NATIONAL LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, NEW YORK
Rookie Ike Davis hit his first Major League home run and Japan’s Hisanori Takahashi posted his first victory to spark the New York Mets to a 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday.
PHOTO: AFP
The win was the fourth in five games for the Mets, who are trying to escape the National League East cellar. They trail the Braves by a half-game for the bottom spot.
Davis, the Mets’ first baseman, leveled the score at 1-1 with his fifth inning homer to right-center field and the Mets scored twice in the sixth to break the tie.
Takahashi (1-1) gained the win in emergency relief of Mets starter John Maine, who left the game in the fourth inning with spasms in his left, non-pitching, elbow.
“It’s frustrating, it just locked up, I couldn’t use it,” Maine told reporters. “You’re basically using one arm. You can’t give 100 percent effort.”
Takahashi struck out seven in three innings, while giving up two hits and a run. He also had his first hit, a single in the fifth inning.
“I don’t have much to say about it, but I like to start games,” Takahashi said through an interpreter.
David Wright’s sacrifice fly put the Mets ahead 3-1 in the sixth inning and he singled home their final run in the seventh, when New York also scored twice.
The Mets also benefited from manager Jerry Manuel’s decision to move Jose Reyes from the leadoff batting position to third in the order. He contributed a double and a triple, and scored a run.
Talented Atlanta rookie Jason Heyward struck out three times.
“Not one of our better efforts,” said Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, who was charged with two of the Braves’ four errors on missed pop-ups.
GIANTS 4, CARDINALS 1
In San Francisco, Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum won his initial four starts of the season for the first time in his career.
Lincecum (4-0) — the two-time reigning National League Cy Young Award winner — is 27-12 in 59 outings following Giants losses, including 3-0 this year.
San Francisco scored runs on a pair of errors and a wild pitch, ending a four-game losing streak.
Yadier Molina singled in St Louis’ lone run in the sixth inning, but the Cardinals could do little else against Lincecum.
St Louis pitcher Jaime Garcia (1-1) gave up four runs — two earned — in six innings. He also got his first Major League hit.
Friday’s other results:
• Padres 10, Reds 4
• Diamondbacks 7, Phillies 4
• Nationals 5, Dodgers 1
• Cubs 8, Brewers 1
• Astros 4, Pirates 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Toronto’s Brett Cecil pitched into the seventh inning in his first appearance of the season, setting up the Blue Jays’ 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Cecil (1-0), recalled from the Las Vegas 51’s to replace the injured Brian Tallet, gave up six hits, one walk and struck out eight in six-and-two-third innings. He departed after allowing Gabe Kapler’s two-run homer in the seventh that got Tampa Bay to 6-4.
Vernon Wells hit an RBI double, Alex Gonzalez drove in two with a single and Jose Bautista added a run-scoring double as Toronto took a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza (3-1) allowed five runs in five innings.
ANGELS 6, YANKEES 4
In Anaheim, California, Kendry Morales hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Joba Chamberlain in the eighth inning to lift Los Angeles over New York.
Hideki Matsui led off the eighth for the Angels with a single. Morales then drove a pitch from Chamberlain (0-1) to right field for his fifth homer.
Angels catcher Brain Wilson, making his first Major League start, sustained a concussion and injured left ankle in a collision at the plate with Mark Teixeira.
Los Angeles’ Fernando Rodney (2-0) pitched a hitless eighth for the victory.
Friday’s other results:
• Twins 8, Royals 3
• Athletics 10, Indians 0
• Rangers 5, Tigers 4
• White Sox 7, Mariners 6
• Red Sox 4, Orioles 3
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