Atlanta ? First, New York Mets manager Art Howe shuffled his outfield in the late innings. Then, with the tying run on second, he pulled them in a little bit closer.

Both moves worked perfectly.

Center fielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo threw out Chipper Jones at the plate for the final out Friday night to preserve New York’s 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Jeromy Burnitz hit a grand slam for the Mets in his first game back from the disabled list.

“Shinjo made a great play,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “He saved the game.”

Armando Benitez walked two batters with two outs in the ninth, and Julio Franco grounded a single to center.

Shinjo, who entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth, charged hard and made a perfect, one-hop throw home. Catcher Vance Wilson tagged a sliding Jones and pumped his fist as he jumped to his feet.

“I had never done this play before in my entire career, making the final play of the game at home plate,” Shinjo said through an interpreter. “I was trying to hit home plate. When I released the ball, I just prayed.”

After Jones moved to second on a balk by Benitez, he noticed how shallow Shinjo was playing in center. Andruw Jones then walked, putting the winning on run on first, and Chipper Jones thought the outfield might move back a bit.

Rockies 10, Giants 7

Denver — Todd Helton had four hits and four RBIs in Colorado’s victory over San Francisco, which lost Barry Bonds to an injured right leg. The five-time MVP appeared to get hurt when he straightened his leg on a fifth-inning swing. He turned hard on the pitch and hobbled to first base as the line drive bounced off the wall in right for a single.

Bonds limped into the dugout after being checked out by Giants trainer Stan Conte. The single-season home run leader went out in the seventh inning against Arizona on Wednesday after spraining his right ankle while running out an infield single, but was in the lineup after the team’s off day Thursday.

Jose Hernandez hit his third homer in four games for the Rockies, who won for just the second time in seven games but improved their NL-best home record to 16-7.

Cardinals 10, Pirates 8 (10)

Pittsburgh — J.D. Drew tripled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and St. Louis, down to its last strike before Scott Rolen hit a three-run homer in the ninth, rallied past Pittsburgh. Albert Pujols didn’t homer for the first time in five games, but had a career-high five hits — including an RBI single in the two-run 10th against reliever Brian Meadows (0-1).

D’backs 5, Padres 3

Phoenix — Danny Bautista hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning for his first longball in more than a year as Arizona handed San Diego its ninth consecutive loss. Bautista also had a pair of singles, one driving in a run, to help the Diamondbacks beat the Padres for the eighth time in a row at home.

Phillies 4, Expos 2

Montreal — Kevin Millwood won his fifth straight decision, and Bobby Abreu, and Placido Polanco homered to lead Philadelphia past Montreal. Millwood (7-1) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings as Philadelphia ended Montreal’s three-game winning streak. It was the ninth time Millwood has allowed two runs or fewer in 11 starts this season.

Marlins 8, Reds 4

Cincinnati — Jeff Austin let the first seven Marlins reach base, setting up a five-run rally that sent Florida past Cincinnati. Austin’s quick meltdown allowed the Marlins to end a six-game losing streak and provide manager Jack McKeon with a pleasant homecoming. McKeon led the Reds to 96 wins in 1999, when he was the NL Manager of the Year, but was fired after they finished second in 2000.

Astros 7, Cubs 5

Houston — Jose Vizcaino hit a three-run homer off Mark Prior in a six-run first inning to lead Houston past Chicago. The Astros won for the 11th time in 14 home games and moved within a half-game of the first-place Cubs in the NL Central. Chicago has lost five of seven.

Dodgers 6, Brewers 4

Milwaukee — Shawn Green hit a go-ahead three-run homer exactly one year after his four-home run game at Miller Park as Los Angeles beat Milwaukee for its eighth straight victory Friday night. Green hit reliever John Foster’s first pitch into the right-field bullpen, erasing Milwaukee’s 4-3 lead with one out in the seventh.