Braves spoil Nationals' home opener
WASHINGTON--Benefiting from the decision to overturn Ian Desmond"s inside-the-park homer on replay review, the Atlanta Braves beat Washington 2-1 Friday, spoiling the Nationals" home opener and giving rookie manager Matt Williams his first loss.
Desmond"s shot down the left-field line in the fifth inning, which appeared to tie the game at 1-all, was switched to a ground-rule double after a five-minute delay after Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez requested the review. Desmond was sent back to second base and wound up getting caught in a rundown while trying to steal.
Washington did eventually even the score, but Atlanta"s Chris Johnson delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth off reliever Tyler Clippard (0-1).
Luis Avilan (1-0) got one out in the seventh for the win, and Craig Kimbrel earned his third save.
Phillies 7, Cubs 2 Chase Utley hit a two-run homer and an RBI single, helping Philadelphia win the opener of Wrigley Field"s 100th anniversary season.
John Mayberry Jr. also had a two-run drive for his fourth career pinch-hit homer as Philadelphia bounced back after dropping the last two games of its opening series in Texas.
Roberto Hernandez (1-0) pitched into the sixth inning in his Phillies debut after signing a US$4.5 million, one-year contract in the offseason.
Welington Castillo had a solo homer for the Cubs, who have dropped four consecutive home openers for the first time since 1991-94. Travis Wood (0-1) struck out eight in 6 1-3 innings, but was charged with four runs, three earned, and six hits.
Rockies 12, Diamondbacks 2 Charlie Blackmon tied a team record with six hits and drove in five runs.
Blackmon finished 6 for 6 with three doubles and a two-run homer. The only other Rockies player with six hits in a game was Andres Galarraga against Houston on July 3, 1995.
Carlos Gonzalez added a two-run triple and a two-run homer off the facing of the third deck as the Rockies improved to 13-9 in home openers.
Desmond"s shot down the left-field line in the fifth inning, which appeared to tie the game at 1-all, was switched to a ground-rule double after a five-minute delay after Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez requested the review. Desmond was sent back to second base and wound up getting caught in a rundown while trying to steal.
Washington did eventually even the score, but Atlanta"s Chris Johnson delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth off reliever Tyler Clippard (0-1).
Luis Avilan (1-0) got one out in the seventh for the win, and Craig Kimbrel earned his third save.
Phillies 7, Cubs 2 Chase Utley hit a two-run homer and an RBI single, helping Philadelphia win the opener of Wrigley Field"s 100th anniversary season.
John Mayberry Jr. also had a two-run drive for his fourth career pinch-hit homer as Philadelphia bounced back after dropping the last two games of its opening series in Texas.
Roberto Hernandez (1-0) pitched into the sixth inning in his Phillies debut after signing a US$4.5 million, one-year contract in the offseason.
Welington Castillo had a solo homer for the Cubs, who have dropped four consecutive home openers for the first time since 1991-94. Travis Wood (0-1) struck out eight in 6 1-3 innings, but was charged with four runs, three earned, and six hits.
Rockies 12, Diamondbacks 2 Charlie Blackmon tied a team record with six hits and drove in five runs.
Blackmon finished 6 for 6 with three doubles and a two-run homer. The only other Rockies player with six hits in a game was Andres Galarraga against Houston on July 3, 1995.
Carlos Gonzalez added a two-run triple and a two-run homer off the facing of the third deck as the Rockies improved to 13-9 in home openers.
