Atlanta ? Barry Bonds didn’t hit career home run No. 601, but the two that Jeff Kent hit did the trick.

Kent homered twice, doubled and drove in four runs, backing the solid pitching of Russ Ortiz (8-8) as the San Francisco Giants beat Greg Maddux and the Atlanta Braves 7-2 Tuesday night.

Braves pitcher Greg Maddox paces on the mound after San Francisco's Jeff Kent hits a three-run homer in the third inning. The Giants beat the Braves 7-2 Tuesday in Atlanta.

Benito Santiago added a two-run homer for the Giants, who moved into first in the NL wild card race with their seventh victory in nine games. They’re a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost 4-3 to Montreal.

“We needed that,” San Francisco manager Dusty Baker said. “Our bats came alive.”

Atlanta still has the best record in the majors at 77-41, despite its third loss in six games.

After Kent doubled in the first, the Braves intentionally walked Bonds, drawing a loud chorus of boos from the Turner Field crowd. The strategy paid off when Reggie Sanders struck out.

Kent hit a three-run homer in the third, part of a four-run inning off Maddux (11-4) during which San Francisco sent nine batters to the plate.

“Every time I hit against him I get nervous,” Kent said of Maddux. “He’s not looking at the catcher, he’s looking at you. He watches the batter and watches their approach.

“When you start worrying about what he’s thinking, you’re dead meat.”

In the seventh, Kent led off with a solo shot against reliever John Foster. It was the 14th multi-homer game of his career, and the second this season.

Maddux lost for only the second time in 20 starts, giving up four runs three earned on eight hits in six innings. He threw a season-high 102 pitches.

Rockies 5, Marlins 4

Miami Larry Walker and Todd Helton each drove in two runs and Colorado defeated Florida .

Walker’s two-run triple off reliever Armando Almanza highlighted a three-run seventh as the Rockies rallied from a 4-2 deficit. Earlier in the inning, Jay Payton’s groundout scored Juan Uribe.

Mike Hampton (7-13) allowed four runs in six innings. He has won consecutive starts for the first time this season.

Diamondbacks 6, Reds 1

Cincinnati Steve Finley hit a two-run homer and Rick Helling held Cincinnati to three hits in seven innings, showing no lingering effects from a sprained ankle, as Arizona beat Cincinnati.

All the Reds managed off Helling (8-8) was Aaron Boone’s solo homer in the sixth, his fifth homer in the last four games.

Padres 7, Mets 2

New York Rookie Jake Peavy came within two outs of his first major league complete game, and doubled his career total with three hits to lead San Diego past New York.

Peavy (4-4), in his ninth major league start, allowed two runs and five hits in 8 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out six, walked one and won for the fourth time in five decisions.

Cardinals 9, Pirates 5

Pittsburgh Scott Rolen drove in three runs for the third straight game and St. Louis got a season-high 18 hits in a victory against Pittsburgh.

Matt Morris (14-7) pitched eight innings, allowing one run and six hits. He was staked to a 5-0 lead after three innings and won for the fourth time in his last five decisions.

Expos 4, Dodgers 3

Montreal Troy O’Leary hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Montreal native Eric Gagne in the eighth inning as Montreal beat Los Angeles.

It was Gagne’s (1-1) first loss of the year, and only his third blown save in 42 chances.

Phillies 3, Brewers 1

Philadelphia Vicente Padilla scattered four hits over seven shutout innings, and Mike Lieberthal hit a two-run homer and doubled as Philadelphia defeated Milwaukee.

Lieberthal, who hit three home runs Saturday, is 25-for-58 (.431) in his last 14 games.

Astros 5, Cubs 4

Chicago Jeff Bagwell and Jose Vizcaino each drove in a run, and Pete Munro won for the first time since July 23 as Houston beat Chicago.

Munro (3-2), who’d lost his previous two starts, allowed one run and seven hits in five innings.