Todd Walker hit a two-run homer, and Matt Murton also homered for Chicago, which snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the fifth time in 26 games. Making his third start since shoulder surgery last Aug. 31, Wood allowed two runs — one earned — and scattered nine hits. He struck out four and walked one.

Wood (1-1) helped himself with an RBI single in the fourth to give Chicago a 3-2 lead. He also doubled in the second inning.

Murton led off the sixth with his fourth home run, and Walker made it 6-2 with a two-run drive off Kent Mercker in the seventh.

Los Angeles 12, Atlanta 5: Ramon Martinez hit a three-run homer and finished with five RBIs to lead the visiting Dodgers. Los Angeles scored seven runs in the first two innings, knocking John Thomson out of the game early. Thomson (2-4) recorded only four outs while giving up seven runs, five earned, and seven hits with three walks.

St. Louis 3, Houston 1: Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning — his major league-leading 25th home run of the season — to lift the host Cardinals.

Florida 5, San Francisco 1: Scott Olsen (3-3) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings to lead the host Marlins. Barry Bonds went 1-for-4 with a single and stayed at 715 homers.

Pittsburgh 14, Milwaukee 3: Sean Casey had three hits and drove in three runs for the host Pirates. Jason Bay’s streak of consecutive games with a homer ended at six as he was the only Pittsburgh starter to not drive in a run.

Philadelphia 11, Washington 2: Ryan Howard hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the sixth inning for the host Phillies.

Colorado 5, San Diego 0: Jason Jennings (3-5) pitched a two-hitter, and Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and rookie Ryan Spilborghs homered for the visiting Rockies.

New York 8, Arizona 7: The Mets scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, the second on David Wright’s drive to centerfield with one out.

With the salary cap creating personnel turnover every season, it’s even rarer in today’s NFL.

“It makes it better for us. It gives us more latitude in what we can do on draft day. We’re not having to be fixed on a need,” Angelo said.

The Bears won the NFC North last season and will be favorites again in a division where Green Bay’s Brett Favre hasn’t decided on his future and where Daunte Culpepper has left the Vikings.

So Angelo could use the late choice to shore up some areas. He could peddle it and move up this year or next. Or he could use it to get additional picks.

If they keep it?

“We see the player at 26 as being a starter. Will he come in right away and start? I can’t say that. But we obviously feel that way,” he said. “Really we see that with all our players on the first day.”

Chicago wanted to upgrade its secondary that was exposed in a playoff loss to Carolina last January, especially after veteran backup and kick returner Jerry Azumah retired in the offseason.

The Bears perhaps took care of strengthening the secondary last week by signing defensive back Ricky Manning Jr. to a $21 million offer sheet over five years that includes $7.5 million in guaranteed money the first year.

Carolina did not match the offer for Manning, who was arrested for suspicion of assault Sunday night in Los Angeles after an altercation at a restaurant.

Other areas that could be addressed are tight end, a position that requires more blocking than receiving in Chicago’s run-oriented scheme, or linebacker, where the Bears have Pro Bowlers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and are expected to re-sign restricted free agent Hunter Hillenmeyer. The Bears have discussed a contract extension for Briggs.

The Bears, who were very interested in free agent Antwaan Randle El before he joined Washington, could also look to upgrade at wide receiver and give more help to Mushin Muhammad, last offseason’s top acquisition.

Is there a trade to be made?

“We are getting calls. So once we get a little bit better idea how serious the calls are, then we’ll start looking at what our options are, either going up or down,” Angelo said last week.

“We’re not married to it, but we feel good about who we’re going to get at 26 and it could be a player on either side of the ball. Last year we really wanted to focus on the offense. There have been years we really wanted to focus on the defense. We’re not really focused on either side of the ball.”

Chicago’s biggest problem has been quarterback for years. Injuries and inexperience have plagued the Bears. They signed veteran Brian Griese to back up Rex Grossman, whose career has been stunted by major injuries the last two seasons. Kyle Orton, a rookie last season, stepped in, struggled at times, but also did enough to get Chicago headed toward the playoffs before Grossman returned from a broken ankle. Orton’s now No. 3.

So, quarterbacking is not a priority and running back apparently isn’t, either. Thomas Jones rushed for 1,335 yards last season, but he should have strong training camp competition from Cedric Benson, last year’s first-round pick, who was hurt by a holdout and then a knee injury.

“Thomas Jones had a great year,” coach Lovie Smith said. “As strong as that position is as a whole, we should be all right. It will be good to have Cedric here from Day 1. He was here going through the offseason program doing all that. That’s big. And our quarterback position is stronger based on being able to add Brian Griese to the mix. … We just want to add as much depth as we can and improve overall at positions as much as anything.”

With Adrian Peterson a reliable third-stringer who ran well as the backup when Benson was hurt, the Bears might be able to work a deal for Jones.

The Bears announced the trade on their team Web site this morning.

Green, a seventh-round pick of the Bears in 2000, appeared in 81 games with 45 starts in his six seasons with the Bears. Green, 29, started all 16 games for Chicago in 2002 and 2004.

Seattle’s projected starters at safety are Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware. Green figures to assume the key backup role vacated by Marquand Manuel, who filled in as the starter for Hamlin after Hamlin was injured last October and lost for the season.

Manuel signed with Green Bay as a free agent.

Green spent his first six seasons in the Windy City after the Bears selected him in the seventh-round as the “Mr. Irrelevant” pick (254th and final) of the 2000 draft.

He appeared in 81 games total, including 45 starts, with Chicago and recorded 437 tackles, six sacks and four interceptions in that span. Green tallied a career-high of 138 tackles in 2002 and only current Bear Brian Urlacher has registered more tackles from 2001-05 than Green.

The trade now gives Chicago six picks in the upcoming draft, including two in the sixth round.