PITTSBURGH – Barry Bonds shook off an early season slump to hit his 736th and 737th career homers before being lifted in the fourth inning, helping Russ Ortiz end a 12-game losing streak in the San Francisco Giants’ 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Bonds, hitting .192 with only one homer in 26 at-bats coming into the game, hit a two-run shot down the right-field line in the second inning off Zach Duke and a deeper shot in the right-center stands in the fourth off Shawn Chacon. The 42-year-old Bonds needs 19 more homers to break Hank Aaron’s record.

With the Giants up 8-2 by the fourth, Bonds was lifted following his 72nd career multihomer game, two short of Babe Ruth’s record of 72.

Ortiz, bidding for his first complete game since Sept. 4, 2004, allowed Chris Duffy’s three-run homer with two outs in the ninth before Vinnie Chulk retired Jack Wilson for the final out.

Before the game, Bonds joked about his pursuit of Aaron’s record and the 3,000-hit mark – he is 151 hits away – by saying he would settle for three more hits. He had them less than halfway through the game.

Bonds singled in the first run of a five-run first against left-hander Zach Duke (1-1), who returned to last season’s pattern of getting into trouble in the opening inning. Pedro Feliz added an RBI double and, after Randy Winn was intentionally walked to get to him, Ortiz helped himself with a two-run double off Duke.

Reds 6, Cubs 5

CHICAGO – The Cubs are still winless at Wrigley Field. This time a big rally by the Reds sent them to another defeat.

Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. had consecutive RBI hits during a six-run fifth inning Friday as the Reds overcame a 5-0 deficit against Carlos Zambrano to beat the Cubs 6-5.

It was Chicago’s fourth straight loss overall and dropped Chicago to 0-3 at Wrigley Field under new manager Lou Piniella.

Mets 3, Nationals 2

NEW YORK – The Washington Nationals gave manager Manny Acta an unprecedented early lead in his return to New York. Even that wasn’t enough.

Pinch-hitter Julio Franco singled up the middle to drive in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the New York Mets beat the Nationals 3-2 Friday night in Acta’s first managerial matchup with his former boss, Willie Randolph.

On another cool night when some players wore ski masks and hoodies, New York’s Mike Pelfrey struggled with his control in his first start of the season. Washington’s John Patterson, seeking his first win in nearly a year, left with a 2-1 lead but Carlos Delgado hit a tying single in the sixth, Ryan Wagner (0-1) gave up the lead in the seventh and the Nationals (2-9) lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Brewers-Cardinals postponed

ST. LOUIS – The Milwaukee Brewers-St. Louis Cardinals game was postponed by rain Friday night, and the second game of a three-game series was rescheduled to account for a dismal forecast. No makeup date was announced for Friday night’s game. Saturday’s game was pushed back from 1:10 p.m. EDT to a 7:10 p.m. start.

Rain began shortly before the 8:10 EDT start time and the forecast called for continuous showers throughout the night.

Marlins 11, Braves 4

ATLANTA – Dontrelle Willis pitched seven innings for another sharp April start and the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 11-4 Friday night.

It was also the first game and win for Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez against the Braves, where he was the third-base coach the previous four seasons.

Willis (3-0) is 12-1 with a .923 winning percentage in April. That’s the second-best career percentage in April to the 13-1, .929 of Babe Ruth, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Astros 9, Phillies 6

PHILADELPHIA – Carlos Lee’s three big swings helped the Houston Astros overcome a rare erratic outing from Roy Oswalt.

Lee hit three homers, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs, Morgan Ensberg had a three-run shot and the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-6 on Friday night.

Oswalt (2-0) lost his control early and his cool later. He was uncharacteristically wild, walking a career-high six batters while allowing six runs and seven hits in five innings on a chilly night.

Rockies 6, D-backs 3

PHOENIX – Brad Hawpe hit a tiebreaking two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Colorado Rockies defeated Arizona 6-3 on Friday night.

The Rockies handed Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb his first April loss in 15 starts dating back to April 17, 2004, in San Diego. Webb (1-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks in seven innings.

He struck out two.

With two out in the eighth, Hawpe doubled to score pinch-runner Jamey Carroll and Matt Holliday, giving the Rockies a 5-3 lead.