Sheets stymies Dodgers
Milwaukee ? Ben Sheets gave up an early home run, then retired his next 22 batters in a two-hitter Monday that led the Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-1 opening-day victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sheets (1-0) allowed Jeff Kent’s homer leading off the second and Brady Clark’s double with one out in the
ninth. Sheets pitched the first opening-day complete game of two hits or fewer in 15 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last to do it had been Tom Glavine with a two-hitter for Atlanta against Houston in 1992.
Marlins 9, Nationals 2
Washington – Miguel Cabrera homered into the upper deck off John Patterson (0-1) and drove in four runs, and Hanley Ramirez collected four hits.
Dontrelle Willis (1-0) allowed one earned run and seven hits in six innings, leaving after 100 pitches.
Braves 5, Phillies 3
Philadelphia – Edgar Renteria twice failed to execute a sacrifice, then hit a two-run homer in the 10th off Ryan Madson (0-1), his second homer of the game.
John Smoltz went six innings, Bob Wickman (1-0) pitched out of a jam in the ninth and Chad Paronto tossed a scoreless 10th for the save.
Jimmy Rollins homered for the Phillies, and Brian McCann hit a two-run drive for the Braves.
Reds 5, Cubs 1
Cincinnati – Adam Dunn homered in his first two at-bats, and Aaron Harang (1-0) allowed only an unearned run and six hits in seven innings.
Chicago’s only run was unearned, courtesy of Ryan Freel’s throwing error in center field.
Diamondbacks 8, Rockies 6
Denver – Eric Byrnes lined a two-run single off LaTroy Hawkins in the eighth inning, and Arizona snapped a four-game losing streak on opening day.
Pirates 4, Astros 2, 10 innings
Houston – Jason Bay’s two-run homer in the 10th lifted Pittsburgh in front of a Minute Maid Park-record crowd of 43,803 that included former president George H. W. Bush.