A-Rod's milestone HR lifts Yanks in opener

| April 14, 2012 9:00 PM

* AMERICAN LEAGUE

Alex Rodriguez hit his 630th home run and tied Ken Griffey Jr. for fifth place on the career list and Hiroki Kuroda pitched excellently in his pinstripes debut as the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-0 Friday in their 110th home opener.

Nick Swisher lined a three-run double off Ervin Santana in the first inning soon after recently retired teammate Jorge Posada threw out the ceremonial first pitch and hugged all his old pals.

Rodriguez lined the first pitch of the third into the netting over monument park in straightaway center field, tying him with Griffey, his former teammate in Seattle. Rodriguez trails Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660) on the career list.

Red Sox 12, Rays 2: Josh Beckett pitched eight solid innings and Boston routed Tampa Bay in its home opener.

Orioles 7, Blue Jays 5: Wilson Betemit hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth and Baltimore rallied at Toronto.

Indians 8, Royals 3: Michael Brantley had a pair of hits during a seven-run first inning, and Cleveland won at Kansas City.

Rangers 4, Twins 1: At Minneapolis, former Spokane Indian Ian Kinsler homered to lead Texas past Minnesota.

White Sox 5, Tigers 2: Jake Peavy pitched effectively into the seventh and Chicago beat visiting Detroit.

* NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs 9, Cardinals 5: Bryan LaHair hit a grand slam and Chicago spoiled St. Louis' home opener.

Mets 5, Phillies 2: Former North Idaho College and Gonzaga standout Jason Bay hit a two-run homer to lift New York at Philadelphia.

Giants 5, Pirates 0: Matt Cain threw a one-hitter to lift San Francisco past Pittsburgh in its home opener.

Marlins 5, Astros 4, 11 inn.: Gaby Sanchez's RBI double in the 11th lifted host Miami past Houston.

Dodgers 9, Padres 8: Aaron Harang struck out 13 and Los Angeles beat visiting San Diego.

Braves 10, Brewers 8: Brian McCann homered and had four RBIs to lift Atlanta past visiting Milwaukee.

Nationals 2, Reds 1, 13 inn.: Jayson Werth's RBI single in the 13th lifted Washington past visiting Cincinnati.

Rockies 7, Diamondbacks 6: At Denver, Todd Helton drove in three runs and Colorado beat Arizona.