Cruz Turns Lights Out on Padres

Jose Cruz Jr. couldn’t escape Benito Santiago’s motto. All spring, Cruz heard it from the catcher.

“Once the lights come on, Benito has been telling me all the time, that’s when it counts,” Cruz said.

That was the case for Cruz in the Giants’ home opener on Monday. San Francisco’s new right fielder homered twice, had three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Giants over the San Diego Padres, 7-4.

Cruz has hit safely in all seven games.

Rich Aurilia had two home runs and Edgardo Alfonzo hit his first home run for San Francisco. And so far, the Giants haven’t had to show much of their speed on the basepaths that Manager Felipe Alou raved about all spring -- because they’re winning with their power.

At 7-0, the Giants are off to their best start since moving to San Francisco, topping the 6-0 mark that began their pennant-winning 2002 season. When the franchise was in New York, the Giants started 7-0 in 1930 and 9-0 in 1918.

Atlanta 3, Florida 0 -- The Braves’ outfield had its own home run derby.

Gary Sheffield, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones hit consecutive home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against Carl Pavano (0-2).

Russ Ortiz (1-1), obtained from the Giants in the off-season, won his first game for Atlanta, combining with three relievers on a five-hitter.

Montreal at Chicago -- Snow postponed Dusty Baker’s debut at Wrigley Field as manager of the Cubs. The game was rescheduled for today.

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh -- A persistent rain and a wind-chill factor that was expected to drop into the 20s by game time prompted the Pirates to postpone their home opener until tonight.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Minnesota at New York -- The game was postponed until this afternoon because of snow.

Chicago at Cleveland -- Rain forced the game to be postponed until today.