MIAMI - The Marlins overcame an injury to Brad Penny and an eighth-inning deficit to build on their lead in the wild-card race.
Juan Pierre singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth Friday night, leading the Marlins over the Atlanta Braves 5-4.
Florida increased its wild-card lead to 11/2 games over Philadelphia.
"It's quite a roll," said Braden Looper, who pitched a perfect ninth for the victory. "Hopefully, it's a team of destiny, because it's a lot of fun."
Atlanta's Mike Hampton allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings, but Florida rallied in the eighth against Jaret Wright, with the tying run scoring on a two-out wild pitch.
Then the Marlins won in their final at-bat for the 18th time.
"I just didn't get it done," Wright said. "I thought I had the stuff I needed, but it didn't work out."
Penny gave up three runs before departing in the first with a hyperextended pitching elbow.
"I did it in the bullpen," he said. "I felt it on every pitch."
Atlanta's Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer, his 34th, giving him a career-high 105 RBIs.
Penny, scheduled to make three more starts during the regular season, was to have an MRI today. He was replaced by Rick Helling, who pitched 41/3 scoreless innings.
DODGERS 6, PADRES 0: Wilson Alvarez pitched a four-hitter for his first shutout in six years, and Adrian Beltre hit two home runs for host Los Angeles.
Shawn Green also homered as the Dodgers remained 31/2 games behind wild-card leader Florida.
Alvarez, a 33-year-old former Devil Ray who is enjoying a resurgence with the Dodgers, struck out seven and walked one in his fifth career shutout. Alvarez (5-1) has won his last four decisions and allowed only six earned runs in his past seven starts, which include three no-decisions.
After struggling with arm trouble much of the past four years, Alvarez signed a minor-league contract with Los Angeles last winter. He was impressive at Triple-A Las Vegas, and the Dodgers called him up on June 7.
ASTROS 14, CARDINALS 5: Jeff Bagwell homered, Richard Hidalgo had four hits and pitcher Wade Miller drove in a career-high four runs as host Houston won the opener of a big three-game series. The Astros roughed up Woody Williams and finished with 19 hits, remaining a game ahead of the Cubs in the Central. St. Louis is 31/2 back.
PIRATES 8, PHILLIES 4: Reggie Sanders hit a three-run homer during his three-hit night for host Pittsburgh.
Jose Hernandez stopped an 0-for-26 September skid with a two-run, pinch-hit single, and Abraham Nunez homered to support Kip Wells' fourth straight strong start.
Jim Thome became the fifth player in Phillies' history and the first since Mike Schmidt in 1983 to hit 40 homers in a season.
CUBS 7, REDS 6: Tom Goodwin delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single as a pinch-hitter in the seventh for host Chicago, which squandered a 5-1 lead when the Reds scored five in the seventh against Mark Guthrie and Antonio Alfonseca.
But after a rain delay with one out in the bottom half, the Cubs came out energized and staged a crucial rally.
Scott Randall walked Randall Simon with two outs and gave up an infield hit to Aramis Ramirez. Alex Gonzalez singled, loading the bases.
John Riedling relieved, and Goodwin hit a 1-and-2 pitch up the middle that went off D'Angelo Jimenez's glove at second for a two-run single.
EXPOS 7, METS 4: Michael Barrett hit a two-run homer in his first game in nearly seven weeks, and Vladimir Guerrero had a three-run double for host Montreal. Barrett, batting .207 when he was sidelined by a hip injury July 27, hit his 10th homer.
