St. Louis ? So far, the St. Louis Cardinals’ comeback kids are 0-2.

John Thomson worked seven strong innings as the Colorado Rockies got to Andy Benes in a 6-1 victory on Thursday.

Ken Griffey Jr. is hit by a pitch from Cubs pitcher Juan Cruz in the third inning of Thursday's game. The Reds won, 3-1.

Benes, who wasn’t used in the final month last year and was left off the Cardinals’ playoff roster because of a 7.38 ERA, struggled just as Garrett Stephenson had a night earlier.

“When you have the ball, it’s up to you get the guy out,” Benes said. “I’m disappointed with the result. I’m sure I’ll do better next time.”

Benes, slowed by a knee problem last year, made his first start since Aug. 3 and first appearance since Aug. 30. He lasted four innings, giving up five runs four earned on four hits.

Juan Uribe and Benny Agbayani homered for the Rockies, who took two of three in the season-opening series. Last year, the Rockies swept the Cardinals in Denver to start the year.

“We did a lot of good things the last few days,” manager Buddy Bell said. “We didn’t swing the bats all that well last night or even today, but we did some situational stuff we really need to do. It shows the kind of guys we have.”

Thomson allowed a run on seven hits, striking out three and walking none, and induced 14 pop-ups.

Astros 6, Brewers 3

Houston Lance Berkman tied a club record for home runs at the start of a season with his third in three days, leading Shane Reynolds and the Houston Astros .

Berkman has connected in all three of the Astros’ games. Chris Truby homered in three straight to open last year.

Berkman drove in three runs. He went 2-for-4.

Reynolds (1-0) allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. Jamey Wright (0-1) went four-plus innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and six walks.

Reds 3, Cubs 1

Cincinnati Sammy Sosa hit his second homer, but Fred McGriff’s error set up two Cincinnati runs.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit an RBI single. He also had a fastball by Juan Cruz (0-1) glance off his batting helmet in the third the sixth batter plunked in the series. Griffey went to first without complaint, and didn’t even look at Cruz when they crossed paths after the inning.

The benches and bullpens cleared on Wednesday night after Reds reliever Luis Pineda hit two Cubs in the ninth inning and was ejected. The Reds won despite getting only three hits. McGriff’s error at first base set up two unearned runs in the second.

Jose Acevedo (1-0) limited the Cubs to five hits in six innings.

Marlins 1, Expos 0

Montreal Brad Penny pitched a four-hitter and Derrek Lee homered for the third straight game.

Penny, who went 4-0 with a 0.30 ERA against the Expos last season, struck out three and walked two in recording his second career shutout. Vladimir Guerrero flied out to the warning track in center field to end it.

Lee homered over the wall in deep right-center field with one out in the fourth off Carl Pavano (0-1).

Braves 11, Phillies 2

Atlanta Gary Sheffield homered for the third straight game, and Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones homered during a seven-run sixth inning.

Sheffield, acquired from Los Angeles in an offseason trade for outfielder Brian Jordan and pitcher Odalis Perez, hit a three-run homer in the first inning.

Rafael Furcal and Andruw Jones singled and Sheffield hit the first pitch from Terry Adams (0-1) over the left-center field fence for a 3-0 lead.

The Phillies got to 3-2 off Jason Marquis (1-0) on Mike Lieberthal’s RBI double in the fourth and Scott Rolen’s first homer in the sixth.

The Braves broke it open in the bottom of the sixth, sending 10 batters to the plate.

Giants 3, Dodgers 0

Los Angeles Barry Bonds didn’t hit another home run, but he played a part in San Francisco’s victory. The unbeaten Giants completed their first three-game series sweep at Dodger Stadium since 982.

Ryan Jensen earned his second big-league victory by pitching seven shutout innings, and had two singles.

Bonds, who joined Eddie Mathews as the only players to open a season with a pair of two-homer games, was hit by a pitch, grounded out, doubled and walked.