NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : First Things First for the Cubs, 9-2

Before throwing his first pitch, the Chicago Cubs’ Greg Maddux liked his chances of ending the New York Mets’ four-game winning streak and avoiding a four-game sweep.

That’s because Chicago took a 7-0 lead in the first inning before Maddux took over. He gave up six hits over eight innings and drove in two runs in the Cubs’ 9-2 victory over New York.

Maddux (8-7), who had run-scoring doubles in the first and third innings, said the big lead was a luxury, but one he had to get used to.

“It was a different feeling going out to the mound with such a big lead,” said Maddux, who struck out seven and walked two before giving way to Jim Bullinger in the ninth inning.

“You’d love to get 10 runs every game,” he said. “Every pitcher would, but you know that’s impossible. So you do what you have to to become a winner. All I wanted to do was throw strikes and stay out of the big inning. Big innings cause you to lose games.”

Chicago sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning against Anthony Young (2-7), getting six hits and taking advantage of two errors, a walk and a wild pitch to score seven times.

Catcher Rick Wilkins highlighted the inning with a three-run home run, his first of the season, and added a run-scoring double.

The Mets, held hitless for 5 2/3 innings by Maddux, ended the right-hander’s shutout bid in the seventh inning on a run-scoring single by Todd Hundley.

San Diego 8, San Francisco 0--Bruce Hurst pitched a seven-hitter and struck out a season-high 11 at San Diego as the Giants were shut out for the third game in a row.

Gary Sheffield had three hits, including his 15th homer, and three runs batted in for 53 this season. He is tied for the league lead in both categories.

Hurst (7-5) topped his previous season best of eight strikeouts on April 22 against the Atlanta Braves in recording his third shutout and fifth complete game. The Giants were blanked in their previous two games, losing 7-0 and 5-0 at Atlanta.