Major League Roundup: Saturday’s other games

American League

Rays 6, Yankees 3

NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte got the warm reception he was hoping for when he made his first start after a rocky offseason. The rest of the day didn’t go as planned. Jonny Gomes homered and drove in four runs against Pettitte, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees. Pettitte was on a shorter-than-normal pitch count after he opened the season on the disabled list with back spasms. He lasted just five innings and was outpitched by Edwin Jackson (1-0), who allowed one run and five hits in six innings . Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his first save. It was Pettitte’s first regular-season start since he admitted using human growth hormone and accused buddy and former teammate Roger Clemens of also using HGH. New York again was without Joe Girardi, who missed his second straight game with an upper respiratory infection.

White Sox 5, Tigers 3

DETROIT — Jim Thome hit an RBI double in the sixth inning for the White Sox’s only hit off Dontrelle Willis, and Chicago beat Detroit, the only winless team in the major leagues. Detroit is 0-5 for the first time since the Tigers dropped their first nine games in 2003 en route to an AL-record 119 losses. Willis was wild in his debut with the Tigers, walking seven in five-plus innings. He gave up three runs in the White Sox’s four-run sixth. Brandon Inge drove in all of Detroit’s runs with a two-run homer and RBI double. Gavin Floyd (1-0) gave up three runs on six hits in six innings, walking two and striking out two. Zach Miner (0-1) gave up one unearned run and took the loss in relief of Willis.

Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 2

TORONTO — Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer, David Eckstein had three RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays used a six-run eighth inning to beat Boston for the sixth straight time. Blue Jays right-hander Jesse Litsch (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits over five innings for the win. He walked three — one intentional — and struck out two. Boston’s Clay Buchholz (0-1) gave up four runs — three earned — and six hits over five innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out seven.

Twins 6, Royals 4

MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Morneau hit his first home run of the season and drove in four runs, and Livan Hernandez won his second straight start for the Twins. Hernandez (2-0) pitched seven solid innings as the Twins won their second consecutive game against the Royals, who started the season 3-0. Hernandez allowed four runs and seven hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out two. Matt Guerrier worked a scoreless eighth for Minnesota and Joe Nathan the ninth to record his third save. Kansas City led 2-0 and Gil Meche (0-1) was off to a strong start for the Royals before giving up a three-run homer to Morneau in the fourth inning.

National League

Brewers 5, Giants 4

MILWAUKEE — Manny Parra earned his first major league victory, delivering a breakout performance in the Milwaukee Brewers’ win over the San Francisco Giants. The 25-year-old left-hander held the Giants hitless through five innings before giving up a pair of runs in the sixth and leaving the game with a 3-2 lead. The Giants scored another two runs off the Brewers’ bullpen in the final three innings, but late-inning homers from Ryan Braun and Gabe Kapler helped Milwaukee hold the lead. New Milwaukee closer Eric Gagne pitched a perfect ninth for his first save. Giants starter Kevin Correia (0-1) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings.

Reds 4, Phillies 3

CINCINNATI — Paul Bako hit a run-scoring infield single with one out in the ninth inning to lift the Reds to a win. Chad Durbin (0-1) walked Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion to start the inning. Ryan Freel pinch-ran for Dunn, and both runners moved up on pinch-hitter Norris Hopper’s sacrifice. The Phillies then brought in their infield and outfield, and Bako hit a twisting bouncer that shortstop Jimmy Rollins backhanded, but couldn’t get out of his glove in time to throw out Freel at home. Ryan Howard hit his first homer of the season for the Phillies. Francisco Cordero (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for his first win since the Brewers beat St. Louis 1-0 on Sept. 20, 2006, at Milwaukee.

Cardinals 5, Nationals 4

ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright completed a dominating first time around for the Cardinals’ injury-depleted rotation, working eight strong innings in a victory over Washington. Yadier Molina had two hits and two RBIs and Wainwright (1-0) also drove in a run. The Cardinals’ 4-1 start is their best since 2000, when they also won four of their first five. Nick Johnson was 3-for-4 with his first home run and two RBIs for Washington, which has lost three in a row after sweeping the Phillies to open the year. Matt Chico (0-1) allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings, all but one of them coming in a two-run second and two-run third.

Cubs 9, Astros 7

CHICAGO — Kosuke Fukudome hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning and Derrek Lee was 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs to lead the Cubs. Carlos Lee went 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles, and Astros ace Roy Oswalt lost his second game of the season. Cubs reliever Kevin Hart (1-0) pitched 12‚Ñ3 scoreless innings for the win and Kerry Wood worked a scoreless ninth for his second save. In his second start of the season, Oswalt (0-2) allowed six runs — five earned — on 10 hits.

Braves 11, Mets 5

ATLANTA — Kelly Johnson’s pinch-hit grand slam broke open a close game and Atlanta roughed up John Maine in a win over New York. Johnson, the regular second baseman, didn’t start for the third straight game due to his sore right knee. With two outs in the seventh and the Braves leading 5-3, Johnson pulled a 3-2 pitch from Jorge Sosa into the right-field seats for his second career grand slam. Tim Hudson (1-0) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings to beat John Maine (0-1), who allowed four runs in four innings. Jeff Francoeur had three hits, including a two-run double off Nelson Figueroa in the eighth, and drove in three runs. Chipper Jones also had three hits for Atlanta.

Padres 4, Dodgers 1

SAN DIEGO — Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy continues to dominate Los Angeles, throwing a two-hitter for the first complete game in the big leagues this year, striking out eight to lead San Diego to the win. Peavy (2-0) improved to 10-1 in 19 career starts against the Padres’ biggest rival. Dodgers ace Brad Penny (1-1) went the other way, dropping to 3-7 against San Diego in 14 career starts. While Penny allowed four runs and six hits in the first inning, a determined Peavy struck out the side in the first inning and retired the first nine Dodgers batters on 37 pitches. Los Angeles didn’t get a base runner until Rafael Furcal tripled into the gap in left-center leading off the fourth. Russell Martin hit a pop foul that catcher Josh Bard caught as he slid into the Padres’ dugout, winding up on the second step. Dodgers manager Joe Torre came out to talk with home plate umpire Jim Joyce, and all four umps huddled. They eventually waved Furcal home.

Associated Press