Chicago ? Now this is Mark Prior’s idea of fun.

Matching pitch for pitch, strikeout for strikeout, he and Javier Vazquez got into a good, old-fashioned pitcher’s duel Wednesday afternoon. Only one bad pitch separated them, but that was all Prior needed to get his first major league shutout.

“It was a lot of fun,” Prior said after the Chicago Cubs’ 3-0 victory over the Montreal Expos. “All around, it was a good day.”

Even the Expos agreed.

“This is baseball at its best: Playing at Wrigley Field, two good pitchers on the mound throwing toe-to-toe,” Expos catcher Michael Barrett said. “Unfortunately we were at the losing end, but it was still just a great game to be a part of.”

Prior and Vazquez combined for 26 strikeouts while walking none.

Prior (2-0) scattered four hits and struck out 12 for the second complete game of his young career, retiring 16 straight at one point. His only extra-base hit was a double by Orlando Cabrera in the seventh.

Vazquez (1-1) struck out a career-high 14 in seven innings, fanning two in every inning but the fifth. He scattered five hits over seven innings.

But one of those hits was a first-pitch, two-run homer by Damian Miller, and that was enough to decide the game.

Marlins 3, Mets 2

Miami — Ivan Rodriguez homered and drove home the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning, leading Florida past New York. Rodriguez made the key defensive play, too. After Armando Almanza hit Mo Vaughn with a pitch to start the ninth, pinch-runner Joe McEwing was picked off first base by Rodriguez, a perennial Gold Glove.

Phillies 16, Braves 2

Philadelphia — Greg Maddux was hit hard for the third straight start, and Pat Burrell and Jim Thome each homered twice and drove in five runs to lead Philadelphia past Atlanta.

Rockies 9, Cardinals 4

Denver — Larry Walker and Preston Wilson each drove in three runs, and Colorado built a big early lead in a 9-4 victory against St. Louis. Wilson and Bobby Estalella each hit two-run homers as Colorado opened a 9-0 lead after three innings.

Astros 4, Reds 3

Houston — Jeff Kent’s tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning sent Houston past Cincinnati. The Astros loaded the bases in the seventh against Josias Manzanillo (0-2) on singles by Craig Biggio, Jose Vizcaino and Jeff Bagwell. Gabe White struck out Lance Berkman before John Riedling came on to pitch to Kent.

Brewers 3, Pirates 2

Pittsburgh — Geoff Jenkins, playing for the first time since tearing up his right ankle last season, hit a two-run homer to support Todd Ritchie’s strong start and Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh.

Giants 15, Padres 11

San Francisco — Pedro Feliz had a career-high four hits for San Francisco as the Giants beat San Diego in the highest-scoring game at 3-year-old Pacific Bell Park. The first inning alone featured 11 runs. The Giants’ first seven batters scored against Dennis Tankersley, called up from the minors to make an emergency start.

Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 2

Los Angeles — Darren Dreifort pitched six strong innings to earn his first victory in almost 22 months, and Shawn Green homered and drove in three runs.