Giants Boost Lead Over L.A.

Pat Rapp won his first game for San Francisco Wednesday as the visiting Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 7-4 for their fourth straight victory.

Glenallen Hill and Mark Lewis each hit solo home runs and Rich Aurilia and Jeff Kent each drove in two runs for the Giants, who have won seven of their last 10 games to increase their lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers to 2-1/2 in the N.L. West.

Rapp (5-6) won in his second start for the Giants since he was acquired July 18 from Florida for two Class A pitchers. He had suffered a strained muscle in his left side while checking his swing in his first start July 19 and was placed on the disabled list.

Expos 7, Dodgers 3

Montreal

Henry Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in a four-run fifth inning as Montreal beat Los Angeles for its sixth victory in nine games.

Rodriguez hit his 23rd home run off Chan Ho Park (10-6) to give Montreal a 5-0 lead.

Marlins 12, Pirates 3

Pittsburgh

Moises Alou and Charles Johnson each knocked in four runs and the Florida Marlins continued to pressure Atlanta in the N.L. East, scoring four times in each of the first two innings to rout Pittsburgh.

Braves 4, Cardinals 3

Atlanta

Pinch-hitter Danny Bautista homered leading off the ninth inning to give Atlanta a victory over St. Louis.

Padres 6, Reds 3

Cincinnati

Craig Shipley doubled to break a seventh-inning tie and Joey Hamilton won his sixth consecutive decision as San Diego rallied for victory over Cincinnati.

Phillies 6, Astros 4

Philadelphia

Mike Lieberthal hit a three-run homer and rookies Scott Rolen and Tony Barron hit solo shots as Philadelphia beat Houston.

Rockies 4, Mets 0

New York

Rookie John Thomson pitched a four-hitter for his first major league shutout and knocked in a run as Colorado beat New York.

Clearing the bases

The Colorado Rockies acquired minor-league catcher Creighton Gubanich from Milwaukee to complete an April 23 trade that sent infielder Jeff Huson to the Brewers. … Moises Alou’s two-run single in the first for Florida was his second in as many innings with the bases loaded. He is 7 for 13 (.538) with 18 RBIs with the bases loaded this season. … With 42 doubles, Mark Grudzielanek has the highest total by an N.L. shortstop since former St. Louis star Ozzie Smith had 40 in 1987.