HOUSTON — Jordan Schafer hit his first career grand slam on a shot that bounced off the glove of Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier, Wandy Rodriguez pitched three-hit ball through seven innings Sunday, and the Houston Astros romped past Los
HOUSTON — Jordan Schafer hit his first career grand slam on a shot that bounced off the glove of Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier, Wandy Rodriguez pitched three-hit ball through seven innings Sunday, and the Houston Astros romped past Los Angeles 12-0.
The Astros avoided a sweep and handed the Dodgers their most-lopsided shutout loss since a 13-0 defeat by the Angels in June 2004.
Rodriguez (1-2) struck out six and walked three to get his first win of the season and lower his ERA to 1.42.
Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer in the first. Schafer’s slam came an inning later and was just the second career grand slam Chad Billingsley (2-1) has allowed in his seven-year career.
D’BACKS 6, BRAVES 4
PHOENIX — Gerardo Parra hit his first career grand slam to cap a five-run second inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Atlanta, snapping a five-game losing streak.
The Braves had won five in a row.
Ian Kennedy (3-0) posted his seventh straight win dating to last August. J.J. Putz recorded his fifth save despite allowing a one-out home run to Juan Francisco.
Randall Delgado (2-1) retired the first two Arizona batters in the second. Jason Kubel then singled, Cody Ransom doubled, and John McDonald was intentionally walked to load the bases. Delgado walked Kennedy on four pitches before Parra hit a drive into the pool area beyond the right-center field fence for a 5-1 lead.
CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 1
PITTSBURGH — Kyle Lohse scattered six hits while pitching into the eighth inning to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past Pittsburgh.
David Freese had a two-run single for the Cardinals, and Rafael Furcal had three hits to support Lohse (3-0).
The veteran right-hander struck out five without issuing a walk, though his ERA actually ticked up from 0.89 to 0.99.
Erik Bedard (0-4) gave up three runs on six hits, walking four and striking out seven in seven innings but was again undone by a lack of support. The Pirates have scored three runs combined in Bedard’s four starts.
ROCKIES 4, BREWERS 1
MILWAUKEE — Michael Cuddyer lined a two-run double in the eighth, and Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven strong innings, leading the Colorado Rockies over Milwaukee.
The win put a damper on the celebration of Ryan Braun’s NL MVP and Silver Slugger awards. The Brewers slugger received his trophies in a pregame ceremony.
Guthrie (2-1) got the better of Yovani Gallardo in a matchup of opening-day starters, surrendering one run and three hits in seven innings. Rafael Betancourt pitched the ninth for his fifth straight save to open the season.
REDS 4, CUBS 3
CHICAGO — Johnny Cueto threw 6 1⁄3 strong innings to lead the Cincinnati Reds past Chicago.
Cueto (2-0) allowed one earned run, scattering five hits. He struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 1.78.
Two runners were on base with one out when Cueto exited in the seventh. With two outs and the bases loaded, Aroldis Chapman struck out Ian Stewart looking with a fastball that registered 99 mph on the stadium.
Chapman also worked a scoreless eighth, and former Cubs reliever Sean Marshall pitched the ninth, picking up his third save in three opportunities.
PADRES 6, PHILLIES 1
SAN DIEGO — Nick Hundley homered, tripled and drove in a career-high four runs, leading Anthony Bass and the San Diego Padres past Philadelphia.
A day after snapping a 13-game home losing streak to the Phillies, San Diego posted its first two-game winning streak of the season.
Hundley hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning, an RBI triple in the third and two-run homer in the fifth off Joe Blanton (1-3).
