The Associated Press

CHICAGO - The All-Star break couldn't come at a worse time for Vinny Castilla. The last thing he needs is time off.

The Braves third baseman homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs as Atlanta beat Chicago 9-5 Friday.

In two games against the Cubs, Castilla is 6-for-8 with two home runs and eight RBI. He hit safely in six straight at-bats before grounding out in the sixth inning.

"I'm feeling good now at the plate," Castilla said. "I would love to stay like that for the rest of the season. Hopefully, I can continue to swing the bat like I'm doing right now."

Sammy Sosa went 4-for-4 with two solo homers, and Eric Karros was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Sosa now has 17 homers this season and 516 for his career.

Atlanta starter Mike Hampton (5-5) allowed five runs and 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings. He also hit a two-run triple off the right-field wall in the eighth.

The game featured a scary moment in the second when Braves second baseman Marcus Giles collided with Cubs starter Mark Prior.

Giles was taken to a hospital with a mild concussion, but was released.

Prior, who grabbed his shoulder after the collision, stayed in the game. But he lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs and six hits. He walked three and struck out five.

Rockies 7, Dodgers 6

DENVER - Todd Helton had two homers and Greg Norton walked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to score the go-ahead run for Colorado. The Rockies have won seven of their last 11 games to enter the All-Star break with a winning record (49-46) for the third time in franchise history.

The Dodgers lost for the 11th time in 14 games.

Astros 4, Pirates 2

HOUSTON - Jeff Bagwell homered and Wade Miller pitched six solid innings as Houston stretched its winning streak to five games.

Miller (6-9) managed to beat Jeff D'Amico and the Pirates for the first time this season. Miller allowed one run on four hits and a walk, striking out five. He had been 0-2 in matchups with D'Amico (6-9) this year.

Cardinals 4, Padres 2

ST. LOUIS - Woody Williams did not allow a baserunner into the sixth inning and had a sacrifice fly in a decisive two-run seventh as St. Louis snapped a four-game losing streak.

Williams walked Gary Bennett with one out in the sixth to end his string. After a sacrifice, Mark Kotsay hit a two-run homer for the Padres' first hit. Williams allowed two hits over eight innings.

Phillies 10, Mets 3

NEW YORK - Pat Burrell homered to cap a four-run first inning, and Mike Lieberthal drove in two runs in Philadelphia's six-run fifth. Randy Wolf (10-4) allowed one run and four hits over six innings as the Phillies won their fourth straight game and improved to 4-1 on their road trip.

New York has lost five games in a row - all at home.

Marlins 5, Expos 4

MONTREAL - Todd Hollandsworth hit a game-tying homer and Juan Encarnacion singled in the go-ahead run later in the ninth inning to lead Florida.

Trailing 4-3, Florida tied it on Hollandsworth's pinch-hit homer off closer Rocky Biddle (3-4) to lead off the ninth.

Giants 10, Diamondbacks 7

PHOENIX - Barry Bonds homered for the fourth consecutive game and Marquis Grissom had four hits, including a two-run shot, as San Francisco beat Arizona.

Bonds' 432-foot drive deep into the right-field seats off Miguel Batista (6-4) with two outs in the fifth was his seventh home run in his last eight games and 29th of the season, most in the majors.

He has 642 homers, 18 behind his godfather, Willie Mays, for third place on the career list.

Bonds, who made a tough running catch of Steve Finley's line drive in left to end the eighth, has four homers among his seven hits in 21 at-bats against Batista.

Jason Schmidt (9-4) allowed three runs on seven hits in eight innings, striking out eight and walking two as the Giants improved to 5-1 against Arizona this season.