Mets Edge Cards, Spoil La Russa’s Day

National League

The New York Mets began the 1996 season where they left off 1995.

Picked by some to make a run at the playoffs despite an inexperienced lineup, the Mets thrilled the Shea Stadium opening-day crowd of 42,060 by rallying from a six-run deficit to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6.

Held to four hits by Andy Benes and trailing 6-3 through six innings, the Mets strung together five singles and a sacrifice fly to score four times in the seventh and spoil Tony La Russa’s debut as St. Louis manager.

Todd Hundley hit a two-run homer and former Cardinal Bernard Gilkey had a solo home run and a key single for the Mets.

Cubs 5, Padres 4 (10)

Chicago

Ryne Sandberg warmed Cubs fans at frosty Wrigley Field with his return to baseball, and Mark Grace made the celebration complete with a game-winning, 10th-inning single.

Sandberg went 0 for 3 with two walks, but the second baseman handled seven chances flawlessly in his first game in nearly two years.

Pirates 4, Marlins 0

Miami

Paul Wagner pitched 6-2/3 scoreless innings and rookie Jason Kendall drove in two runs to lead Pittsburgh past Florida.

Before a sellout crowd of 41,815, Kendall made his major-league debut at age 21, going 3 for 4 with two RBI singles and a double. The catcher also threw out a runner attempting to steal.

Marlins starter Kevin Brown, making his first N.L. appearance after 213 games in the A.L., was the loser, allowing one run and six hits in seven innings.

Braves 10, Giants 8

Atlanta

Greg Maddux, winner of an unprecedented four straight Cy Young Awards, allowed nine hits and four runs in 5-2/3 innings as the Braves opened defense of their World Series championship with a win over San Francisco.

The Braves hit five homers off three San Francisco pitchers.

Dodgers 4, Astros 3

Houston

Todd Hollandsworth began Los Angeles’ chase for a fifth straight N.L. Rookie of the Year award, hitting a three-run double in an opening-day victory over Houston.

Ramon Martinez won his seventh consecutive decision for the Dodgers, allowing three runs and six hits in six innings.

Clearing the bases

Ozzie Smith’s tender right hamstring kept him out of the St. Louis Cardinals’ opening-day lineup for the first time since 1982… . Cincinnati Reds second baseman Bret Boone went on the disabled list and will need arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Boone will be out three to six weeks. … The Houston Astros placed John Hudek on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 22, with a torn scalene muscle in his left chest.