Chicago ? Jason Jennings finally looked like the confident pitcher who earned a big contract from the Colorado Rockies.

Jennings (2-6), who entered Thursday’s game with a 7.05 earned-run average, allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings as the Rockies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The right-hander walked two and struck out two.

“Today is real big,” Jennings said. “The key was I wasn’t overdoing it, I wasn’t pressing too hard to make a great pitch. I kind of lost it in my last three starts.”

Jennings signed a two-year deal worth $7 million during the offseason. But he was hit hard in his previous five starts, going 0-4 and allowing 29 runs in 262â3 innings.

“I was so frustrated,” he said. “Mentally, I needed to regroup and have fun. I tried to be aggressive early in the count, tried to keep it down in the zone, just keep it simple”

Fill-in Colorado manager Jamie Quirk said he talked to Jennings after an 8-3 loss Saturday at Pittsburgh to try to straighten him out.

“He had lost his confidence as a professional,” Quirk said. “We assured him that we were confident in him and that the organization was behind him.”

After Neifi Perez and Todd Walker led off the eighth with a single and a walk, Jay Witasick relieved Jennings and retired Derrek Lee, Jeromy Burnitz and Aramis Ramirez – the Cubs’ Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitters – to end the threat. Preston Wilson and Todd Greene hit solo homers for the Rockies. Wilson added a run-scoring single.

Colorado pitcher Jason Jennings accepts congratulations from teammates as he leaves the game against Chicago. Jennings earned the victory in the Rockies' 5-2 win Thursday in Chicago.

“It’s just a matter of hitting a hole or where they can’t catch it,” Wilson said. “It feels good to come into the locker room after a win.”

Desi Relaford, filling in at second base for the injured Aaron Miles, went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Clint Barmes also singled in a run as the Rockies posted just their fourth road victory in 24 games away from home.

Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano (3-3) pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked three. Cliff Bartosh gave up Wilson’s homer in the eighth that gave the Rockies a 4-1 lead.

Pirates 8, Reds 4

Cincinnati – Oliver Perez continued his success against Cincinnati and received plenty of support from a balanced offense, helping Pittsburgh snap a four-game losing streak.

Daryle Ward and Matt Lawton hit home runs, and Rob Mackowiak drove in three runs as the Pirates won for the seventh time in their last 10 games in Cincinnati and snapped the Reds’ three-game winning streak. Eight of Pittsburgh’s nine starters had at least one hit apiece by the sixth inning, including two by Perez.

Perez (3-4) has posted back-to-back wins for the first time this season, and he is 5-0 in seven starts against the Reds dating to last season.

Mets 12, Marlins 4

Miami – Kris Benson won his third straight start, Jose Reyes hit two triples, and New York broke out of its slump with a victory over Florida.

The Mets were shut out in the last two games of their series in Atlanta and hadn’t scored for 19 innings. They roughed up two pitchers who were called up Wednesday and finished with 14 hits, including six for extra bases.

Reyes leads the majors with seven triples. He also tripled twice May 18 against Cincinnati.

Benson (3-1) gave up three runs and five hits over six innings and struck out four batters.