Atlanta won for the 27th time in its last 32 games.
SAN DIEGO – Vinny Castilla homered for the third time in two games and Russ Ortiz won his fifth straight decision to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday and a four-game sweep.
The Braves won for the 27th time in their last 32 games to improve to 31-13, the best record in the majors.
Marcus Giles, who was born and raised in San Diego County, drove in Atlanta’s first three runs and Chipper Jones hit a solo homer. The Braves outscored the Padres 39-15 in their first four-game sweep of San Diego since April 4-7, 1994.
Cardinals 6, Cubs 3
ST. LOUIS – Scott Rolen drove in four runs and Albert Pujols snapped a seventh-inning tie with a run-scoring infield hit as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 on Sunday.
The Cardinals have won only four of their last 12. But they maintained their mastery over the Cubs, who are 4-22 at Busch Stadium the last four seasons and haven’t won consecutive games there since June 20-21, 2001.
Rockies 4, Expos 0
DENVER – Shawn Chacon pitched six scoreless innings, Jay Payton homered and the Colorado Rockies beat the Montreal Expos 4-0 Sunday in the 22nd shutout ever at Coors Field. Chacon (5-2), winless in his previous three outings, allowed four hits to outduel Tomo Ohka (3-5).
It was the Rockies’ second shutout this season and 13th overall at Coors Field, which opened in 1995. Chacon was part of the other one this year as well, pitching seven scoreless innings in an 8-0 win over San Diego on April 20.
Dodgers 2, Marlins 1
LOS ANGELES – Hideo Nomo pitched seven strong innings and Alex Cora drove in two runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins with a 2-1 victory Sunday.
Nomo (5-4) won for the fourth time in his last five decisions. He allowed a run and five hits, struck out five and walked four.
Mets 5, Giants 1
SAN FRANCISCO – Tom Glavine took a shutout into the ninth inning and Jason Phillips homered a day after being recalled from the minors to replace the injured Mike Piazza as the New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 Sunday. Glavine (5-3) followed up on a strong eight-inning performance by Steve Trachsel on Saturday as the Mets beat the Giants for the second straight day after losing their first 12 regular season games at Pacific Bell Park.
Diamondbacks 8, Pirates 6
PHOENIX – Rookie Brandon Webb shut down Pittsburgh for 7 2-3 innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks salvaged the final game of their three-game series against the Pirates 8-6 Sunday.
The 24-year-old right-hander, who relies mostly on a nasty sinker, scattered eight hits, struck out six and walked three.
Reds 6, Brewers 3
MILWAUKEE – Aaron Boone hit his second homer of the game, connecting in the 10th inning to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 Sunday.
Boone has homered three times in two days. The Reds stopped a three-game losing streak.
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