Braves go to bat for Russ Ortiz and sweep away Colorado.
By The Associated Press

DENVER – Russ Ortiz posted his major league-leading 18th win and the Atlanta Braves routed the Colorado Rockies 12-6 Sunday, sweeping a three-game series.

Gary Sheffield homered and drove in three runs. Rafael Furcal, who homered, and Chipper Jones each had four hits and two RBIs for Atlanta.

Vinny Castilla also homered as the Braves got 17 hits, one shy of their season high.

The Rockies were swept at home for the first time this season.

The game was briefly delayed in the top of the fifth when a fan injured his leg while participating in a flyball-catching contest between innings. He had to be carted off the field.

Ortiz (18-5) allowed seven hits and four runs in 6 2-3 innings, walking one and striking out five.

Marlins 7, Giants 4

SAN FRANCISCO – Miguel Cabrera and Derrek Lee homered and drove in three runs apiece, and Carl Pavano pitched seven solid innings as the Florida Marlins snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory Sunday over the San Francisco Giants.

The Marlins handed the NL West-leading Giants their only loss on a six-game homestand. With its first win over San Francisco in six tries this season, Florida also closed within a half-game of Philadelphia in the wild-card race.

San Francisco played its second straight game without major league homer run leader Barry Bonds, who was placed on the bereavement list after his father died a day earlier.

Cardinals 3, Phillies 0

ST. LOUIS – Brett Tomko pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning and Scott Rolen had a big overall day with three hits and three defensive stops at third base as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 Sunday.

The Cardinals, tied with Houston for the NL Central lead, took two of three in the series despite going 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The Phillies have lost five of six since sweeping the Cardinals last week in Philadelphia.

Brewers 10, Pirates 9

MILWAUKEE – Richie Sexson hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday, giving the Milwaukee Brewers their first six-game winning streak in more than five years with a 10-9 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It was the Brewers’ second straight win in their last at-bat. Royce Clayton, who hit a tying sacrifice fly in the eighth, had an RBI single with two outs in the ninth Saturday to give Milwaukee a 7-6 win over the Pirates.

Milwaukee swept three-game series’ from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for its first six-game winning streak since June 22-27, 1998, when Phil Garner was manager.

Astros 6, Reds 3

HOUSTON – Jeriome Robertson stayed unbeaten against Cincinnati and tied the club record for rookie wins as the Houston Astros defeated the Reds 6-3 Sunday.

Richard Hidalgo homered, tripled and hit a go-ahead single for Houston. He drove in three runs and picked up his 20th assist, most among major league outfielders.

Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3

PHOENIX – Randall Simon and Kenny Lofton drove in two runs each and Matt Clement dominated Arizona for seven innings as the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the National League Central with a 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Damian Miller had a run-scoring groundout for the Cubs, who stayed a half-game behind Houston and St. Louis.

Clement (11-11), who went eight innings in a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Aug. 3, proved too much for them again. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks, striking out nine, before coming out after giving up a leadoff single to Danny Bautista in the eighth.

Expos 8, Padres 4

SAN DIEGO – Brad Wilkerson homered and drove in three runs and Jose Vidro added a two-run homer Sunday as the Montreal Expos broke a four-game losing streak with an 8-4 win over the San Diego Padres.

The Expos were helped when Padres rookie catcher Miguel Ojeda apparently lost track of the outs and rolled the ball back to the mound, allowing a runner to advance. Wilkerson connected for a two-run drive off Kevin Jarvis (4-6) in the fifth inning as the Expos took a 4-0 lead.