Jason Giambi homered for the second consecutive game and Ubaldo Jimenez outpitched Dan Haren to help the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Sunday in Phoenix.

Colorado expanded its wild-card cushion over its three nearest pursuers because the Giants, Florida and Atlanta all lost. The Rockies lead the Giants by 41/2 games.

After winning a franchise-record 40th road game, Colorado opens a nine-game homestand on Tuesday.

Giambi has 11 RBI in his 12 games since joining the Rockies earlier this month. After being released by the A's, where he was hitting .193, Giambi was lured to Colorado by the chance to play for manager Jim Tracy on a team that could contend. His role off the bench behind first baseman Todd Helton suited him perfectly.

"It's a great team, that's why I chose to come here," Giambi said, "Not only the guys, but the way they played the game, and Jim Tracy was a huge reason."

  • Milton Bradley's season is finished. Perhaps his days with the Chicago Cubs are, too. The Cubs suspended their volatile outfielder for the rest of the season Sunday, one day after he criticized the team in a newspaper interview.

    General manager Jim Hendry said he decided to send Bradley home after learning of the player's remarks in the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald of Illinois. Bradley was quoted as saying "you understand why they haven't won in 100 years here."

    Bradley

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    has two years remaining on a three-year, $30 million contract that he signed as a free agent last offseason. Hendry said he doesn't know if the relationship can be salvaged. "The last few days became too much for me to tolerate," Hendry said.

  • Minnesota Twins third baseman Joe Crede said he plans to have another surgery on his injured back.

  • Texas right-hander Kevin Millwood expects to make his scheduled start tonight against the A's and have a chance to pitch the 41/3 innings needed to guarantee a $12 million contract next season. He last pitched Sept. 12, then was pushed back to work on a mechanical flaw after he went 2-5 with a 6.29 ERA his past 12 starts since July.