The Associated Press

CHICAGO - Greg Maddux must like July 17.

Maddux pitched a six-hitter for his first complete game in exactly one year and his first shutout in precisely three years, earning his 297th win and leading the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 Saturday.

Sammy Sosa hit his 556th homer and Moises Alou also homered for the Cubs.

Maddux (8-7) got his 35th shutout, his first since a six-hitter against Tampa Bay on July 17, 2001. The 38-year-old right-hander pitched his 104th complete game, his first since an eight-hitter against the New York Mets last year - also on July 17. Maddux retired eight of his first nine batters and struck out the side in the eighth.

"As far as a day to pitch on, this was as easy it gets," Maddux said. "It was cool, the wind was blowing in, and all the mistakes were hit at guys."

Ben Sheets (9-6), who entered with 16 scoreless innings and wins in three consecutive starts, gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts.

Sosa hit his 17th homer of the season in the first, a drive against a wind blowing in at 15 mph. Alou added his 20th in the fourth.

Pirates 4, Marlins 2

PITTSBURGH - Tike Redman's tying single sparked Pittsburgh's three-run rally in the eighth inning against two All-Star pitchers, and the Pirates extended their longest home winning streak in 26 years by beating Florida. Marlins starter Carl Pavano stranded eight runners and took a 2-1 lead into the eighth, only to be lifted for star closer Armando Benitez after Jason Bay doubled with one out. Benitez (2-1) had pitched 11 consecutive scoreless innings spanning eight games.

Braves 6, Expos 2

ATLANTA - Marcus Giles hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning, and Russ Ortiz continued his domination of the Expos, helping Atlanta beat Montreal.

J.D. Drew and Adam LaRoche had solo shots for the Braves, who won for the 14th time in 18 games and stayed one game behind Philadelphia in the NL East. Ortiz (11-6) won his fifth consecutive start and improved to 4-0 this season against the Expos.

Phillies 8, Mets 2

NEW YORK - Jim Thome hit his major league-leading 30th homer and fell a triple short of the cycle, and Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs with a double in a three-run third inning.

Reliever Rheal Cormier pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth for the first-place Phillies, who have won two in a row after losing the series opener.

Padres 7, Astros 4

HOUSTON - Phil Garner still is looking for his first win as manager of the Houston Astros. Mark Loretta hit a two-run homer to spark a five-run fifth inning, and David Wells won his third consecutive decision for the Padres.

Giants 4, Rockies 0

DENVER - Jason Schmidt won his 12th game of the season as San Francisco defeated Colorado. Despite having three hits, the Giants got two runs in the eighth on Barry Bonds' double.