Wells pitches Cubs to victory over Arizona

CHICAGO — Randy Wells allowed three hits in seven strong innings and struck out a career-high 10, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 on Saturday.

Wells (12-10) gave up a leadoff double to Stephen Drew and then retired 14 straight before Eric Byrnes hit a two-out single in the fifth. Wells’ 12 wins are the most by a Cubs rookie since Kerry Wood had 13 victories in 1998.

Chicago broke a scoreless tie with three runs off Daniel Cabrera in the fourth.

Aramis Ramirez walked, Jeff Baker doubled past first for the Cubs’ second hit, Reed Johnson hit a two-run triple to right center and Geovany Soto followed with an RBI double.

Cabrera (0-6), winless in his nine starts this season, gave up four hits and three runs with three walks in five innings.

Chicago scored two more in the sixth, the first coming on an RBI infield single by Soto. With runners at first and third, Soto hit a nubber near the mound and reliever Brian Augenstein fired the ball into the ground while attempting to throw home. Tyler Colvin’s RBI single off Drew’s glove at short made it 5-0.

NOTES: Cubs 1B Derrek Lee, who has a career high in RBIs with 111, returned to the team after missing the previous two games for what manager Lou Piniella called a personal issue. … D-Backs 3B Mark Reynolds struck out four more times Saturday, increasing his major league record to 220. … Cabrera hasn’t won since Aug. 9, 2008, while with the Orioles. He is 0-9 in his last 13 starts overall.