Braves start with a bang to rout Marlins 12-2
MIAMI: Atlanta scored seven runs in the first inning to lay the foundations for a 12-2 thrashing of Miami on Tuesday to make it two wins from two games at the Marlins to start the new Major League Baseball season.
Baltimore also got off to a fast start and held on to edge Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J.Wilson was in command to shut down Seattle, and San Diego put in a ninth-inning surge that led that Padres over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta got hold of Miami pitcher Mat Latos (0-1), who had a humbling first home start for his new team. He did not even make it through the first innings, getting only two outs before he was hooked to the boos of angry home fans.
Freddie Freeman, Christian Bethancourt and Chris Johnson all hit RBI doubles in the first inning for the Braves.
Atlanta starter Alex Wood (1-0) allowed two runs in five innings to take the win.
Baltimore’s Adam Jones hit a tworun double during a four- run first inning that set up a 6- 5 win against Tampa Bay.
Steve Pearce homered for the second straight game, a two-run drive that put the Orioles up 6-0 in the second inning against Rays starter Nathan Karns (0-1), who steadied after that, giving up no more runs as he went 5 2-3 innings.
Baltimore’s Chris Davis went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch in his return after a 25-game suspension for a positive amphetamine test.
The Rays crept within striking range of victory, but Baltimore closer Zach Britton struck out three straight batters to end it.
The Angels beat Seattle 2-0, thanks to eight scoreless innings from Wilson (1-0), who wriggled out of a secondinning jam and retired the final 17 batters he faced.
Wilson allowed just three batters to reach first base.
David Freese provided all the offense with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
San Diego’s Wil Myers keyed a four-run ninth inning with a tiebreaking single that sent the Padres to a 7-3 win against the Dodgers. Clint Barmes led off the ninth against Chris Hatcher (0-1) with a single. Barmes went to third when catcher Yasmani Grandal overran a sacrifice bunt by Cory Spangenberg that had a lot of backspin on it, and hit him in the back with his throw to first.
Myers grounded the next pitch to drive in Barmes and put the Padres ahead. Derek Norris followed with a two-run double, and Will Middlebrooks capped the inning with an RBI single.
Texas pitcher Colby Lewis shut down his old side with six sharp innings that guided the Rangers to 3-1 win at Oakland, giving Jeff Banister his first victory as a major league manager.
Colorado’s Jordan Lyles pitched six effective innings and the Rockies hit six doubles for the second consecutive game to key a 5-2 victory over Milwaukee.
Arizona’s Jake Lamb and David Peralta each hit three-run homers to power the Diamondbacks to a 7-6 win against San Francisco.