Jake Peavy (1-0) sparkled in six shutout innings as the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 7-0 on Tuesday in the season opener for both clubs, giving rookie skipper Bud Black a win in his debut against predecessor Bruce Bochy.
Barry Bonds resumed his pursuit of Hank Aaron's home run record with a single, stolen base, walk, groundout and fly ball to the warning track in a 1-for-3 showing on a day when the Giants matched their most lopsided loss in an opener in 75 years.
They were shut out on opening day for the first time since a 6-0 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967. The Giants haven't lost by more than seven runs in an opener since falling 13-5 to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1932.
Barry Zito (0-1), San Francisco's new US$126 million ace, was outpitched by Peavy in his NL debut after spending his first seven seasons across San Francisco Bay with the Oakland Athletics.
Mets 4, Cardinals 1
At St. Louis, Orlando Hernandez's arm, and surprising bat, helped New York spoil another championship ceremony for St. Louis.
The right-hander, who missed last year's postseason with a calf injury, threw seven innings of five-hit ball and hit a two-run double that matched his career RBI output.
The Mets have been impressive in taking the first two games of a season-opening three-game series against the team that knocked them out in a seven-game NLCS last year and went on to win its first World Series title in 24 years.
New York prevailed on Tuesday after the Cardinals received their World Series rings. On Sunday night, the Mets won 6-1.
Hernandez (1-0) outpitched Kip Wells (0-1) and was hurt only by Scott Rolen's leadoff homer in the seventh.
Aaron Heilman got Albert Pujols on a soft liner with two on for the final out in the eighth and Billy Wagner finished for the save.
Marlins 9, Nationals 3
At Washington, Scott Olsen had a double, a single and an RBI, all while taking a two-hit shutout into the sixth inning and helping Florida beat Washington to improve to 2-0.
Olsen (1-0) lasted 5 1-3 innings. He was charged with two runs, two hits and five walks.
Nationals starter Shawn Hill (0-1) got into trouble right away in his first appearance in the majors since June 28. The right-hander needed 18 minutes and 36 pitches to get through the first inning alone. But then Hill settled down. He allowed five runs -- four earned -- and five hits in five innings.
Brewers 4, Dodgers 3
At Milwaukee, Kevin Mench hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Randy Wolf in the sixth inning, sending Milwaukee to victory.
Prince Fielder also homered off Wolf (0-1), who gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. Brewers reliever Brian Shouse (1-0) came in with the bases loaded in the sixth and got Juan Pierre to ground into an inning-ending forceout.
Derrick Turnbow pitched a perfect eighth. Francisco Cordero struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save.
Pirates 3, Astros 2
At Houston, Xavier Nady homered for the second consecutive night and singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, leading Pittsburgh past Houston.
In Monday's opener, Nady hit the tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Astros closer Brad Lidge. The Pirates won 4-2 in 10 innings.
Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell struck out a career-high 11, but didn't get a decision. He gave up Carlos Lee's RBI single in the sixth that gave Houston a 2-1 lead. Jason Lane homered for the Astros.
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