Cora helps down Giants

Alex Cora’s second homer in two days provided the unexpected spark Los Angeles needed.

The light-hitting second baseman homered and drove in two runs again, and the Dodgers moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Giants in the West with a 7-4 victory in San Francisco.

Barry Bonds’ 703rd homer gave the Giants a third-inning lead, but Cora helped the Dodgers manufacture more than enough runs to take two of three weekend games in San Francisco.

Mets 3, Cubs 2: Al Leiter pitched two-hit ball for six innings to earn his first win in six weeks as New York again played spoiler by beating visiting Chicago. The Cubs stayed a half-game in front of San Francisco in the wild-card race.

Astros 11, Brewers 7: Raul Chavez drove in five runs, helping Houston win in Milwaukee. The Astros are now 1 1/2 games behind Chicago in the wild-card race.

Cardinals 9, Rockies 3: Albert Pujols hit his 46th homer to move within one of the major league lead and Jason Marquis pitched seven strong innings as St. Louis won in Denver.

Padres 7, Diamondbacks 1: Jake Peavy pitched six strong innings and lowered his league-leading ERA to 2.25 as San Diego pulled within 2 1/2 games of Chicago in the wild-card chase by beating visiting Arizona.

Braves 6, Marlins 3: John Thomson held the Marlins to one run in seven innings as Florida was eliminated from postseason contention with a loss in Atlanta.

Phillies 2, Expos 1: Bobby Abreu hit a two-run double to back a solid outing by Cory Lidle as Philadelphia won in Montreal.

Pirates 4, Reds 2: Tike Redman hit a pair of run-scoring singles as Pittsburgh beat visiting Cincinnati.