Chicago ? A new pitching angle paid off for Derek Lowe on Wednesday.

Lowe (9-13) threw a one-hitter for his second shutout and complete game of the season, leading Los Angeles over the Chicago Cubs, 7-0.

In his previous start, a 2-1 loss to Houston on Friday, the right-hander moved from the third-base side of the mound to the first-base side. From that position, Lowe was dominating against Chicago.

He gave up an infield single leading off the first to Jerry Hairston Jr., who beat a bouncer to third without a throw from Mike Edwards. Lowe faced just 29 batters, allowing his only other runners on walks to Michael Barrett in the third and Jeromy Burnitz in the seventh.

“Derek Lowe was obviously the show today,” Los Angeles manager Jim Tracy said. “One chopped, two-strike swing from a no-hitter. That’s basically what it boiled down to today.”

Lowe struck out seven to win for the first time in five starts since Aug. 5.

“When we hit it hard, it was right at somebody,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. “He got strike one low and away. He had good stuff today.”

Los Angeles pitcher Derek Lowe delivers against Chicago. Lowe tossed a one-hitter in the Dodgers' 7-0 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday in Chicago.

It was the third career shutout and complete game for Lowe, who pitched a no-hitter for Boston against Tampa Bay on April 27, 2002. His other complete game this year was a three-hit shutout against San Diego on April 15.

“From the third-base side, I wasn’t able to consistently get the ball inside,” Lowe said. “We thought we’d just take a shot, I can’t tell you the difference, not just the results, but the feel of being able to command the outer half (of the plate) against right-handers and inside for left-handers. It’s fun to be able to go out there and feel like you have a better chance of having success.”

Over the course of the season, Lowe also has changed his grip on the ball so the seam doesn’t rub against his thumb, which has had a blister.

“Changing the way I throw, so I don’t have that stupid blister problem, has made a big difference,” he said.

Cardinals 10, Marlins 5

Miami – Florida’s Jeremy Hermida became the first player in more than a century and only second ever to hit a grand slam in his first major-league at-bat, connecting in the seventh inning off St. Louis’ Al Reyes.

The only other player with a grand slam in first major-league at-bat was William “Frosty Bill” Duggleby, who did it for Philadelphia at home against the New York Giants in the second inning on April 21, 1898, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Hermida, an outfielder whose contract was purchased from Double-A Carolina earlier in the day, was just the third player to hit a slam in his first game, joining Duggleby and San Francisco’s Bobby Bonds. Hermida batted for pitcher Brian Moehler with Florida trailing 10-0 and connected on the third pitch he saw in the big leagues.

Braves 5-3, Nationals 3-4

Atlanta – Brad Wilkerson scored on a wild throw as Washington manufactured a run in the ninth inning, beating Atlanta to split a doubleheader. In the opener, Andruw Jones homered and drove in all five runs to lead the Braves past the Nationals.

Phillies 8, Mets 2

New York – Philadelphia overpowered Pedro Martinez and remained on top in the NL wild-card race. Chase Utley hit two of Philadelphia’s four homers off the New York Mets’ ace, Brett Myers pitched seven strong innings, and the Phillies bounced back from an early deficit.

Astros 10, Reds 0

Houston – Andy Pettitte allowed four hits in seven innings, and Brad Ausmus drove in four runs as Houston beat Cincinnati. Pettitte (13-9) struck out four and walked one, improving to 10-2 in 14 starts since June 20.

Brewers 6, Pirates 5

Milwaukee – Rookie Prince Fielder hit a two-run, pinch-hit homer off Jose Mesa in the ninth inning to lift Milwaukee past Pittsburgh. Mesa (2-8) walked pinch-hitter Lyle Overbay on four pitches, then grooved an 0-1 fastball that Fielder put on the right-field porch, 400 feet away.

Giants 5, Rockies 3

San Francisco – Moises Alou hit the first of San Francisco’s four solo home runs, and the Giants rebounded from an injury to starter Kevin Correia to beat Colorado. Mike Matheny, Ray Durham and Todd Linden also homered.

Padres 9, Diamondbacks 5

San Diego – Ben Johnson hit his first career homer, a three-run drive, and San Diego beat Arizona to chug into September with a .500 record. The Padres (66-66) took two of three from the Diamondbacks, who dropped into third place in baseball’s worst division.