SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants fought back to record an 8-7 road win against the San Diego Padres Saturday and maintain their slim lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a tight National League West. Los Angeles (66-55) earlier took down the Atlanta Braves 6-2 before the Giants rallied from 4-1 down against the Padres in San Diego to claim the win and stay half-a-game ahead. The Padres (52-70) fans sensed an upset when Chase Headley powered his 20th home run of the season, a three run shot in the bottom of the third, to set up the 4-1 lead. But Marco Scutaro, Pablo Sandoval, Hunter Pence and Joaquin Arias all helped men home for the Giants in a momentum-shifting fifth inning. Carlos Quentin homered for the home side in the sixth to tie things up at 5-5, but Buster Posey drove in Scutaro with a sacrifice fly and Arias drove Sandoval home with a timely single in the seventh to regain the lead for the Giants. Posey and Pence then struck back-to-back doubles in the ninth to stretch the lead to 8-5. The Padres almost pulled the game from the fire with two runs in the bottom of the ninth when down to their last out but fell just short. Cards 5 Pirates 4: Yadier Molina had three hits and two RBIs in his return to the lineup, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. St. Louis bounced back from Friday night's 2-1 loss in the series opener and pulled within a game of Pittsburgh for the second NL wild-card spot. Jaime Garcia is expected to come off the disabled list to start Sunday's series finale against Pirates right-hander Jeff Karstens. Reds 5, Cubs 3, 1st Game & Cubs 9, Reds 7, 2nd Game: Brett Jackson hit his first career home run to help Brooks Raley earn his first major league win, leading Chicago over Cincinnati for a split of their day-night doubleheader. David DeJesus also homered and Starlin Castro had three hits and two RBIs for the Cubs. Raley (1-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. Carlos Marmol earned his 15th save in 17 chances. Ryan Ludwick went deep twice and drove in three runs for the Reds. Todd Redmond (0-1) gave up four runs, seven hits and five walks in 3 1-3 innings. In the opener, Johnny Cueto remained perfect under the sun and Cincinnati's Todd Frazier hit a go-ahead homer for the second straight game. Dodgers 6, Braves 2: Hanley Ramirez drove in four runs with two homers, including the first of three straight shots by Los Angeles in the second inning against Atlanta. In other games it was: Mets 2, Nationals 0; Phillies 4, Brewers 3; Diamondbacks 12, Astros 4. — Agencies
