Richard helps own cause with HR vs Rockies

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Clayton Richard hit a three-run homer to help post his first win of the season, and Padres relievers Craig Stammen and Brad Hand retired nine consecutive Colorado Rockies to protect a one-run lead on Monday night as the Padres defeated the host Rockies 7-6.

Back-to-back, two-out homers by Richard and Carlos Asuaje in the fourth boosted the Padres to a 6-1 lead. Jose Pirela doubled home Eric Hosmer with the Padres’ final run in the fifth.

The Rockies narrowed the gap on Chris Iannetta’s three-run homer off Richard in the fourth and Carlos Gonzalez’s disputed two-run homer off Padres reliever Jordan Lyles in the sixth.

Richard (1-1) got credit for the win despite allowing four runs on five hits, including Iannetta’s homer, with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

Nationals 2, Braves 0

Max Scherzer threw a two-hitter and struck out 10, and Howie Kendrick hit a tworun double in the first inning as Washington defeated visiting Atlanta in the series opener.

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for Washington, which got swept by the New York Mets this past weekend.

Atlanta had won four out of five coming into this series and was the top offensive scoring team in the majors after this weekend’s games. The Braves scored 62 runs in their first nine games but could not do much against Scherzer, who did not issue a walk.

Astros 2, Twins 0

Justin Verlander worked seven shutout innings in Houston’s win at Minnesota.

Verlander (2-0) recorded nine strikeouts against just one walk while allowing four hits. The game’s only runs scored on a J.D. Davis single in the sixth inning and a Marwin Gonzalez double in the eighth.

Houston right-hander Chris Devenski emerged from the bullpen and needed just one pitch to snuff a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the Twins’ eighth, inducing a 6-3 double play from Rosario to preserve the lead. Ken Giles got the final out in the ninth for his first save.

Royals 10, Mariners 0

Jakob Junis allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings, and Mike Moustakas homered as the Kansas City rolled to a victory against visiting Seattle.

Moustakas went 3-for-5 with three RBIs for Kansas City, which racked up 13 hits. Drew Butera and Alcides Escobar had two RBIs apiece for the Royals. Junis (2-0) gave up his lone hit with one out in the seventh inning. He struck out three, walked two and hit three batters.

Seattle’s Marco Gonzales (1-1) lasted just 21/3 innings and allowed four runs and eight hits.

Indians 2, Tigers 0

Temperatures may have been below freezing for most of the night, but that didn’t stop Cleveland ace Corey Kluber from heating up against visiting Detroit.

Kluber (1-1) tossed eight dominant innings to lift the Indians. He fanned 13 batters, the most strikeouts he has ever recorded against the Tigers, walked one and allowed just two hits. Andrew Miller threw a hitless ninth inning for his first save.

Francisco Liriano (1-1) made his second strong start of the season for the Tigers, going six innings and allowing two runs, three hits, three walks and striking out four.

Mets 4, Marlins 2

Noah Syndergaard pitched six strong innings as visiting New York won its sixth consecutive game, defeating Miami.

Syndergaard (2-0) allowed five hits, two walks and two runs, one earned. He struck out five for the first-place Mets.

Miami was led by left fielder Derek Dietrich, who went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a hit-by-pitch.

Blue Jays 7, Orioles 1

Josh Donaldson slugged a grand slam and Steve Pearce smacked a two-run homer to Toronto record a victory over host Baltimore.

Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ (2-1) struck out nine in six innings. Happ gave up one run, five hits and three walks. Pearce has homered in each of the past three games.

Manny Machado homered for Baltimore’s lone run as the Orioles went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Angels 8, Rangers 3

All but one hitter in the Angels’ starting lineup had at least one hit or one RBI in visiting Los Angeles’s victory over Texas.

Albert Pujols homered and singled, and Zack Cozart, Andrelton Simmons, Kole Calhoun and Martin Maldonado also had two hits apiece in the Angels’ 13-hit attack. Justin Upton was the only Angel to miss the party, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.