CINCINNATI-Yadier Molina homered and drove in three runs Friday night, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-3 victory that deepened the Cincinnati Reds' worst season-opening slump since 1955.
St. Louis came into the series with a stagnant offense but broke out during two games against the worst pitching staff in the majors, piling up 18 runs and 25 hits. Molina-booed loudly in each plate appearance at Great American Ball Park-has homered in each game.
The Reds lost their sixth in a row and have the worst record in the majors at 2-11. They also lost 11 of their first 13 games in 1955. Another loss on Saturday would produce their worst start since 1931.
Luke Weaver (2-0) allowed Devin Mesoraco's two-run homer while pitching into the seventh and beating the Reds for the third time in a row. Weaver is 9-1 in 12 starts since Aug. 2. Bud Norris allowed a hit and a walk in the ninth while getting his second save in two chances, fanning Tucker Barnhart for the final out.
Molina had a solo shot and a two-run single off Tyler Mahle (1-2), who gave up nine hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings. The Cardinals took control with five runs in the sixth, when Dexter Fowler had a solo homer and Marcell Ozuna extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single.
Joey Votto was back in the Reds lineup after getting a day off, ending his streak of 202 consecutive starts. He singled home a run in the eighth off Tyler Lyons and was picked off first base by Dominic Leone.
Braves 4, Cubs 0
CHICAGO-Anibal Sanchez pitched three-hit ball over six innings, Preston Tucker backed him with a three-run homer and Atlanta spoiled Yu Darvish's first home start for Chicago.
Sanchez struck out six and walked one. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 1.29 through two starts and three appearances after signing a minor league deal in mid-March.
Tucker delivered the big blow in the fifth when he drove a long homer to right, and the Braves did all of the scoring in the inning while chasing Darvish.
The four-time All-Star got tagged for four runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Darvish walked four and struck out four while throwing 105 pitches, and Chicago lost again after dropping two of three to the surging Pittsburgh Pirates.
Darvish's first start at Wrigley Field with the Cubs was nothing like his previous performance at the famed old ballpark-a dominant victory for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series last fall. Signed to a $126 million, six-year deal, he has struggled in two of his three outings for the Cubs.
He escaped several jams before the Braves broke through in the fifth, sending 10 batters to the plate.
Darvish gave up a double to Ozzie Albies, balked and bounced a pitch to Nick Markakis with two outs to bring home the first run. Six straight batters then reached base, starting with a single by Markakis.
After Kurt Suzuki doubled, Tucker hit a drive to right that ricocheted out of the ballpark.
Darvish threw 39 pitches in the inning and exited after walking Sanchez to load the bases. Brian Duensing then retired Ender Inciarte on a comebacker.