Cubs Add to String of Lopsided Starts

With another 16-run outburst, the Chicago Cubs showed that they have mastered the fast start.

Chicago rolled to its fourth consecutive opening-day victory, defeating the host Cincinnati Reds, 16-7, Monday afternoon.

Matt Murton hit a three-run home run in a five-run first inning, and Todd Walker drove in two runs with a single in a seven-run sixth that sent most of the capacity crowd to the exits.

“It went better than we could have hoped,” said Walker, who had three hits.

“The only thing I can think is that we did the same thing last year and dropped the next two to Arizona.”

The Cubs set a franchise record for opening-day runs in a 16-6 victory over Arizona last year, then finished in fourth place in the National League Central Division, just ahead of Cincinnati.

The Reds hadn’t given up so many runs on opening day since 1877 in a 24-6 loss to Louisville.

The Cubs scored 15 runs in the 2003 opener.

Houston 1, Florida 0 -- Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge combined on a five-hitter at Houston, Craig Biggio doubled and scored on Joe Borowski’s wild pitch in the seventh inning, and the Astros spoiled the debut of Joe Girardi as the manager of the Marlins.

Dontrelle Willis didn’t give up a hit for 4 2/3 innings but walked three and was removed after five innings and 107 pitches.

St. Louis 13, Philadelphia 5 -- Jimmy Rollins extended his hitting streak to 37 games with a double in the eighth inning at Philadelphia, but the Cardinals rolled behind two homers by Albert Pujols and a grand slam by Scott Rolen.

Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard homered for the Phillies, who suffered their most lopsided opening-day loss since a 12-3 defeat to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935.

New York 3, Washington 2 -- Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine earned his 276th victory, Billy Wagner got a save in his Met debut, and newcomer Xavier Nady was four for four at New York.

Washington’s Alfonso Soriano, who made his major league outfield debut, was thrown out when he tried to score in the eighth on Ryan Zimmerman’s double into the left-field corner.

Milwaukee 5, Pittsburgh 2 -- Jeff Cirillo hit a two-run single in the seventh inning for a 3-2 lead, and Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer in the eighth at Milwaukee.

Pittsburgh squandered an impressive outing by starter Oliver Perez, who gave up one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings and struck out nine.

Colorado 3, Arizona 2 -- Matt Holliday scored on Brad Hawpe’s grounder, diving in just ahead of the throw from first baseman Conor Jackson for the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Jason Jennings gave up one run and six hits over seven innings for the Rockies in his first start since July 20, when he broke his right middle finger trying to break up a double play at Washington.