Chicago ? Greg Maddux watched as all the other Chicago Cubs starters but him earned victories.

Kerry Wood. Carlos Zambrano. Matt Clement. Even rookie Sergio Mitre was ahead of the four-time Cy Young Award winner.

“You look up and we’ve won nine games and we haven’t won any that you’ve played in,” Maddux said.

He changed that Friday, beating the New York Mets, 3-1, for his first victory since rejoining his original team.

“It’s nice to play in one that we’ve actually won,” he said.

It was the 290th win of Maddux’s career, and his first in a Cubs uniform since Sept. 30, 1992.

“He looked like the Maddux of old,” closer Joe Borowski said.

Maddux (1-2) gave up seven hits but only one run in seven innings, and he worked out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the third in vintage style. After getting Mike Piazza to ground into a double play, he struck out Mike Cameron.

Maddux struck out eight while walking one, and didn’t allow a runner in scoring position after the third inning. His ERA dropped from 8.62 to 6.35.

Moises Alou hit a two-run homer in the first to give Maddux all the offense he needed, and Todd Walker added an insurance home run in the third. Borowski pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Chicago's Greg Maddux delivers against New York. Maddux earned his first victory of the year when the Cubs defeated the Mets, 3-1, Friday in Chicago.

Cameron hit a solo homer and the Mets outhit the Cubs 8-4. But New York stranded seven, and managed only three baserunners over the final six innings. The Mets have lost six of their last eight, and have scored only 12 runs in their last seven games.

Jae Seo (0-3) lost despite allowing four hits in six innings.

“The third inning was probably the ball game,” Mets manager Art Howe said. “Maddux can get the ground ball when he needs it. He knows how to manage the game. He knows how to stop the bleeding.”

Maddux spent the first five years of his career in Chicago, going 95-75 and winning the first of his four straight Cy Youngs. But he left after the 1992 season in a money dispute and went to Atlanta, where he developed into one of the great pitchers of his era.

While Maddux thrived with the Braves, the Cubs wallowed, and fans never forgave the team for letting him go. So when the Cubs signed the right-hander the day before spring training began, there was a sense of righting a karmic wrong. Not only was Maddux coming back home, he would have the chance to get his 300th victory where he started.

The return trip didn’t start as well as Cubs fans hoped, though. Maddux lost his first two starts and wasn’t involved in the decision in his third, giving up a total of 15 earned runs. He had as many walks as he had strikeouts (nine).

But on Friday Maddux flashed the form that has helped him win at least 15 games for 16 straight years.

After getting ahead of Karim Garcia 0-2 in the third, Maddux walked Garcia to load the bases with no outs.

“Just try to limit the damage,” catcher Paul Bako said. “Obviously he did a great job of that.”

D’backs 5, Padres 2

Phoenix — Richie Sexson’s three-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning gave Arizona a victory over San Diego. Padres starter Adam Eaton intentionally walked Luis Gonzalez to get to Sexson, who lined the first pitch 428 feet off the center field wall, above the home run stripe for his sixth homer of the season. Sexson also had an RBI single.

Astros 13, Rockies 7

Denver — Mike Lamb had four hits and drove in a career-high six runs to lead Houston over Colorado and stop the Astros’ three-game losing streak. Orlando Palmeiro and Craig Biggio hit two-run homers for Houston, which improved to 6-1 on the road but is just 4-6 at home.

Brewers 2, Cardinals 1

Milwaukee — Craig Counsell hit a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning, lifting Milwaukee over St. Louist and sending the Cardinals to their first road loss this season. The Cardinals’ 6-0 road start was their best since winning 12 straight road games at the start of the 1941 season.

Braves 6, Marlins 1

Miami — Atlanta roughed up Josh Beckett for the second time in a week. J.D. Drew and Adam LaRoche drove in two runs apiece, and the Braves beat Florida and its ace pitcher. Atlanta improved to 4-0 against Florida this season.

Phillies 8, Expos 6

Montreal — Bobby Abreu had four extra-base hits and five RBIs, and Jim Thome homered for a third straight game to lead Philadelphia over Montreal. Trailing 5-1, the Expos tied the score with a four-run sixth, then faltered. Abreu hit a three-run homer in the first, a run-scoring double off Claudio Vargas in the second, then doubled to lead off the seventh.

Reds 6, Pirates 4

Pittsburgh — Adam Dunn hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth after Pittsburgh pitcher Kip Wells’ throwing error on a potential inning-ending double play, and Cincinnati held on to beat the Pirates. Dunn drove in four runs with a bases-loaded walk in the third and his eighth homer.