Chicago ? Shawn Estes is comfortable at Wrigley Field, and Joe Borowski feels right at home in the closer’s role.

They teamed up Wednesday and helped the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 and avert a three-game sweep.

“I enjoy pitching here. There’s a great atmosphere, and that’s one of the reasons I came here,” Estes said. “I’m a ground-ball pitcher and the grass plays in my favor –it eats the ball up.”

Estes (3-3) allowed three hits in seven innings struck out seven and walked five to win his second straight start, outpitching Glendon Rusch. Estes, whose wins have all come at Wrigley Field, was backed by three double plays.

After former closer Antonio Alfonseca pitched a scoreless eighth, Borowski survived a shaky ninth to get his sixth save in six chances.

Geoff Jenkins took a called third strike leading off the ninth before singles by Brady Clark and Wes Helms put runners at the corners. Borowski then threw a called third strike past pinch-hitter John Vander Wal and got Royce Clayton to strike out swinging, completing the five-hitter.

“It was a little less comfortable than I’d have liked,” Borowski said. “When it’s first and third and one out, I needed a strikeout or a popup. I guess I did bear down a little. I didn’t doubt anything. I knew what I had to do.”

Rusch (1-6) hasn’t won since April 8 and lost his fifth straight decision, giving up 10 hits in his first complete game this season. He had won seven straight decisions against the Cubs.

“There is nothing you can do. It’s just the way the game is,” Rusch said. ‘You have to go out and try to keep game close.”

The Cubs broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth when it appeared a good defensive play would allow the Brewers to get out of the inning.

Mark Bellhorn walked but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Ramon Martinez’s double down the third-base line. Jenkins made a perfect to Keith Osik, who blocked the plate.

With two outs, Estes on deck and first base open, the Brewers decided to pitch to Miller and he hit an RBI single for a 2-1 lead.

Why not walk Miller and go at Estes? The Brewers wanted to be careful in that situation, but Rusch found too much of the plate.

“It was on our mind,” Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said.

Astros 13, Pirates 4

Houston — Jeff Kent had four hits and five RBIs and Geoff Blum singled home the go-ahead run during a seventh-inning rally as Houston beat Pittsburgh for its sixth straight win. Houston, which overcame a five-run deficit to win 10-9 Tuesday, trailed 2-0 after three innings. Lance Berkman drove in four runs for the Astros (17-16), who set a season high for runs.

Expos 12, Padres 9 (10)

Montreal — Vladimir Guerrero hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning to give Montreal a win over San Diego. The game drew 5,111, the smallest crowd at Olympic Stadium since last Sept. 12 against the New York Mets. San Diego has lost four straight and nine of 10. With runners on first and second and one out, Guerrero homered off reliever Jaret Wright to give Montreal its fourth game-ending home run of the season.

Giants 3, Marlins 2

Miami — Unbeaten Damian Moss pitched six innings and counterpart Josh Beckett left after one with a potentially serious elbow problem as San Francisco beat Florida for its fourth straight win.

Phillies 5, D’backs 2

Phoenix — Kevin Millwood allowed four hits in seven-plus innings, and Bobby Abreu and Tyler Houston homered to lead Philadelphia past Arizona. Abreu hit a two-run homer, and Houston added a solo shot off rookie Brandon Webb in the fourth inning to help the Phillies avoid a three-game sweep.

Reds 4, Cardinals 2

Cincinnati — Aaron Boone and Adam Dunn homered as Cincinnati defeated St. Louis. After beating the Cardinals with ninth-inning homers in the first two games of the series, the Reds won their third straight in more run-of-the-mill fashion. Closer-turned-starter Danny Graves (2-2) made his second straight impressive start, holding the NL’s top offense to five hits in 7 2/3 innings. Scott Rolen hit a solo homer and scored on Edgar Renteria’s infield single.

Dodgers 2, Mets 1

New York — Hideo Nomo pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning and Los Angeles managed just enough offense to beat New York. Los Angeles, last in the NL with 118 runs, scored two runs or fewer for the 14th time in 34 games.