The Associated Press

MIAMI - The Florida Marlins drew their biggest crowd in more than two years - and quickly gave the fans plenty to cheer about.

Miguel Cabrera capped a six-run first inning with a three-run homer, and the NL wild-card leaders won their seventh consecutive game by beating Atlanta 8-3 Saturday night.

The Marlins' bid for their first playoff berth since 1997 attracted a crowd of 40,414, their largest since July 13, 2001, against the New York Yankees.

Dontrelle Willis (13-6) pitched six innings for Florida, which began the night 1 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia. The winning streak is the Marlins' longest since Aug. 6-13, 1999, and they're 18 games above .500 for the first time in six years.

The Braves have lost three in a row and eight of 13, but they're still 8 1/2 games ahead of Florida in the NL East.

Russ Ortiz (19-7), trying to become the NL's first 20-game winner, instead allowed the first five Florida batters to score. Juan Encarnacion hit a two-run single in the first, and Cabrera's 10th homer made it 6-0.

Cabrera went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI. He's batting .419 against the Braves this season (13-for-31) with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

Willis allowed eight hits but just two runs. He has won his past two starts after losing four decisions in a row.

Pirates 5, Phillies 3

PITTSBURGH - Abraham Nunez's two-run double in the second inning helped Pittsburgh open a five-run lead they never relinquished.

With starter Josh Fogg pitching effectively for most of his seven innings, the Pirates beat the Phillies for the second straight night to drop them 2 1/2 games behind NL wild-card leader Florida.

Astros 2, Cardinals 0

HOUSTON - Jeff Bagwell hit his 35th homer and Roy Oswalt won his second straight game since coming off the disabled list to lift Houston

The victory preserved the Astros' one-game lead in the NL Central over the Chicago Cubs. St. Louis lost for the fourth time in five games and dropped 4 1/2 off the pace.

Oswalt (8-5) allowed four hits over seven innings to win a pitching duel with Matt Morris.

Octavio Dotel pitched a perfect eighth in his first appearance since straining his left gluteus Sept. 6.

Billy Wagner finished the five-hitter for his 42nd save in 45 chances and 20th in a row.

Mets 5, Expos 4

MONTREAL - Steve Trachsel tied a career high with his 15th win and Daniel Garcia homered and had three RBI as New York ended a season-high eight-game losing streak.

Montreal, which had won 10 straight at Olympic Stadium, ended a three-game winning streak overall.

Trachsel (15-9), who had 15 wins with the Chicago Cubs in 1998, moved ahead of Al Leiter for the team lead in victories in his second attempt at matching his career high.

Brewers 5, Giants 4

SAN FRANCISCO - Richie Sexson hit a pair of two-run homers, and Milwaukee snapped a seven-game losing streak to San Francisco despite Barry Bonds' 654th homer.

After scoring four runs in the eighth, the Giants loaded the bases against closer Dan Kolb in the ninth, but he struck out pinch-hitter J.T. Snow and got Perez on a groundout to end it.

Dodgers 4, Padres 0

LOS ANGELES - Kevin Brown and two relievers combined on a six-hitter and Shawn Green homered as Los Angeles shut out San Diego for the second straight game.

The Dodgers' 12th victory in 16 games kept them 31/2 games behind Florida in the NL wild-card race and put them within a game of second-place Philadelphia.

One night after Wilson Alvarez beat the Padres 6-0 with a three-hitter for his first shutout in six seasons, Brown (14-8) scattered six singles over seven innings. He struck out nine, walked two and stranded six.

Jake Peavy (11-11) allowed four runs and seven hits over four innings.

Diamondbacks 16, Rockies 6

PHOENIX - Raul Mondesi hit a two-run homer and capped Arizona's six-run second inning with a two-run single.

Alex Cintron had four of Arizona's 15 hits, Luis Gonzalez drove in three runs and Mondesi scored four times as the Diamondbacks set a season high for runs.

Arizona scored six runs on four hits, an error, a wild pitch and a passed ball in the second, chasing rookie Jason Young (0-2). Young, in just his third start and fifth appearance overall, allowed six runs, five earned, and four hits in 1 1-3 innings.

Miguel Batista (10-8) pitched five innings, allowing six runs on nine hits and walking four.