Chicago ? Carlos Zambrano shook off a cramp in his pitching arm, then shut down the Milwaukee Brewers.

Zambrano (1-0) pitched one-hit ball into the eighth inning and had two singles and an RBI to help the Chicago Cubs deal Milwaukee its first loss of the season, 4-0, Saturday.

Zambrano gave up only a two-out line single in the second inning to Russell Branyan, and shut down a Brewers lineup that scored 25 runs in the first three games. He struck out six and walked two while outpitching fellow opening-day starter Ben Sheets (1-1).

But after throwing just one pitch to the second hitter of the game, Junior Spivey, Zambrano stepped off the mound, pointed to his pitching arm and signaled for Cubs trainer Mark O’Neal.

Zambrano was allowed three additional warmup tosses. He then struck out Spivey on the next three pitches and cruised until being relieved by Chad Fox with one out in the eighth.

“It happens to me all the time,” Zambrano said, referring to the cramp. “I have to drink more water. It has nothing to do with my elbow or shoulder.”

Cubs manager Dusty Baker, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak, said the same thing happened to Zambrano in a game last season.

“I’m just glad it was muscle and nothing else,” Baker said. “He was throwing great from the beginning. He hit well, he ran well, he did everything well today.

“He wanted the victory, and knew we needed it. His fastball was moving.”

Chicago's Carlos Zambrano delivers against Milwaukee. Zambrano pitched one-hit ball into the eighth inning, and the Cubs blanked the Brewers, 4-0, Saturday in Chicago.

Jeromy Burnitz hit a solo homer in the sixth, and Todd Walker added a two-run double in the seventh for the Cubs. That gave Zambrano, who had singled in the game’s first run in the second, some room to work.

After giving up Branyan’s single, Zambrano retired 10 straight before walking J.J. Hardy to start the sixth. Through the first seven innings, he retired the Brewers in order five times.

“I hit a fastball down in the zone,” Branyan said. “He threw the heck out of the ball. We had some good contact, but he was tough.”

The Brewers were the last remaining undefeated team in the major leagues.

“(Zambrano) was throwing that heavy slider 96-97 miles an hour with an occasional breaking ball and even a couple of good changeups,” Brewers manager Ned Yost said. “He was dead on. (Saturday) shows you why he’s one of the best pitchers in the National League.”

Zambrano was removed for Fox after walking Chad Moeller with one out in the eighth. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a perfect ninth.

Zambrano started the Cubs’ opener at Arizona on Monday. He allowed three runs on seven hits in 42/3 innings and did not get a decision in Chicago’s 16-6 victory.

“(Monday) I tried to be too perfect,” Zambrano said. “Today I had good command of all my pitches and got ahead in the count. That was the difference.”

Sheets (1-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Astros 4, Reds 3

Houston — Pinch-hitter Jose Vizcaino hit an RBI double with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, completing Houston’s rally from a three-run deficit. Willy Taveras led off the ninth with an infield single off Ryan Wagner (0-1), and Vizcaino, hitting for Brad Lidge, doubled off the right-field wall and scored Taveras.

Braves 6, Mets 3

Atlanta — Brian Jordan hit a grand slam to lead Atlanta to its fourth straight victory, extending New York’s season-opening losing streak to five games. Chipper Jones also homered as the Braves kept the Mets as the only winless team in the majors.

Padres 11, Pirates 3

San Diego — Xavier Nady had four hits and a career-high four RBIs to lead San Diego over Pittsburgh. Woody Williams (1-0) limited the Pirates to three runs and five hits with six strikeouts in six innings.

Nationals 3, Marlins 2, 10 innings

Miami — Jose Guillen hit a two-out home run in the 10th inning, and Ryan Church and Vinny Castilla also hit solo homers to help Washington defeat Florida. The Nationals were two outs away from winning in the ninth, but Carlos Delgado’s first home run in a Marlins uniform pulled Florida into a 2-all tie.

Giants 4, Rockies 2

San Francisco — Michael Tucker hit his first career grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning to lift San Francisco over Colorado. The homer decided a pitching duel between Colorado’s Jamey Wright and San Francisco’s Jerome Williams.

Phillies 10, Cardinals 4

St. Louis — Rookie Gavin Floyd pitched seven dominant innings, retiring 19 straight St. Louis batters. Pat Burrell was 4-for-5 with a three-run home run.