Jeff Francoeur appears to have snapped out of his early-season slump.
Francoeur homered for the second night in a row, hitting a two-out shot in the eighth inning that gave the Atlanta Braves a 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
After starting the season with only two hits in 36 at-bats, last year's rookie sensation homered twice Thursday in a loss to Philadelphia. He followed up with three hits against the Padres, including a liner off Scott Linebrink (0-1) that barely cleared the left-field wall.
Oscar Villareal (4-0) became the first four-game winner the majors with a scoreless eighth. Chris Reitsma worked around two hits in the ninth to earn his fourth save, retiring Terrmel Sledge for the final out with runners at second and third.
Tim Hudson got off to another rough start for the Braves, giving up a run-scoring double to Brian Giles in the first. But he finally made it beyond four innings for the first time this season, coming out with two outs in the seventh in a 4-4 game.
Edgar Renteria homered in the first for Atlanta. He's hit safely in all 11 games this season, his first with the Braves after coming over from Boston in an offseason trade.
San Diego starter Chan Ho Park was lifted after five innings. He gave up four runs and seven hits.
CUBS 11, PIRATES 6: At Pittsburgh, Matt Murton tripled with the bases loaded and Todd Walker had four hits for the Cubs. Chicago withstood three homers in a span of four batters in the sixth inning — by Nate McLouth, Craig Wilson and Jason Bay — to win its eighth in a row at Pittsburgh.
MARLINS 5, NATIONALS 3: At Miami, Dontrelle Willis got his first win of the season and also drove in a run with a bunt for the Marlins. Josh Willingham homered, Chris Aguila had a two-run double and Miguel Cabrera an RBI single for Florida, which has won consecutive games for the first time under new manager Joe Girardi.
REDS 1, CARDINALS 0: At St. Louis, Reds starter Aaron Harang allowed four hits in seven-plus innings and drove in his fourth career run. Harang (2-1) had four strikeouts and one walk to the only batter he faced in the eighth to beat the Cardinals for the first time in four career decisions. Plus, he got the only RBI off NL Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter on a fifth-inning bloop single.
METS 4, BREWERS 3: At New York, Tom Glavine took advantage of the lowest-scoring team in the major leagues, striking out 11 Milwaukee batters over six innings.
PHILLIES 10, ROCKIES 8: At Denver, Chase Utley hit his third career grand slam and homered twice for the second straight day. Utley was in a 1-for-19 slide with no homers this season before connecting twice in Thursday's 7-6 win at Atlanta.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, ASTROS 1: At Phoenix, Brandon Webb pitched eight strong innings for his first victory. Webb (1-0), who led the Diamondbacks with 14 victories last season, had pitched well in his first two starts but did not receive a decision. Conor Jackson also hit a two-run homer for Arizona.