Greene Carries Padres Into First

Rookie Khalil Greene left Coors Field feeling much better than when he arrived.

Greene, who started in a six-for-32 slide, hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Phil Nevin had a sacrifice fly in the 10th, lifting the San Diego Padres over the Colorado Rockies, 4-3, Thursday.

With the win, the Padres moved a game ahead of the Dodgers in the National League West.

“He had been struggling until he got here,” Colorado Manager Clint Hurdle said of Greene. “We fattened him up in three games.”

Greene was five for 11 with a homer and three runs batted in during the three games in Denver.

San Francisco 5, Arizona 4 -- Damon Minor singled in Barry Bonds with two out in the 10th inning to lead the host Giants to their season-high sixth straight win. Minor, called up Tuesday when first baseman J.T. Snow went on the disabled list, singled to right off Jose Valverde (0-2) to score Bonds, who was intentionally walked.

St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 3 -- Scott Rolen homered and drove in four runs, giving him a major league-leading 49 RBIs, in the Cardinals’ victory at home. Jeff Suppan (4-4) worked six solid innings for the win.

Pittsburgh’s Daryle Ward, who hit for the cycle Wednesday, singled in his first at-bat. He was hitless in three other at-bats.

Florida 5, Cincinnati 2 -- Alex Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs for the visiting Marlins, helping Brad Penny win his third start in a row. Florida reliever Armando Benitez earned his 18th save and set a team record of 26 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.

Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 1 -- Andruw Jones hit a grand slam, and Jaret Wright took a shutout into the eighth inning, leading the Braves over the host Phillies. Kevin Millwood (4-3) took the loss, giving up six runs in four innings.