CHICAGO – Odalis Perez outpitched Greg Maddux before Steve Finley helped the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers pull away at the end to beat the Chicago Cubs 8-1 Friday.

Leading 2-1, the Dodgers scored six times in the ninth inning, taking advantage of Chicago’s wilting bullpen and the Cubs’ wobbly defense. The NL West leaders won for the 28th time in 37 games.

Steve Finley, 13-for-26 in 10 games since being traded from Arizona to the Dodgers, hit an RBI single to break a 1 tie in the sixth.

Indians 8, Twins 2

CLEVELAND – Ben Broussard homered for the second straight night and the Cleveland Indians pulled within two games of the first-place Minnesota Twins with an 8-2 win.

The Indians have won five straight and nine of 10, gaining six games on the Twins in nine days. Minnesota has lost seven of nine.

Scott Elarton had his finest start of the season and Cleveland roughed up Minnesota early in the first of 13 games remaining between the two clubs.

Giants 16, Phillies 6

PHILADELPHIA – J.T. Snow homered three times, scored a career-best five runs and knocked in four, and Barry Bonds hit career homer No. 689, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 16-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was Snow’s first career three-homer game. He hit a two-run shot off Brett Myers in the first inning, a solo shot in the fifth and another solo homer in the seventh – both off Amaury Telemaco – giving him nine home runs this season. Snow also walked twice.

A.J. Pierzynski homered and drove in five runs, and Marquis Grissom also homered for the Giants, who moved one game behind Chicago for the NL wild-card race.

San Francisco’s six home runs were the most since getting seven on July 2, 2002 at Colorado. The Giants had a season-high 18 hits.

Padres 14, Reds 5

CINCINNATI – Khalil Greene had his first two-homer game, and Brian Giles and Ryan Klesko each connected in a five-run first inning to lead the San Diego Padres over the Cincinnati Reds 14-5 Friday night.

Greene, a rookie, also set career highs with four hits and four RBIs and scored four times as the Padres set a season high for runs.

With the win, the Padres moved into a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the lead in the NL wild-card race.

Every San Diego starter except Sean Burroughs had at least one hit after two innings, including Padres starter David Wells, who was 3-for-34 (.088) before singling up the middle in the first inning. San Diego had 17 hits, one short of their season best.

Orioles 4, Blue Jays 0

TORONTO – Sidney Ponson and three relievers combined on a five-hitter, leading the Baltimore Orioles over the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Friday night, their 10th win in 11 games.

Ponson (8-12) is 5-0 in his last six starts after losing nine straight. He allowed five hits, while striking out six and walking one in six-plus innings.

Signed to a $22.5 million, three-year contract in the offseason, Ponson was 3-12 with a 6.29 ERA on July 4 after losing his ninth straight start. His ERA is down to 5.47.

Mets 10, D-backs 6

NEW YORK – Rookie Danny Garcia hit a three-run homer and Richard Hidalgo and Mike Cameron also connected Friday night, leading the New York Mets to a 10-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It was the eighth straight loss for the Diamondbacks and their 82nd this season, guaranteeing the team that won the World Series in 2001 a sub-.500 season.

Kris Benson (9-9) earned the victory, his first for the Mets after being acquired from Pittsburgh on July 30. He was tagged for three home runs and eight hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking two.

Cardinals 4, Braves 1

ATLANTA – Woody Williams won his sixth straight decision, Albert Pujols and Larry Walker homered, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 Friday night in the series opener between division leaders.

Williams (9-6) allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings as St. Louis stretched its NL Central lead over the Chicago Cubs to 13 games.

Williams allowed just one baserunner to advance past second base – Chipper Jones’ leadoff homer in the seventh inning. Williams walked two but otherwise consistently stayed ahead in the count.

throwing first-pitch strikes to 23 of the 25 batters he faced.

Julian Tavarez retired the Braves in order in the eighth, and Jason Isringhausen threw a perfect ninth for his 32nd save in 37 chances.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the first when Scott Rolen drew a leadoff walk from Paul Byrd (4-4), moved to third on Jim Edmonds’ single and scored on Edgar Renteria’s sacrifice fly.

Pujols opened the sixth with his 33rd homer, a 398-foot drive to left-center.

Walker knocked Byrd out of the game with a two-run homer to left with two outs in the seventh, making it 4-0. His eighth homer overall was his second in six games with the Cardinals. Walker just missed homering when he sent a ball foul to deep right before he hit the drive over the left-field wall.

Byrd (4-4) gave up seven hits and four runs in 6 2-3 innings.

The Cardinals have baseball’s best road record at 39-18 and the biggest advantage of any division leader. Entering the game, the Braves had matched the Cardinals for the best record (20-6) since the All-Star break.

Byrd was making his 10th start of the season and his first against the Cardinals in his return from reconstructive elbow surgery on July 1, 2003.

Notes: Walker stole two bases, giving him three steals in six games with the Cardinals. He had three stolen bases in 43 games with Colorado before he was traded to St. Louis. … Byrd has given up at least one homer in five straight starts. … With his next win, Williams will give the Cardinals five pitchers with 10 or more victories.

AP-ES-08-13-04 2224EDT