Colorado piled on a season-high 21 hits as they routed Texas 12-1 on Tuesday and Nolan Arenado closed in on the Rockies team-record hitting streak.
Arenado had to wait until his final at-bat in the seventh inning to keep his hitting streak going. His double just inside the left-field line meant he has hit safely in 26 straight games, one short of the team record set by Michael Cuddyer last year.
Arenado also made several slick plays at third base, while Carlos Gonzalez had five hits for the Rockies, who closed within one game of National League West leaders San Francisco.
Colorado starter Juan Nicasio (4-1) got through five innings without his best command, giving up one run.
Elsewhere, Clayton Kershaw made his first start since opening day and guided the Los Angeles Dodgers past Washington 8-3.
Kershaw (2-0) was stubborn in his return after missing 32 games, allowing nine hits, but striking out nine without a walk.
The two-time NL Cy Young winner had been on the disabled list for the first time in his career, sidelined by a strained back muscle after winning the March 22 major league opener in Australia.
Hanley Ramirez and Drew Butera homered for LA.
Atlanta’s Justin Upton homered and also scored the tiebreaking run on Chris Johnson’s eighth-inning single as the Braves beat St Louis 2-1.
Braves pitcher Gavin Floyd was impressive in his season debut, allowing one run in seven innings, while reliever David Carpenter (2-0) had two strikeouts in a perfect eighth inning to earn the win.
Seattle rookie Roenis Elias struck out six while pitching into the seventh to win consecutive starts for the first time, helping the Mariners defeat Oakland 8-3.
Elias (3-2) followed up a 10-strikeout gem at Yankee Stadium his last time out with another impressive start as the Mariners moved within two games of division leaders the A’s.
Justin Smoak drove in three runs as Seattle won four straight games for the first time this season.
Pittsburgh benefited from a replay review that gave the winning run, beating San Francisco 2-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the scored tied 1-1, Sterling Marte hit a triple off Tim Hudson. The throw got past Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, so Marte sprinted home.
Sandoval recovered and threw to home where the umpire ruled Marte was tagged out by San Francisco catcher Buster Posey, but a replay review showed the Pirates player got his hand on the plate.
Miami’s Henderson Alvarez pitched his second shutout of the season to steer the Marlins to a 3-0 win over the New York Mets.
Alvarez (2-2) struck out seven, walked none and threw 111 pitches. He now has four career shutouts, including the final day of last season.
Miami again thrived at home, improving to a major league-best 16-5 — including 7-1 on their current homestand with one game left — whereas they have a 2-10 record on the road.
Arizona’s Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning after Miguel Montero had a tying single, rallying the Diamondbacks past Milwaukee 7-5.
New York’s Brian Roberts hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to give the Yankees a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Also on Tuesday it was:
‧ Blue Jays 6, Phillies 5
‧ Orioles 5, Tampa Bay 3
‧ Red Sox 4, Cincinnati 3
‧ Royals 3, Padres 1
‧ Tigers 11, Astros 4
‧ Indians 4, Twins 2
‧ White Sox 5, Cubs 1
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