The Associated Press

MIAMI - Carl Pavano pitched eight-plus solid innings, and Juan Encarnacion drove in four runs as the Florida Marlins held on and beat Livan Hernandez and the Montreal Expos 4-3 Saturday night.

Pavano (11-11) allowed four hits before Vladimir Guerrero led off the ninth with a solo homer to left field, and Wil Cordero's single.

Braden Looper gave up a two-run double to Brian Schneider with one out before getting the final two outs - with runners on second and third - for his 25th save in 29 chances.

Hernandez lost for the first time in six starts and just the second time in more than two months. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits and three walks in six innings. It was the most runs he's given up in eight starts.

Hernandez (14-8) dominated his former team early, but surrendered consecutive walks to Ivan Rodriguez and Mike Lowell with two outs in the sixth. Encarnacion followed with a three-run shot to left. He added an RBI double in the eighth.

Encarnacion's 16th homer provided enough run support for Pavano, who won his second straight start and picked up his fifth victory in his last six decisions. Pavano got back to .500 for the first time since being 2-2 in April and helped the Marlins remain atop the wild-card race.

The Expos loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Pavano struck out Ron Calloway and then got Schneider to ground out.

Pavano walked one, hit one and struck out a career-high 10. He improved to 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA this season against the Expos.

Brewers 9, Cubs 5

CHICAGO - Richie Sexson homered and drove in four runs, Scott Podsednik stole home and Matt Kinney won his third straight start.

The Brewers had a 10-game winning streak - the second-longest in franchise history - snapped Friday. But they wasted little time starting another one, tagging Cubs starter Shawn Estes (7-11) for five runs in the first two innings.

Giants 2, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX - Barry Bonds homered off Randy Johnson in his return to the San Francisco lineup.

Rich Aurilia also homered off Johnson (4-7) for the Giants, who moved 11 1/2 games ahead of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Jerome Williams (6-3) took a four-hit shutout into the ninth. He gave up a leadoff double to Raul Mondesi and a one-out single to Junior Spivey before Tim Worrell relieved.

Braves 13, Pirates 6

PITTSBURGH - Rookie Mike Hessman hit a two-run homer in only his second start for Atlanta, keying a seven-run third inning that ruined Oliver Perez's debut with Pittsburgh.

Javy Lopez and Mark DeRosa had two-run doubles off Perez, who retired only one of the seven batters he faced in the third. He left after allowing six runs and four hits in 2 2-3 innings.

Astros 11, Padres 6

HOUSTON - Lance Berkman and Morgan Ensberg homered, and Jared Fernandez pitched six solid innings in Houston's win.

Fernandez (2-3) allowed one run and five hits as he snapped a personal three-game losing streak.

The Astros used four pitchers in the Padres' five-run seventh inning but held on and maintained a first-place tie with St. Louis in the NL Central.

Phillies 4, Mets 2

NEW YORK - Randy Wolf, coming off the worst start of his career, handcuffed New York for seven innings in Philadelphia's win.

The win kept the Phillies tied with Florida in the NL wild-card race.

Rheal Cormier worked a hitless eighth, and Jose Mesa got three outs for his 23rd save in 26 chances. Wolf also helped his own cause with an RBI single off Mets starter Tom Glavine.