NL | Mets rip Braves, 7-2; Bonds homer lifts Giants

NEW YORK - Oliver Perez struck out nine and walked none in an impressive bounce-back performance, and Carlos Beltran had four hits to lead the New York Mets past the Atlanta Braves, 7-2, yesterday.

The Mets got big home runs from backups Ramon Castro and Damion Easley. Jose Reyes also homered off Chuck James (2-2) as New York's offense broke out after getting shut down by Tim Hudson in the series opener Friday night.

Beltran tripled, doubled and singled twice during a 4-for-5 day. He drove in two runs and scored twice.

Reyes got the Mets going from the leadoff spot. He finished with three hits, including a double, and also scored twice to help New York improve to 2-3 against NL East rival Atlanta this year.

Perez (2-1) gave up two runs and nine hits in 62/3 innings, but it was his pinpoint control that was most astonishing. One outing after he walked seven Phillies in only 22/3 innings, the lefthander threw 20 consecutive strikes during one stretch from the first into the third.

Giants 1, Diamondbacks 0

SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds hit his 739th career home run and Barry Zito put together his second straight scoreless outing to earn his first win at home as San Francisco edged Arizona.

Zito (2-2) followed up his six scoreless innings in Colorado on Monday with 71/3 more against the Diamondbacks, the first time he has had consecutive scoreless starts since winning the AL Cy Young Award with Oakland in 2002.

Bonds is 17 homers away from breaking Hank Aaron's career mark of 755.

Cubs 6, Cardinals 0

CHICAGO - Jason Marquis shut out his former team on seven hits over seven innings and Michael Barrett hit a three-run homer to lead Chicago over St. Louis.

Marquis pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. And after giving up a pair of two-out singles in the seventh, he got Scott Rolen to bounce into a forceout.

Brewers 6, Astros 4

MILWAUKEE - J.J. Hardy hit two homers and drove in three runs as Milwaukee Houston's five-game winning streak.

Chris Capuano (3-0) pitched six innings for the win.

Morgan Ensberg homered for Houston.

Marlins 9, Nationals 3

MIAMI - Hanley Ramirez and Jason Wood homered to help Florida beat Washington, ending the Marlins' six-game losing streak.

Anibal Sanchez (2-0) pitched five innings, giving up three runs and five hits.

Padres 7, Rockies 3

DENVER - Clay Hensley (1-3) pitched through a blister for his first victory this season, and Marcus Giles had four hits, including two doubles, as San Diego beat Colorado.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo homer in the third for the Padres.

Dodgers 7, Pirates 3

LOS ANGELES - Russell Martin's one-out grand slam off Shawn Chacon in the 10th inning led Los Angeles past Pittsburgh.