Nationals Spoil Wood’s Return

The Washington Nationals gave Kerry Wood a rude welcome on his return to the mound for the Chicago Cubs.

Ryan Zimmerman, Damian Jackson and Alfonso Soriano homered off Wood (0-1), helping Ramon Ortiz get his first win since September and sending the Nationals to a 5-3 victory over the Cubs on Thursday.

Making his first start since July 20 and first appearance since a relief outing Aug. 29 before season-ending shoulder surgery, Wood lasted five innings in his latest comeback on a chilly 53-degree day at Wrigley Field.

He struck out two of the first three batters in an eight-pitch first inning, but then gave up the long ball to the struggling Nationals, who had been shut out in the first two games of the series.

Wood went five innings, giving up five hits, four runs with no walks and six strikeouts during a 71-pitch outing.

One out after a bloop single by Marlon Byrd, Jackson homered to left and Wood trailed, 3-0. Soriano hit his 13th homer leading off the third.

Ortiz (1-4), who was winless in his first seven starts, got his first victory since Sept. 10 against the Pirates. He yielded eight hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati 9, Pittsburgh 8 -- Ken Griffey Jr.’s soft line-drive single drove in two runs during a four-run seventh inning at Pittsburgh, and the Reds ended a five-game losing streak, rallying from a six-run deficit. The Reds withstood Jason Bay’s grand slam during a six-run first to deny the Pirates their first three-game sweep of any opponent since July 2004.

Atlanta 9, Florida 1 -- Jeff Francoeur hit two home runs to help the Braves complete a four-game sweep at Atlanta. Winning for the ninth time in 11 games, the Braves (21-20) moved above .500 for the first time since April 7, when they were 3-2.

Milwaukee 5, Philadelphia 4 -- Geoff Jenkins’ two-run double capped a four-run seventh inning as the Brewers rallied to complete a three-game sweep at Milwaukee. Derrick Turnbow, who was taken out of Wednesday night’s game after giving up three runs in the ninth, pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 13th save in 14 chances.

St. Louis 6, New York 3 -- Jason Marquis (5-4) pitched into the eighth inning at St. Louis, winning his second straight start after losing four in a row. He yielded three runs and four hits in 7 2/3 innings. He has given up four runs in 14 2/3 innings in his last two games after yielding 22 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings in the previous four.