CHICAGO - Odalis Perez outpitched Greg Maddux before Steve Finley helped the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers pull away to beat the Cubs 8-1 Friday.
Leading 2-1, the Dodgers scored six in the ninth inning, taking advantage of Chicago's wilting bullpen and wobbly defense. The NL West leaders won for the 28th time in 37 games.
Finley, 13-for-26 in 10 games since being traded from Arizona, singled in a run to break a tie at 1 in the sixth.
Finley added a two-run single in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Robin Ventura and Milton Bradley hit run-scoring singles off Kyle Farnsworth, Shawn Green added a run-scoring single off Jon Leicester and Moises Alou and Michael Barrett made errors.
In his first start since winning his 300th game Aug. 7 in San Francisco, Maddux received a standing ovation in his first at-bat and stepped back to wave to the crowd.
After Cesar Izturis doubled with one out in the sixth, Finley hit a hard grounder up the middle that went off diving second baseman Mark Grudzielanek's glove for a single to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Around the majors
ASTROS: Manager Phil Garner was suspended for the game at Montreal because of a run-in Aug. 7 with umpire Brian Knight.
CUBS: Closer LaTroy Hawkins began serving a three-game suspension for a July 20 confrontation with plate umpire Tim Tschida after his appeal was rejected. His fine was reduced from $3,000 to $2,000.
MARLINS: A jury in Medina, Ohio, acquitted outfielder Wil Cordero of drunken driving for a December highway accident in which his sport utility vehicle rolled onto its side.
METS: Infielder Jose Reyes went on the disabled list after an MRI exam revealed a stress fracture of his left fibula. Reyes, whose two-year career has been beset by leg injuries, is expected to return this season.
