Cincinnati ? The television screens went blank, and the Chicago Cubs went out and won.

Sammy Sosa tied Mickey Mantle for 10th place on the career home run list Wednesday night, and Shawn Estes pitched a four-hit shutout as the Cubs beat the Reds, 8-0, and preserved their one-game lead in the NL Central.

“You want to play in October, you’ve got to win,” said Sosa, who started the decisive rally with his 536th career homer. “We don’t have that much room.”

Before the first pitch, Cubs players were engrossed in the bank of television sets in the visitors’ clubhouse. They muttered curses when second-place Houston rallied for a 2-1 victory over San Francisco, meaning Chicago would have to win again to remain one game ahead.

Pressure? Not with thousands of Cubs fans in the stands and the major leagues’ most generous defense on the field.

Chicago fulfilled the first requirement for a playoff contender — beat up on the downtrodden. The Cubs finish with one more game in Cincinnati, and three at Wrigley Field against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Especially after seeing Houston win today, we didn’t want to get back into a dead heat with them,” said Estes (8-11), who pitched his eighth career shutout. “Everything’s a playoff atmosphere.

“(Manager) Dusty (Baker) has said all along that our hot streak hasn’t even hit yet. Hopefully we’re in the middle of it right now, and we can continue to play this way through the playoffs.”

The Cubs haven’t been alone in first place this late in the season since 1989, the last time they won a division title. They haven’t been to the playoffs since they went as the NL wild card in 1998.

Chicago's Sammy Sosa connects for his 536th career home run to tie Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. The Cubs blanked Cincinnati, 8-0, Wednesday night in Chicago.

If they can hold on for four more games, they’re headed back. Estes returned from a bullpen banishment and shut out Cincinnati for the second straight game.

Astros 2, Giants 1

Houston — The Houston Astros were on the brink and they knew it. Then Jose Vizcaino came up with a big hit that kept them from dropping farther back in the NL Central.

Vizcaino pinch hit in the seventh inning and singled home two runs to lead Houston over a lineup of San Francisco substitutes.

Houston, which remained one game behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs, stopped a four-game losing streak, which had tied a season high. A defeat would have dropped the Astros two games back with four to play.

Roy Oswalt (10-5) won his fourth straight start since coming off the disabled list, allowing three hits in eight innings, including Pedro Feliz’s second-inning homer. Oswalt struck out six and walked none.

Marlins 6, Phillies 5

Miami — Florida took a three-game lead in the NL wild-card race with only four games to go. Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco scrambled to avoid being beaned by a broken bat on a run-scoring single. Florida’s Jeff Conine homered for the second night in a row, Juan Encarnacion also homered and Josh Beckett took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning.

The Phillies said Wednesday’s game was one they had to win, and they scored five times in the eighth after falling behind 6-0. But Chase Utley struck out with two on to end the inning, and Ugueth Urbina’s perfect ninth gave Florida its largest lead this season in the wild-card standings.

Philadelphia and Houston are both three games back. The Marlins can clinch a playoff berth today.

Cardinals 8, Brewers 4

Milwaukee — J.D. Drew homered, Matt Morris pitched seven solid innings and St. Louis staved off elimination with a victory over Milwaukee. The Cardinals stayed 3 1/2 games behind Chicago in the NL Central race with three games to go. St. Louis won for the seventh time in eight games. Milwaukee finished 31-50 at Miller Park, tying last season’s mark for the worst home record in team history.

D’backs 6, Rockies 3

Denver — Randy Johnson beat Colorado for the eighth straight time and Danny Bautista homered twice to back him as Arizona defeated the Rockies. Johnson (6-8) allowed two runs on seven hits and improved to 8-0 in his past nine starts against Colorado. Johnson is 13-4 in 18 starts against the Rockies and hasn’t lost to them since June 24, 2001. Matt Mantei pitched a perfect ninth for his 27th save in 30 chances.

Mets 5, Pirates 3

New York — Steve Trachsel won his career-high 16th game, helped by Timo Perez’s three hits and two RBIs, as New York beat Pittsburgh. Trachsel (16-10) pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs and six hits as the Mets won consecutive games for the first time since completing a three-game sweep of Atlanta Sept. 3.

Braves 9, Expos 1

Atlanta — Russ Ortiz allowed three hits in five scoreless innings to win his 21st game and Atlanta beat Montreal in the Braves’ final home game of the regular season. Ortiz (21-7), who will be the Braves’ starter Tuesday when Atlanta opens its first-round NL playoff series, ran his scoreless innings streak to 14.

Dodgers 2, Padres 1 (11)

San Diego — Pinch-hitter Jolbert Cabrera drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the 11th to give Los Angeles a win over San Diego.