Kerry Wood struck out 11 batters, including a team record-tying seven straight, to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 10-2 rout of the host Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) on Sunday.
Wood (2-0) allowed one run on five hits over seven innings with three walks and got seven batters in a row to go down swinging at one point, tying a team record he already shared for some time with Mark Prior.
The Major league strikeout leader with 266 last season, Wood also shares the single game strikeout mark with 20.
Wood's 38th game with 10 or more strikeouts made it an easy afternoon for the Cubs, who hit four homers in the game.
Michael Barrett hit a three-run homer for the Cubs while Corey Patterson, pinch-hitter Alex Gonzalez and Moises Alou added homers.
Russ Ortiz (0-2) was the loser for the Braves, allowing four runs on eight hits over seven innings.
Barrett wound up with four RBI for Chicago, while Todd Walker and Alou had two hits and drove in a pair of runs.
The Cubs pounded out 14 hits and blew open the game with four runs in the eighth and another pair of runs in the ninth.
Julio Franco had two hits and scored two runs for Atlanta.
Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Reds 3
In Cincinnati, Rob Mackowiak hit a two-run homer as the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a three-game sweep with a 4-3 win over the Reds.
Raul Mondesi drove in two runs for the Pirates while Oliver Perez (1-0) allowed three runs on six hits over five innings for the win in his first start of the current season.
Jimmy Haynes (0-1) took the loss as the Reds's four-game winning streak was snapped.
Ny Mets 4, Montreal Expos 1
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tom Glavine (2-0) allowed one unearned run in seven innings as the New York Mets beat the Montreal Expos 4-1.
Glavine gave up five hits with one walk and one strikeout while Braden Looper pitched a scoreless ninth for the save. Eric Valent cracked a two-run homer for the Mets. Livan Hernandez (0-1) was the loser.
Houston Astros 7, Brewers 4
In Milwaukee, Lance Berkman belted a grand slam homer and drove in five runs as the Houston Astros beat the Brewers 7-4.
Roy Oswalt (1-0) notched the win, allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings. Junior Spivey had four hits and three RBI for the Brewers.
Florida Marlins 3, Philiies 1
In Miami, Josh Beckett struck out 11 batters in seven innings to help the Florida Marlins edge the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1.
Florida swept the three-game series while handing the awkward-looking Phillies their fourth straight loss.
Colorada Rockies 4, Dodgers 2
In Los Angeles, Shawn Estes allowed only one run on three hits over seven innings to lead the Colorado Rockies past the Dodgers 4-2.
Vinny Castilla and Jeromy Burnitz homered to help the Rockies end a four-game losing streak.
Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 5
In Phoenix, Marlon Anderson recorded a pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning to guide the St Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Albert Pujols homered, doubled and drove in three runs as the Cards swept the three-game series.
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