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WASHINGTON (AP) — Wander Franco and Harold Ramirez each had two hits including a home run, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Washington Nationals 7-2 on Wednesday.

The Rays improved to 6-0 and extended the best start in franchise history. They are off to the best start of any team since Baltimore opened 7-0 in 2016.

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Taylor Walls and Randy Arozarena had two hits each for Tampa Bay, which has outscored opponents 44-13.

Shane McClanahan (2-0) allowed two runs on five hits and four walks over six innings, allowing at least one baserunner in every inning but the sixth. He struck out six.

Victor Robles had two hits for the Nationals, who have lost five of their first six games. Washington starter Patrick Corbin (0-2) gave up six runs on 10 hits over six innings.

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BRAVES 5, CARDINALS 2

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Olson homered and drove in three, and Atlanta completed a three-game sweep of St. Louis.

Bryce Elder (1-0), who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, pitched six strong innings, giving up two hits, striking out six and walking three. Jesse Chavez retired the only batter he faced to earn his first save of the season.

The Braves won for the fifth time in their first six games, while St. Louis has lost three straight.

Cardinals rookie Jordan Walker hit his first career home run, driving a Michael Tonkin slider over the left field wall in the seventh. Walker, who added an RBI double in the ninth, has a six-game hitting streak to start his career.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas (0-1) struggled in his second straight start to begin the season, allowing five runs on nine hits, as well as striking out six and walking one. His six innings was the longest for a St. Louis starter this season.

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BREWERS 7, METS 6

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Garrett Mitchell hit a tiebreaking homer off Adam Ottavino in the ninth inning and Milwaukee earned its fifth straight victory.

Mitchell sent a 3-2 cutter from Ottavino (0-1) over the right-field wall for his third homer in his two games. Milwaukee’s Joey Wiemer added a three-run shot for the rookie’s first career homer.

After going scoreless in their first 16 innings of the season, the Brewers have scored 38 runs in their past 36 innings.

Milwaukee’s Devin Williams (1-0) retired the side in order in the ninth.

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GUARDIANS 6, ATHLETICS 4, 10 INNINGS

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Andrés Giménez scored on pinch-hitter Will Brennan’s groundout for the go-ahead run, Stevan Kwan followed with an RBI single and Cleveland held off Oakland.

Giménez began the inning at second base and Myles Straw drew a walk against Zach Jackson (0-1). After Giménez advanced to third on a wild pitch, Brennan lined a 3-2 pitch to shortstop Nick Allen, who threw to first for the out as Giménez crossed home plate.

Eli Morgan (1-0), who was the fourth of five Cleveland pitchers, worked one scoreless inning of relief to win. Emmanuel Clase retired three batters for his second save.

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RANGERS 5, ORIOLES 2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Josh Jung hit a tiebreaking two-run homer soon after Jacob deGrom threw his final pitch of the game, giving the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner his first victory in the American League.

DeGrom (1-0) retired the first 12 batters he faced and finished with 11 strikeouts, but the game was tied 2-2 after he ended the sixth with back-to-back Ks.

Jung’s second homer this season came in the bottom of the sixth off Austin Voth (0-1), who had taken over in relief after top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez went five innings in his big-league debut and finished with a no-decision.

Texas avoided a series sweep and ended its eight-game skid against the Orioles, who won all six of their games against the Rangers last season.

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YANKEES 4, PHILLIES 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole outpitched Aaron Nola in a marquee matchup, Gleyber Torres had three hits and two RBIs and the New York Yankees beat Philadelphia.

Torres also stole two bases and is hitting .421 with six RBIs and five steals. Jose Trevino added a two-run homer off reliever Gregory Soto, and New York took two of three for the second straight series. NL champion Philadelphia has skidded to a 1-5 start, its worst since 2007.

Coming off six scoreless innings against San Francisco in the opener, Cole (2-0) pitched shutout ball into the seventh and left after a pitch-clock violation put on a runner who scored the first run off him this season.