NL | Griffey hits 569th HR in Reds win

CINCINNATI - Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 569th career homer yesterday afternoon, a two-run shot that tied him for ninth place on the career list and helped the Cincinnati Reds get a 9-5 victory over the Houston Astros.

Cincinnati pulled ahead 7-0 after three innings against starter Matt Albers (1-2) and held on. Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer, his sixth in the last 11 games, and added a triple and a double, coming up one single short of hitting for the cycle.

Griffey's two-run homer off Albers left him tied with Rafael Palmeiro on the career list. Harmon Killebrew is eighth at 573.

Aaron Harang (5-1) got the win for the Reds.

Braves 5, Padres 3

ATLANTA - Kelly Johnson came through with another huge two-out hit for Atlanta, a bases-loaded double in the sixth inning, and the Braves closed a long homestand with a victory over San Diego.

The Braves have now scored a major-league-leading 88 runs with two outs - more than half of their overall production.

Marlins 3, Dodgers 0

MIAMI - Josh Willingham broke up a pitcher's duel by hitting a three-run homer off Derek Lowe (3-4) with one out in the bottom of the ninth as Florida beat Los Angeles.

Lowe had taken a four-hitter into the ninth.

Florida's Sergio Mitre pitched eight innings, allowing only three hits before departing for a pinch-hitter.

Taylor Tankersley (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the Marlins.

Pirates 6, Cubs 4

CHICAGO - Jason Bay homered and drove in three runs against Carlos Zambrano to help Pittsburgh beat Chicago.

Zambrano (3-3) gave up four earned runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Paul Maholm (2-4) went 71/3 innings for the Pirates, allowing four runs and seven hits. He struck out four and walked one. He got the win despite allowing three homers, including a two-run drive by pinch-hitter Michael Barrett with one out in the eighth that cut the Cubs' deficit to 6-4.

Salomon Torres pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 14 chances.

Rockies 5, Giants 3

DENVER - Aaron Cook pitched seven strong innings and knocked in a run with a sacrifice bunt in Colorado's victory over San Francisco.