Zambrano, Cubs down Ethier-less Dodgers

All Carlos Zambrano could do was leave Dodger Stadium and wonder whether he could have stopped Andre Ethier's 29-game hitting streak.

The Chicago Cubs' excitable righthander never got the chance because Ethier missed his first game of the season with an inflamed left elbow. As a result, Zambrano dominated Los Angeles for eight innings Wednesday in a 5-1 victory.

Chicago scored all of its runs on homers by Geovany Soto, Carlos Peña and Marlon Byrd.

"Sometimes you don't want to face [Ethier] when he's hot and he has a streak like that," Zambrano said with a laugh. "He can hit anything. You throw it down to him, he hits it. You throw it inside to him, he hits it. Outside, up, away -- I mean, he's in a zone. But as a competitor, I like to be challenged all the time. I was surprised when they told me he wasn't in the lineup today."

Ethier, who is 7-for-16 against Zambrano, remained two games shy of the longest streak in Dodgers history that was set by Willie Davis in 1969.

Zambrano (4-1) outpitched former teammate Ted Lilly (2-3), allowing a run and five hits, striking out four and walking one.

Reds 3, Astros 2: Jay Bruce pulled a double just inside first base, completing host Cincinnati's three-run rally off closer Brandon Lyon in the ninth inning. Lyon (3-2) failed to retire any of the five batters he faced while blowing a save for the fourth time in eight chances.

SEE PHOTOSThe 3,000 hits club

Braves 8, Brewers 3: Tommy Hanson pitched three-hit ball for six innings, Martin Prado drove in three runs and host Atlanta broke it open with a four-run sixth in the opener of a doubleheader.

Chipper Jones and Brian McCann each drove in two runs for the Braves, who moved above .500 (16-15) for the first time since April 5.

Hanson (4-3) shook off a sore back to stymie Milwaukee for his third straight win. His only big stumble came in the fourth when Prince Fielder homered. Otherwise, Hanson made it look easy, sending the Brewers to their fourth straight defeat.

Blue Jays 3, Rays 2: Adam Lind hit a two-run homer and Brandon Morrow (1-1) pitched into the seventh inning for visiting Toronto. Lind connected in the first inning and had four hits. He has five homers and 16 RBIs in his last 12 games.

Toronto manager John Farrell and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon were ejected in the bottom of the seventh. Farrell was tossed by plate umpire Chad Fairchild during a pitching change. Maddon then was ejected by first-base umpire Joe West after umpires reversed West's safe call on first baseman Lind's tag play for an inning-ending double play.

Twins 3, White Sox 2: Nick Blackburn pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Jason Kubel drove in two runs for visiting Minnesota.

Blackburn (2-4) who allowed four hits and a run in 6 2/3 innings, got his first win since his first start April 3. John Danks, a 15-game winner last season, dropped to 0-5 for Chicago, which lost for the 17th time in 21 games. -- AP