Astros finally win after 0-8 start, beating Cards

No champagne spray awaited the Houston Astros.

Just an overwhelming sense of relief.

"On a scale of 1 to 10?" rookie manager Brad Mills said after the Astros beat St. Louis, 5-1, Thursday for their first win of the season, avoiding a tie for the worst start in franchise history. "It's pretty high. And that's just being truthful."

The Astros escaped their 0-8 rut behind Bud Norris' arm and bat. They were the only winless team left in the majors.

Norris (1-0) struck out a career-high nine and held the Cardinals without an earned run for five innings. He also got his first career RBI to put the Astros ahead for good in the third.

Nationals 7, Phillies 5

Pinch-hitter Ryan Zimmerman hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Danys Baez in the eighth inning for visiting Washington. Adam Dunn also connected for the Nationals, who stopped Philadelphia's five-game winning streak.

Chase Utley hit his fourth homer in three games for the Phillies, who received their 2009 NL championship rings.

Brewers 8, Cubs 6

Rickie Weeks hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and Trevor Hoffman protected a late lead for visiting Milwaukee. Ryan Braun and Casey McGehee each homered and had three RBIs for the Brewers.

Indians 3, Rangers 2

David Huff (1-1) pitched a complete game and Shin-Soo Choo hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning as host Cleveland ended a five-game losing streak.

Twins 8, Red Sox 0

Francisco Liriano (1-0) threw seven shutout innings for host Minnesota.