National League roundup for Monday, April 6

Mets 2, Reds 1

CINCINNATI — One game in, that new Mets bullpen sure looks good.

Francisco Rodriguez and his fellow relievers protected a slim lead for Johan Santana, and New York held on Monday for a victory over the Cincinnati Reds in their season opener.

Daniel Murphy drove in both Mets runs with a homer off Aaron Harang (0-1) and a groundout. And on a raw, cold afternoon, New York’s rebuilt bullpen was nearly perfect.

Santana (1-0) went 5 2-3 innings, extending his streak without a loss since June 28. Sean Green, J.J. Putz and Rodriguez didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way.

Rodriguez, who saved a major league-record 62 games for the Los Angeles Angels last season, retired all three in the ninth for his first save with New York.

Dodgers 4, Padres 1

SAN DIEGO — Hiroki Kuroda outpitched Padres ace Jake Peavy, leading the defending NL West champions past San Diego without a hit from Manny Ramirez.

The enigmatic slugger went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run on his first opening day with the Dodgers. Matt Kemp drove a 418-foot homer to straightaway center field off Peavy, and James Loney had three hits, including a two-run single.

The crowd of 45,496 was the largest in Petco Park’s six-year history.

Kuroda (1-0) allowed one run and four hits in 5 2-3 innings. Jonathan Broxton pitched the ninth for a save.

Peavy (0-1), who was on the trade market for much of the offseason, allowed four runs — three earned — and seven hits in seven innings while striking out eight and walking two.

Cubs 4, Astros 2

HOUSTON — Carlos Zambrano pitched into the seventh inning for his first opening-day win in five chances, leading Chicago over Roy Oswalt and Houston.

Zambrano (1-0) allowed one run and five hits over six-plus innings in his first start against the Astros since his no-hitter on Sept. 14 in Milwaukee. That game was played at Miller Park after Hurricane Ike damaged the Houston area.

Alfonso Soriano hit his 50th career leadoff home run and Aramis Ramirez also went deep against Oswalt (0-1). Mike Fontenot had three hits for Chicago.

Kevin Gregg worked a shaky ninth inning to earn the save.

Marlins 12, Nationals 6

MIAMI — Emilio Bonifacio became a crowd favorite in his Marlins debut, hitting the majors’ first inside-the-park homer on opening day since 1968 and going 4-for-5 against his former team.

Florida also hit three homers over the fence, including Hanley Ramirez’s grand slam.

Bonifacio was summoned for a curtain call following his first big league homer, which landed short of the warning track but sailed over center fielder Lastings Milledge because he was playing so shallow.

The last inside-the-park home run on opening day was by Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski on April 10, 1968.

Bonifacio stole three bases and scored four times. Jorge Cantu and Jeremy Hermida hit Florida’s first two homers. Ramirez drove in five runs and Cantu three. Ricky Nolasco (1-0) pitched six innings to win in his first opening-day start.

The Nationals looked much like the 2008 team that lost 102 games, most in the majors. John Lannan (0-1) departed after three innings trailing 6-1.

Diamondbacks 9, Rockies 8

PHOENIX — Tony Clark and Arizona newcomer Felipe Lopez each homered from both sides of the plate, and the Diamondbacks outslugged Colorado in a home run derby of an opener.

Eight home runs were hit in the game, including the decisive shot by Chad Tracy leading off the seventh against reliever Jason Grilli (0-1).

Lopez and Clark became the first switch-hitting teammates to homer from both sides of the plate in a game since Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams did it for the New York Yankees on April 23, 2000. It had never been done on opening day.

Lopez, signed as a free agent, is the first Arizona player to homer twice in his first game with the team. He is the first to do it in the majors since Richie Sexson for Seattle on April 4, 2005.

Troy Tulowitzki, Chris Iannetta and Seth Smith hit solo homers for the Rockies.

Arizona ace Brandon Webb and Colorado starter Aaron Cook both struggled. Tony Pena (1-0) worked 1 1-3 scoreless innings for the win and Chad Qualls got the save.

Pirates 6, Cardinals 4

ST. LOUIS — With the Pirates down to their last strike, Jack Wilson hit a three-run double to cap a four-run ninth inning off rookie closer Jason Motte, leading Pittsburgh over St. Louis.

In a game played in 41-degree chill, Ryan Ludwick broke a 2-all tie with a leadoff homer in the eighth off Tyler Yates, and David Freese added a sacrifice fly off John Grabow (1-0) for a 4-2 lead.

Freddy Sanchez led off the ninth with a double against Motte (0-1). Adam LaRoche singled in a run with two outs, pinch-hitter Eric Hinske doubled LaRoche to third, Brandon Moss was hit by a pitch and Wilson doubled to left-center on an 0-2 fastball.

St. Louis didn’t warm up anyone until after Wilson’s hit.

Matt Capps pitched the ninth for a save.