Lester, Cubs beat Cueto, Giants — again
Santana, Twins shut out Orioles
CHICAGO — Jon Lester pitched a four-hitter for Chicago’s first complete game of the season, and the Cubs beat Johnny Cueto and the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Tuesday night in a rainy rematch of last year’s playoff opener.
Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer as Chicago improved to 5-2 on its nine-game home stand. Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward also connected, helping the Cubs bounce back from their 6-4 loss to the Giants on Monday night.
Lester and Cueto hooked up in a memorable pitchers’ duel in Game 1 of the NL Division Series last October, with Chicago winning 1-0 on Javier Baez’s eighth-inning homer. The Cubs eliminated the Giants in four games and went on to their first World Series title in 108 years.
In Baltimore, Ervin Santana pitched a two-hitter for his 10th career shutout, and surging Minnesota beat Baltimore.
Santana (7-2) struck out five, walked two and retired the final 14 batters with only 42 pitches.
METS 9, PADRES 3: In New York, Michael Conforto homered twice and had a careerhigh four RBIs, including three on two hits during the Mets’ biggest first inning in 13 years, and Matt Harvey won his first home start since getting suspended as New York routed San Diego..
RED SOX 11, RANGERS 6: In Boston, Xander Bogaerts had three RBIs and twice scored on wild pitches, Dustin Pedroia had a two-run double during a four-run sixth inning and the Red Sox beat Texas.
Texas entered having won 11 of 12. The 11 runs allowed marked a Boston season high.
ROYALS 6, YANKEES 2: In New York, Danny Duffy defeated the Yankees for the second time in a six-day span and rookie Jorge Bonifacio capped a three-run, seventh-inning rally with a go-ahead, two-run homer for Kansas City.
ROCKIES 8, PHILLIES 2: In Philadelphia, Charlie Blackmon hit a pair of two-run homers, German Marquez tossed six effective innings and Colorado beat the Phillies..
Gerardo Parra also went deep to help the NL leading-Rockies win their major league-best 17th road game.
Blackmon has 11 homers and leads the majors with 40 RBIs.
BLUE JAYS 4, BREWERS 3: In Milwaukee, Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer and Toronto held off the Brewers.
ANGELS 4, RAYS 0: In St. Petersburg, Fla.,Cameron Maybin and Mike Trout hit back-toback home runs to begin the game, Matt Shoemaker won his third consecutive start and Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay.
Maybin led off by homering on a 3-1 pitch from Alex Cobb. Trout connected on the next pitch for his 15th homer games. NATIONALS 10, MARINERS 1: In Washington, Anthony Rendon homered twice and drove in five runs, Joe Ross returned from the minors to allow one run over a career high-tying eight innings, and the Nationals routed Seattle.
Bryce Harper added his 14th homer and Jayson Werth hit his seventh off Chris Bergman (1-2), who allowed all of the Nationals’ runs and 14 of their 15 hits. ASTROS 6, TIGERS 2: In Houston Juan Centeno and Yuli Gurriel homered to help Houston beat Detroit.
Centeno was making his debut with the Astros by filling in for catcher Brian McCann, who is on the 7-day concussion list.
INDIANS 8, REDS 7: In Cincinnati, Edwin Encarnacion hit two of Cleveland’s four homers off rookie Amir Garrett and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch Tuesday night, leading the Cleveland to a split of their two-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. .D-BACKS 5, WHITE SOX 4: In Phoenix, Jake Lamb and Chris Herrmann homered and Arizona held off Chicago for the Diamondbacks’ seventh win in eight games.