OAKLAND: Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui had two hits to surpass a combined 2,500 hits between his career in Japan and the major leagues as the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 7-1 Sunday. Matsui doubled in the second inning for his first hit with the A's after an 0-for-7 start. He then added an RBI single in a four-run seventh. “I feel relief just getting my first hit as a member of the A's and getting our first win,” Matsui said. “I'm not really focused on my hits between Japan and the big leagues.” Matsui had 1,390 hits in 10 years with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan before moving to the majors. He had 977 hits in seven years with the New York Yankees and 132 last season with the Los Angeles Angels. Mark Ellis drove in three runs as Oakland avoided a season-opening weekend sweep against the Mariners. Gio Gonzalez (1-0) allowed six hits, struck out four and walked four in seven innings. He improved to 5-1 for his career against Seattle. Indians 7, White Sox 1: In Cleveland, Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run homer and assisted in the majors' first triple play of the season to help Cleveland beat Chicago. Rangers 5, Red Sox 1: In Arlington, Texas, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz became the first set of teammates to homer in each of the first three games in a season as Texas swept its season-opening series with Boston. Twins 4, Blue Jays 3: At Toronto, Danny Valencia and Denard Span each homered to help Minnesota avoid a three-game sweep. Other results: Orioles 5, Rays 1; Tigers 10, Yankees 7; Royals 12, Angels 9, 13 innings. Phillies complete sweep Ryan Howard homered and drove in four runs to help the Philadelphia Phillies complete a season-opening, three-game sweep with a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros Sunday. Roy Oswalt (1-0), who spent 10 years with the Astros before being traded to Philadelphia last year, allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one in his first start against his former club. Howard launched a three-run homer in the first and had an RBI double in the third. He is 7 for 13 with six RBIs through three games. Ben Francisco also homered for the Phillies. Cardinals 2, Padres 0: In St. Louis, Jaime Garcia threw a four-hitter with a career-best nine strikeouts as St. Louis beat San Diego to avoid a season-opening sweep at home. Yadier Molina's RBI single off Dustin Moseley (0-1) in the fifth inning was the difference for the Cardinals, who haven't been swept by the Padres at home since 1980. Garcia (1-0) walked two in his second career shutout and the majors' first this season. Dodgers 7, Giants 5: At Los Angeles, Marcus Thames tripled in the go-ahead run during a four-run seventh inning as the Dodgers took three of four from the defending World Series champions. Reds 12, Brewers 3: In Cincinnati, Ryan Hanigan hit two of Cincinnati's four homers as the Reds completed a sweep of Milwaukee. Mets 9, Marlins 2: At Miami, Willie Harris and Ike Davis homered as New York beat Florida to win the series two games to one. Braves 11, Nationals 2: In Washington, Tim Hudson pitched seven solid innings in another strong start against Washington and Brian McCann had four RBIs for Atlanta. Pirates 5, Cubs 4: In Chicago, Pedro Alvarez drove in two runs with an infield single in the ninth inning as Pittsburgh rallied past Chicago to take two of three in the series.
