Kris Medlen allowed only an unearned run in seven innings, and the Braves earned their fifth consecutive victory by beating the punchless Marlins 3-2 last night in Miami.
The Braves improved to 7-1, their best start since 2007. The Marlins fell to 1-7 with their fourth consecutive defeat, and they’re off to their worst start since the 1998 team began the season 1-11.
Evan Gattis hit his second home run, and Justin Upton doubled home a run before an announced crowd of 14,222, the smallest crowd at Marlins Park since it opened a year ago.
Cardinals 5, Reds 1
In St. Louis, Lance Lynn struck out 10 in six sharp innings and rookie Matt Adams connected for his first career pinch-hit homer.
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo (1-1) retired the first 15 batters. The Cardinals broke through in the sixth, with Adams hitting a two-run homer and Allen Craig and Carlos Beltran also driving in runs.
Padres 9, Dodgers 3
In San Diego, Will Venable homered and hit a bases-loaded triple for the Padres, who rebounded from a dreadful six-game trip to win their home opener.
Nick Hundley also homered off Josh Beckett for the Padres, who were outhomered 10-1 and outscored 40-14 in going 1-5 in a swing through New York and Colorado.
Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 5
In Phoenix, Garrett Jones had three hits and two RBIs, Starling Marte drove in two runs and scored twice for Pittsburgh.
Giants 9, Rockies 6
In San Francisco, Angel Pagan hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning to cap a rally from a four-run deficit and the Giants went on to beat Colorado for the eighth straight time.
Cubs 6, Brewers 3
In Chicago, pinch-hitter Scott Hairston had a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and David DeJesus added a two-run single for the Cubs.
Nationals 8, White Sox 7
In Washington, Adam LaRoche ended an 0-for-15 start to the season with homers in consecutive at-bats, Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond also homered for the Nationals.
Werth and LaRoche hit two-run shots off Jake Peavy (1-1) in the sixth, an inning after Desmond went deep. LaRoche added a solo homer off Matt Thornton in the eighth.
Tigers 7, Blue Jays 3
In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera hit his first homer of the season and drove in four runs for the Tigers. Torii Hunter had three hits, including the 2,000th of his career, and Alex Avila homered.
Tigers DH Victor Martinez missed the game after cutting his thumb on the bat rack at Comerica Park. He needed eight stitches in his right thumb after the mishap in Sunday’s loss to the Yankees. He was listed as day-to-day.
Athletics 9, Angels 5
In Anaheim, pinch-hitter John Jaso had a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning as Oakland spoiled the Angels’ home opener. Josh Hamilton went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly in his home debut.
Royals 7, Twins 4
In Kansas City, Mike Pelfrey gave up five runs in the first inning and Jeremy Guthrie won his career-best seventh straight decision, dating to last season.
Astros 16, Mariners 9
In Seattle, Jose Altuve drove in four runs and hit one of Houston’s five homers.
Rangers 6, Rays 1
Nick Tepesch pitched into the eighth inning in his major league debut and Lance Berkman had a key two-run single among three hits for host Texas.