Andrew Miller (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings in his first major league start and the Detroit Tigers scored nine runs in the fifth inning of a 14-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in a World Series rematch on Friday.
Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez homered early for the Tigers, who lost to St. Louis in five games last October. They went ahead 2-0 on Sheffield's liner over the left-field wall in the first and had the game well in hand when a Detroit pitcher made yet another error against the Cardinals.
Jason Grilli threw away a pickoff attempt in the eighth, but by then Detroit held a huge lead. Tigers pitchers made a record five errors in the World Series last year.
PHOTO: AP
Braden Looper (5-3) gave up a career-high seven runs and nine hits over four-plus innings. Detroit set a season high for runs and hits (18). In one game, the Tigers also surpassed the 11 total runs they scored in last year's World Series.
Albert Pujols hit his seventh homer in the ninth for St. Louis.
Cubs 6, White Sox 3
At Chicago, Angel Pagan hit a tying triple in the seventh inning and scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball to help the Chicago Cubs beat the White Sox.
Backup catcher Toby Hall, playing his first game this season after a shoulder injury, had two errors and the passed ball that cost the White Sox. Hall's second error helped the Cubs score two more runs in the eighth at Wrigley Field.
Mets 3, Yankees 2
At New York, Endy Chavez's first home run of the year, a go-ahead, two-run shot off Andy Pettitte in the fifth inning, led the New York Mets to a victory that dropped their crosstown rival 10 games back in the American League East for the first time in the Joe Torre era.
Marlins 8, Devil Rays 4
At St. Petersburg, Florida, Kim Byung-hyun won his Marlins debut and Aaron Boone hit a grand slam, leading Florida past Tampa Bay.
Indians 9, Reds 4
At Cleveland, Ryan Garko and Grady Sizemore homered to help Cliff Lee remain undefeated in interleague play as Cleveland defeated Cincinnati.
Phillies 5, Blue Jays 3
At Philadelphia, Jon Lieber pitched seven-plus strong innings while Brett Myers escaped a bases-loaded jam and Philadelphia beat Toronto.
Orioles 5, Nationals 4
At Washington, Brian Roberts tied a career high with four hits, Steve Trachsel won for the first time in five starts, and Baltimore snapped a five-game losing streak by holding off Washington.
Twins 8, Brewers 1
At Milwaukee, Boof Bonser struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings and Torii Hunter hit his second grand slam this season, leading Minnesota over Milwaukee.
Rangers 7, Astros 4
At Houston, Nelson Cruz and Ramon Vazquez hit consecutive homers, and Texas starter Robinson Tejeda held Houston hitless for five innings.
Royals 5, Rockies 2
At Denver, Emil Brown hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning to lift Kansas City over Colorado.
Padres 8, Mariners 1
At Seattle, Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a two-run double for an early lead and Chris Young made it stand up, leading San Diego past Seattle.
Athletics 15, Giants 3
At Oakland, California, Barry Zito gave up seven runs and six hits in a lousy homecoming as Oakland hammered its former ace pitcher in his first start at the Coliseum for San Francisco.
Dan Johnson hit a two-run homer.
Angels 9, Dodgers 1
At Anaheim, California, Brad Penny was roughed up in his first loss of the season, and Shea Hillenbrand's RBI double keyed a five-run sixth inning that sent the Los Angeles Angels to a victory over the Dodgers.
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