NL roundup: Cubs' Carlos Zambrano strong in second start

CINCINNATI — Carlos Zambrano recovered from his horrific opening day start by pitching seven solid innings, and pinch-hitter Jeff Baker hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning Saturday, sending the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Zambrano (1-1) managed only four outs during the Cubs' 16-5 opening-day drubbing in Atlanta. He held the Reds to six hits, including Brandon Phillips' homer, and struck out nine. Carlos Marmol fanned the last three batters for his second save in as many chances.

Kosuke Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano also homered for the Cubs.

NATIONALS 4, METS 3: At New York, Willie Harris made a game-ending diving catch to yet again thwart a Mets rally, and well-traveled Willy Taveras drove in a career-high four runs for Washington. Taveras singled and tripled in his first start for the Nationals, who signed him to a minor league contract in February after Oakland let him go. John Lannan (1-1) teetered on the brink of disaster for the second straight start, giving up three runs in five erratic innings, before Tyler Clippard set down nine of the 10 batters he faced in relief.

Matt Capps made the ninth inning an adventure, giving up a leadoff single to Jose Reyes and a pair of walks before picking up his second save of the season.

CARDINALS 7, BREWERS 1: At Milwaukee, Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer and Yovani Gallardo struggled in his first outing since signing a big contract extension with the Brewers, giving up six runs in five innings against St. Louis. Jaime Garcia (1-0) was sharp in his debut as the Cardinals' No. 5 starter, giving up a run and four hits in six innings. Colby Rasmus homered and Albert Pujols had a two-run single for the Cardinals. Brewers sluggers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder went a combined 0-for-8, including three strikeouts by Fielder.

PHILLIES 9, ASTROS 6: At Houston, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth drove in three runs apiece, and Philadelphia sent winless Houston (0-5) to its worst start in 27 years. Jamie Moyer (1-0), baseball's oldest player at 47, became the sixth-oldest pitcher to appear in a game and the eighth to start one in four decades. He allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings for the victory.

Jason Michaels and Hunter Pence homered off Moyer for the Astros, who are 0-5 for the first time since the 1983 team lost its first nine games.Moyer left with the Phillies trailing 5-4, but they regained the lead in the seventh on Howard's two-run shot off Brandon Lyon (0-1).