The Chicago Cubs are closing too fast for the rest of the NL Central to keep up.

At one point early this month, they were in fourth place. Now the Cubs could leave St. Louis as the division leader.

The Cubs got within a game of the Cardinals on Tuesday night when Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run double off closer Jason Isringhausen with two outs in the eighth inning to help Chicago to a 5-4 win.

It was the Cubs' ninth win in 10 games, outpacing even the Cardinals, who have won 15 of 21, but lost two straight.

Isringhausen relieved Jason Marquis after the starter allowed a single to Mark Grudzielanek and he was sacrificed over. After retiring Moises Alou, he walked Sammy Sosa on a full count before Ramirez doubled.

"He's an RBI guy," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He's had two 100-RBI years and he's getting better.

Kyle Farnsworth (3-3) pitched out of a jam in the seventh, and retired the heart of the order in the eighth. LaTroy Hawkins finished for his ninth save in 12 chances.

If Chicago can take over first place at Busch Stadium, it will be an accomplishment: It's won just eight times there in 35 games since 2000.

Mike Piazza hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning and the Mets won their season-high fifth straight.In his first game since hitting his 500th homer, Ken Griffey Jr. went 1-for-5 with a single. He was mostly cheered by the Shea Stadium crowd of 19,301.

Edgardo Alfonzo drove in a career-high six runs and San Francisco moved a half-game ahead of Los Angeles in the NL West.Deivi Cruz went 5-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs for the Giants, who have won 13 of their last 14 home games to take the division lead for the first time since April 13. They trailed by eight games in May.

At Miami, Carl Pavano (8-2) gave up three runs and nine hits in seven innings, winning his fourth consecutive start and fifth in six outings.

At Montreal, Livan Hernandez (4-7) doubled twice and got his first win in five weeks.

At Milwaukee, Larry Walker made his return for the Rockies, but Colorado's Javier Lopez (0-2) broke a seventh-inning tie when he hit consecutive batters with the bases loaded.

At San Diego, Khalil Greene scored from second when Scott Hairston botched a potential double-play ball with one out in the 10th inning.With Greene on second and Sean Burroughs at first, Hairston tried to glove Mark Loretta's chopper to second and tag Burroughs to start a double play. But the ball popped loose and rolled into shallow left field, allowing Greene to score.

Nomar Garciaparra hit a grand slam Tuesday night for his first home run of the season, sending Boston to victory over Minnesota at Fenway Park."It was nice," said Garciaparra, who missed the first 57 games with right Achilles' tendinitis. "We never counted on just one guy. We expect to pick each other up, always."

Alex Rodriguez did most of the damage for the Yankees at Camden Yards., passing Joe DiMaggio on the career home run list, connecting twice and driving in five runs."Alex was dynamite," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Tampa Bay extended its franchise-record winning streak to 12 games by beating Toronto at SkyDome behind homers from Julio Lugo and Carl Crawford.

At Arlington, Texas, Ryan Drese (4-4) pitched four-hit ball for eight innings and Rod Barajas homered in his third straight game.The Rangers won their fourth straight and are first in the AL West at the latest point in a season since 1999.

At Kansas City, Mo., Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer off Mike Maroth (5-5) in the first inning and Mike Sweeney added a three-run shot in the eighth, sending Detroit to its fourth straight loss.

At Chicago, Jose Valentin hit a two-run homer off Jose Jimenez (1-5) in the 10th and drove in five runs. Frank Thomas had a three-run shot for Chicago, which nearly squandered an eight-run lead. Shingo Takatsu (4-0) was the winner.

At Anaheim, Calif., Bartolo Colon (5-6) took a shutout into the eighth inning and the Angels beat Tim Hudson (7-3). Oakland has lost seven of eight following an eight-game winning streak.