MLB ROUNDUP Thursday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals 4, Tigers 1

DETROIT — Zack Greinke allowed one run in seven innings, and Alex Gordon and Mark Teahen homered to lead Kansas City over Detroit for a season-opening three-game sweep. Kansas City is 3-0 for the first time since winning its first nine games in 2003. Last year, the Royals didn’t win a series until their sixth try, when they took two of three against Minnesota from April 20-22. Already missing Curtis Granderson because of a broken hand, the Tigers played without Miguel Cabrera, who is day to day with a quadriceps strain. Brandon Inge ended Detroit’s 18-inning scoreless streak with a solo homer in the seventh. Greinke (1-0) gave up six hits while improving to 7-3 against Detroit. Ramon Ramirez and Joakim Soria finished, with Soria getting three straight outs for his second save. Jeremy Bonderman (0-1) gave up four runs and eight hits in 61‚Ñ3 innings.

Angels 5, Twins 4

MINNEAPOLIS — In the final game of an emotional return to the Metrodome, Torii Hunter homered leading off the seventh inning. Mike Napoli and Gary Matthews Jr. also homered for Los Angeles. Ervin Santana (1-0) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings and Francisco Rodriguez earned his second save. Joe Mauer had two doubles and two RBIs for the Twins, who lost starter Kevin Slowey (0-1) in the fourth inning with a strained right biceps.

Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2

NEW YORK — Bobby Abreu’s bloop single snapped an eighth-inning tie and New York got a solid outing from Phil Hughes in a victory over Toronto. After scoring 76 more runs than any other team in the major leagues last season, New York’s powerful lineup managed only eight in its first three games against a fine Toronto pitching staff. Still, that was enough to take two of three in the series. Joba Chamberlain (1-0) worked a scoreless inning and Mariano Rivera got three outs for his second save.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 8, Nationals 7, OT

PHILADELPHIA — Jesus Colome walked Jayson Werth to force in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning. The defending NL East champions overcame a 5-0, first-inning deficit to avoid opening the season with a three-game sweep at home for the third straight year. Jimmy Rollins reached on an infield single to start the bottom of the 10th against Colome (0-1). The reigning NL MVP never hesitated rounding second base and advanced all the way to third on Shane Victorino’s perfect sacrifice. After Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were intentionally walked to load the bases, Werth walked on four pitches to end it.

Padres 3, Astros 2

SAN DIEGO — Trevor Hoffman kept up his seesaw season when he earned the save in San Diego’s victory over Houston. Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth less than 24 hours after blowing the save and taking the loss by giving up four runs in the ninth inning of a 9-6 defeat, including Lance Berkman’s two-out, three-run homer. It was Hoffman’s second save in three chances, extending his big league record to 526.

Cubs 6, Brewers 3

CHICAGO — Former closer Ryan Dempster was a winner in his return to the rotation, Aramis Ramirez homered and Alfonso Soriano had two RBIs for the Cubs. Moved back to the leadoff spot after hitting second the first two games, Soriano drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth to force in the go-ahead run and added an RBI single in the sixth to snap a season-starting 0-for-11 slump. Starter-turned-closer Kerry Wood pitched the ninth for his first career save as Chicago averted an opening three-game sweep. Dempster (1-0) made his first start since May 4, 2005 — when he was in his second season with the Cubs, began the year in the rotation and then became the closer. Dave Bush (0-1) allowed six runs and six hits in 51‚Ñ3 innings and Prince Fielder had two RBIs for Milwaukee.

Reds 3, Diamondbacks 2

CINCINNATI — Johnny Cueto allowed nothing more than Justin Upton’s solo homer in seven innings, striking out 10 in an overpowering debut for Cincinnati. Pitching in a steady rain, the 22-year-old right-hander struck out eight of his first 13 batters. His 10 strikeouts were the most by a Reds pitcher in his big league debut since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Cardinals 3, Rockies 0

ST. LOUIS — Brad Thompson had a career-high six strikeouts in 62‚Ñ3 innings to lead the Cardinals to the win. St. Louis took two of three from the defending NL champions, who totaled five runs in the series. Colorado was 3-for-25 with runners in scoring position, two of the hits coming in the finale, but Todd Helton was thrown out at the plate in the sixth.

Associated Press