Giants Clinch West Pennant

Barry Bonds knelt in prayer in the outfield, then raised his arms in triumph. A minute later, he was prancing atop the Giants’ dugout and diving into the arms of fans in the stands.

San Francisco clinched its first N.L. West title since 1989, becoming the fourth team this century to go from last to first in one season with a 6-1 win Saturday over the visiting San Diego Padres.

“This is great. We’re like a throwback team, man. Nobody expected us to do anything,” Bonds said. “I just wanted to be like the Green Bay Packers and jump into the stands.”

Wilson Alvarez (4-3) combined with two relievers on a four-hitter for his first win since Aug. 26.

The Giants gained their fifth title since moving to San Francisco in 1958.

The Giants, who open the playoffs Tuesday at Florida, joined the 1990-91 Minnesota Twins, the 1990-91 Atlanta Braves and the 1992-93 Philadelphia Phillies as the only teams this century to go from last place one season to first place the following year.

Cardinals 12, Cubs 4

St. Louis

Mark McGwire hit his 56th and 57th home runs, the most in a season since Roger Maris set the record with 61 in 1961, as St. Louis pounded Chicago.

Mets 2, Braves 1

New York

Alberto Castillo hit a one-out double in the ninth inning off closer Mark Wohlers to rally New York to its victory over Atlanta.

Dodgers 6, Rockies 1

Denver

Ramon Martinez shut down Colorado for seven innings and Otis Nixon drove in two runs as Los Angeles topped the Rockies.

Phillies 8, Marlins 7

Philadelphia

Rookie Scott Rolen hit his second homer of the game with one out in the bottom of the ninth to lift Philadelphia over Florida.

Expos 8, Reds 5

Montreal

Hensley Meulens homered and matched a career high with four RBIs, and Mike Thurman got his first major-league victory as Montreal beat Cincinnati.

Astros 8, Pirates 1

Houston

Shane Reynolds beat Pittsburgh for the seventh time in eight decisions against the Pirates, and Bob Abreu had a two-run double, leading Houston to victory.

Clearing the bases

San Diego’s Tony Gwynn, batting a league-leading .372, is trying to match Honus Wagner’s N.L. mark of eight batting titles… . Chicago’s Ryne Sandberg has hit .307 (39 for 127) since Aug. 2, when he announced he would retire at the end of the season… . The Colorado Rockies became the first team in major-league history to post at least 200 homers and 200 double plays in the same season.