Houston ? The Houston Astros are struggling to hold on to their NL Central lead.

Pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz and Ray Durham hit consecutive homers off Billy Wagner in the ninth inning Monday night, sending the San Francisco Giants to a 6-3 victory over the Astros.

Houston lost its third in a row and dropped into a tie for the division lead with the Chicago Cubs, who did not play. The Cubs hold a share of first place for the first time since Sept. 10.

“We have battled hard the last few days, and we’re still right there,” Jeff Bagwell said. “We’re playing against a very good team. That’s why they’re the team they are, they keep coming at you. They’ve got 25 guys who can beat you.”

Marquis Grissom and Andres Galarraga also homered for the Giants, giving them a 2-0 lead. Barry Bonds went 0-for-4, ending his streak of reaching base in 58 straight games.

“That’s just one game,” Bagwell said. “We’ve each got six games left. It’s a six-game race, and may the best team win. The team that executes the best is going to win in this last stretch.”

Astros manager Jimy Williams didn’t flinch at the loss.

“We’re tied for first, and we have six games left,” he said. “That’s basically where you want to be at this point. If you’d have said in the beginning that we’d be in first with six games to go, I think we’d all take it.”

Giants manager Felipe Alou felt it was the right time to send Feliz to the plate.

San Francisco third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo, left, tags out Houston pitcher Ron Villone at third after Villone tried to move from first to third on a single by Craig Biggio in the sixth inning. The Giants won, 6-3, Monday in Houston, sending the Astros into a tie with idle Chicago for the NL Central lead.

“He’s a guy that so far as I’ve seen this year is best when used like that,” Alou said. “He’s a powerful guy when he’s fresh. He’s got a chance to be an everyday player.”

With the score tied at 3, Jose Cruz Jr. singled off Wagner (1-4) with one out in the ninth. Feliz followed with his 14th homer, and Durham’s shot made it 6-3.

Wagner had allowed only six homers all season coming in.

“The guys were playing hard, and I came in and gave up three runs,” Wagner said. “I can’t give up three runs. Tonight was a playoff game. I have to be better than I was. I just wasn’t there tonight.”

Brad Lidge walked two batters and was lifted for Octavio Dotel, who walked pinch-hitter J.T. Snow on four pitches and Durham on five to force home the tying run.

Marlins 6, Braves 3

Atlanta — Derrek Lee homered and had four RBIs as Florida beat Atlanta to move one game ahead of Philadelphia in the NL wild-card race. The Marlins will play host to the Phillies for three games beginning tonight. Before an announced crowd of 17,345 — the smallest in Turner Field history — Lee hit an RBI single in the first. After a 53-minute rain delay, Miguel Cabrera added a two-run single off Mike Hampton (14-8), who gave up six runs and 11 hits in five innings.

Padres 9, Dodgers 5

San Diego — Phil Nevin hit a three-run homer, and San Diego opened its final homestand at Qualcomm Stadium by dropping the Dodgers 31/2 games back in the wild-card race. Los Angeles has lost five of seven since sweeping the Padres at Dodger Stadium Sept. 12-14. Dodgers starter Odalis Perez (0-4) left after one inning, apparently because of a finger injury.