San Francisco ? When Claudio Vargas walked into the training room to pick up an ice pack for his arm, the game ball from his first big league victory was waiting for him.

Getting the win took longer than the right-hander would have liked, but he wasn’t complaining.

Vargas worked into the ninth inning and the Montreal Expos sent the San Francisco Giants to their fifth straight loss, 6-3, Wednesday.

“It feels very nice,” said Vargas, who plans to keep the ball in a special place back home in the Dominican Republic. “This is my first win in the major leagues. The other three games I pitched well. I never thought I’d go for a shutout.”

Ron Calloway and Jeff Liefer homered, and Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run single in a five-run seventh for the Expos (25-15), who moved 10 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 1996 season at 88-74.

Montreal swept a series in San Francisco for the first time since 1995 and has won six of eight at Pacific Bell Park. The Giants are on their longest skid since dropping eight straight in May 2000.

“To beat a team like San Francisco is really a confidence boost for me, and for my team,” Calloway said.

The 23-year-old Vargas (1-1) outpitched fellow rookie Jesse Foppert (2-3), who had won his previous two outings.

Vargas had been impressive in his previous three starts but couldn’t get a win. He allowed two runs and five hits in eight-plus innings against the NL champion Giants.

“Vargas was just tremendous,” manager Frank Robinson said. “He’s pitched very well and if he continues to pitch well he’ll continue to get his wins.”

D’backs 2, Phillies 0

Philadelphia — Curt Schilling pitched a two-hitter for his second consecutive shutout, leading Arizona. Making his third start since undergoing an appendectomy, Schilling (3-2) struck out 14 — all swinging — and walked just one. He recorded his first victory against his former teammates in four starts. Alex Cintron hit his first major-league homer and Luis Gonzalez had an RBI single for Arizona, which has won six of eight. The Phillies have lost three straight. Facing his mentor for the first time, Brett Myers (3-3) allowed two runs and four hits in eight innings.

Reds 4, Cardinals 0

St. Louis — Danny Graves threw a four-hitter in his first career complete game, and Ken Griffey Jr. scored twice in his return to the starting lineup for Cincinnati. Griffey made his first start since dislocating his right shoulder on April 5 and was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Austin Kearns homered for the second straight game and had four RBIs for the Reds. The Cardinals got only two runners in scoring position against Graves (3-2), who struck out one and walked one in beating St. Louis for the second straight start. Matt Morris (4-3) allowed four runs on five hits in six innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

Pirates 3, Astros 2

Pittsburgh — Kenny Lofton’s two-run homer backed Jeff D’Amico’s seven shutout innings. D’Amico (3-4) gave up four hits and struck out a career high-tying 10, retiring 14 of 15 batters after pitching out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third. Wade Miller (1-5) took the loss for the Astros.

Cubs 6, Brewers 1

Milwaukee — Carlos Zambrano allowed three hits in eight innings, and Troy O’Leary hit a three-run homer to lead the Chicago Cubs. Zambrano (4-3) held Milwaukee hitless until Scott Podsednik’s pop bunt with one out in the fourth landed between the mound and second base for a single. Matt Kinney (2-3) took the loss for Milwaukee.

Rockies 6, Mets 5

Denver — Chris Stynes hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning, and Larry Walker hit a two-run single in a five-run fifth, leading Colorado.

Charles Johnson started the go-ahead rally with a walk in the eighth inning against Mike Stanton (2-3).

Dodgers 5, Braves 1

Los Angeles — Kevin Brown (4-1) outpitched Greg Maddux (3-5) to win his third straight decision, and Fred McGriff hit his 484th home run.

Marlins 10, Padres 3

San Diego — Light-hitting Brian Banks connected for a three-run homer and drove in four runs, helping Florida beat San Diego to take two of three from the sad-sack Padres.

Rookie Dontrelle Willis (1-0) pitched five innings for his first big-league win.