Miami ? Dontrelle Willis struggled with his control, sweltered in the 92-degree sunshine, lasted only five innings and still won.

Willis gave up two runs but stranded four runners in scoring position and drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly, helping the Florida Marlins beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 Monday.

Four innings of shutout work by the bullpen helped Willis (17-8) earn a share of the major-league lead in victories with St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter (17-4).

“This is the flip side of me throwing eight innings and losing 1-0 (two starts ago),” Willis said. “That’s how baseball is.”

Willis allowed five hits and a season-high five walks, then departed with a 3-2 lead after throwing 105 pitches.

“It’s a good omen that he can pick up a win when he doesn’t have his really good stuff,” manager Jack McKeon said. “He’ll get his 20. You can put money on that.”

Asked about the prospect of 20 wins, Willis said, “I never fathomed it. I never fathomed winning 15 games.”

With one more victory, he’ll tie the team record of 18 wins set by Carl Pavano last year.

Florida relievers allowed only one baserunner to complete a six-hitter. Antonio Alfonseca followed Willis with a 1-2-3 inning, Guillermo Mota struck out five in two perfect innings and Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 30 chances, including 18 straight.

Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning. Willis won his 17th game Monday, as the Marlins beat the Dodgers, 5-2, in Miami. Willis is now tied with Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals for most wins in the major leagues this season.

“Our bullpen is the best in the league,” said Mota, overlooking the relievers’ 4.33 ERA. But the Marlins’ pitching has been sensational lately, allowing a total of five runs in their past seven victories.

The Marlins went 9-4 on a two-week homestand, all against the NL West, and won their fourth series in a row, taking three of four games from Los Angeles. They’ve won five of the past six games and began the week trailing wild-card leader Philadelphia by one game.

“The way we’re going now, anything can happen,” McKeon said.

Los Angeles manager Jim Tracy held a team meeting before the game to stress that the Dodgers remain in the NL West race, even though they’re 12 games below .500. They began the week five games behind division leader San Diego.

Dodgers rookie Edwin Jackson (0-1), making his first appearance of the season, gave up five walks and five hits in 4 2-3 innings but left trailing only 3-2. He was recalled from Double-A Jacksonville to take injured left-hander Odalis Perez’s turn in the rotation.

“It wasn’t necessarily my best start, but it wasn’t necessarily my worst start,” Jackson said.

Carlos Delgado went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Florida, and Damion Easley reached base five times.

Los Angeles led 2-1 when third baseman Antonio Perez lost Delgado’s foul popup in the sun and let it drop leading off the fourth. Granted a reprieve, Delgado singled.

“When things are going your way, you catch a break,” Delgado said.

Jeff Conine also singled, and Alex Gonzalez’s RBI double made the score 2-all. A walk loaded the bases, and Willis’ sacrifice fly to the warning track in left put Florida ahead to stay.

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the second on RBI singles by Jose Cruz and Dioner Navarro. That was as many runs as Willis allowed in his previous 38 innings.

“We had him on the ropes,” Tracy said. “We couldn’t get the big hit to open the game up. Give him some credit for that.”

The Dodgers completed a 3-4 trip. In the past eight games they’ve faced Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, A.J. Burnett and Willis.

Cardinals 3, Pirates 1

Pittsburgh – Mark Mulder beat Pittsburgh for the fifth time in as many career starts and third time this season. Mulder (15-6) limited the Pirates to one run and three hits in eight innings.

Abraham Nunez, a former Pirates infielder, went 3-for-4 and drove in a run for the Cardinals.

Josh Fogg (6-9) gave up three runs and 11 hits in five innings and is 1-8 with an 8.47 ERA in 10 career starts against the Cardinals.

Braves 4, Cubs 2

Chicago – Tim Hudson pitched his first complete game of the season and Chipper Jones hit two two-run homers, the second in the ninth off reliever Kerry Wood, to lead Atlanta.

It was Jones’ first multihomer game since Aug. 25, 2004, against Colorado, and the 31st of his career. Marcus Giles singled with one out in the ninth. Jones then connected on a 2-2 pitch from Wood (3-4), sending his 13th homer over the wall in right-center.

Hudson (10-7) allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked one in his first complete game since Aug. 17, 2004.

Chicago’s Derrek Lee hit his 37th homer.

Mets 4, D’backs 1

Phoenix – Tom Glavine pitched into the ninth inning, and Jose Reyes and Victor Diaz homered for New York.

Glavine (10-10) matched his season high for innings pitched, but lost a chance at his first complete game since May 23, 2004, and the 54th of his career when he gave up a leadoff single to Royce Clayton in the ninth. He was replaced by Braden Looper, who finished for his 25th save.

Astros 6, Padres 2

San Diego – Roy Oswalt threw six strong innings for his 15th win and Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer as Houston took the wild-card lead. Oswalt and three relievers combined on a five-hitter for the Astros, who moved a half-game in front of Philadelphia and Florida in the wild-card race. The Padres fell to 61-63 but lead the NL West by four games over Arizona.

Giants 5, Phillies 0

San Francisco – Noah Lowry pitched into the ninth inning to win his fourth straight start and Moises Alou hit a three-run homer for San Francisco Giants. Michael Tucker doubled among his two hits and Ray Durham singled twice for the Giants.