Vintage Maddux Leads Cubs, 7-0

Greg Maddux struck out 10 and Corey Patterson hit two solo home runs to lead the Chicago Cubs over the New York Mets, 7-0, Tuesday night at Chicago.

The Cubs won for only the second time in 10 games.

“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.”

Maddux (2-1) stopped the Mets with an array of off-speed pitches, improving to 34-16 lifetime against New York. Cub Manager Dusty Baker was booed when he pulled him with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, but the fans gave Maddux a standing ovation.

It was Maddux’s first double-digit strikeout game since he struck out 11 with Atlanta on June 15, 2003, against Seattle.

“I don’t watch them when I let them go,” Maddux said, referring to his pitches. “It felt good. It was nice to get some outs when you don’t expect to get outs, that happened a couple of times tonight.”

Maddux gave up three hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings, throwing 100 pitches. He stranded two baserunners in the first, then retired 19 of the next 21 batters.

Pittsburgh 5, San Francisco 2 -- Jason Bay hit a three-run homer and Jose Castillo and Humberto Cota also connected to lead the Pirates past the Giants at San Francisco.

Arizona 3, Washington 2 -- Troy Glaus hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning at Phoenix and the Diamondbacks ended their 10-game losing streak against the Washington franchise.

Milwaukee 8, Philadelphia 5 -- Brady Clark ignited a four-run sixth inning with his third hit and the Brewers rallied past the Phillies at Milwaukee.

Atlanta 9, Colorado 5 -- Johnny Estrada’s two-run double sparked a six-run first inning and the Braves ended the Rockies’ two-game winning streak at Denver.

Florida 6, Houston 2 -- Mike Lowell snapped a slump and broke a tie with a two-run double at Miami and the Marlins scored five times in the eighth inning and defeated the Astros.

Cincinnati 5, San Diego 1 -- Sean Casey drove in three runs with two doubles at Cincinnati and the Reds won their second game in the last 12.