(CP) - The Philadelphia Phillies arrived in New York with a two-game losing streak, but they're leaving the Big Apple with the lead in the National League wild-card race.

David Bell blooped a two-run single in the first following Tom Glavine's misplay of a potential inning-ending grounder, backing a strong outing by Jon Lieber and leading the Phillies over the New York Mets 3-1 Thursday. Ryan Howard boosted the Phillies' margin with a 430-foot homer in the ninth off Braden Looper. "Right now, we're very confident. We're not letting one loss turn into two," said Billy Wagner, who completed the four-hitter by converting his 23rd straight save chance since May 24.
Philadelphia, which began Thursday a half-game ahead in the wild-card race, won two straight after wasting a lead in the opener of the three-game series. The Phillies headed to Washington to complete their 12-game trip, then return to Philadelphia for a homestand against wild-card rivals Houston and Florida, and NL East-leading Atlanta.

"Everybody's playing each other right now," Howard said. "People are knocking heads, Two out of three will be good anywhere you go."

New York dropped 2 1/2 games behind the Phillies and left for a trip to Florida, Atlanta and St. Louis. The Mets were in position to take over the wild-card lead before Martinez failed to hold a 2-0 advantage against the Phillies in an 8-2 loss Wednesday night.

"I don't know what the heck I'm doing, but overall, everybody's just trying too hard," said Cliff Floyd, who hasn't homered since Aug. 16. "Hopefully, we can get it back because it would be a shame to waste what we've done so far.

Lieber (13-12) threw 68 of 98 pitches for strikes, allowing four hits, striking out six and walking none. He gave up his only run in the sixth when Jose Reyes led off with a triple and scored on Kaz Matsui's groundout.

Coming off losses in consecutive outings in which the Phillies were shut out, Lieber allowed two runs or fewer for the fifth time in his last six starts. He was 4-1 in April, lost nine of his next 14 decisions, then has gone 4-2 since Aug. 1.

"I think I tried to be a little too fine the months of May and June," he said.

Elsewhere in the National League on Thursday, it was: Atlanta 8, Washington 7 (10 innings); San Diego 6, Milwaukee 5; and Houston 3, Cincinnati 1.

At New York, Matsui's grounder started a string of nine straight outs for Lieber. Ugueth Urbina followed with a perfect eighth, and Wagner got three outs for his 32nd save in 34 chances.

With a runner on first and two outs in the ninth, David Wright took a called third strike on a pitch he thought was inside, and he threw his bat in disgust.

After winning the first four games of a road trip last week, the Mets have lost four of five.

"We're going to need to find it real quick if we're going to stay in this thing," Wright said.

Glavine (10-12) nearly matched Lieber, giving up three hits and four walks in seven innings. But he did himself in with his defence.

Jason Michaels doubled with one out in the first, Bobby Abreu walked and Pat Burrell hit a comebacker for what should have been an easy inning-ending double play. But the pitcher fumbled the ball twice and could only get the out at first.

"I was expecting a hop I didn't get, and when I started to turn, I didn't catch it," Glavine said. "My momentum was going toward second, and I reached for it and didn't get it cleanly again."

Braves 8, Nationals 7 (10 innings)

At Atlanta, Andruw Jones belted his league-leading 44th home run of the season in the bottom of the 10th as the Braves edged Washington.

Chipper Jones and rookie Jeff Francoeur also homered for Atlanta, which blew a 7-1 lead but rallied to earn a split of its four-game series with the Nationals.

Vinny Castilla had four RBI's while Jose Guillen scored three times for Washington.

Padres 6, Brewers 5

At Milwaukee, Khalil Greene hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and San Diego held on to beat the Brewers.

Ben Johnson added a two-run homer in the ninth for the Padres, who climbed above .500 for the first time since Aug. 12.

J.J. Hardy and Geoff Jenkins had two-run shots for Milwaukee.

Astros 3, Reds 1

At Houston, Roy Oswalt struck out 11 batters in 5 2-3 innings, earning his 16th win as the Astros downed Cincinnati.

Oswalt (16-11) allowed just one run on five hits, while Houston's bullpen provided 3 1-3 innings of one-hit relief.

Sean Casey had two hits and drove in the only run for the Reds.

-

Jose Contreras is determined to help the Chicago White Sox forget about their awful August.

Contreras continued his strong second half and A.J. Pierzynski went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs to lead Chicago over the Detroit Tigers 12-3 Thursday night.

Jermaine Dye and Carl Everett also homered for the White Sox, who broke the game open with six runs in the eighth inning. Every batter had a hit and the team finished with 18 overall, nine for extra bases.

In contrast, Chicago averaged only 3.5 runs in August and scored just 12 in their previous five home games.

