Chicago ? A day after Mark Prior returned with an overpowering outing for the Chicago Cubs, Carlos Zambrano made sure there was no letdown on the mound.

Zambrano pitched eight solid innings, and Rey Ordonez hit a two-run single in the seventh to lead the Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1, Saturday.

Derrek Lee added a two-run homer in the eighth for Chicago, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

One day after Prior’s brilliant season debut, Zambrano was just as tough. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out seven and walked two. He retired six of the last seven batters he faced.

“It’s tough sometimes to follow that the next day, but he came in and mentally he was locked in and ready to go from his bullpen on,” Cubs catcher Michael Barrett said.

Zambrano stopped the Cubs’ five-game losing streak Sunday against Pittsburgh in a 12-1 win, and he ended up being the stopper again Saturday.

“Zambrano has been great all year. He’s a dominant pitcher. When he is on the mound other teams seem like they never get a bunch of hits or score a lot of runs. We needed that performance today,” Lee said.

Pittsburgh was without manager Lloyd Mclendon, serving the first of a two-game suspension for his shouting match with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Thursday. The Pirates have lost six of seven.

Dodgers 10, D’backs 3

Phoenix — Paul Lo Duca homered in his third consecutive game, and Dave Roberts hit a three-run homer in Los Angeles’ victory over Arizona. Odalis Perez (3-3) gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings.

Rockies 11, Giants 2

Denver — The Colorado Rockies kept Barry Bonds from hurting them — by giving the slugger only two hittable pitches. Todd Greene and Royce Clayton each hit two-run homers, and Jason Jennings pitched five-plus strong innings in the Rockies’ victory. Bonds walked three times, twice intentionally, but doubled off the wall in right-center in the seventh against Tim Harikkala.

Reds 6, Expos 3, 10 innings

Chicago's Carlos Zambrano delivers against Pittsburgh. Zambrano allowed one run in eight innings as the Cubs defeated the Pirates, 6-1, Saturday in Chicago.

Cincinnati — Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 496th homer, and Adam Dunn had two of his own, including a three-run shot in the 10th inning that gave Cincinnati a victory over Montreal. Griffey homered in the fourth, and Dunn followed with a solo shot.

Padres 4, Brewers 0

San Diego — Ismael Valdez threw a four-hitter for his sixth career shutout and drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk, leading San Diego over Milwaukee. Valdez (5-2) retired 12 in a row during one stretch and 16 of the final 17 batters he faced for his 13th career complete game. Valdez has two consecutive wins against the Brewers.

Cardinals 10, Astros 4

St. Louis — Jim Edmonds overcame a sore right ribcage and drove in four runs and threw out a runner at the plate, leading St. Louis over Houston. Edmonds almost didn’t start after straining his ribcage muscle during batting practice the previous night, but chose to play — helping the Cardinals win their sixth in a row. Albert Pujols went 4-for-5, and the Cardinals had 19 hits.

Marlins 7, Mets 6

New York — Pinch-hitter Damion Easley hit a tying three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Alex Gonzalez had a two-out, RBI single in the eighth to give Florida a win over New York. With runners on second and third in the seventh, Lenny Harris was sent in as a pinch hitter, but the Mets called for left-hander Mike Stanton. Easley batted for Harris and hit his second homer of the season to tie it at 5.

Phillies 5, Braves 3

Atlanta — Ricky Ledee drove in three runs, and Brett Myers overcame a rough opening inning to win for the first time in three starts, leading Philadelphia over Atlanta. Russ Ortiz (6-5) lost for the first time in three starts.