Just when it appeared San Francisco was pulling away in the final week, the Los Angeles Dodgers shaved a game off the Giants' lead and drew within 11/2 games of first place in the NL West.
Todd Zeile homered twice as Los Angeles stopped a five-game losing streak and beat visiting San Diego 6-2 Tuesday night. The Giants lost 7-6 to Colorado at Coors Field, stranding the potential tying run at second in the ninth inning."Deep down, I didn't figure the Dodgers were going to lose forever," San Francisco manager Dusty Baker said. "We said all along that this thing was going to go down to the wire."
Chan Ho Park (14-8) pitched a seven-hitter, and Eric Karros hit a two-run homer in the eighth. The Dodgers have five games remaining, while the Giants have four left.
"We're back in," Dodgers manager Bill Russell said. "We didn't think we were out."
Across the continent, Florida clinched its first postseason berth with a 6-3 victory at Montreal. Kevin Brown (16-8) won his seventh straight decision, and Charles Johnson hit a go-ahead single in the fifth.
"We got here, we were expected to be here," said Moises Alou, who went 3-for-5. "Now we'll see how far we can go."
Florida opens the NL playoffs at home next Tuesday against either the Giants or Dodgers.
At Dodger Stadium, Zeile homered off Paul Menhart (2-3) in the second and sixth innings. His first homer tied the game 2-2; his second put the Dodgers ahead 4-2.
Tony Gwynn, seeking his eighth NL batting title, went 1-for-3 and has a .373 average, six points ahead of Colorado's Larry Walker.
Rockies 7, Giants 6
Andres Galarraga increased his league-leading RBI total to 137 with his 41st homer, a three-run drive as the Rockies closed within 41/2 games of first.
Barry Bonds homered in a three-run ninth, his 39th of the season and sixth in seven games. After pinch-hitter Mark Lewis singled home a run, the Giants advanced the tying run to second with two outs before Curtis Leskanic retired pinch-hitter Damon Berryhill on a grounder for his second save.
Darren Holmes (9-2) struck out three in two perfect innings. Danny Darwin (1-3) was rocked for five runs and 10 hits in 5-2/3 innings.
Marlins 6, Expos 3
Brown, 7-0 in 11 starts since Aug. 1, allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings and fanned eight, increasing his career-high total to 205. Robb Nen got three outs for his 35th save.
Dustin Hermanson (8-7) gave up four runs - three earned - and six hits in 4-2/3 innings.
Astros 5, Cubs 3
Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell homered at the Astrodome as Houston overcame one-run deficits three times and cut its magic number to two. The Astros remained 31/2 games ahead of second-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central.
Biggio tied the score 3-all with a sixth-inning homer, and Tony Eusebio singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth off Steve Trachsel (8-12). Bagwell hit his 43rd homer in the fourth.
Darryl Kile (19-7), trying to become Houston's first 20-game winner since Mike Scott in 1989, allowed six hits in 8-1/3 innings. Billy Wagner finished for his 22nd save.
Pirates 5, Mets 4
Shawon Dunston hit a tie-break-ing single in the seventh for Pittsburgh at New York. The Mets, who stayed alive in the playoff race with three straight victories at Florida, finally were eliminated.
Francisco Cordova and three relievers teamed on a four-hitter, with Jose Silva (2-1) getting the win and Rich Loiselle finishing for his 28th save. Cory Lidle (7-2) was the loser.
Reds 8, Cardinals 6
Mark McGwire remained stuck on 54 home runs for the fourth game, going 2-for-5 with a pair of singles at Busch Stadium. He needs seven homers in his last five games to tie Roger Maris' record.
Chris Stynes' two-run single off Curtis King (4-2) in the eighth capped a four-run rally as the Reds stopped a three-game losing streak.
Scott Sullivan (4-3) allowed one hit in two innings, and Jeff Shaw pitched the ninth for his 41st save, one day after being struck by a line drive on the left kneecap and being carried of the field.
Braves 6, Phillies 0
Rookie Kevin Millwood (5-3) allowed two hits in eight shutout innings, taking a no-hitter into the seventh. Andruw Jones and Michael Tucker hit consecutive homers for the visiting Braves, who clinched their sixth straight division title Monday.
Mark Leiter (10-17) allowed six runs and 10 hits in seven-plus innings.