Randy Wells tossed six scoreless innings to give the Chicago Cubs their first win of the season in a 2-0 shutout over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Tyler Colvin and Marlon Byrd swatted solo home runs and Carlos Marmol picked up the save in a strong bullpen performance for the Cubs (1-2), who avoided being swept in their season-opening three-game series.
Martin Prado had three hits for the Braves (2-1), but the home side left seven runners in scoring position to fall to their first loss of the season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Second-year starter Tommy Hanson allowed both runs during his five-and-one-third innings and struck out seven batters.
The Cubs had not begun this year on a positive note, having been destroyed 16-5 on Monday and edged by a late-inning home run 3-2 on Wednesday, but Chicago rebounded despite tallying just four hits.
Powered by home runs in the second and fourth innings, the Cubs pitched their way out of persistent trouble.
Wells faced a bases-loaded scenario in the third as well as a jam in the sixth where Atlanta had runners on first and third, but he induced double plays both times.
Chicago used four relievers who combined to keep the game scoreless.
Touted Atlanta rookie Jason Heyward, who hit a home run in his Major League debut, was 0-for-4 with one strikeout.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
■BLUE JAYS 3, RANGERS 1
At Arlington, Texas, Vernon Wells hit his fourth homer in three games as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the ninth against closer Frank Francisco to beat the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
Rangers starter C.J. Wilson struck out nine and allowed five hits over seven innings in his return to the rotation, but Francisco (0-1) failed in his first save opportunity of the season.
Francisco gave up three runs and four hits while getting only two outs.
Wells became the first Blue Jays player to homer in each of the first three games of the season, as Toronto won the series 2-1.
Vladimir Guerrero went three for four for Texas, making him seven for 11 (.636) this season.
TIGERS 7, ROYALS 3
At Kansas City, Missouri, Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in four runs and Dontrelle Willis turned in six solid innings in his first regular-season start in almost 10 months for Detroit’s win over Kansas City Royals. The Royals bullpen blew three saves in the season-opening three-game series against the Tigers.
Cabrera went four for five with a three-run homer and an RBI single. In 41 games against the Royals, he’s hitting .363 with 13 home runs and 39 RBIs.
Eddie Bonine (1-0) took the win in relief.
ATHLETICS 6, MARINERS 2
At Oakland, California, Brett Anderson pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning of a strong season debut, Daric Barton drove in a career-high four runs and Oakland won three of four games against division rival Seattle.
Cliff Pennington and Ryan Sweeney each added RBI doubles.
Anderson (1-0) allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, CINCINNATI, OHIO
Jonny Gomes’ solo homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Cincinnati Reds to their first win of the season, 2-1 over the St Louis Cardinals in the National League on Thursday.
Gomes connected on a 2-2 pitch from Jason Motte (0-1), brought into the game to face him.
Francisco Cordero (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth in relief of Bronson Arroyo, who went the first eight innings and singled home a run.
After scoring 17 runs in the first two games, the Cardinals managed only four hits in the series finale, including Matt Holliday’s first homer.
DODGERS 10, PIRATES 2
At Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ronnie Belliard homered among three extra base hits and drove in four runs to help Los Angeles avoided being swept in a three-game series by Pittsburgh for the first time in 10 years.
The Dodgers played without middle-of-the-lineup hitters Andre Ethier (left ankle) and Manny Ramirez (day off), but still got 16 hits off four Pirates pitchers. Reed Johnson doubled among three hits and scored twice, and Matt Kemp, James Loney and Garret Anderson drove in two runs each.
Belliard finished 3 for 5 and a single short of the cycle. Chad Billingsley (1-0) limited the Pirates to a run over five-and-one-third innings.
NATIONALS 6, PHILLIES 5
At Washington, Ryan Zimmerman drove in the tiebreaking run off new Philadelphia reliever Nelson Figueroa with a shot to shallow right field that landed inches fair, as the Washington avoided a season-opening, three-game sweep.
Willie Harris hit a two-run homer for the Nationals, and Tyler Clippard (1-0) earned the victory with 1 2-3 innings of relief. Matt Capps worked around Chase Utley’s leadoff double in the ninth for his first save with Washington.
Figueroa (0-1) was added to the roster on Thursday after being waived by the Mets.
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