Houston ? It didn’t matter that Andy Pettitte had little sleep heading into his start against the Colorado Rockies.

A day after his wife, Laura, gave birth to their fourth child, Pettitte pitched five-hit ball for seven innings to help the Houston Astros beat the Rockies, 7-0, Monday night.

“I was up all day yesterday and all day today just sitting at the hospital,” said Pettitte, whose third son, Luke Jackson, was born Sunday. “I was a little worn down. It seemed like two long days.

“But I was able to come out and get in a real good rhythm early and that helped me a lot.”

Pettitte (4-7) improved to 3-3 with a 3.15 earned-run average at Minute Maid Park this season. He tied his season high with eight strikeouts and walked only one.

“Andy did a good job of keeping them down today,” manager Phil Garner said. “I didn’t think the birth would affect him. You always feel pretty good after you have a birth when you know mama’s OK and the baby’s OK.”

Pettitte appreciated the 3-0 lead he was given after the first inning.

“That was huge,” Pettitte said. “The guys were able to score some runs early, and I was able to settle in after that.”

Houston's Jason Lane, top, reaches for home plate after being upended by Colorado catcher Danny Ardoin in the first inning of the Astros' 7-0 victory. Lane, who tried to score from second on a hit by Adam Everett, was called out on the play Monday in Houston.

In the first, Craig Biggio singled and advanced on a balk. Colorado starter Joe Kennedy then walked Lance Berkman and hit Morgan Ensberg with a pitch to load the bases.

Jason Lane followed with a drive to center field that Preston Wilson dived for but missed. Wilson momentarily stayed on his back, not realizing the ball was next to him, and Lane made it to second.

Adam Everett made it 3-0 with an RBI single.

The Rockies certainly didn’t notice that Pettitte was tired.

“He was able to expose our weaknesses offensively,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Any time you go seven innings and give up no runs, it’s a good outing.

“This guy’s record speaks well. He’s a good pitcher, and when he’s able to cut the ball by us like he was tonight, he’s very good. He threw every pitch for strikes, and we didn’t make a run on him in any inning. We only had two guys get to second base. We weren’t able to muster much of a threat.”

Cubs 5, Brewers 4

Milwaukee – Greg Maddux earned his 311th victory to tie Tom Seaver for 17th on the career list, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings to help Chicago end a four-game losing streak. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez each hit home runs off Tomo Ohka (5-4) with two outs in the first to support Maddux, who was tagged for seven runs on eight hits in 3 2â3 innings by Florida in his last start. Monday, Maddux (6-4) gave up Lyle Overbay’s two-run homer in the third and Rickie Weeks’ RBI double in the sixth. He walked three and struck out two before leaving for a pinch-hitter in the seventh, and improved to 11-2 in 18 career starts against Milwaukee.

Nationals 7, Pirates 4

Pittsburgh – Livan Hernandez induced four double-play grounders in winning his ninth consecutive decision, and Jose Guillen homered twice as Washington beat Pittsburgh. The NL East leaders won for the 17th time in 21 games. The Pirates have dropped seven of eight since winning a season-high four in a row and are six games under .500 after being 30-30 on June 11. Guillen, cast off by the Pirates five years ago, had solo homers in the first and fifth, while Cristian Guzman added a two-run double that made it 3-1 in the second against Mark Redman (4-5).

Cardinals 6, Reds 1

Cincinnati – Chris Carpenter took a shutout into the ninth inning, and St. Louis got two-run homers from Albert Pujols and Reggie Sanders in a victory over Cincinnati. Carpenter (10-4) allowed three hits through eight innings before Felipe Lopez led off the ninth with his 12th homer, ending the right-hander’s career-best scoreless streak at 17 innings. Ray King got final three outs to finish the four-hitter.

Padres 1, Dodgers 0

San Diego – Jake Peavy dominated the division rival Dodgers, striking out a career-high 13 and holding Los Angeles to two hits in eight innings. The NL West-leading Padres won their third straight game after losing 12 of 15 to start June. The Dodgers lost their seventh straight.