Astros edge Cubs 3-2

NL Capsules

Eds: UPDATES with Dodgers-Padres.

By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) " Jeff Keppinger's broken-bat single in the 10th inning off closer Kevin Gregg gave the Houston Astros a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Hunter Pence homered and Michael Bourn had an RBI single for the Astros, who carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth before Alfonso Soriano hit a long home run off LaTroy Hawkins.

Ivan Rodriguez opened the bottom of the 10th with an infield single down the third-base line, his first hit with Houston after starting the season 0-for-7. Lance Berkman followed with another single off Neal Cotts (0-1) before Cubs manager Lou Piniella brought in Gregg.

Rodriguez advanced to third when pinch-hitter Jason Michaels flied out to center. Miguel Tejada was intentionally walked, loading the bases for Keppinger, who entered as a pinch runner in the ninth.

Acquired from Cincinnati last week, Keppinger snapped his bat and stumbled out of the box on his grounder between third and shortstop that scored Rodriguez.

Houston earned its first victory of the season after the Cubs won 4-2 on Monday behind Carlos Zambrano. Doug Brocail (1-0) got the win.

Cardinals 9, Pirates 3

ST. LOUIS (AP) " Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer and reached base five times to help St. Louis get its first win.

Pujols went 2-for-3 with two walks and also reached on an error after going 3-for-4 in Monday's season-opening 6-4 loss against the Pirates.

Chris Duncan and Yadier Molina also had two-run homers for St. Louis, which pounded out 12 hits against four Pittsburgh pitchers. Joe Thurston and Khalil Greene each had two RBIs. Colby Rasmus went 2-for-4 and scored twice in his major league debut.

Kyle Lohse (1-0) allowed three runs, two earned, and five hits to move to 4-0 in six career starts against Pittsburgh.

Freddy Sanchez hit a two-run homer and Ryan Doumit had a sacrifice fly for the Pirates.

Ian Snell (0-1) lasted just four innings, allowing eight runs, six earned, and nine hits.

Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 0

PHOENIX (AP) " Ubaldo Jimenez threw seven sparkling innings and Troy Tulowitzki homered for the second straight game, leading Colorado to the win.

Jimenez (1-0) gave up four hits, struck out eight and walked three in his first career victory over Arizona. He was 0-1 in four previous starts against the Diamondbacks despite a 2.77 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 26 innings.

Manuel Corpas worked the eighth and Huston Street finished the five-hitter for his first save with the Rockies. Street was acquired in the offseason trade that sent Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics.

Dan Haren (0-1) was almost as good as Jimenez, allowing one run and three hits over seven innings for Arizona. He struck out nine and walked none.

Padres 4, Dodgers 2

SAN DIEGO (AP) " Heath Bell rang in the post-Trevor Hoffman era in San Diego, striking out the side in the ninth inning to save the Padres' win.

It was the first save opportunity this season for Bell, promoted to closer after the awkward offseason departure of Hoffman, baseball's career saves leader.

After more than a decade of watching Hoffman jog in to AC/DC's "Hells Bells," fans in San Diego got a taste of Bell jogging to the mound in a heavy mist, accompanied by "Blow Me Away" by Breaking Benjamin, from the soundtrack to the video game Halo 2.

After nailing down his third career save, Bell got an emphatic high-five from catcher Nick Hundley.

Bell finished a combined five-hitter, with three relievers pitching three hitless innings to preserve the win for Chris Young (1-0).

Randy Wolf (0-1) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings for Los Angeles.

Braves 4, Phillies 0

PHILADELPHIA (AP) " Jair Jurrjens and four relievers combined on a six-hitter to lead the Braves past the Phillies. Kelly Johnson and Chipper Jones hit solo homers.

The defending World Series champions are off to an 0-2 start for the fourth straight year. They'll receive their rings before trying to avoid a three-game sweep on Wednesday.

Jurrjens (1-0) beat a pitcher twice his age, 46-year-old Jamie Moyer. The right-hander gave up four hits and walked three in 5 2-3 impressive innings.

Jeff Bennett gave up a single to the only batter he faced before Eric O'Flaherty got the next four outs. Rafael Soriano pitched the eighth and Mike Gonzalez finished.

Moyer (0-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.

Marlins 8, Nationals 3

MIAMI (AP) " Josh Johnson pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning and Florida got home runs from Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla in a victory over Washington.

Two-run shots by Cantu and Uggla spoiled the return of Scott Olsen (0-1), chased early in his first regular-season game against the Marlins, who traded him in the offseason after drafting him in 2002.

Johnson (1-0) struck out eight and walked none, displaying the crisp pop on his fastball that could make him the ace of a promising young pitching staff. The right-hander came back from elbow surgery last July.

The only bright spots for the Nationals came on a two-run homer by Austin Kearns in the eighth and an RBI double by Cristian Guzman in the ninth that did little to take the sting out of a second straight blowout loss to start the season.