Atlanta Braves beat Miami Marlins to record seventh win in eight matches

The Atlanta Braves recorded their seventh win in their opening eight Major League games, beating the Miami Marlins 3-2 at Marlins Park.

A two-run homer from Evan Gattis helped the Braves benefit from Kris Medlen giving up just one unearned run in seven innings, as they maintained the best record in the league.

Cliff Lee pitched 8 2/3 innings and gave up just three runs, including a two-run homer from the in-form John Buck, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 8-3.

The National League East's other team, the Washington Nationals, beat the Chicago White Sox 8-7 with the help of two Adam LaRoche homers.

Robinson Cano had a two-run homer, four hits and five RBIs as the New York Yankees demolished the Cleveland Indians 14-1.

Cleveland pitcher Carlos Carrasco's miserable night lasted less than four innings before, having given up seven runs including two homers, he was ejected for throwing the ball at Kevin Youkilis.

Carrasco, who had just completed a five-game ban for a similar offence, told mlb.com: "I know it doesn't look good. I really want to say sorry. I don't want to hit anybody."

The Yankees also saw divisional rivals the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays lose heavily to continue their poor starts to the season.
Tigers on song

The Detroit Tigers beat the Blue Jays 7-3, aided by Miguel Cabrera's three-run shot and Torii Hunter's 2,000th career hit, while the Rays went down 6-1 to the Texas Rangers as debutant Nick Tepesch struck out five in 7 1/3 innings.

That win lifts Texas to 6-2 and keeps them top of the American League West ahead of the Oakland Athletics, who beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-5.

The Houston Astros led 13-0 after four innings but had to hang on for a 16-9 win over the Seattle Mariners in a wild encounter at Safeco Field. Chris Carter hit two of the Astros' five homers, while Seattle had three of their own including Michael Morse's sixth of the season.

The St Louis Cardinals beat NL Central rivals the Cincinnati Reds 5-1, sparked by Matt Adams' pinch-hit two-run homer.

The Chicago Cubs scored five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win another meeting of NL Central sides 6-3 over the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Pittsburgh Pirates scored five runs in the fourth inning to edge the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5.

In two all-NL West clashes, the San Francisco Giants recovered from a five-run second inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 9-6 while the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-3.

The Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 in the night's other game.