SAN DIEGO — Chad Billingsley came within two outs of a complete game, striking out 11 and allowing only three hits in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. SAN DIEGO — Chad
SAN DIEGO — Chad Billingsley came within two outs of a complete game, striking out 11 and allowing only three hits in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
The impressive start by Billingsley (1-0) came a day after reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw came out after three innings because of the stomach flu in the Dodgers’ 5-3 season-opening win.
Billingsley retired pinch-hitter Jeremy Hermida leading off the ninth before allowing Cameron Maybin’s single to left. Manager Don Mattingly came out to get Billingsley, accompanied by boos from Dodgers fans. Jamey Wright got the final two outs.
Billingsley walked one and reached double digits in strikeouts for the ninth time in his career. He was on from the start, striking out the side in the first inning and again in the third. He had at least one strikeout in every inning except the eighth and ninth.
Andre Ethier drove in four runs with a double and triple.
The Padres committed two more errors, giving them five in the first two games. They’ve struck out 18 times in 18 innings.
The Padres were shut out 19 times last year, the most in the majors.
Ethier lined a double into the gap in right-center with two outs in the first to bring in Mark Ellis and Juan Rivera, who singled.
With two outs in the fifth, Ethier tripled off the fence in right-center to score Matt Kemp, who had singled, and Rivera, who walked. That gave the Dodgers a 6-0 lead and chased Cory Luebke (0-1).
CARDINALS 11, BREWERS 5
MILWAUKEE — David Freese hit a two-run drive for one of four St. Louis homers off Yovani Gallardo, and the Cardinals spoiled Milwaukee’s opener.
Yadier Molina, Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday also connected for the Cardinals.
Gallardo (0-1) struggled with his control from the start and lasted only 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and six runs with five walks and three strikeouts.
Jaime Garcia (1-0) pitched six solid innings for St. Louis, yielding two runs and five hits.
Ryan Braun was 0-for-5, and new Brewers cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez was 0 for 4.
Braun’s 50-game suspension for a positive drug test was overturned before spring training.
DIAMONDBACKS 5,
GIANTS 4
PHOENIX — Chris Young and Paul Goldschmidt hit first-inning home runs off Tim Lincecum, and Arizona opened defense of its NL West title with a win over San Francisco.
Ryan Roberts’ two-run double broke a sixth-inning tie as Arizona defeated Lincecum (0-1) for the fourth time in a row.
Ian Kennedy (1-0) allowed three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings for Arizona.
Pablo Sandoval’s RBI double with two outs in the ninth pulled the Giants within a run, but J.J. Putz got Buster Posey on a grounder to earn the save.
Melky Cabrera hit a two-run homer for San Francisco.
ROCKIES 5, ASTROS 3
HOUSTON — Pinch runner Eric Young scored the go-ahead run on an error in the eighth inning and Troy Tulowitzki homered in the ninth to lift Colorado over Houston.
The game was tied 3-3 when Ramon Hernandez singled in the eighth before being replaced by Young. Young stole second and scored on an error by catcher Jason Castro.
Tulowitzki hit a solo shot and Rafael Betancourt earned the save for the Rockies.
Colorado starter Jeremy Guthrie (1-0) allowed four hits and three runs in seven innings.
Wandy Rodriguez allowed six hits and three runs — none earned — in 6 1/3 innings for Houston. Fernando Rodriguez (0-1) yielded a hit and an unearned run in 1 2/3 innings.
RAYS 7, YANKEES 6
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Pena hit a grand slam off CC Sabathia in the first and added an RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the ninth to lift Tampa Bay over New York.
Rivera (0-1) had been 60 of 61 in save chances against the Rays. But after Desmond Jennings opened the ninth with a single against Rivera, Ben Zobrist tripled home the tying run.
The 42-year-old Yankees closer intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases and struck out Sean Rodriguez. Pena, who came in 0-for-11 in his career against Rivera, won it by driving a 1-2 pitch off the base of the wall in left-center for his fifth RBI of the game.
Evan Longoria homered, and Fernando Rodney (1-0) worked a perfect ninth for the win.
RANGERS 3, WHITE SOX 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — Colby Lewis struck out nine in his first opening day start, Ian Kinsler homered and Texas spoiled the debut of new Chicago manager Robin Ventura.
Kinsler had a leadoff double in the first and scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Hamilton. Kinsler added a solo homer in the third.
Lewis (1-0) walked only one over six innings, throwing 70 of 100 pitches for strikes, and Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth for the save.
John Danks (0-1) gave up three runs on six hits over six innings for the White Sox. He struck out six and issued no walks. Adam Dunn homered for Chicago.
ORIOLES 4, TWINS 2
BALTIMORE — Jake Arrieta pitched seven scoreless innings, Nick Markakis homered and drove in three runs, and Baltimore beat Minnesota to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of Camden Yards.
Arrieta (1-0) allowed two hits, struck out four and walked two in a 97-pitch performance. Markakis hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added an RBI triple in the sixth.
He also walked and scored twice. Jim Johnson got two outs in the ninth for the save.
Carl Pavano (0-1) allowed four runs and five hits over seven innings for the Twins in his third career opening day start. He issued two walks, and both runners eventually scored.
MARINERS 7, ATHLETICS 3
OAKLAND, Calif. — Chone Figgins had three hits and two RBIs, and Kyle Seager singled twice and drove in a pair, leading Seattle past Oakland in the stateside opener for both teams.
Seager’s two-run single highlighted a four-run third inning that broke the game open for the Mariners, resuming a series that began in Japan more than a week ago.
Jason Vargas (1-0) allowed five hits in 5 1/3 innings. His only mistake was a fastball crushed by Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes to deep left-center field for a two-run homer, the second long ball of the season for Oakland’s new center fielder.
Brandon McCarthy (0-1) gave up five runs — two earned — on seven hits in five innings.
