The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Sammy Sosa hit two mammoth home runs off Kevin Brown, and Mark Prior outpitched the Dodgers ace with a five-hitter as the Chicago Cubs beat Los Angeles 3-1 Sunday.

Sosa's homers off the NL ERA leader traveled a combined estimated distance of 913 feet, helping Chicago avoid a three-game sweep.

The Cubs got to Brown right away with a leadoff single by Kenny Lofton in the first inning and a one-out homer by Sosa. He drove a 1-2 pitch 465 feet, three-quarters of the way up the right-field pavilion and into the last section of seats next to the center-field flag poles.

Brown, a six-time All-Star, retired his next eight batters before Sosa connected again in the fourth. The 448-foot drive to right-center was his 28th homer this season and the 527th of his career. He has 498 home runs in a Cubs uniform, 14 shy of Hall of Famer Ernie Banks' club record.

Cardinals 3, Braves 2

ST. LOUIS - Albert Pujols hit a tiebreaking homer off John Smoltz in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Eduardo Perez homered off Horacio Ramirez with two outs and Pujols followed with his 31st of the season on a 1-0 pitch from Smoltz (0-2).

The home run extended Pujols' hitting streak to 24 games. The Cardinals took two of three from the NL's top team.

Giants 5, Phillies 2

SAN FRANCISCO - Emergency starter Kevin Correia pitched six strong innings for his first major league victory, and Yorvit Torrealba hit a two-run single.

The injury-plagued NL West leaders kept winning with a surprisingly effective performance by Correia (1-0), the last-minute replacement for Jason Schmidt. San Francisco's ace was scratched to rest the right elbow tendinitis.

Astros 8, Expos 2

HOUSTON - Jeff Kent and Lance Berkman hit two of Houston's four home runs, backing Astros starter Ron Villone.

Richard Hidalgo and Brad Ausmus also connected for the NL Central-leading Astros. Jeff Bagwell hit a two-run double in the first inning.

Diamondbacks 7, Mets 4

PHOENIX - Randy Johnson was far from overpowering but lasted eight innings and won his second straight start for the first time this season.

Arizona finished its home stand 5-1 to move within two games of Philadelphia and Florida in the wild card race.

Brewers 5, Marlins 4

MILWAUKEE - John Vander Wal hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, and Richie Sexson hit a two-run home run as Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak.

Pirates 5, Rockies 3

DENVER - Nelson Figueroa threw six strong innings, and Randall Simon hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh.

Figueroa (1-0), called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier in the day, allowed two runs and seven hits. He had been 0-6 in nine starts since his last major league win.