The Marlins homered three times in a six-run third inning, and Jeff Conine drove in the winning run with a walk Tuesday to lift Florida to an 8-6 victory over the Montreal Expos at U.S. Cellular Field. Alex Gonzalez hit a solo homer, and Conine and Miguel Cabrera each had two-run shots.

"I think we're going to look at the whole month of September and realize what we've accomplished," said Conine, who also hit one of Florida's three homers during a six-run third inning.

"A lot of weird stuff has happened."

With Hurricane Ivan bearing down on Florida, Major League Baseball decided last week to move the first two games of the Marlins' series with the Expos from Miami to Chicago.

The Windy City is a long way from South Florida, but the Marlins took to their new home like, well, a fish in water. They won both games, and have now won seven of their last 10 games in Chicago.

A crowd of 5,457 turned out Tuesday, paying $15 - $5 went to hurricane relief - for the rare chance to see a National League game in an American League park.

The crowd again seemed to be split between Marlins and Expos fans, but the Florida groupies were much more vocal Tuesday. McKeon spent several minutes signing autographs before the game, and fans gave him a standing ovation when he argued with umpires over a no-call on fan interference.

Fans gave the Marlins another standing ovation after the game.

"I hate to leave here," McKeon said. "These fans were great. Did you see how they were after the game?"

He also liked the hospitality of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who was the Marlins' third-base coach last year. McKeon pointed out when he got to Guillen's office Monday that Guillen hadn't left him any cigars.

When McKeon arrived Tuesday, there was a pack of five cigars waiting for him.

"He sent me a note saying, I'm sorry I forgot the cigars,'" McKeon said.

Giants 3, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE - Brewers manager Ned Yost said he and the Miller Park crowd would be happy if Barry Bonds hit his 700th homer and Milwaukee beat San Francisco. Neither happened.

Bonds went 0-for-2 and drew two walks, one of them intentional, in the Giants' victory. Before the game, Yost said he wouldn't pitch around the San Francisco slugger just to keep him from joining Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth in the 700-homer club.

Bonds worked counts full his first two times up, popping out to shortstop in the first and walking in the fourth.

Mets 7, Braves 0

NEW YORK - Kris Benson pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout and first complete game in more than four years. Benson (12-11) won his second outing in a row and improved to 4-3 with New York since he was acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh July 30.

David Wright, Eric Valent and Cliff Floyd homered to send New York to just its fourth victory in 24 games.

Astros 7, Cardinals 5

ST. LOUIS - Roger Clemens (17-4) won his 327th game, allowing one run and five hits in seven innings and moving past Eddie Plank into sole possession of 11th in the career list.

Lance Berkman matched a career high with four hits, including a three-run double that highlighted a five-run fourth. Houston, which has won 15 of 18, remained a game behind San Francisco in the wild-card race. Brad Lidge got the final out for his 23rd save.

Jeff Suppan (15-7) lost for the first time in seven starts since July 23, allowing seven runs - two earned - and 10 hits in 3 2-3 innings.

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