National League capsules: Howard leads Phillies over Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) - Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer and an RBI double, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 8-4 on Wednesday night for their first 2-0 start to a season since 2003.

Cole Hamels (1-0) labored through five innings for the Phillies and hit an RBI single off Jason Marquis (0-1) in the fourth that gave the two-time reigning NL champions a 3-2 lead.

After Washington tied it on rookie Ian Desmond's RBI double, Marquis failed to get an out in the fifth, departing after allowing Placido Polanco's double, Chase Utley's RBI single, and Howard's drive to right-center. Howard also homered in Monday's opener, an 11-1 victory for Philadelphia.

Cardinals 6, Reds 3

CINCINNATI (AP) - Albert Pujols hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and Matt Holliday followed with a two-run double, sending St. Louis to the victory.

Adam Wainwright (1-0) gave up only three hits in seven innings, including Orlando Cabrera's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that tied it at 2. Ryan Franklin pitched the ninth for his first save.

The Cardinals started their winning rally off Daniel Ray Herrera (0-1). Pujols - 4 for 5 with two homers on opening day - singled off Logan Ondrusek for the lead. Holliday followed with a double off the base of the wall in center.

Braves 3, Cubs 2

ATLANTA (AP) - Chipper Jones hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning and Atlanta held on for the win.

Martin Prado hit a one-out double off John Grabow (0-1), ending a string of 15 consecutive outs by Braves batters, before Jones connected for his first homer of the season.

Peter Moylan (1-0) worked around a hit and a walk during a scoreless eighth and Billy Wagner finished for his first save with Atlanta. Alfonso Soriano singled with one out in the ninth but Wagner responded by striking out pinch-hitter Xavier Nady and Geovany Soto to end the game.

Braves phenom Jason Heyward hit an RBI double in the second and finished 1 for 3 with two strikeouts. The 20-year-old rookie homered and drove in four runs in his major league debut on Monday.

Pirates 4, Dodgers 3, 10 innings

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Ronny Cedeno singled over a drawn-in infield with the bases loaded and one out in the 10th inning, and Pittsburgh rode Garrett Jones' third homer in two games to the victory.

The Pirates, winning their second in a row from the NL West champions, hadn't scored since Jones' three-run homer in the first off Clayton Kershaw.

Second baseman Blake DeWitt mishandled Lastings Milledge's grounder before throwing wildly to first and reliever Ramon Ortiz walked the bases full. Cedeno finished off a nine-pitch at-bat against Ortiz (0-1) with a line-drive single to left.

Brendan Donnelly (1-0) got pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard on a popup with runners on first and third in the top half.

The Dodgers managed only five hits against five pitchers, but drew nine walks and left 12 on base.

Marlins 7, Mets 6, 10 innings

NEW YORK (AP) - Wes Helms slid home headfirst to barely beat Rod Barajas' sweeping tag, scoring on Ronny Paulino's pinch-hit single to help Florida get the victory.

Helms' hand swiped the plate just ahead of Barajas' lunging play, and the Marlins earned their first win of the season.

Leo Nunez (1-0) walked in a run among three free passes and balked in the tying score over 1 1-3 innings, but came away with the win in the 4 hour, 12 minute game. Tim Wood pitched the 10th for his first career save.

Hisanori Takahashi (0-1) gave up a run in the 10th for New York, which trailed 6-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla homered for the Marlins, who finished with 17 hits.

Giants 10, Astros 4

HOUSTON (AP) - Edgar Renteria tied a career high with five hits and the Giants completed a season-opening, three-game sweep.

The Giants are 3-0 for the first time since 2003, when they began with a sweep at San Diego and won seven straight. Houston last started 0-3 in 2007.

It was 4-all when Juan Uribe doubled in the eighth inning and scored the go-ahead run when Sammy Gervacio (0-1) threw away a bunt. The Giants added another run in the inning, then scored four times in the ninth.

Aaron Rowand had four of the Giants' 19 hits. John Bowker had a two-run homer and Travis Ishikawa added his first career pinch-hit home run.

Jeremy Affeldt (1-0) got the win.

Brewers 5, Rockies 4

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Jim Edmonds' leadoff single set up a two-run rally in the sixth inning that put Milwaukee ahead and Trevor Hoffman earned his 593rd career save as the Brewers held off the Colorado Rockies.

Edmonds, a 39-year-old former All-Star who spent last season out of baseball, made his second start in right field for Milwaukee. He went 2 for 4 with a double and scored twice.

Reliever Todd Coffey (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings after a rough start by Doug Davis. Rockies starter Aaron Cook (0-1) took the loss.

Diamondbacks 5, Padres 3

PHOENIX (AP) - Kelly Johnson hit two of Arizona's four homers, helping the Diamondbacks rally for the win.

Johnson connected on Kevin Correia's second pitch of the game and added a tying two-run drive in the fifth. Chris Young went deep in the sixth to give the Diamondbacks a 4-3 lead and Justin Upton hit his first homer in the eighth.

Scott Hairston hit a three-run homer in the second for San Diego.

Ian Kennedy struck out eight over five innings in his first start for Arizona, yielding three runs and six hits. Five relievers combined for four innings of one-hit ball, with Blaine Boyer (1-0) getting the win and Chad Qualls earning his first save.

Correia (0-1) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.