INTERLEAGUE PLAY
Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson pitched seven effective innings to guide the Braves to a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays as Major League Baseball interleague play began on Friday.
Hanson (5-3) allowed two runs.
Photo: AFP
Freddie Freeman drove in two runs and had a run-scoring double while Brian McCann hit an RBI single that put the Braves up 4-2 in the fifth. Martin Prado added a solo homer in the seventh.
Braves veteran Chipper Jones left after seven innings because of a bruised left calf.
Rays starter James Shields (6-2) gave up four runs in six innings.
ORIOLES 2, NATIONALS 1, 11 INNINGS
In Washington, Nick Markakis homered into the second deck in the 11th inning to end a tight pitchers’ duel and lead Washington over local rival Baltimore.
Markakis’ blast off Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus (2-1) helped the Orioles record their sixth extra-inning road win this season and notch their fourth straight win.
Four Orioles relievers followed starter Jake Arrieta, including Kevin Gregg (2-1) in the 10th inning. Pedro Strop allowed two runners to reach base in the bottom of the 11th before finishing off the Nationals for the save.
Nationals starter Edwin Jackson (1-2) was an undeserving loser, having only allowed one run in eight innings with eight strikeouts and one walk.
DODGERS 6, CARDINALS 5
In Los Angeles, A.J. Ellis drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning, giving Los Angeles victory over St Louis in a clash of two National League division leaders.
Los Angeles’ Adam Kennedy had four hits against his former team and James Loney drove in two runs.
Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman, who had previously struggled against Dodgers pitcher Ted Lilly, was not in St Louis’ starting lineup despite having led the NL with 22 road home runs last season.
He came up with two outs in the ninth as a pinch-hitter and hit a shot beyond right-center for his first homer in 41 at-bats this season — ending the longest season-opening drought of his 14-year career.
MARLINS 3, INDIANS 2
In Cleveland, Carlos Zambrano pitched seven strong innings to guide Miami to a narrow win over Cleveland.
Zambrano (2-2) gave up two runs as he continued a strong first season in Miami. He has a 1.96 ERA in eight starts with his new team.
Heath Bell worked the ninth for a save.
The Marlins broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Hanley Ramirez. All three Miami runs were scored by batters who walked.
Indians starter Tony Sipp (0-2) took the loss as Cleveland had a four-game winning streak snapped.
In other MLB play, it was:
‧ Blue Jays 14, Mets 5
‧ Rangers 4, Astros 1
‧ Yankees 4, Reds 0
‧ Giants 8, Athletics 6
‧ Phillies 6, Red Sox 4
‧ Tigers 6, Pirates 0
‧ White Sox 3, Cubs 2
‧ Diamondbacks 6, Royals 4
‧ Mariners 4, Rockies 0
‧ Angels 4, Padres 2
‧ Twins 11, Brewers 3
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