Associated Press
PHOENIX ó Ryan Ludwick homered and drove in three runs and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-7 on Wednesday afternoon.
Ludwick is batting .407 and has hit in all seven games he’s played this season. He singled home a run in the third inning and added a two-run homer in the sixth.
Chris Duncan added a single, double and triple and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who have won six of seven.
St. Louis benefited from eight walks and three Arizona errors. The Cardinals batted around twice, scoring five runs in the third and four more in the sixth.
St. Louis starter Joel Pineiro (2-0) was credited with the victory despite giving up five runs in five innings and allowing nine hits, including six doubles and a homer.
Rockies 5, Cubs 2
CHICAGO ó Jason Marquis hit a two-run single off Rich Harden to put Colorado ahead against his former team.
Marquis (2-0), who spent the previous two years with the Cubs, was booed during introductions before Monday’s home opener and again several times Wednesday. He hit a bases-loaded single in the second and allowed one run and five hits in seven innings.
Marlins 10, Braves 4
ATLANTA ó Dan Uggla drove in three runs for the second straight game and the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 10-4 on Wednesday night.
The Marlins snapped a 4-4 tie in the seventh on Peter Moylan’s bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Russ Gload. Moylan (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Jorge Cantu, who scored the go-ahead run on Gload’s walk.
Mets 7, Padres 2
NEW YORK ó Oliver Perez rebounded from a rough season debut and the New York Mets earned their first victory at Citi Field.
Carlos Delgado homered and Perez pitched six smooth innings to help New York end San Diego’s five-game winning streak. The Padres spoiled Monday night’s opener at the $800 million ballpark with a 6-5 victory over the mistake-prone Mets.
Astros 4, Pirates 1
PITTSBURGH ó Mike Hampton pitched six shutout innings and the Houston Astros snapped a five-game losing streak.
Brewers 9, Reds 3
MILWAUKEE ó The Milwaukee Brewers’ offense finally woke up, Mike Cameron hit a pair of home runs to spoil the pitching debut of Micah Owings (0-1) for the Cincinnati Reds and the Brewers avoided a sweep.
Dodgers 5, Giants 4
LOS ANGELES ó James Loney drew his second bases-loaded walk with one out in the ninth inning. Jonathan Broxton (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth.
For S.F., Aaron Rowand hit a three-run homer in the eighth against Ronald Belisario.