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CINCINNATI - Sammy Sosa couldn't get a hit. Kerry Wood couldn't get past the fifth inning.
Big problems? Not for these newly confident Cubs.
Corey Patterson homered and Moises Alou doubled with the bases loaded Monday, leading the defending Central champions to a 7-4 victory over the Reds.
After winning their first division title in 14 years, the Cubs got a good start on their next quest: back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1971-72.
"Last year, we were not really sure how good we were," said Patterson, who tore knee ligaments July 6 and missed the rest of the season. "Since we did well last year, it builds more confidence. We know everyone is gunning for us."
The Reds had a disappointing opener at Great American Ball Park, where 42,122 fans watched a lineup missing Ken Griffey stumble out of the gate.
Griffey reluctantly took a few more days to rest a strained calf injured a week earlier in Florida. The injury-prone outfielder paced in the dugout with a bat in each hand but never got to hit.
"We played some spring training games without him and we did all right, but you always want a stud like that in your lineup," shortstop Barry Larkin said.
Instead, the day belonged to the Cubs, who won despite little from one of their top starters and best hitter.
"This is a new year, a new opportunity to go all the way," said Alou, who doubled home three in the third. "We feel we have the team to do it. We just need a little luck. We feel we're going to win a lot of games."
This one opened with a tribute to former Reds owner Marge Schott.
Schott died last month at age 75, ending a tumultuous chapter for baseball's first pro team. Video clips were shown on the scoreboard, and the public address announcer asked for a moment of silence.
Four pitches into the game, Patterson's homer put the Cubs ahead to stay. Patterson also dived for a ball in center, showing no lingering problems from his reconstructive knee surgery.
BREWERS 8, CARDINALS 6: For most teams, a winning record after the opener is no big deal. Milwaukee is different.
Its victory at St. Louis, with President Bush watching from a box above home plate, put the downtrodden franchise above .500 for the first time in two seasons. The Brewers haven't finished with a winning record since 1992.
Former Devil Ray Ben Grieve hit a two-run homer and Scott Podsednik had four RBIs, including a tiebreaking, three-run shot off Matt Morris in the sixth inning for the Brewers.
PIRATES 2, PHILLIES 1: Kip Wells often was overpowering in working out of two big jams and outdueling Kevin Millwood, and host Pittsburgh rode Craig Wilson's homer and Tike Redman's tiebreaking double to victory.
Wells provided the strong start and castoff Phillies closer Jose Mesa the big finish, pitching the ninth for the save against his former club.
PADRES 8, DODGERS 2: The Frank McCourt era in Los Angeles got off to a bad start as Brian Lawrence allowed one run in five innings and Phil Nevin hit a grand slam to lead revamped San Diego.
A sellout crowd of 53,850, the largest opening-day attendance in Dodger Stadium history, booed the team several times, most vocally after the Padres broke the game open off Hideo Nomo by scoring six in the fifth.