Brian Bannister shut down Washington again for his first major league victory and Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer off the facing of the upper deck, leading the New York Mets to a 7-1 victory in the Nationals' home opener Tuesday.
There were no brawls, beanballs or even brushbacks after a testy series at Shea Stadium last week that included seven batters hit by pitches — six by Mets hurlers — and a near fight. Baseball told the umpires for this three-game set to look out for trouble.
There was no sellout and no bouncing stands, either, at Washington's home opener, which was much more low key in just about every way than last season, when big league baseball returned after a 34-year absence to plenty of fanfare.
REDS 9, CUBS 2: At Chicago, Bronson Arroyo hit his second homer in six days off Glendon Rusch and pitched seven shutout innings, and Edwin Encarnacion's grand slam was one of six homers Cincinnati hit against Chicago. With the wind blowing out of Wrigley Field at 17 mph, Adam Dunn hit a pair of solo shots and Ken Griffey Jr. and Arroyo had one each off Rusch. Encarnacion hit his first career slam, and Austin Kearns followed with another homer, both off Will Ohman in the sixth.
PADRES 9, MARLINS 3: At Miami, Khalil Greene drove in four runs with two homers to help San Diego shake a slump, and the Padres spoiled Florida's home opener. The Padres, who scored a major league-low 19 runs in the first week of the season, snapped a four-game losing streak.
PIRATES 7, DODGERS 6: At Pittsburgh, Ryan Doumit hit one of Pittsburgh's four homers and drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to help the Pirates rally past Los Angeles. Jeromy Burnitz added a two-run homer, and Craig Wilson and Doumit each hit a solo shot as the Pirates came back from deficits of 3-0, 5-2 and 6-3 to avoid their first 1-8 start in 51 years.
ROCKIES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5: At Phoenix, Brad Hawpe fell a single shy of hitting for the cycle and drove in four runs and the Rockies won their fourth in a row, spoiling Arizona's home opener.