AMERICAN LEAGUE
American League most valuable player Dustin Pedroia homered his second pitch this season, and Josh Beckett struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits in seven innings to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Tuesday.
Jason Varitek also hit a home run for Boston in a game that was postponed from Monday due to rain.
PHOTO: AP
Tampa Bay scored one run off Beckett (1-0) and two in the eighth off Hideki Okajima before Justin Masterson pitched out of a jam and Jonathan Papelbon got three outs for the save.
James Shields (0-1) gave up five runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings.
BLUE JAYS 5, TIGERS 4
At Toronto, Rod Barajas hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning as Toronto rallied to beat Detroit.
The Blue Jays trailed 3-0 after seven before Scott Rolen hit a solo homer and Aaron Hill connected for a go-ahead, three-run drive in the eighth.
B.J. Ryan (1-0) got the win despite allowing a tying homer to Brandon Inge in the ninth.
Adam Lind got the winning rally started with a one-out walk against Brandon Lyon (0-1). Pinch-runner Jose Bautista went to third on Rolen’s single to right and Lyle Overbay was walked intentionally to load the bases for Barajas, who lofted a fly ball into center field. Bautista scored without a throw from Curtis Granderson.
WHITE SOX 4, ROYALS 2
At Chicago, Jim Thome hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, rallying Chicago past Kansas City in a season opener delayed a day because of bad weather.
The White Sox trailed 2-1 when Thome hit his 542nd career home run, connecting with two outs off Royals newcomer Kyle Farnsworth (0-1).
Thome’s blast gave Chicago the win on a day when Mark Buehrle struggled with his control, and it erased a solid outing by Kansas City’s Gil Meche, who pitched seven strong innings.
Alex Gordon homered for the Royals.
In other games it was:
• Twins 6, Mariners 5
• Athletics 6, Angels 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PHILADELPHIA
Jair Jurrjens and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, and Kelly Johnson and Chipper Jones hit solo homers as the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 in the National League on Tuesday.
Jurrjens (1-0) beat a pitcher twice his age, 46-year-old Jamie Moyer. The right-hander gave up four hits and walked three in 5 2-3 impressive innings.
Jeff Bennett gave up a single to the only batter he faced before Eric O’Flaherty got the next four outs. Rafael Soriano pitched the eighth and Mike Gonzalez finished.
Moyer (0-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.
GIANTS 10, BREWERS 6
At San Francisco, Travis Ishikawa hit a three-run triple and Aaron Rowand had three RBIs as San Francisco beat Milwaukee.
In other games it was:
• Marlins 8, Nationals 3
• Astros 3, Cubs 2
• Cardinals 9, Pirates 3
• Padres 4, Dodgers 2
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