The Chicago Cubs shook up their lineup. Then, Alfonso Soriano got shaken up.
Soriano came out in the fifth inning on Monday night after straining his left hamstring while attempting a diving catch in Chicago's 12-4 rout of the San Diego Padres.
Jason Marquis (1-1) allowed one run in six innings to win for the first time in three starts since signing a US$21 million, three-year contract with the Cubs. He beat Clay Hensley (0-3), who was tagged for 10 runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings.
Soriano, who signed a US$136 million, eight-year contract, and Marquis were key components in the Cubs' offseason makeover.
Chicago began the night last in the NL Central at 4-7 and entered with five losses in six games, so manager Lou Piniella juggled his line-up.
The biggest change was moving Jacque Jones from right field to left and dropping him to sixth in the batting order. Matt Murton started in right, batted cleanup and delivered two hits and two RBIs.
Chicago responded to the changes with season highs for runs and hits (14). Michael Barrett, Mark DeRosa and Cliff Floyd homered for the Cubs, who were 0-7 against San Diego last season.
Pirates 3, Cardinals 2
At St. Louis, Albert Pujols popped up with the bases loaded for the final out, and Pittsburgh got an excellent pitching performance from Ian Snell to beat St. Louis.
Snell (1-1) threw seven innings of three-hit ball and Xavier Nady had two RBIs, helping the Pirates snap a four-game losing streak. Salomon Torres escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his fifth save, retiring Chris Duncan on a shallow fly to left and Pujols on a foul popup to third.
Giants 8, Rockies 0
At Denver, Barry Zito gave up three hits in six innings for his first win with San Francisco, and Ray Durham and Bengie Molina hit consecutive homers against Colorado.
Brewers 10, Reds 6
At Cincinnati, Bill Hall broke out of a slump with his first career grand slam, a seventh-inning shot that powered Milwaukee.
Nationals 5, Braves 1
At Washington, Matt Chico overcame a shaky start to earn his first major league win, and Dmitri Young honored Jackie Robinson a day late with three hits and two RBIs in Washington's victory over Atlanta.
Astros 4, Marlins 3
At Houston, Morgan Ensberg singled home the winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving Houston a victory over Florida.
Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 1
AT Phoenix, Nomar Garciaparra drove in two runs with a homer and a double as Los Angeles won for the ninth time in 11 games, beating Arizona.
Ivan Rodriguez had a grand slam and six RBIs to back Justin Verlander's first win of the season, leading the Detroit Tigers over the Kansas City Royals 12-5 on Monday night.
Carlos Guillen had four RBIs for the Tigers, who were swept by last-place Kansas City on the final weekend of last season, costing Detroit the AL Central title.
Rodriguez hit his sixth career slam in the first off Zack Greinke (1-2), then hit a two-run double in a second against Jason Standridge as the Tigers took a 7-2 lead.
Verlander (1-0) had not allowed any earned runs in 13 innings coming in, but didn't get a decision in his first two starts. He allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, struck out six and walked none.
Greinke, who had been 6-0 in his prior eight starts against the Tigers, lasted just two-thirds of an inning, the shortest of his 60 major league starts.
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