Padres spoil Mets opener at new park

The San Diego Padres spoiled the New York Mets first game in their glittering new ballpark with a 6-5 win in the National League on Monday.

San Diego's Jody Gerut christened Citi Field with a leadoff homer, putting the Padres on the way to a four-run lead against a mistake-ridden New York. The Mets drew level at 4-4.

It was the fifth straight win for San Diego, who are defying predictions of a bad season.

Cardinals 2, Diamondbacks 1

In Phoenix, Brian Barden broke a tie with his first career home run, giving St. Louis victory over Arizona.

Albert Pujols also homered for the Cardinals.

With the game tied 1-1 in the eighth, Barden lined a pitch over the fence in right field. It was the first homer in 51 big league at-bats for Barden, who briefly played for the Diamondbacks in 2007.

Cubs 4, Rockies 0

In Chicago, the hosts won their home opener, holding Colorado to just one hit.

Starter Ted Lilly held Colorado hitless until the seventh inning.

Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez was wild, walking six and hitting a batter in 3 2-3 innings.

Dodgers 11, Giants 1

In Los Angeles, the home side beat its California rival and won its home opener.

Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle _ the first incidence in the majors this season _ and Andre Ethier drove in four runs with a pair of homers for the Dodgers.

Giants' starter Randy Johnson lost but did earn his 4,800th career strikeout.

Reds 7, Brewers 6

In Milwaukee, Edwin Encarnacion hit a towering grand slam to cap a six-run rally in the third inning as Cincinatti edged Milwaukee.

Cincinatti overcame a four-run deficit with a scoring binge to begin an 11-day, 10-game road trip.

Milwaukee has lost three straight.

Pirates 7, Astros 0

In Pittsburgh, Zach Duke earned a third career shutout as Pittsburgh downed Houston.

Adam LaRoche homered during a five-run third inning for the Pirates, who won their home opener for the first time in five years.

Duke struck out five batters in posting the first shutout by a Pirates pitcher in a home opener since 1978.

The Astros were shut out for the second day in a row, and fell to 1-6 for the first time since 1984.

Phillies 9, Nationals 8

In Washington, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino homered to lead a mourning Philadelphia team over Washington.

Longtime broadcaster Harry Kalas, who provided the soundtrack to Philadelphia baseball for nearly four decades, died after collapsing in the broadcast booth before the game.

Washington committed three errors in its home opener and dropped to 0-7 _ still the only club in the majors without a victory.

Howard's first homer of 2009, a three-run shot off, broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning.