Houston ? Normally excitable, Carlos Zambrano was perfectly calm before taking his no-hit bid into the eighth inning Monday night.

In fact, he even said it’d be all right if the Houston Astros broke it up.

A few batters later, they did.

Zambrano held Houston hitless for 71â3 innings before Preston Wilson grounded an opposite-field single, leading the Chicago Cubs over the Astros, 8-0.

Moments earlier, Zambrano said he told pitching coach Larry Rothschild: “Whatever happens in this inning, will happen. If somebody gets a base hit, it’s OK. I pitched a good game anyway and I didn’t let the other team score any runs.”

Zambrano was trying to become the first Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Milt Pappas on Sept. 2, 1972, against San Diego. There has not been a no-hitter in the majors since Randy Johnson pitched a perfect game for Arizona against Atlanta on May 18, 2004.

Instead, Zambrano beat the Astros with his arm and bat. He homered and drove in four runs and was in control on the mound.

“This was like a high school game for him,” Cubs center fielder Juan Pierre said. “He was the best pitcher and hitter on the field tonight.”

Zambrano walked Mike Lamb to start the eighth. An out later, Wilson cleanly singled to right field.

“I made one mistake today, and I did pay for it,” Zambrano said. “It cost me the no-no.”

Nationals 5, Braves 4

Atlanta – Livan Hernandez won his fourth straight start for his first victory against Atlanta in nearly six years, topping Braves starter Tim Hudson.

Brewers 5, Padres 2

Milwaukee – Carlos Lee hit his 19th home run, Chris Capuano pitched his way in and out of trouble for six innings, and the Brewers snapped their eight-game losing streak.

Reds 8, Cardinals 7

St. Louis – Ken Griffey Jr. hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Jason Isringhausen in the ninth inning to lift the Reds.

Pirates 5, Rockies 2

Denver – Ian Snell struck out a career-high 10, and Pittsburgh picked up a rare road win.

Giants 14, Marlins 2

San Francisco – Barry Bonds hit his 716th career home run with a two-run shot in the fifth inning, and Lance Niekro had a career-high four RBIs.

The 41-year-old Bonds is 40 homers from passing Hank Aaron’s record of 755.

Mets 4, Dodgers 1

Los Angeles – Alay Soler allowed one run in seven impressive innings for his first major-league victory. Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado homered in the first for the Mets.

Phillies 4, D’backs 3

Phoenix – Mike Lieberthal hit a key run-scoring double, and Philadelphia prevented Brandon Webb from becoming the majors’ first nine-game winner.