By The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Wilson Alvarez pitched perfect ball into the sixth inning before Chris Stynes reached on an infield hit - Pittsburgh's only runner of the night - and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pirates 4-0 Friday.

Alvarez (1-0), making his first start this season following eight relief appearances, combined with Guillermo Mota on the one-hitter, helping the NL West leaders improve to 18-10.

Jose Hernandez homered twice and had three hits and three RBIs.

Oliver Perez (2-1) struck out eight in eight innings.

Cubs 11, Rockies 0

CHICAGO - Carlos Zambrano (3-1) retired the first 14 batters and gave up a career-low two hits in his second career shutout.

Corey Patterson drove in four runs and Sammy Sosa and Ramon Martinez each had two hits and two RBIs.

Former-Cub Shawn Estes (4-2) gave up a season-high nine runs, seven hits and five walks in 2 2-3 innings.

Expos 4, Cardinals 2

MONTREAL - Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge hit two-run homers in the first inning and Sun-woo Kim (2-0) allowed one run and seven hits in six innings.

Rocky Biddle pitched the ninth for his sixth save in six chances.

Matt Morris (3-3) gave up all four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Brewers 7, Mets 5

NEW YORK - Keith Ginter, Lyle Overbay homered off Tom Glavine (4-2) during a four-run third inning and pinch-hitter Ben Grieve also connected.

Milwaukee won for just the second time in seven games and ended New York's four-game winning streak. Scott Podsednik got his 17th consecutive steal over two seasons, matching Robin Yount's team record.

Doug Davis (2-2) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Joe McEwing hit a three-run homer in the ninth.

Astros 5, Braves 3

ATLANTA - Jeff Kent hit a two-run homer and solo homer to back Tim Redding (1-3), who allowed one run and four hits in six innings against a linep missing Chipper Jones, Marcus Giles and Rafael Furcal.

Houston won for the eighth time in nine games and has the NL's best record at 19-10. Atlanta lost its season-high third in a row.

John Thomson (2-2) gave up five runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Marlins 3, Padres 1

MIAMI - Mike Lowell homered twice to back Carl Pavano (3-1), who allowed one run and four hits in eight innings.

San Diego had two players ejected, including starting pitcher Jake Peavy (2-2) after he hit Pavano with a pitch with two outs in the seventh inning. Peavy gave up two runs in 6 2-3 innings, striking out eight.

Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his 12th save.

Hee Seop Choi drove in the Marlins' final run in the eighth inning on his first career triple.