Cardinals bring big bats, topple Giants at home

CARDINALS 6, GIANTS 3

SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Beltran hit a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth against his former team and Shelby Miller beat the reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants in his second career start, spoiling Buster Posey’s MVP party with a 6-3 victory for the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Pete Kozma had three hits, drove in a run and scored for St. Louis from the No. 8 spot in the order, Matt Holliday singled in a run and Matt Carpenter added an RBI single in the ninth.

Beltran also hit an RBI single in the first against Ryan Vogelsong in a matchup of the teams that won the past three World Series — and a rematch of last fall’s National League

Championship Series won in seven games by the Giants.

Hunter Pence hit a home run in the second and Pablo Sandoval homered and hit an RBI single. Sandoval also played more stingy defense for San Francisco on a day in which Ryan Vogelsong (0-1) struggled to consistently throw strikes.

NATIONALS 7, REDS 6, 11 INNINGS Ian Desmond made two errors at shortstop that helped host Cincinnati send the game to extra innings, then led off the 11th with his first home run of the season to rally Washington to a victory.

METS 7, MARLINS 3 John Buck drove in four runs and was part of a rare umpire’s call that helped New York beat visiting Miami. New York led 3-2 in the seventh inning moments before plate umpire Jim Joyce made the unusual call. Juan Pierre was at second base and Greg Dobbs hit a two-out single. Pierre dashed home easily with the tying run as right fielder Mike Baxter’s throw was 10 feet wide of Buck at the plate. Pierre crossed home but then collided with Buck as the catcher planted to try and throw out Dobbs at second. Joyce immediately called Pierre for interference and ruled Dobbs out,

one out later with another home run that helped host Atlanta rally past embattled Chicago closer Carlos Marmol for a victory.

DIAMONDBACKS 9, BREWERS 2 Jason Kubel, Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Hill each homered in Arizona’s victory over injury-depleted Milwaukee.

ROCKIES 6, PADRES 3 Jon Garland threw six sharp innings in his first appearance in almost two years and Michael Cuddyer drove in four runs, helping host Colorado to a victory over San Diego.

American League

BLUE JAYS 5, RED SOX 0 John Lackey left with a strained biceps in his first start since September 2011, grabbing his right arm in pain and coming out in the fifth inning as visiting Boston lost to Toronto. Lackey (0-1) missed last season following elbow ligament replacement surgery in November 2011.

WHITE SOX 4, MARINERS 3 Alex Rios hit a tiebreaking, two-run home run off Felix Hernandez in the sixth inning and host Chicago beat Seattle.

ANGELS 8, RANGERS 4 Albert Pujols homered twice to offset another tough day for Josh Hamilton

in his second game back in Texas, and visiting Los Angeles beat the Rangers. Hamilton struck out twice and flied out behind Pujols, who took three intentional walks.

TIGERS 8, YANKEES 4 Miguel Cabrera drove in one of four runs in the fifth inning on a 4-for-4 day and host Detroit beat New York.

ATHLETICS 6, ASTROS 3 Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie and Seth Smith homered to back up a solid performance by starter Bartolo Colon and visiting Oakland beat Houston.

TWINS 6, ORIOLES 5 Justin Morneau singled in the tiebreaking run with two outs in the ninth inning after an error by Chris Davis, and visiting Minnesota got a home run from Chris Parmalee in a victory over Baltimore.

RAYS 6, INDIANS 0 Alex Cobb scattered four hits in 71/ 3 innings, Kelly Johnson homered and host Tampa Bay beat Cleveland.

Interleague

PHILLIES 4, ROYALS 3 Pinch-hitter Kevin Frandsen hit a bases-clearing, three-run double with two outs in the ninth off closer Greg Holland to lift host Phildaelphia to a victory over Kansas City.