NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman scored on Alfredo Simon’s wild pitch with two outs in the 10th inning, helping the Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Thursday and extend their best start since moving to the capital.
The Nationals improved to 5-2, top of the National League East, and gave the sellout crowd a win in a home opener for the first time since 2008.
Photo: Reuters
Simon (0-1) hit Zimmerman with a pitch leading off the 10th, and one out later Jayson Werth singled. A groundout pushed the runners to second and third. Simon then threw in the dirt, the catcher retrieved it and tossed it to Simon racing into home plate, but Zimmerman slid under the tag.
Washington’s Craig Stammen (1-0) had struck out the side in the top of the 10th for the win.
DODGERS 3, PIRATES 2
In Los Angeles, Chris Capuano struck out seven in his first home game with Los Angeles, which completed a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh.
The Dodgers scored all of their runs to set up a win that made them 6-1 — their best start since 1981, when they went on to win the World Series.
Capuano (1-0) allowed two runs with no walks in 5-1/3 innings. He struck out five of his first eight batters, four of them on called third strikes.
Los Angeles closer Javy Guerra pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in five attempts — all in a span of eight days.
Pirates starter Jeff Karstens (0-1) gave up seven hits.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, PADRES 1
In San Diego, California, Arizona pitcher Ian Kennedy struck out nine in six innings to remain perfect in six career starts against San Diego.
Kennedy (2-0) allowed one run and improved his career ERA against the Padres to 1.95. He is 8-0 in his past nine starts against all opponents.
Jason Kubel doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning for the Diamondacks and Chris Young added a solo homer in the eighth.
San Diego’s Micah Owings (0-2), pitching against his old team, took the loss after allowing an unearned run in the sixth.
CUBS 8, BREWERS 0
In Chicago, Matt Garza pitched 8-2/3 scoreless innings to help Chicago beat Milwaukee and avoid a four-game series sweep.
Garza (1-0) struck out nine and had a spell where he retired 16 of 17 batters from the second inning on. He left after 119 pitches and overthrowing the first baseman for a two-base error.
Brewers starter Zack Greinke (1-1) allowed eight earned runs for the first time in two seasons.
He needed 84 pitches to get through 3-2/3 innings.
PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 1
In Philadelphia, Shane Victorino and Ty Wigginton homered in Philadelphia’s defeat of Miami.
Phillies starter Joe Blanton (1-1) pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run in his first start.
The Marlins lost their second straight game without manager Ozzie Guillen, who was suspended by the club for saying he admired Cuban dictator Fidel Castro — a comment that upset many in Florida’s Cuban community.
Miami starter Mark Buehrle (0-2) allowed three runs in 6-1/3 innings.
GIANTS 4, ROCKIES 2
In Denver, Colorado, the Rockies’ 49-year-old Jamie Moyer failed in his second attempt to become the oldest pitcher to win a major league game.
Moyer (0-2) surrendered four runs in 5-1/3 innings and left to a standing ovation from forgiving home fans.
Opposing pitcher Madison Bumgarner (1-1) — a 22-year-old who was not born when Moyer debuted in the majors — took a no-hit bid into the sixth and stifled a Rockies lineup that had produced 17 runs the night before. He gave up one run while throwing 117 pitches.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, DETROIT, Michigan
Detroit’s Brennan Boesch drove in four runs on his 27th birthday, leading the Tigers to a 7-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday for their fifth win in six games to start the season.
Despite having the American League’s best record, Detroit’s starters have not yet had a win and that continued on Thursday as Drew Smyly went empty handed from his major league debut. Instead, Collin Balester (1-0) won this one with two innings of relief.
The Tigers trailed 1-0 until scoring three runs off Jeff Niemann (0-1) in the fifth.
RANGERS 5, MARINERS 3
In Arlington, Texas, Michael Young hit a two-run homer and had four RBIs to power Texas past Seattle.
Young put Texas ahead with an RBI single. Then with the Rangers leading 1-0 in the fifth inning, he hit an opposite-field homer for a 3-0 lead against Jason Vargas (1-1). Young added a run-scoring single in the eighth.
Texas starter Derek Holland (1-0) allowed two runs in 7-1/3 innings, struck out eight and walked none. However the 22-2/3 innings scoreless streak by the Rangers starters ended in the sixth.
TWINS 10, ANGELS 9
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Justin Morneau hit a two-run, tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning to complete Minnesota’s comeback from a six-run deficit against Los Angeles.
Joe Mauer went deep, too, hitting a three-run shot in the fifth. Every Twins batter had at least one of the team’s 20 hits, enough to make up for the 14 men left on base, including eight in scoring position.
Angels pitcher Rich Thompson (0-1) gave up Morneau’s first home run of the season.
Jeff Gray (2-0) picked up the victory and Matt Capps notched his second save, despite giving the Angels two runs back.
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