The Colorado Rockies, who think they could go to the playoffs this season, are two games over .500 for the first time ever. The Chicago Cubs, who haven't been to the World Series in 50 years, are 2-0 under new manager Jim Riggleman.
Not bad starts for teams that know too much about losing."Two games into the season and we've already come back to win twice," Walt Weiss said after his single in the ninth inning lifted the Rockies over the New York Mets 8-7 Thursday.
"This team knows when it's the seventh, eighth or ninth inning and we're within striking distance at all, we've got a chance to win," he said.
Weiss singled with two outs and the bases loaded, completing a comeback from a 7-2 deficit in the sixth inning. On Wednesday night, in their opener at Coors Field, the Rockies used three late rallies to defeat the Mets 11-9 in 14 innings.
The Cubs, who were not over .500 all of last season, won 6-5 in 11 innings at Cincinnati.
Cubs 6, Reds 5, 11 innings
Jose Hernandez hit a two-run single in the 11th inning that sent Chicago over Cincinnati. The crowd at Riverfront Stadium was announced at 17,702, although there were fewer fans actually in the park.
Hernandez made a mental mistake in the 10th that almost cost the Cubs the game. With two outs and runners on second and third, he fielded a grounder by Reggie Sanders and looked to second base for a force play. Realizing there was none, he hurried his throw and barely got Sanders.
Braves 6, Giants 4
David Justice hit a tie-breaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Braves won before another small crowd in Atlanta.
The crowd was announced at 26,120, although it appeared only 16,000 people were in the park. Last year, about 44,000 fans saw the Braves' second home game.
Justice connected with two outs off Dave Burba (0-1) for his second home run of the season. Earlier in the game, Mark Lemke hit a three-run homer.
Starter Tom Glavine, the Braves' player representative, was booed when he took the mound. Also, a spectator sitting alone in an upper-deck section in center field put signs in a dozen seats around him that said, "Striking Fan."
Padres 13, Astros 1
Bip Roberts tied a career high with four hits and Tony Gwynn homered, leading San Diego over Houston in front of a crowd of 7,468. Last year, the Padres' second home game drew 15,201.
The victory was the first in the majors for new Padres manager Bruce Bochy.
Ken Caminiti and Roberto Petagine, among the 12 players traded between Houston and San Diego last December, each hit RBI singles for the Padres. Dave Magadan homered for the Astros.
Phillies 6, Cardinals 2
Gregg Jefferies had two hits and scored three times against his former teammates as Philadelphia beat St. Louis. The game at Busch Stadium drew a crowd of 13,483, and there were more than 8,000 no-shows.
Darren Daulton drove in three runs and Dave Hollins had three hits for the Phillies. Tom Pagnozzi went 4-for-4 and doubled twice for the Cardinals.
Expos 2, Pirates 1
Before an announced crowd of 7,047 - the actual attendance at Three Rivers Stadium on a rainy day was about half that big - Montreal beat Pittsburgh.
Rookie Shane Andrews homered and drove in both runs for the Expos. Montreal right fielder Moises Alou preserved a run by throwing out Jeff King at the plate.
Pedro Martinez (1-0) held the Pirates to two singles in 5 2-3 innings, and Mel Rojas got the save. Paul Wagner was the loser.
American League
Mariners 3, Tigers 0
Ken Griffey, Jr. hit a three-run homer off the facade of the third deck in right field and Randy Johnson combined with two other pitchers on a three-hitter as Seattle beat visiting Detroit.
The paid attendance of 34,656 was Seattle's lowest for a home opener since 1981, and it was the first baseball game at the Kingdome since last July 18 - the day before several ceiling tiles fell into the stands and forced the closure of the building until December.
Twins 7, Orioles 4
At Minneapolis, the smallest opening-day crowd in Metrodome history saw some unusually sloppy fielding by Cal Ripken and a game-winning hit from an unfamiliar Twin.
Ripken, a two-time Gold Glove shortstop who set the record in 1990 for highest fielding percentage (.996), booted two routine ground balls to lead to two Minnesota runs.
Free agent acquisition Matt Merullo hit a two-run double in the sixth that put the Twins ahead to stay, and Rick Aguilera struck out the side in the ninth for a save.
Blue Jays 7, Athletics 1
The record-low crowd at the SkyDome, 31,070, was 3,069 less than the 34,139 who turned out April 23, 1990 for a night game with Cleveland.
Those who were there saw Pat Hentgen pitch into the ninth inning - he was the first starter in either league to do so - and Ed Sprague hit a grand slam.
Indians 11, Rangers 6
At Arlington, Texas, it was a good night for home run hitters, as five Cleveland players and two from Texas cleared the wall.
The Indians' homers were hit by Paul Sorrento, Albert Belle, Eddie Murray, Manny Ramirez and Carlos Baerga. Will Clark homered for Texas and was booed as he rounded the bases.
"You never expect to get booed at home. You do at Yankee Stadium, but not here," Clark said.
Brewers 9, White Sox 4
At Chicago, Milwaukee won behind a six-run sixth inning and five strong innings of pitching by Cal Eldred.
John Jaha, who hit a grand slam in Milwaukee's home opener Wednesday, had two doubles and scored twice to raise his average to .429. The Brewers sent 11 batters to the plate in the sixth and got RBIs from Matt Mieske, Fernando Vina, Darryl Hamilton, Kevin Seitzer and Greg Vaughn.
Tim Raines, Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura homered for Chicago.
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