Cincinatti ? After three at-bats, Aaron Boone had three homers and way too many thoughts of history flooding his mind.

Boone hit three homers off Brett Tomko, including two during Cincinnati’s nine-run first inning, then came up short in his uneasy quest for four Friday night as the Reds held on for a 12-10 victory over the San Diego Padres.

After Boone got the three homers so fast, his teammates started telling him stories about players who have tried for four.

Four in one game? Boone never imagined he’d have three.

“I hit four once in tee-ball,” he said. “I used to whale them to right field.

“I don’t even know what to say. It was just kind of weird. After I hit the third homer, I was a fish out of water and a little uncomfortable out there the rest of the game.”

He struck out and had an infield single, completing the best game of his career. His four hits and five RBIs tied his career highs and helped him win back some family bragging rights.

“Now he can tell his mom that he hit more homers (in a game) than his dad,” said his father, manager Bob Boone.

He also had kept up with his brother, Bret, who hit two homers in an inning for Seattle on May 2. Bret Boone has a pair of three-homer games.

Expos 11, Brewers 4

Milwaukee Jose Macias drove in a career-high five runs, and Bartolo Colon won for the fifth time in six decisions with Montreal.

Vladimir Guerrero tied Ken Griffey Jr. as the second-youngest player to reach 200 homers when he hit his 30th of the season, a line-drive to left-center off Mike DeJean leading off the ninth.

Guerrero, like Griffey, reached 200 when he was 26 years, 182 days. That trails only Alex Rodriguez, who reached it at 25 years, 290 days.

Macias had a two-run homer, a two-run double and a sacrifice fly. A utility player who was at shortstop Friday, he has 11 RBIs in his last five starts.

Colon, 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA with Cleveland before the June 27 trade to the Expos, helped himself to an early 7-0 lead with a two-run single in a five-run third inning.

Mets 2, Cardinals 1

St. Louis Al Leiter allowed one run in seven innings, winning for the first time in four starts, and Mo Vaughn homered.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals have lost eight of nine and totaled one run in five of the last six games. The exception was a 5-3 victory over Montreal on Thursday that ended their season-worst seven-game losing streak.

St. Louis has been outscored 50-20 during its slump.

Leiter (10-8) allowed 14 runs in 16 innings his three previous starts, going 0-1, but entered with an NL-leading 2.03 ERA at night. He gave up five hits, with two strikeouts and three walks.

David Weathers worked the eighth, and Armando Benitez finished for his 27th save in 30 chances.

Rockies 2, Cubs 0

Denver Denny Neagle pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, and the Rockies won their fourth straight.

The game was the fastest of season at Coors Field, taking only 2 hours, 19 minutes. It was third shutout of the year at Colorado, all thrown by the Rockies.

Neagle (6-7) walked one and struck out a season-high eight. He outdueled rookie Carlos Zambrano (2-3), who also went seven innings, allowing four hits and one run.

Jose Jimenez pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances. He worked around a one-out double by Sammy Sosa, and helped the Rockies win their eighth straight home game.

Dodgers 7, Phillies 6

Los Angeles Mark Grudzielanek hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to overcome Pat Burrell’s grand slam in the top half.

Marquis Grissom homered his first two times up and Shawn Green homered in his third straight game, helping the Dodgers win their third straight.

Paul Shuey (1-1) got his first NL victory despite giving up Burrell’s fourth career grand slam, which put Philadelphia ahead 6-4. All four runs were unearned because the homer followed shortstop Alex Cora’s fielding error on Placido Polanco’s slow bouncer with two outs.

Braves 6, Astros 5, 13 innings

Houston Gary Sheffield homered leading off the 13th inning and Rafael Furcal threw out Craig Biggio at the plate to end the game.

The Braves, who took two of three at World Series champion Arizona this week, have won nine of 11. They own the best record in the majors at 76-39 and lead the NL East by 18 games the largest margin in any division.

Closer Billy Wagner blew a three-run lead in the ninth.

Diamondbacks 2, Marlins 1

Phoenix Erubiel Durazo homered twice, including a two-out drive in the ninth inning, the oft-injured slugger’s 13th homer in 131 at-bats this season.