Chicago ? Booed after a pair of strikeouts, Sammy Sosa delivered an important home run and a much-needed win to the Cubs.

Sosa hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning following a rain delay, and Chicago overcame a two-run deficit Wednesday in a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds that stopped a three-game losing streak.

Jeered by fans twice earlier after striking out with runners on base, Sosa hit his 18th homer of the year off Todd Van Poppel (3-4). It was only Chicago’s fourth win in its last 13 games.

“He threw me a high pitch, and I made my mind up to go out there and swing,” said Sosa, who homered in a steady rain. “We’re not struggling. We just lost a couple of games. We are competitors. We come here every day and try to do our job. Sometimes it’s not going to be the way you want it.”

Todd Wellemeyer (1-0) pitched 11/3 scoreless innings, and LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 17 chances.

Wellemeyer stranded the bases loaded in the seventh when he threw a called third strike past John Vander Wal in the pouring rain just before a 54-minute delay.

Vander Wal had fouled off three straight 3-2 pitches, then took a high fastball he was certain was a ball. Vander Wal flipped his bat toward the dugout and started trotting to first when umpire Brian Runge called him out on strikes.

“It was pretty difficult to swallow when a ball is obviously a ball and everybody knows it,” Vander Wal said. “It changed the outcome of the game.”

Chicago had lost back-to-back tight games to the first-place St. Louis Cardinals and had fallen into third place in the NL Central.

Pirates 4, Braves 2

Atlanta — Kris Benson made another enticing start before the trade deadline, allowing five hits in eight innings to lead streaking Pittsburgh over Atlanta. Jose Mesa worked the ninth for his 27th save. After the first, Benson (8-7) didn’t give up a hit until Andruw Jones’ opposite-field single with one out in the eighth. Pittsburgh, a winner for the 17th time in 22 games, beat Paul Byrd (2-3).

Chicago's Sammy Sosa watches his go-ahead home run fly as a steady rain falls during the seventh inning. The home run proved to be the difference in the Cubs' 5-4 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday in Chicago.

Phillies 2, Marlins 1

Philadelphia — Ricky Ledee hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, and Kevin Millwood pitched seven strong innings to help Philadelphia beat Florida and end the Phillies’ nine-game losing streak against the Marlins. Millwood (8-5) allowed one run, seven hits and struck out six. Loser A.J. Burnett (1-5) allowed two runs and eight hits in 72/3 innings.

Cardinals 1, Brewers 0

St. Louis — Woody Williams threw seven innings of five-hit ball in 93-degree heat, singled twice and scored in the Cardinals’ 14th victory in their last 16 games. Edgar Renteria hit a sixth-inning sacrifice fly for the Cardinals (60-34), who have the best record in the major leagues and have won 11 of 12 at home.

Astros 5, D’backs 2

Phoenix — Andy Pettitte (6-3) pitched a season-high eight innings, and Houston extended the Diamondbacks’ losing streak to 10 games. Arizona moved within a loss of matching the team record of 11 in row set from June 18-29. The Diamondbacks dropped to 2-15 since Al Pedrique replaced Bob Brenly as manager.

Rockies 6, Dodgers 5

Los Angeles — Shawn Estes won for the fourth time in five decisions, Vinny Castilla homered, and Colorado snapped Los Angeles’ eight-game winning streak. Estes improved to 5-0 in nine starts this year against NL West teams.

Padres 7, Giants 1

San Francisco — Jake Peavy won for the fifth time in six starts, and Rich Aurilia had three hits in his first game for San Diego. J.T. Snow homered for the Giants, who lost for just the third time in 10 games.

Mets 5, Expos 4

New York — Montreal’s Nick Johnson dropped a routine throw to first base with two outs in the eighth inning, allowing Ty Wigginton to score the go-ahead run.