New-Look Braves Up to Old Tricks

For one game, at least, the Atlanta Braves’ new-look lineup was as impressive as last year’s record-setting offense.

Adam LaRoche got his first two hits in the first game of his big league career during an 11-run inning, helping Atlanta defeat the New York Mets, 18-10, Wednesday night at Atlanta.

Johnny Estrada and pinch-hitter Julio Franco also had two hits in the fourth -- the biggest inning for the Braves since they scored a team-record 13 runs against Houston on Sept. 20, 1972. LaRoche also got his first run batted in.

“That was an amazing inning,” Franco said. “Every ball fell into place, everything they threw we hit. It was just one of those nights.”

It’s the fourth time the Mets have given up that many runs in an inning, and the first since April 1, 1997, against San Diego.

Chipper Jones had a two-run homer as Atlanta bounced back from a 7-2 loss a night earlier in the season opener. Every starter for the Braves had a hit except Rafael Furcal, who walked twice.

The 18 runs were the most for Atlanta since it scored 20 against the Florida Marlins on Oct. 5, 2001.

“Here I go, saying we couldn’t beat teams 18-10 with this team, and right out of the box we do that,” Jones said.

In 2003, the Braves led the National League in every major hitting category on their way to their 12th consecutive division title: average (.284), homers (a franchise-record 235) and runs (907, another club mark). Four players reached 100 RBIs, and six had 20 homers.

Mike Piazza hit two homers for the Mets and has three in the first two games. He finished five for five with four RBIs -- his second career five-hit game -- and moved from catcher to first base in the seventh, the second time since 1993 that he had played that position.

Cincinnati 3, Chicago 1 -- Ken Griffey Jr. hit a two-run homer at Cincinnati in his first at-bat to lead the Reds to a victory that spoiled Greg Maddux’s reunion with the Cubs.

Griffey, who missed the season opener because of a strained calf, hit his 482nd career homer to put the Reds up, 3-0, in the third and leave the pro-Cub crowd in a funk.

Maddux gave up four hits and walked two in six innings. He also hit two batters in an inning for the first time in his career.

Arizona 9, Colorado 5 -- Richie Sexson hit his first home run for the Diamondbacks to spark a seven-run fourth inning at Phoenix in a victory over the Rockies.

Brent Mayne drove in three runs, including a two-run triple in the fourth. Roberto Alomar also had a two-run triple, and Brandon Webb (1-0) worked six effective innings for the victory.

Montreal 3, Florida 2 -- Claudio Vargas gave up four hits in six innings at Miami, and Carl Everett and Orlando Cabrera each homered to lift the Expos.

It was a rare victory against starter Brad Penny, who was 10-2 against the Expos in the last five seasons.

It also ended Florida’s seven-game winning streak at home against Montreal.

St. Louis 9, Milwaukee 4 -- Scott Rolen capped a five-run rally in the seventh inning with a three-run homer at St. Louis to help the Cardinals to their first victory.

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 4 -- The Phillies scored twice in the eighth off Brian Boehringer at Pittsburgh to rally for their first victory.