Braves stamp class on Brewers

Bobby Cox watches another Atlanta win

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National League

Wes Helms drove in a career-high seven runs and Dave Martinez had a three-run homer as the Atlanta Braves routed the Milwaukee Brewers 14-2.

Helms, who was hitless in his previous 18 at-bats entering the third inning, belted a two-run home run to cap a five-run outburst that gave the Braves a 7-0 cushion.

Gonzalez: Struck out when it mattered

The first baseman also had a three-run triple in the fifth and a 420-foot blast over the left-field wall in the ninth as Atlanta tied its first series at Miller Park 1-1.

In his Milwaukee debut, Ruben Quevedo, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, was torched for seven runs and eight hits in three innings pitched.

In San Francisco, Barry Bonds hit his 47th homer of the season but the Giants still crashed to a 12-2 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Phillies starter Nelson Figueroa pitched five strong innings, but made a mistake in the sixth to give up a two-run homer to Bonds, who is still ahead of Mark McGwire's record pace.

John Franco struck out Luis Gonzalez in a key eighth-innings situation to help the New York Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In Denver, Todd Ritchie came within two outs of a complete game at Coors Field as the Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Colorado Rockies a 6-3 loss.

Ritchie surrendered three runs and nine hits, walking one and striking out two.

The right-hander retired the first batter of the ninth, but stepped off the mound after allowing a solo homer to Todd Helton and a double to Jeff Cirillo.

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American League

Dan Wilson hit a three-run homer and Bret Boone continued his dream season with a two-run shot as the Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians 8-5.

The Mariners moved to 80-30 over the season and only the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates, the 1944 St Louis Cardinals and the 1998 New York Yankees have had better records after 110 games.

Nixon: Trots home after a home run

Pitcher Freddy Garcia (13-3) was not at his best but was helped to the win by the fierce hitting of team-mates.

In Detroit, Barry Zito tossed eight brilliant innings and Jermaine Dye belted his 100th career homer as the Oakland Athletics posted a 10-1 victory over the Tigers.

In Boston, the Red Sox took both games in a day-and-night double-header against the Texas Rangers.

Game one saw the Red Sox belt a season-high six homers, including two each by Troy O'Leary and Trot Nixon, and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 10-4 victory.

In game two, Mike Lansing stepped up to homer twice to propel Boston to a 6-2 win.

Arch rivals New York edged the Anaheim Angels 5-4 on Roger Clemens' 39th birthday.

After having his start pushed back one day to rest an injured groin, Clemens took the mound in search of his 12th straight victory.

He did not get it, but red-hot Tino Martinez belted a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the eighth to give the Yankees the win.

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Saturday's results:

National League

Arizona 2-4 New York Mets
Houston 4-1 Montreal
Los Angeles 3-1 Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee 2-14 Atlanta
Philadelphia 12-2 San Francisco
Pittsburgh 6-3 Colorado
St Louis 3-0 Florida
San Diego 2-0 Cincinatti

American League

Boston 10-4 Texas (game one)
Boston 6-2 Texas (game two)
Chicago White Sox 8-6 Tampa Bay
Cleveland 5-8 Seattle
Minnesota 6-2 Kansas City
New York Yankees 5-4 Anaheim Angels
Toronto 2-1 Baltimore
Detroit 1-10 Oakland