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Baseball Capsules

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By The Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Joey Votto hit a pair of two-run homers -- the strongest indication yet that he's fully back in form -- and Todd Frazier had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly on Friday night, keeping the Cincinnati Reds unbeaten with a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds are 4-0 for the first time since 2011, when they won their first five games. They've won each game in their final at-bat.

Votto homered off John Lackey in each of his first two at-bats. Frazier's sacrifice fly in the eighth off Jordan Walden (0-1) marked the second time this week that he's knocked in the deciding run.

J.J. Hoover (2-0) escaped a threat in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman gave up a hit and fanned two in the ninth for his second save.

ROCKIES 5, CUBS 1

DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies tied their best start in franchise history, beating the Cubs behind Troy Tulowitzki's two-run double and Justin Morneau's solo homer.

The Rockies, off to their first 4-0 start since 1995, got another stellar performance from their bullpen in relief of a shaky Tyler Matzek.

Right-hander Christian Bergman (1-0) picked up the win with a perfect fifth inning, and five Colorado relievers combined to allow just one hit -- a bunt single by Anthony Rizzo with the shift on -- in five innings.

Travis Wood (0-1) was the loser.

TWINS 6, WHITE SOX 0

CHICAGO -- Tommy Milone pitched two-hit ball into the eighth inning and the Twins got their first win under manager Paul Molitor, beating the White Sox in Chicago's home opener.

The Twins got some relief after getting knocked around in a three-game sweep at Detroit, while the White Sox (0-4) matched their worst start since 1995.

Milone (1-0) yielded a bunt single to Micah Johnson in the third and retired the next 16 batters before Tyler Flowers chased him with a two-out double in the eighth.

Hector Noesi (0-1) lasted 4 2-3 innings for Chicago, allowing two runs and four hits.

BLUE JAYS 12, ORIOLES 5

BALTIMORE -- Jose Bautista broke out of an early-season slump by going 3 for 3 and scoring four runs as the Blue Jays ruined the Orioles' home opener.

Josh Donaldson and Dioner Navarro each drove in three runs for the Blue Jays. Toronto finished with 16 hits, half of them doubles -- including two by Dalton Pompey.

Mark Buehrle (1-0) earned his 200th career win, allowing one run and eight hits in six innings.

Adam Jones homered, had a career-high tying four hits and drove in two runs for the Orioles.

Bud Norris (0-1) allowed eight runs and seven hits in three-plus innings.

PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 1

PHILADELPHIA -- Cesar Hernandez had a go-ahead, two-run single in a wild four-run seventh and Freddy Galvis had three hits and an RBI, leading the Phillies to a victory over the Nationals.

Michael Taylor homered for the Nationals, the preseason favorites in the NL East who have lost three of four to open the year while scoring just seven runs.

Jonathon Papelbon, two days after saying he doesn't "feel much like a Phillie," pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save in as many chances.

Luis Garcia (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh.

Washington's Gio Gonzalez (0-1) gave up three runs on five hits in 6 1-3 innings with four strikeouts and four walks.

ASTROS 5, RANGERS 1

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jed Lowrie and Colby Rasmus each homered for the Astros, who beat the injury-plagued Rangers to spoil the home debut of new Texas manager Jeff Banister.

Rangers starter Derek Holland (0-1) left after only one inning because of tightness in left shoulder. The left-hander will be out at least six weeks, and maybe more, after being diagnosed as a strained subscapularis muscle.

Texas outfielders Shin-Soo Choo (back spasms) and Ryan Rua (sprained right ankle) also made early exits because of injuries. Choo was feeling better afterward, but Rua had a protective boot on his foot and could be headed to the disabled list.

Collin McHugh (1-0), who was 7-0 with a 1.77 ERA his final 10 starts as a rookie last season, struck out four and allowed one run over six innings.

TIGERS 8, INDIANS 4

CLEVELAND -- Alfredo Simon took a shutout into the sixth in his debut for Detroit and Nick Castellanos hit a two-run homer as the Tigers won their fourth straight, beating Cleveland to spoil the Indians' home opener in their remodeled ballpark.

Simon (1-0) allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Castellanos homered in the fifth off Zach McAllister (0-1), tagged for a career-high 13 hits.

Carlos Santana had two RBIs for Cleveland, which put the tying run on deck in the ninth before Joakim Soria struck out Michael Bourn with two on for his first save.

Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez each had three hits and an RBI for the Tigers.

MARLINS 10, RAYS 9, 10 INNINGS

MIAMI -- Christian Yelich had a game-ending RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning and drove in three runs to lift the Miami Marlins to their first win, 10-9 over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

Giancarlo Stanton also had three RBIs and Michael Morse drove in two for the Marlins, who led 8-1 before the Rays scored seven runs in the seventh to tie it.

Dee Gordon doubled down the right-field line with one out against Brad Boxberger (0-1) before Yelich drove a ground ball through the left side, scoring Gordon without a throw home.

Bryan Morris (1-0) pitched one inning to earn the victory.

PIRATES 6, BREWERS 2

MILWAUKEE -- Pedro Alvarez homered and drove in two runs, Neil Walker had three hits and the Pirates avoided their first 0-4 start in nine years with a win over the Brewers.

Jeff Locke (1-0) allowed seven hits and two runs in six solid innings for Pittsburgh, which rebounded after getting swept in three games in Cincinnati to open the season.

The Pirates roughed up Mike Fiers (0-1) for five runs and seven hits in five innings.

BRAVES 5, METS 3

ATLANTA -- Phil Gosselin had a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, Cameron Maybin homered and the Braves won their home opener with a victory over the sloppy Mets.

Atlanta recovered after starting pitcher Eric Stults blew a three-run lead in a game delayed more than an hour by rain at the start.

The Braves, despite a major roster overhaul that pointed to a rebuilding year in Atlanta, are 4-0 to begin the season for the first time since they were 7-0 in 1994.

The Braves rallied against Rafael Montero (0-1).

Jim Johnson (1-0) gave up one hit and struck out the side in the eighth. Jason Grilli earned his third save.