The Giants broke it open with four runs in the fourth, one of them driven in by Cain (10-9) on a sacrifice fly. But he did his best work on the mound, striking out nine and giving up only an unearned run in the first on Chipper Jones’ bases-loaded walk.
After Cain left, the Braves scored four runs in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate. But Brian McCann struck out swinging against Jeremy Affeldt.
San Francisco pounded All-Star Jair Jurrjens (12-5), taking advantage of a pitcher who wasn’t sharp in his first start coming off the disabled list. He surrendered eight hits and five runs in six innings.
In San Diego, David Wright hit a three-run homer and Angel Pagan had three RBIs as the Mets won their first series in San Diego in more than nine years.
Rookie Dillon Gee (11-4) limited the Padres to one run on five hits. The right-hander, who pitched 6 2-3 innings, also made a sparkling fielding play in the third inning that resulted in an inning-ending double play.
Wright connected in the third inning off Mat Latos (6-12) for his 10th home run.
In Philadelphia, Cliff Lee threw seven impressive innings, Wilson Valdez hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh, and the Phillies snapped the Diamondbacks’ seven-game winning streak.
Lee (13-7) allowed two runs and three hits, striking out seven.
Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff homer for the major-league leading Phillies, who’ve won 11 of 14 this month.
In Washington, Johnny Cueto pitched into the ninth inning and Joey Votto homered to lead Cincinnati over the Nationals.
Cueto (9-5) held the Nationals scoreless until Ryan Zimmerman homered on his first pitch of the ninth. Cueto allowed six hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Ramon Hernandez drove in a run for the Reds on a groundout.
In Pittsburgh, Allen Craig homered twice to break out of a slump and lead St. Louis over the Pirates.
Craig went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals, who are trying to stay within shouting distance of front-running Milwaukee in the NL Central.
Craig was hitless in his last 11 at-bats before he connected for a two-run homer against Paul Maholm (6-14) in the first. He added a solo shot in the seventh against Brad Lincoln .
In Denver, Aaron Cook pitched effectively into the eighth inning and Carlos Gonzalez’s three-run homer highlighted a powerful offensive display that sent Colorado to a victory.
The Rockies, who had struggled to provide Cook with run support in past outings, batted around twice in beating Ricky Nolasco for the first time in six tries. Chris Iannetta provided much of the offensive pop, hitting a double and a single to drive in four runs. Gonzalez, who also had a run-scoring single, also finished with four RBIs.
In Houston, Matt Downs hit a go-ahead two-run single, Mark Melancon wriggled out of a jam in the ninth inning and the Astros beat Chicago to take the series between the worst teams in NL Central.
Brian Bogusevic had a two-run double in the third inning against Casey Coleman , who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace Carlos Zambrano in the rotation.
Bud Norris (6-8) allowed three runs and six hits in his first win since July 6.
Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer and Geovany Soto had a solo shot for the Cubs, who had won four straight series.
In Milwaukee, Zack Greinke won his fifth straight start and Jerry Hairston singled in two runs to lift the surging Brewers to their 19th victory in 21 games.
The NL Central-leading Brewers remained seven games ahead of St. Louis after the Cardinals topped Pittsburgh.
Hairston’s two-out single in the sixth helped Greinke (12-4) become the first Brewers pitcher in franchise history to win his first nine home decisions with the club.
