ATLANTA, 20 May 2003 — Vinny Castilla homered for the third time in two games as the Atlanta Braves completed a four-game series sweep by downing the San Diego Padres 6-3 in National League action on Sunday.

Atlanta swept their fifth series of the season as the NL East leaders continued their hot streak. The Braves, who started 4-8, have won 27 of their last 32 games to improve to 31-13, the best in the majors.

Marcus Giles drove in the Braves first three runs, while Chipper Jones added a solo homer for the Braves, who had 13 hits in the game.

Russ Ortiz (6-2) won his fifth straight decision, pitching seven solid innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

John Smoltz pitched a scoreless ninth for Atlanta, giving him 18 saves in 19 opportunities so far this season. The Padres were out-scored 39-15 in the series sweep, the first by the Braves over the Padres since 1994. San Diego has now lost five games in a row.

Brian Lawrence (2-5) went seven innings and allowed six runs on 11 hits, striking out two and walking one.

Keith Lockhart homered and had two hits for the Padres, while Sean Burroughs had three hits and drove in a run.

Reds 6 Brewers 3

In Milwaukee, Aaron Boone hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the top of the 10th inning, to lift the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-3 win over the Brewers.

Scott Sullivan (4-0) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the win before Scott Williamson closed the game with his 10th save.

Cardinals 6 Cubs 3

In St. Louis, Scott Rolen smacked a two-run home run in the seventh inning to help the Cardinals double the Chicago Cubs 6-3.

Dustin Hermanson (1-1) worked the relief and Cal Eldred picked up his third save after retiring the final two batters in the ninth inning.

Rockies 4 Expos 0

In Denver, Jay Payton’s solo homer in the third inning was enough to give the Rockies a 4-0 win over the Montreal Expos. Shawn Chacon (5-2) allowed four hits in six scoreless innings and five relievers combined to preserve the shutout.

Mets 5 Giants 1

In San Francisco, rookie Jason Phillips crushed a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the New York Mets a 5-1 win over the Giants. Tom Glavine pitched eight scoreless innings before Marquis Grissom broke the shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth. Glavine (5-3) struck out four batters and allowed six hits in 8 1/3 innings.

Dodgers 2 Marlins 1

In Los Angeles, Hideo Nomo pitched seven strong innings to back the Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the Florida Marlins.

Nomo (5-4) struck out five batters and allowed one run and five hits before Eric Gagne struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 15th save. Alex Cora had two hits, including a second-inning triple, and drove in both runs for the Dodgers, who swept the three-game series.

Diamondbacks 8 Pirates 6

In Phoenix, David Dellucci drove in two runs and scored the game-winner in the sixth inning to help the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Phillies 3 Astros 1

In Houston, Kevin Millwood pitched a six-hitter to lead the Philadelphia Phillies past the Houston Astros 3-1. Millwood (6-1) allowed one run while striking out four and walking one as the Phillies made the most of just three hits.

Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins and David Bell drove in the Phillies runs as Philadelphia took advantage of early wildness by Tim Redding to score a pair of first inning runs to give Millwood all the offense he would need.