St. Louis – John Maine kept St. Louis’ bats quiet, and Carlos Beltran homered twice and drove in four runs Wednesday night as New York swept the World Series champions with a 10-0 win. Jose Reyes also homered and had three RBIs for the Mets, who were 8-1 to start last season en route to an NL-high 97 wins before they were eliminated by the Cardinals in the NLCS. The season-opening series is for much lower stakes, of course, although the Mets were able to spoil two World Series celebrations while outscoring the Cardinals 20-2. The last time the Cardinals lost three straight at home to start the season was in 1969, the year after they lost a seven-game World Series to Mickey Lolich and the Detroit Tigers. The Cardinals were 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Noteworthy: St. Louis’ Braden Looper made his first major-league start after 572 relief appearances.
NATIONALS 7, MARLINS 6 at Washington: Dmitri Young’s bases-loaded single with one out in the ninth completed Washington’s comeback from a five-run deficit. Young hit an arching ball toward the left-field corner, and outfielder Josh Willingham let it drop in, hoping it would land foul. But the ball fell a few inches fair.
Noteworthy: It was the first first win as a major-league manager for Manny Acta.
BRAVES 3, PHILLIES 2 (11) at Philadelphia: Scott Thorman’s solo homer in the 11th inning gave Atlanta the victory. Brian McCann’s two-run homer off Philadelphia closer Tom Gordon tied it at 2-2 in the ninth. Thorman then connected against Ryan Madson (0-2) with one out in the 11th. Macay McBride (1-0) threw one pitch, retiring Ryan Howard on a grounder to second base to leave the winning run at third in the 10th.
Noteworthy: The Phillies wasted an outstanding effort by starter Cole Hamels, who pitched seven scoreless innings.
DODGERS 5, BREWERS 4 at Milwaukee: Jason Schmidt pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and the bullpen held on as Los Angeles avoided a sweep.
Noteworthy: Jeff Suppan, 5-0 in Miller Park when he was with the Cardinals and Pirates, lost in his Brewers debut.
PADRES 5, GIANTS 3 at San Francisco: Barry Bonds moved a step closer to Hank Aaron’s home run record, hitting his 735th in the first inning of San Francisco’s loss to San Diego.
Noteworthy: Bonds became the San Francisco leader for runs scored with 1,481, passing his godfather, Willie Mays (1,480).
CUBS 4, REDS 1 at Cincinnati: Ted Lilly pitched seven impressive innings in his Chicago debut. Lilly allowed only three singles and struck out nine.
Noteworthy: The Reds’ Ken Griffey Jr. batted fifth, the first time he has hit so low in the order since May 6-8, 2004.
PIRATES 5, ASTROS 4 at Houston: Jose Bautista drove in three runs to help Pittsburgh erase a two-run deficit in a victory over Houston. Pittsburgh, which opened last season with three straight losses, is 3-0 for the first time since 2003.
Noteworthy: Salomon Torres pitched the ninth for his third save in as many nights.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
