and his first homer since Aug. 1.

Salomon Torres (3-1) gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings, and Mike Williams got his 12th save, walking three before Gonzalez struck out and Dellucci grounded into a double play.

Chris Capuano (0-2) allowed seven runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings in his first major league start. The Diamondbacks have lost three straight.

Cubs 2, Cardinals 1

ST. LOUIS - Pinch-hitter Mark Bellhorn homered leading off the ninth inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 Saturday.

The NL Central leaders have won six of seven overall but only two of their last 11 at Busch Stadium.

Bellhorn homered off Steve Kline (1-4). Mike Remlinger (2-0) had relieved Mark Prior after Albert Pujols' eighth-inning homer and struck out Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen. Joe Borowski finished for his seventh save.

Prior allowed a run on six hits with six strikeouts in 7 1-3 innings, lowering his NL-best ERA to 2.02, and also went 3-for-3.

Expos 6, Rockies 4

DENVER - Pinch-hitter Henry Mateo hit a two-run single off Todd Jones (1-2) in the 10th as the Expos overcame the third-inning ejection of starter Zach Day, who had glue on his fingers to cover a blister.

Montreal won for the fifth time in six games. Luis Ayala (4-1) pitched two scoreless innings for his second win in as many days, and Rocky Biddle pitched the ninth for his 12th save.

Phillies 9, Astros 4

HOUSTON - Placido Polanco homered, doubled, singled and scored three runs.

Brandon Duckworth (3-1) allowed three runs and five hits in five innings in his first game since being recalled from Triple-A Scranton. Duckworth had been demoted after consecutive bad outings raised his ERA to 6.46, .

Jim Thome added a solo homer in the ninth for the Phillies, who hit into six double plays.

Nate Bland (1-1) walked Todd Pratt with the bases loaded in a three-run sixth inning, giving Philadelphia a 4-3 lead.

Mets 5, Giants 1

SAN FRANCISCO - Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer for New York, which had been 0-12 during the regular season at Pacific Bell Park. The Mets split a pair of playoffs games in 2000.

Steve Trachel (2-2) allowed one run and four hits in eight innings, the longest outing for a Mets pitcher since Al Leiter went 8 1-3 innings against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 17. Damian Moss (5-2) gave up three runs, three hits and seven walks in six innings for San Francisco, which has lost six of eight.

Mike Piazza was put on the disabled list before the game with a severe right groin strain that is expected to sideline him for a significant amount of time.