SAN FRANCISCO — Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, Ryan Ludwick and Matt Stairs also connected and the San Diego Padres put San Francisco's potential clinching party on hold for at least a day with a dramatic 6-4 victory Friday night.
The NL West-leading Giants need one more victory to capture their first division crown and playoff berth since 2003. San Diego pulled within one game of wild card-leading Atlanta, which lost 11-5 to Philadelphia.
Clayton Richard (14-9) won for only the second time in seven starts and held down a Giants team that has hit 17 homers in its last eight games. Pinch-hitter Aaron Rowand connected for a two-run shot in the sixth to chase Richard.
Ludwick hit a towering drive over the center-field wall leading off the second against Matt Cain (13-11), who surrendered a season-high three homers.
PHILLIES 11, BRAVES 5: At Atlanta, Jimmy Rollins' grand slam capped a five-run sixth inning to keep Bobby Cox and the Braves from moving closer to a wild-card berth. The Braves opened the final regular-season series two games ahead of San Diego in the NL wild-card race. The Padres played later at NL West-leading San Francisco. Rollins made his third start since returning from a tight right hamstring. Ryan Howard had two hits, including a two-run single in a four-run eighth. Carlos Ruiz had three hits.
BREWERS 4, REDS 3 (11 innings): At Cincinnati, Casey McGehee hit a grounder off Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips in the 11th inning, driving in Corey Hart and sending the Brewers to a victory that ensured Cincinnati will begin the postseason on the road. The Reds will open the postseason on the road against top-seeded Philadelphia or the winner of the West.
METS 2, NATIONALS 1 (10 innings): At New York, with the New York Mets braced for a management shakeup, Josh Thole homered in the 10th inning to begin the final series of the season with a victory over Washington.
PIRATES 5, MARLINS 1: At Miami, Chris Snyder and surging rookie Pedro Alvarez homered to lead Pittsburgh past Florida. It was a rare road victory for the Pirates, who improved to 17-62 away from home. They must win one of their final two games to avoid matching the 1963 New York Mets for the worst road record in a 162-game season.
CARDINALS 3, ROCKIES 0: At St. Louis, Jake Westbrook matched his career high with nine strikeouts and got his first RBI of the season for St. Louis. Dexter Fowler had two hits for the Rockies, who have lost 11 of 12 in a late-season free fall that began with them one game out of first place in the NL West and left them eight games behind at game time.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, DODGERS 5: At Los Angeles, Adam LaRoche homered and drove in three runs to reach 100 RBIs for the first time, leading Arizona to the victory. Zach Kroenke (1-0) allowed one run and two hits over five innings to earn his first major league win.
CUBS 2, ASTROS 0: At Houston, Casey Coleman pitched seven strong innings and drove in a run for Chicago.