Braves cool off surging Mets

ATLANTA -- Andruw Jones and Javy Lopez each hit two-run homers Friday night to help the Atlanta Braves increase their lead in the NL East with a 5-3 win over the New York Mets.

The Braves moved two games ahead of second-place Philadelphia and four in front of the Mets with the win. The Phillies lost 6-5 in 10 innings at Florida.

Tom Glavine (15-7) allowed two runs in six innings and Julio Franco added a solo homer off Steve Trachsel (10-13) for the Braves, who are seeking their 10th straight division title.

MARLINS 6, PHILLIES 5

MIAMI -- Kevin Millar's homer off Cliff Politte (2-3) with one out in the 10th completed Florida's rally from a four-run deficit.

Antonio Alfonseca (3-4) pitched a perfect 10th for the win. He was the Marlins' fifth reliever, none of whom allowed a run as the team overcame a 5-1 hole.

Phillies closer Jose Mesa let a 5-4 lead slip away in the ninth inning, his fourth blown save in 42 chances this season. Two singles and a passed ball put runners on first and third with one out, and Eric Owens' sacrifice fly off Mesa tied it at 5.

CUBS 6, ASTROS 2

CHICAGO -- Matt Stairs drove in two runs and Sammy Sosa tied the club record for extra-base hits as Chicago beat Houston and held off elimination in the division for at least one more day.

Jon Lieber (19-6) scattered five hits over seven innings to become only the second Cubs pitcher in nine years to win 19 games. Ricky Gutierrez, Bill Mueller and Joe Girardi added RBIs for the Cubs, who are eight games behind Houston in the NL Central.

The Astros' lead in the NL Central fell to three games over St. Louis. The Cubs, who would have been eliminated from the NL Central race with a loss Friday, remained five games behind the Cardinals in the wild card standings.

EXPOS 7, REDS 6

CINCINNATI -- Brian Schneider's two-out, two-run single off Danny Graves (6-5) in the ninth inning rallied Montreal and sent Cincinnati to a record-tying loss.

The Reds fell to 25-51 at Cinergy Field, tying the 1937 team for most home losses in franchise history.

Cincinnati also lost another infielder to a season-ending injury. First baseman Sean Casey tore his right calf while running to first base in the third inning.

-- From wire reports