Maddux Does It All

Greg Maddux put on a triple-threat performance: He helped defeat the St. Louis Cardinals with his arm, bat and legs.

Maddux pitched seven strong innings, stole a base, got an infield hit and scored twice in the Chicago Cubs’ 7-3 victory over the Cardinals on Monday at St. Louis.

“It was a great day for Greg,” Manager Dusty Baker said. “This guy comes to compete and tries to beat you any way he can.”

Sammy Sosa, Todd Walker and Derrek Lee homered for the Cubs, who split the four-game series despite scoring only 14 runs. The games drew a total of 181,826 fans -- an average of 45,456 a game.

For Walker, the setting reminded him of last fall when he was with the Red Sox.

“This series reminds me a lot of playing the Yankees last year in the championship series, the same identical thing almost,” Walker said. “I think it prepares you for when you get to the playoffs.

“This is a little more mild-tempered than in Boston and New York where you’ve got people beating each other up in the stands and that type of stuff.”

Maddux (2-2) outpitched former Atlanta teammate Jason Marquis (1-2) for his 291st career victory.

Cincinnati 7, Houston 5 -- Javier Valentin hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Reds snapped a five-game losing streak at Houston.

Ken Griffey, hampered by a string of injuries the last three years, left in the third inning after striking out against Roy Oswalt. The center fielder was replaced by Jason Romano and is day-to-day.

John Riedling (1-0) earned the victory and Brad Lidge (0-1) the loss.