San Francisco, CA (My Sportsbook) - Vinny Castilla's two-run single and Keith Lockhart's three-run homer fueled a five-run sixth inning, as the Atlanta Braves pounded the San Francisco Giants, 10-2, in Game 3 of their NL Division Series at Pac Bell Park. Greg Maddux pitched six solid innings for the NL East-champion Braves, who took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and can advance to the NL Championship Series for the 12th time in franchise history by winning Game 4 on Sunday.

Jeff Kent had an RBI double and Barry Bonds hit his second home run of the series for the Giants, who will try to stave off elimination Sunday and force a Game 5 Monday night in Atlanta.

Lockhart finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI, while Andruw Jones drove in a pair of runs in the victory.

"I have gotten some hits, but that's probably the biggest," said Lockhart about his three-run shot. "I'll enjoy it. We talked earlier how there were not many in the season, but the ones I've had have been pretty timely."

Maddux (1-0), whose start was pushed back to Game 3 because of a blister on the index finger of his pitching hand, allowed just two runs on five hits in his six innings of work. He struck out three, walked one and hit a batter.

The 36-year-old righthander improved to 11-13 with a 3.23 ERA in 30 career post-season games, including 28 starts. Maddux is 5-2 with a 3.15 ERA lifetime in NLDS play.

San Francisco starter Jason Schmidt was cruising along until the top of the sixth. After striking out Julio Franco to start the frame, Schmidt issued consecutive walks to Gary Sheffield, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones to load the bases with one out. Giants manager Dusty Baker lifted Schmidt in favor of Manny Aybar, whose first pitch was ripped into left field by Castilla for a two-run single that gave the Braves a 3-1 lead.

Lockhart then stepped up to the plate and sent Aybar's next pitch over the high wall in right field for a three-run home run that put Atlanta up 6-1. The blast was the first career post-season homer for Lockhart, who batted just .216 with five home runs during the regular season.

Bonds, who hit a meaningless home run with the Giants trailing by five in the ninth inning of Game 2, slugged just his third career post-season home run -- a solo shot to left off Maddux -- in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-2.

The Braves tacked on four more runs in the top of the ninth. Rafael Furcal and Franco started the rally with back-to-back, one-out singles off Tim Worrell, who then walked Sheffield to load the bases before being replaced by Aaron Fultz.

Chipper Jones then sent a chopper to third that was fielded by Giants third baseman David Bell, but he had trouble getting the ball out of his glove and it was safe all around as a run scored.

Robb Nen relieved Fultz and gave up a two-run single to Andruw Jones that made it 9-2. After Castilla flied out to left for the second out of the inning, Lockhart capped off his four-RBI day by slinging a base hit into center field that chased home Chipper Jones for a 10-2 advantage.

"Our game plan was to try to hit," said Atlanta manager Bobby Cox.

Schmidt (0-1), who was an eighth-round draft choice of the Braves in 1991 and was making the first playoff appearance of his career, surrendered four runs on three hits while striking out five and walking four over 5 1/3 innings.

Atlanta had runners at first and second with two outs in the top of the first inning, but Andruw Jones grounded out to third to end the threat.

San Francisco then took a 1-0 lead off Maddux in the bottom half of the frame. Kenny Lofton led off with a bunt single and went to second on Rich Aurilia's grounder to shortstop before scoring on Kent's double to left. An intentional walk to Bonds gave the Giants runners at first and second with one out.

However, the Giants' chances for scoring more in the inning were thwarted by a bizarre double play. With Kent trying to steal third, Benito Santiago sent a hard grounder right to third baseman Castilla, who was moving into position to take a throw from the catcher. Castilla was able to apply the tag to a headfirst-sliding Kent and then get Santiago at first for the inning-ending twin-killing.

The Braves tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. Furcal ripped a ball to the left field corner that eluded Bonds and resulted in a leadoff triple. Franco's grounder to short allowed Furcal to score the tying run.

Kent, who was hit in the left ear flap of his batting helmet by a Maddux pitch with two outs in the bottom of the third, expressed his frustration after the game.

"I don't want to talk about it," said Kent, who remained in the contest. "We're in a playoff situation. There's no sense moaning about getting hit."

Maddux said he expected Kent to be upset about the beaning. "I was just trying to come in and I came in and missed in," Maddux said. "I don't blame him. I'd be (mad) if I got hit."

Lefthander Tom Glavine (0-1), who suffered the lost in Game 1 of this series, is slated to get the ball for the Braves in Game 4. Livan Hernandez (0-0) is expected to start for the Giants.