CINCINNATI — The kid sure knows how to answer a call.

Starlin Castro got awakened by his first call to the majors yesterday and arrived in historic style, hitting a three-run homer in his first at-bat and driving in a record six runs during the Chicago Cubs' 14-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

"The kid — what a debut!" manager Lou Piniella said. "He's got to be ecstatic. He should be."

The 20-year-old became the youngest shortstop in Cubs history when he stepped onto the field for the first time. Then, he became a sensation.

His homer off Homer Bailey (0-2) made him the sixth player in Cubs history to connect in his first at-bat. He added a bases-loaded triple, sliding headfirst into the record books with six RBIs, the most ever in a modern day debut — one more than the previous mark shared by four players.

The last player to drive in five runs in his debut was Ben Grieve in 1997.

"I didn't believe it," Castro said.

Believe it.

An authenticator from Major League Baseball gathered his blue game jersey, his cap and the lineup card, designating them as little pieces of the game's history.

The rookie's impressive arrival staked Chicago to a 9-0 lead after five innings. Carlos Silva (3-0) struggled anyway, lasting only five innings. He gave up a two-run homer by reliever Micah Owings in the fifth, when the Reds batted around for four runs.

Not nearly enough on a night when the newcomer named Starlin became a star. The victory snapped Chicago's three-game losing streak and became one of those reference-point moments in not only franchise history but baseball history as well.

"Amazing," said Silva, who was bothered by a tight neck. "Unbelievable. I was hitting behind him, looking at everything he was doing. I was like: 'Wow.' "

PHILLIES 7, BRAVES 0

Forty-seven-year-old Jamie Moyer (4-2) tossed a two-hitter to become the oldest player in major league history to throw a shutout, and Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer to lead host Philadelphia over Atlanta.

METS 6, GIANTS 4

Rookie Ike Davis and Rod Barajas both homered twice, with Barajas hitting his second of the night — a two-run shot — in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift New York to its eighth straight home win.

MARLINS 4, NATIONALS 2

Gaby Sanchez hit a tiebreaking single and Jorge Cantu added sacrifice fly to cap a two-run top of the eighth inning as Florida beat Washington snapped a three-game losing streak.

CARDINALS 4, PIRATES 3

Yadier Molina doubled in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning with his fourth hit, and St. Louis took advantage of several defensive lapses and a key baserunning mistake by Pittsburgh.

PADRES 7, ASTROS 0

Mat Latos (2-3) allowed two hits and struck out a career-high nine in eight innings and Scott Hairston homered twice to help San Diego beat Houston and snap a five-game losing streak at Minute Maid Park.

BREWERS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2

Yovani Gallardo (4-2) allowed three hits and struck out 10 in five innings, Rickie Weeks and Jim Edmonds homered, and Ryan Braun scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch in the fifth inning to lift visiting Milwaukee.

DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 5

Matt Kemp tripled in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning, ending a 14-game RBI drought and Jonathan Broxton gave up a leadoff single in the ninth, but struck out two in helping Los Angeles turn back Colorado.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANGERS 4, ROYALS 1

C.J. Wilson (3-1) allowed five singles in his first career nine-inning complete game and Vladimir Guerrero homered to lead host Texas over Kansas City to keep reigning AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke (0-4) winless in 2010.

YANKEES 10, RED SOX 3

Nick Swisher hit a three-run homer for a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth and New York added six runs in a wild sixth inning in support of Phil Hughes (4-0), who allowed seven hits and two runs in seven innings to beat Boston.

BLUE JAYS 7, WHITE SOX 4

Alex Gonzalez hit the tiebreaking three-run homer in the top of the 12th inning, John Buck went deep twice and the Toronto beat Chicago for its sixth straight victory.

TIGERS-INDIANS PPD

The game between Detroit and host Cleveland was postponed by rain after a delay of 2 hours, 12 minutes in the fourth inning. No makeup date was immediately announced.

TWINS-ORIOLES PPD

Heavy rains forced Minnesota to postpone last night's game against the Baltimore Orioles, the first rainout at the team's new Target Field, and the first rainout of a Twins home game since Sept. 20, 1980, at the old Metropolitan Stadium.

RAYS 4, ATHLETICS 1

David Price (4-1) scattered three hits and allowed one unearned run in 7 2/3 innings, Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run double and visiting Tampa Bay improved its franchise-best start to 22-7 with a victory over Oakland.

ANGELS 8, MARINERS 0

Jered Weaver (4-1) held the first 22 Mariners hitless until 40-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. single with two outs in the sixth and Kendry Morales had a three-run double in the first as visiting Los Angeles beat Seattle to end a seven-game losing streak.

SHORT HOPS

Athletics: Justin Duchscherer's inflamed left hip is much better following a cortisone shot Wednesday, yet the two-time All-Star was placed on the disabled list yesterday by Oakland because he isn't ready to pitch. The move is retroactive to April 30.

Braves: Atlanta catcher Brian McCann is going back to eyeglasses despite having laser surgery in the offseason to correct his vision. McCann has been out of the lineup the past two games because he's been experiencing vision problems.

Indians: Cleveland activated veteran Kerry Wood from the disabled list yesterday. "I'm ready," said Wood, who has been sidelined since straining a muscle in his upper back during spring training, sending him to the DL for the 13th time in his career.

Nationals: Stephen Strasburg allowed one hit over six scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut last night. Strasburg threw 65 pitches, 45 for strikes, for the Washington Nationals' affiliate in Syracuse against the Gwinnett Braves. The Chiefs won, 7-0.