Chicago ? After all those strikeouts, Mark Prior was worn out. Moments later, his Chicago Cubs were cooked, too.

Prior struck out a career-high 16 in eight innings, but wound up with a no-decision when Milwaukee’s Geoff Jenkins hit a three-run homer in the ninth that rallied the Brewers to a 5-3 win Thursday.

Prior was brilliant, allowing two runs and four hits with no walks. His strikeout total was the highest in the majors this year.

But with his pitch count at 126, Cubs manager Dusty Baker pulled Prior with a 3-2 lead — an edge built on Sammy Sosa’s two-run home run.

“It wasn’t very tough,” Baker said of the decision. “It was tough to send Mark out there in the eighth. That was the tough one. He had 112 or 14 pitches before he started that inning.”

“You get chastised if you take him out and you get chastised if he goes too long. He’s such a valuable commodity, you couldn’t stretch him any further than that,” he said.

Prior wasn’t willing to risk anything, either.

“I was tired. We have had conversations about trying to learn how to be honest because it is a long season,” the 22-year-old ace said. “I was gassed going out in the eighth inning.”

Cubs reliever Joe Borowski (1-1) gave up a leadoff single to Scott Podsednik in the ninth and walked Keith Ginter. Jenkins followed with a shot onto Sheffield Avenue.

“He’s shut us down in Milwaukee and we just got lucky to get something to hit,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins homered for the fourth straight game.

Leo Estrella (2-0) pitched the eighth to get the victory. Mike DeJean picked up his 16th save in 20 opportunities by pitching a perfect ninth.

Prior pitched for the first time since losing last Thursday to Cincinnati 3-1, and he was sharp from the start. He struck out eight in the first four innings.

“I think today maybe it wasn’t so much stuff, it’s just that I did a good job of locating my fastball on both sides of the plate,” said Prior.

Prior fanned Enrique Cruz leading off the sixth, reaching the double-digit mark in strikeouts for the 10th time in 35 career starts. He has done it four times this season.

Cardinals 11, Reds 7

St. Louis — Tino Martinez went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and rookie Bo Hart had three more hits in St. Louis’ victory over Cincinnati. Woody Williams won his 10th game, Jim Edmonds had four RBIs and Albert Pujols had four hits for the Cardinals, who took two of three from the Reds after entering the series 1-6 against Cincinnati. The Cardinals finished 3-3 on a six-game homestand.

Hart was 3-for-5 with an RBI single and a run scored, and is batting .514 (18-for-35) since being called up seven games ago. Martinez homered, doubled and singled in his first three at-bats and was 5-for-14 in the series with three homers and six RBIs.

Martinez hit his ninth homer, and Edmonds also had a three-run shot in a seven-run second off Jimmy Anderson (1-5).

Phillies 8, Braves 1

Atlanta — Randy Wolf pitched six strong innings and Jim Thome and Mike Lieberthal homered as Philadelphia won its second straight series against Atlanta. Wolf (9-3) allowed three hits and one run, striking out five. He improved to 4-0 in five starts this month.

Wolf had struggled in the past with the Braves. He was just 2-7 with a 4.35 ERA in 12 career appearances against Atlanta.

Marlins 6, Mets 1

New York — Rookie Dontrelle Willis won his seventh straight start and Florida took advantage of four errors and three wild pitches to beat New York. Willis (8-1) defeated the Mets for the second time in 10 days. June 16, he pitched a one-hitter against them to win 1-0 at Miami.

The hard-throwing lefty with the high leg kick gave up one run and nine hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Highly regarded Aaron Heilman (0-1) lost in his major-league debut.