Nationals’ Wilkerson Hits for Cycle

The Washington Nationals have their first victory.

Brad Wilkerson hit for the cycle for the second time in his career and Jose Guillen hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning, leading the Nationals to a 7-3 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday night at Philadelphia. It was Washington’s second game since moving during the off-season after 36 years as the Montreal Expos.

“It’s nice to win your first game,” National Manager Frank Robinson said. “It’s a good feeling.”

Wilkerson was four for four with a walk and two runs batted in, completing his cycle with a ground-rule double in the eighth against Aaron Fultz. Wilkerson homered off Brett Myers in the third, singled off Myers in the fifth and tripled against Rheal Cormier in the seventh. Wilkerson’s first cycle was against Pittsburgh on June 24, 2003.

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Atlanta 2, Florida 1 -- Chipper Jones homered on the first pitch of the 13th inning, and seven Brave pitchers shut out the Marlins for the last 11 1/3 innings at Miami.

Jones drove in both Atlanta runs and finished four for six. His homer to center field off Nate Bump (0-1) was estimated at 418 feet.

Houston 4, St. Louis 1 -- Andy Pettitte gave up only a solo homer to Reggie Sanders in a strong six-inning season debut, and Mike Lamb’s two-run triple in the eighth sent the Astros to the win at Houston.

Coming off an elbow injury that ended his season last August, Pettitte showed little rust in his outing against the Cardinals despite the long layoff.

Pettitte retired the first nine he faced before giving up a single to David Eckstein to lead off the fourth.

San Diego 14, Colorado 6 -- Brian Giles homered for the second straight game and had five RBIs at Denver. Khalil Greene and Eric Young drove in two runs apiece, and Sean Burroughs had three of the Padres’ 13 hits.

Reliever Chris Hammond (1-0) struck out three and picked up the win with two perfect innings of relief. Padre starter Adam Eaton lasted only 4 2/3 innings and gave up five runs -- three earned -- and six hits but struck out seven.

Arizona 8, Chicago 3 -- Troy Glaus homered and drove in three runs, and Jose Cruz Jr. also had three RBIs at Phoenix. Shawn Green had a two-run single for the Diamondbacks. Brandon Webb, who led the NL with 16 losses last year, worked out of several jams in 5 1/3 innings but got the win.

Glaus went three for four and drove in runs with a double, triple and homer.

Cincinnati 9, New York 5 -- Joe Randa provided an encore to his dramatic opening-day homer, hitting a bases-loaded single and a grand slam at Cincinnati.

Randa, who won the opener with a ninth-inning solo shot, got the Reds going with a two-run single in the first off Tom Glavine. He got the fans chanting his name after his second career grand slam in the eighth off Mike DeJean.

Milwaukee 10, Pittsburgh 2 -- Carlos Lee homered and drove in four runs at Pittsburgh.