"The way we've been all year, I have a sense we can score 10 runs at any time," Paul Konerko said. "You hope for the best and we know it's in us."

Contreras (10-7) was perfect until the fifth, when former White Sox all-star Magglio Ordonez led off with a single. The Cuban right-hander allowed only one hit until the seventh, when the Tigers got three straight hits, including a two-run homer by Brandon Inge.

Craig Monroe added a solo shot in the eighth to end Contreras' night. Contreras gave up three runs and five hits in seven-plus innings. He struck out five and is 6-2 since the All-Star break.

"That has been the difference in the last three starts, he hasn't walked anybody," translator and third base coach Joey Cora said. "Like any other pitcher, when he doesn't walk anybody, he has a better chance to pitch well."

Elsewhere in the American League on Thursday, it was: Baltimore 5, Toronto 3; Seattle 5, New York Yankees 1; Boston 7, Tampa Bay 4; Texas 5, Kansas City 4; and L.A. Angels 3, Oakland 0.

At Chicago, Contreras provided the perfect remedy for his team's recent struggles. The White Sox just finished their first losing month at 12-16, and they had dropped four of five and 12 of 18. Contreras has been the team's most consistent starter lately, going 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in August.

"He has one of the best arms, maybe is the best arm in my rotation, and he's showing right now what kind of pitcher he is," Guillen said. "He's showing right now what we expect from him and what he can do."

Cliff Politte worked a perfect eighth, preserving a 6-3 lead.

Pinch-hitter Tadahito Iguchi, a late scratch from the starting lineup for personal reasons, hit a two-run single in the bottom half. Scott Podsednik and Pablo Ozuna followed with RBI doubles, and Everett capped the outburst with a two-run homer.

Chicago had six straight hits in the eighth off three relievers. The Tigers have lost six of eight.

"I know some of them were good hitting, but I'd say there have been way too many pitches in the middle of the plate," Tigers manager Alan Trammell said.

Chicago led 1-0 before getting four straight hits off Jason Johnson (7-11) in the fourth. Aaron Rowand and Dye singled, and Pierzynski drove in Rowand with a ground-rule double. Juan Uribe added a two-run double to the right-field corner.

With one out in the sixth, Dye hit his 26th homer and Pierzynski followed with his 18th. Johnson left after Uribe followed with a single. Johnson gave up six runs and 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Pierzynski also had an RBI double in the second to score Konerko.

Orioles 5, Blue Jays 3

At Toronto, Jay Gibbons and B.J. Surhoff homered in a three-run sixth inning as Baltimore rallied to beat the Blue Jays.

Orioles righthander Hayden Penn (3-2) allowed three runs - two earned - on seven hits in five-plus innings after being recalled from double-A Bowie earlier in the day.

Corey Koskie drove in a pair of runs for Toronto, which has lost 10 of 13 to drop below .500 for the first time since July 19.

Mariners 5, Yankees 1

At Seattle, Yankees starter Jaret Wright was knocked out of the game by Raul Ibanez's sixth-inning line drive, and Miguel Ojeda's first home run with the Mariners sent them to a 3-1 victory.

Wright left after being hit on the right collarbone and the right side of his neck.

Jose Lopez added a two-run homer - his first of the season - for the Mariners.

Alex Rodriguez singled to centre for his 106th R-B-I to provide New York's only offence.

Red Sox 7, Devil Rays 4

At Boston, John Olerud homered twice and drove in six runs as the Red Sox rallied for the third straight night to beat Tampa Bay.

Bronson Arroyo (11-9) allowed four runs in seven innings for Boston, which rallied from a 5-0 deficit on Tuesday, came back from 5-1 down on Wednesday and trailed 2-0 and 4-2 on Thursday.

Jonny Gomes and Travis Lee each had two-run homers for the Devil Rays.

Rangers 5, Royals 4

At Kansas City, Mo., Kenny Rogers earned his first victory in over six weeks and Rod Barajas hit two homers as Texas got past the Royals.

The second round-tripper gave Barajas a career-high 16, making the Rangers the first team in major-league history to have nine players hit at least 15 homers.

Rogers (12-7) allowed three runs while scattering 11 hits over seven innings for his first win since July 16.

J.P. Howell (1-5) allowed four runs on six hits in six innings for Kansas City.

Angels 3, Athletics 0

At Anaheim, Calif., rookie Ervin Santana pitched into the ninth inning and Robb Quinlan homered Thursday night in the Los Angeles Angels' 3-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Making his 17th major league start, Santana (8-6) gave up a double to Mark Ellis leading off the first inning, a single by Ellis in the third, then retired 12 straight until Jay Payton's single in the seventh.

Chone Figgins went 3-for-3 for the Angels, scored the first run and stole two bases.