New York ? Josh Beckett saved his best for the Big Apple again.

Beckett pitched a six-hitter for his first regular-season shutout, leading the Florida Marlins over the New York Mets, 5-0, Tuesday night for their fifth consecutive victory.

Of course, it wasn’t quite the finest performance of Beckett’s four-year major-league career. He threw two shutouts in the 2003 postseason, including a five-hitter in a 2-0 victory at Yankee Stadium in the World Series clincher.

“Maybe I’m more comfortable here, I don’t know,” Beckett said. “I was just going to go at ’em today — I’m not going to pick.”

Juan Pierre hit a two-run single, and the Marlins took advantage of a career-high seven walks by Steve Trachsel, who lost his fourth straight start. Beckett drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and Paul Lo Duca had an RBI single.

Florida, which moved within three games of the NL wild-card lead, won for the eighth time in 10 games to improve to six games over .500 for the first time since June 24.

“We’re relaxed because everybody counted us out already. That’s the way we like it,” manager Jack McKeon said. “That’s what happened last year — they can’t win. Fine, great.”

Beckett (6-8) struck out two and walked none to win for only the second time since May 20, when he beat Houston 4-3. The World Series MVP was 1-5 with a 5.21 earned-run average in his previous 10 starts, but he dominated New York’s depleted lineup.

“I wouldn’t say he was as sharp tonight as he was against the Yankees. But it was good enough,” McKeon said.

Beckett threw 80 of his 116 pitches for strikes and retired 13 of his final 14 batters.

Astros 8, Reds 0

Cincinnati — Jeff Kent homered twice, and Houston hit three straight shots in the fifth inning. Carlos Beltran, Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman hit consecutive home runs for the Astros, winners of a season-high five straight and eight of nine overall.

Brandon Backe (2-2) scattered three hits over six shutout innings to win for the first time in three career starts. He threw seven shutout innings in a no-decision against Chicago in his first career start Aug. 21.

Giants 9, Rockies 5

San Francisco — Yorvit Torrealba and Marquis Grissom homered, and Ray Durham hit a tiebreaking three-run double, leading San Francisco over Colorado. Barry Bonds went 1-for-2 with a double and remained at 696 career home runs, but the Giants received enough offense from other sources to move into a virtual tie with the Chicago Cubs for the wild-card lead.

Dodgers 4, D’backs 1

13 innings

Phoenix — Steve Finley hit a three-run double in the 13th inning in his return to Arizona, lifting Los Angeles over the Diamondbacks. Finley also homered off Randy Johnson as he faced Arizona for the first time since the Diamondbacks traded him July 31.

Cardinals 9, Padres 3

St. Louis — Jim Edmonds homered twice, giving him seven in six games, and St. Louis powered past San Diego. Albert Pujols and Edgar Renteria each homered and had three hits for the NL Central leaders. Reggie Sanders also had three hits. Woody Williams (10-7) became the fifth member of the Cardinals’ rotation to reach double figures in victories.

Braves 5, Phillies 3

Philadelphia — Mike Hampton pitched two-hit ball over eight innings, and Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer, leading Atlanta over Philadelphia. Eli Marrero went 3-for-4, and Julio Franco had two RBIs for the Braves, who went 20-8 this month, marking just their second 20-win August since moving to Atlanta from Milwaukee after the 1965 season. They also did it in 1999, going 21-7.

Brewers 4, Pirates 2

Milwaukee — Milwaukee snapped a 12-game losing streak and avoided its worst month in franchise history with a victory over Pittsburgh. Geoff Jenkins’ two-run double highlighted a four-run first inning off rookie right-hander John Van Benschoten.

Expos 8, Cubs 0

Montreal — Livan Hernandez allowed three hits in eight scoreless innings, and Brad Wilkerson and Maicer Izturis each hit home runs in Montreal’s victory over Chicago. Hernandez (10-12) also had two hits — including an RBI single — for the Expos. He allowed Moises Alou’s single in the second, Derrek Lee’s single in the fourth, and Michael Barrett’s single in the fifth.