Bruce Hurst should have no trouble at the bank following his first appearance at Jack Murphy Stadium.
Hurst took the mound in San Diego for the first time Monday night determined to show Padres owner Joan Kroc he is worth the lucrative free-agent contract he signed last winter.The left-hander pitched a one-hitter - allowing only a two-run homer to Lonnie Smith - and struck out 13 to push San Diego to a 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
"I wanted to let people know that Joan didn't spend her money foolishly," Hurst said after the first one- hitter of his 10-year career. "Last game I heard someone shout up to Joan, `Has the check cleared yet?"'
Hurst, 1-1, was hammered for nine hits and seven earned runs by San Francisco in his National League debut last week, but was brilliant against the Braves. The former Red Sox hurler retired the final 19 batters in order, striking out nine along the way.
Carmelo Martinez and Garry Templeton each homered during a four-run sixth inning to support Hurst, who struck out at least 10 for the 14th time.
Hurst retired the first two batters in the third inning before allowing his only walk, to losing pitcher Pete Smith. He then served up Lonnie Smith's first homer of the year on an 0-2 delivery.
"I've given up home runs before," said Hurst, who threw just 28 balls among his 100 pitches. "You can't sit and sulk. I just wanted to keep it at two (runs) and give us a chance to come back."
Atlanta's Dale Murphy, who went 0 for 3 and is batting just .125 this season, was impressed with Hurst.
"He made one mistake (to Lonnie Smith) and it was the only one I saw," Murphy said. "He kept his off-speed stuff down, had his fastball right where he wanted it. Most hitters are mistake hitters, and the odds aren't in their favor anyway."
Dodgers 7, Giants 4
At San Francisco, Eddie Murray ripped a grand slam to cap a five-run Los Angeles ninth inning rally that spoiled the Giants' home opener. Murray homered off Mike Lacoss, 0-1, to make a winner of Orel Hershiser, 1-1, who allowed three earned runs on over eight innings. Alejandro Pena escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning for his first save.
Phillies 7, Expos 6
At Philadelphia, Von Hayes led off the bottom of the ninth with his second home run of the game to lift the Phillies. Hayes hit his game-winner off Gene Harris, 1-1. Winner Steve Bedrosian, 1-0, worked one inning of relief. Mike Fitzgerald two solo home runs for Montreal.
Reds 8, Astros 3
At Houston, Eric Davis hit his first home run, a three-run blast, and Tom Browning allowed six hits over seven innings for the victory. Browning, 2-0, gave up three runs, including a homer to Glenn Davis, struck out two and issued one intentional walk.
American League
Red Sox 5, Indians 2
A new home for Nick Esasky and a new role for Mike Smithson are producing positive results for the Boston Red Sox.
Esasky slammed a solo homer and Smithson pitched 31/3 innings of scoreless relief Monday to help the Red Sox to victory over the Cleveland Indians in their home opener.
Esasky, acquired in the offseason from the Cincinnati Reds, was playing in his first game at Fenway Park. He had three hits, including a double off the wall.
Texas 6, Milwaukee 4 (10 innings)
At Milwaukee, Ruben Sierra doubled in Rafael Palmeiro from first base with one out in the 10th to break a tie and lead Texas. Chuck Crim dropped to 0-1. Jeff Russell, 1-0, pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the win.
Blue Jays 8, Yankees 0
At New York, Dave Stieb allowed one hit - a fifth-inning single by Jamie Quirk and Jesse Barfield went 4 for 5 to power Toronto. Stieb, 1-0, posted his third one-hitter in his last four starts. New York has lost six in a row.
Royals 3, Orioles 0
At Kansas City, Mo., Bret Saberhagen pitched a three-hitter to Kansas City its 14th straight victory over the Orioles. Saberhagen, 1-0, tossed the sixth three-hitter and ninth shutout of his career. Baltimore rookie Pete Harnisch fell to 0-1.
Athletics 4, Angels 0
At Anaheim, Calif., Bob Welch and Eric Plunk combined for a three-hitter and Glenn Hubbard homered to lead Oakland. Hubbard hit his second homer off Chuck Finley, 1-1, in the fourth to make it 3-0. Welch, 2-0, Welch pitched eight innings, allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked none. Plunk pitched the ninth, striking out two.
Mariners 6, White Sox 5
At Seattle, Dave Valle tripled off a speaker hanging from the Kingdome roof to spark a three-run seventh and Ken Griffey hit his first major-league homer to lead the Mariners. Jerry Reed, 1-0, won in relief and Mike Schooler picked up his first save. Eric King, 0-2, was the loser.