The Associated Press

CHICAGO - Mark Prior struck out a career-high 16 in eight innings, but the young Cubs ace wound up with a no-decision when Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins hit a three-run homer in the ninth to rally the Brewers to a 5-3 victory over Chicago Thursday.

Prior was brilliant, allowing two runs on four hits with no walks. But with his pitch count at 126, Cubs manager Dusty Baker pulled Prior with Chicago holding a 3-2 lead - an edge built on Sammy Sosa's home run.

"It wasn't very tough," Baker said of the decision. "It was tough to send Mark out there in the eighth ... he had 112 or 14 pitches before he started that inning.

"You get chastised if you take him out and you get chastised if he goes too long. He's such a valuable commodity, you couldn't stretch him any further than that."

Prior wasn't willing to risk anything, either.

"I was tired. We have had conversations about trying to learn how to be honest because it is a long season," the 22-year-old said. "I was gassed going out in the eighth inning."

Jenkins was happy to see Prior leave; he was 0-for-3 against Prior with two strikeouts.

"He's filthy. That's the most dominated I've felt this year. That game was incredible," Jenkins said. "He was in and out with his fastball, 95, threw me a couple changeups, kept me off-balance and it's tough to decide when he throws a curveball which one is a strike and which one is a ball."

Cubs reliever Joe Borowski (1-1) gave up a leadoff single to Scott Podsednik in the ninth and walked Keith Ginter. Jenkins followed with a shot onto Sheffield Avenue.

Jenkins homered for the fourth straight game.

Leo Estrella (2-0) pitched the eighth to get the victory. Mike DeJean picked up his 16th save in 20 opportunities this season by pitching a perfect ninth.

Prior struck out eight in the first four innings. He fanned Enrique Cruz leading off the sixth, reaching the double-digit mark in strikeouts for the 10th time in 35 career starts.

Mark Grudzielanek led off the Cubs fifth with a single and one out later, Sosa hit a 3-0 pitch from Wayne Franklin onto Waveland Avenue, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead.

It was Sosa's third home run in the last three days and 10th of the season.

Prior retired 13 straight batters before allowing a single by Podsednik in the sixth. Ginter followed with a two-run homer to left, his second of the season and second in as many days.

But Prior rebounded in the seventh and eighth, striking out the side in both innings. He got Wes Helms looking to end the seventh, his 13th strikeout, tying his career high.

Prior blew by Keith Osik and Cruz in the eighth and ended the inning by getting pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick swinging for his 16th strikeout.

Kerry Wood was the last Cubs pitcher to get 16 strikeouts in a game, doing it on Aug. 4, 2002, at Cincinnati.

Moises Alou led off the Cubs fourth with a single and advanced to third on Eric Karros' double. Alou scored on Alex Gonzalez's groundout.

Marlins 6, Mets 1

NEW YORK - Rookie Dontrelle Willis won his seventh straight start and Florida took advantage of four errors and three wild pitches by New York.

Willis (8-1) gave up one run and nine hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Highly regarded Aaron Heilman (0-1) lost in his major league debut. Called up from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, he allowed five runs - just one of them earned - and six hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked two.