Cubs blow out Baker, Reds
Lee's homer spoils manager's return
Dusty Baker knew exactly what to look for when he returned to Wrigley Field.
"The first thing you do when you get here, you check the wind," he said.
It was blowing out.
Derrek Lee hit a three-run homer and the Chicago Cubs beat their former manager and his Cincinnati Reds, 9-5, last night.
Baker managed the Cubs for four seasons and got them within five outs of the World Series five years ago, but after a last-place finish in 2006, his contract was not renewed. When Baker brought the Reds' lineup card out before the game, there was mild booing. But when he came out to change pitchers in the seventh and eighth innings, the booing became loud.
Lee's fifth homer was a long drive to left-center on a night with the wind blowing out at 19 miles per hour and gusts up to 26 m.p.h. Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot also connected for the Cubs. Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 595th homer for the Reds.
Padres 6, Rockies 0 - Randy Wolf held Colorado hitless for 6 2/3 innings and struck out nine, and Brian Giles collected his 1,000th RBI to lead host San Diego.
It was the first time the teams met since Colorado's 9-8 win in the wild-card tiebreaker at Coors Field Oct. 1.
Wolf and reliever Kevin Cameron, recalled from Triple A earlier in the day, combined for a two-hitter. It was the Padres' second consecutive shutout and third of the season.
Diamondbacks 8, Giants 2 - Chris Young hit a two-run homer and Conor Jackson connected for the second straight game to power visiting Arizona.
Micah Owings (3-0) struck out six in six innings and won his fifth straight start dating to last September.
Yesterday also marked the 50th anniversary of the first game played by the Giants at Seals Stadium, where they faced the Dodgers April 15, 1958. The first pitch was thrown at the exact same time of that 1958 game, too: 1:34 p.m.
Phillies 4, Astros 3 - Pedro Feliz's RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a four-run rally that carried Philadelphia over Houston.
Houston starter Shawn Chacon allowed only four singles in eight innings before handing the ball to closer Jose Valverde.
Yankees 5, Rays 3 - Andy Pettitte allowed three runs over seven innings and Hideki Matsui homered to lead visiting New York past Tampa Bay for a two-game sweep.
Pettitte (2-1) gave up nine hits - seven in the first three innings - struck out five and walked three. The lefthander is 14-2 against Tampa Bay overall, including 8-1 at Tropicana Field.
Dodgers 11, Pirates 2 - Jeff Kent and Russell Martin homered and James Loney extended his season-opening hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI single as host Los Angeles defeated Pittsburgh.
Esteban Loaiza (1-2) got the victory in relief of starter Hong-Chih Kuo, allowing a run and three hits over the final five innings with two strikeouts and no walks.
White Sox 4, Athletics 1 - Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer and John Danks celebrated his 23d birthday with his first win in 12 starts, taking a shutout into the eighth to lead host Chicago past Oakland.
Mets 6, Nationals 0 - David Wright homered and drove in five runs, Jose Reyes returned to the lineup with four hits, and host New York beat Washington behind Mike Pelfrey's strong pitching.
Blue Jays 11, Orioles 3 - Aaron Hill hit a three-run homer and Shaun Marcum (2-0) allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings, sparking visiting Toronto past Baltimore.
Mariners 11, Royals 6 - Jose Lopez became the 12th player in major league history to hit three sacrifice flies in a game and host Seattle tied a club record with five overall in beating Kansas City.
Cardinals 6, Brewers 1 - Braden Looper pitched around Prince Fielder and limited the rest of a Milwaukee lineup without Ryan Braun to three hits in five innings, leading host St. Louis past the Brewers.
Angels 7, Rangers 4 - Gary Matthews Jr. snapped out of a 3-for-27 slump with a tiebreaking three-run double in the sixth inning, and visiting Los Angeles rallied to beat Texas.
Marlins 4, Braves 0 - Scott Olsen pitched seven scoreless innings to lead host Florida over Atlanta.
