Bonds walks into record book as Giants beat Astros

HOUSTON -- Barry Bonds broke Babe Ruth's walks record instead of making home run history before frustrated fans, scoring three times Wednesday night to lead the San Francisco Giants over the faltering Houston Astros 11-8.

After striking out chasing Tim Redding's 96-mph fastball in the first inning, Bonds drew three straight four-pitch walks as the record crowd of 43,630 at Enron Field booed the Astros' tactics.

Bonds' two daughters even held up a sign that read: "Pitch to Our Daddy."

In a strange twist in the ninth, the crowd began chanting "Barry! Barry!" when he came out on deck, hoping to see him get one last chance to match Mark McGwire's record of 70 home runs. The fans then booed when Rich Aurilia grounded out, ending the inning.

Bonds walked right past Ruth's mark of 170 set in 1923, and finished the night with 172. He hit an RBI single in the eighth inning and the ballpark began clearing out.

Jason Schmidt (13-7) improved to 7-1 since being acquired from Pittsburgh on July 30. He tied his career high for victories, set with the Pirates in 1999.

Cruz (3-3) took the loss. He put himself in trouble by walking Bonds to lead off the sixth, and the Giants star scored on a single by Andres Galarraga for a 3-2 lead.

BRAVES 8, PHILLIES 3

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves took a huge step toward their 10th straight division championship, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 Wednesday night.

The Braves had 13 hits, and Tom Glavine pitched six innings, pushing Philadelphia two games back in the NL East with four to play.

Atlanta can clinch a tie for first by beating the Phillies on Thursday night, the finale of the three-game series.

One night after being limited to three hits and an unearned run, the Braves routed 15-game winner Robert Person, the Phillies' top starter.

Glavine (16-7) won his fifth straight decision.

METS 3, PIRATES 0

NEW YORK -- Steve Trachsel pitched a two-hitter for his first complete game of the season as New York beat Pittsburgh, avoiding a three-game sweep.

Trachsel pitched his first shutout since May 6, 2000, for Tampa Bay against Boston.

His latest effort came the night after New York (81-78) was eliminated from the chance to defend the NL championship.

Trachsel (11-13) retired 21 of 22 after allowing a single to Aramis Ramirez with two outs in the first inning. He didn't allow another hit until pinch-hitter Adam Hydzu singled with two outs in the seventh.

Desi Relaford and Mark Johnson homered off Todd Ritchie (11-15).

CUBS 13, REDS 7

CHICAGO -- Sammy Sosa hit his 61st home run, and Jon Lieber became the Cubs' first 20-game winner in nine years as Chicago beat Cincinnati.

Sosa's three-run shot off Chris Reitsma in the bottom of the seventh inning came less than 24 hours after he became the first player in major league history with three 60-homer seasons.

Sosa also drove in another run for the Cubs, who beat the Reds for the 12th time this season, to reach a league-high 154 RBIs.

Corky Miller homered twice, and Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn had solo home runs for the Reds. Scott Macrae (0-1) gave up four runs and three hits in two innings.

Lieber (20-6) got his 20th win on his first try.

EXPOS 2, MARLINS 0

MIAMI -- Vladimir Guerrero and Orlando Cabrera each hit RBI doubles in the eighth inning as Montreal beat Florida.

The Expos broke open the scoreless game against reliever Juan Acevedo (2-5), who allowed three hits .

Scott Stewart (3-1) got two outs to earn the win in relief as the Expos snapped a three-game losing streak. Scott Strickland pitched the eighth and ninth innings for his eighth save.

Much of the game was a pitcher's duel between Montreal's Tomokazu Ohka and Kevin Olsen of Florida.

-- From wire reports