Greg Maddux struck out 10 in his best outing of the season, and Corey Patterson hit two solo homers to lead the Chicago Cubs over the New York Mets 7-0 Tuesday.
The Cubs won for only the second time in 10 games and homered in four straight innings, with Jason Dubois adding a solo shot and Jeromy Burnitz hitting a two-run drive.
"It's nice to win," Maddux said. "It's still early. Obviously we have a lot of time to get our act together and play the way we're capable of playing. I don't think it was life or death or anything before the game started, by any means. We just needed a win and we got a win. It doesn't matter if it's one run or 10 runs."
Maddux (2-1) handcuffed the Mets with an array of off-speed stuff, improving to 34-16 lifetime against New York. He gave up three hits and three walks in 6 2-3 innings.
"He usually doesn't get that close to the 100-pitch mark," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He probably was getting too close to being over his limit."
Michael Wuertz and Mike Remlinger finished the three-hitter. It was Chicago's second shutout, and the first time the Mets have been blanked this season.
Kris Benson (0-1) allowed a career-high four homers in his second start of the season after returning from the disabled list -- he missed a month with a strained right pectoral muscle. He gave up six runs and 10 hits in six innings.
Dodgers 9, Cardinals 8
In St. Louis, Choi Hee-seop hit a go-ahead, three-run homer after he withstood a collision that forced Scott Rolen from the game with a sprained left shoulder in Los Angeles' victory over St. Louis.
Jeff Kent also homered and Cesar Izturis had two hits and two RBIs, helping the Dodgers end a six-game losing streak at Busch Stadium, counting the first round of the postseason last year.
Choi drove in four runs for the Dodgers, who squandered an early three-run lead but erased a four-run deficit with a six-run sixth against Matt Morris and reliever Kevin Jarvis (0-1).
Wilson Alvarez (1-0) got one out in the fifth to earn the win. Yhency Brazoban got three outs for his 10th save in 11 chances.
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