Saturday’s games

Braves 8, Cubs 6: Now make it 59 years without a World Series appearance by the Chicago Cubs. A season that started with such high hopes for the Cubs wound up with them being eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to visiting Atlanta, Chicago’s fifth straight loss. The Cubs led the wild-card race by 1 1/2 games before collapsing to drop seven of eight. Their slide began a week ago when they blew a 3-0 lead in the ninth with two outs and eventually lost to the Mets 4-3 in 11 innings.

Astros 9, Rockies 3: Roy Oswalt became the league’s first 20-game winner, and Jeff Kent and Craig Biggio each homered twice, giving Houston the wild-card lead with a win over visiting Colorado. Kent hit a two-run shot off Adam Bernero in the fifth for his 278th home run as a second baseman, breaking Ryne Sandberg’s major league record.

Diamondbacks 7, Padres 6: Randy Johnson got some rare offensive support, including his own two-run double as Arizona held off visiting San Diego. Johnson (16-14) allowed six runs — only one earned — and 10 hits in eight innings.

Brewers 5, Cardinals 1: Ben Sheets pitched his fifth complete game of the season and Milwaukee took advantage of a shaky playoff tuneup by Jason Marquis to win in St. Louis.

Marlins 4, Phillies 3: Mike Lowell and Miguel Cabrera each homered to lead Florida to a win in Philadelphia.

Expos 6, Mets 3: Brad Wilkerson hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth to lift Montreal to a win in New York.

Pirates 3, Reds 1: Jason Kendall had three hits and Jose Castillo homered to lead Pittsburgh to a win in Cincinnati.