MAJOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP | Tuesday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3
BOSTON -- Josh Beckett held Toronto to three hits in seven innings, Mike Lowell went 4-for-4 with three doubles and Boston beat Toronto in its home opener for its fifth consecutive win. A year after an epic ceremony to celebrate their first World Series title in 86 years, the Red Sox held a more downscale event. In addition to the usual fighter jet flyover and ceremonial first pitch, the team asked for a moment of silence in memory of longtime broadcaster Curt Gowdy. Beckett (2-0) settled down after walking in a run in the first inning, and David Ortiz homered in the seventh. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.
Yankees 9, Royals 7
NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter's three-run homer capped a five-run rally in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals to win their club-record ninth straight home opener. New York wasted a 4-1 lead and trailed 7-4 in the eighth when it loaded the bases against Andrew Sisco (0-1). Robinson Cano hit an RBI groundout and Bernie Williams punched a run-scoring single to left. That brought up Johnny Damon, playing his first game in pinstripes. Ambiorix Burgos relieved and struck him out, but Jeter sent the next pitch soaring into the left-field seats. Scott Proctor (1-1) pitched one inning for the win, and Mariano Rivera finished for his first save. Kansas City lost its 12th straight at Yankee Stadium dating to August 2002. Reggie Sanders and Shane Costa homered for the Royals, who couldn't overcome nine walks.
Twins 7, Athletics 6
MINNEAPOLIS -- Tony Batista woke up Minnesota's offense with a three-run homer, and the Twins started the season's second week in better fashion than the first by beating Oakland in their home opener. Eric Chavez hit a two-run shot, his second homer of the game and fifth of the year, in the eighth inning against Jesse Crain to pull the Athletics within one.
Orioles 8, Devil Rays 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Kris Benson took a four-hitter into the eighth inning for his first win with Baltimore and Melvin Mora homered in a victory over Tampa Bay. Benson (1-1) gave up two runs and five hits in seven-plus innings.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Mets 7, Nationals 1
WASHINGTON -- Brian Bannister shut down Washington again for his first major league victory and Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer off the facing of the upper deck, leading the New York Mets to victory in the Nationals' home opener. There were no brawls, beanballs or even brushbacks after a testy series at Shea Stadium last week that included seven batters hit by pitches -- six by Mets hurlers -- and a near fight. Baseball told the umpires for this three-game set to look out for trouble.
Reds 9, Cubs 2
CHICAGO -- Bronson Arroyo hit his second homer in six days off Glendon Rusch and pitched seven shutout innings, and Edwin Encarnacion's grand slam was one of six homers Cincinnati hit against Chicago. With the wind blowing out of Wrigley Field at 17 mph, Adam Dunn hit a pair of solo shots and Ken Griffey Jr. and Arroyo had one each off Rusch.
Padres 9, Marlins 3
MIAMI -- Khalil Greene drove in four runs with two homers to help San Diego shake a slump, and the Padres spoiled Florida's home opener. The Padres, who scored a major league-low 19 runs in the first week of the season, snapped a four-game losing streak. Greene hit a two-out solo homer in the second and a three-run shot in the sixth. He has four of the Padres' six home runs after hitting 15 each of the past two seasons.
Associated Press
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