Phillies get rings before huge rally

PHILADELPHIA — First, they got their bling. Then, they got their first win.

Four Phillies walked with the bases loaded during an eight-run seventh inning and Philadelphia rallied for a 12-11 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

Raul Ibanez hit a two-run homer, helping the defending World Series champions overcome a 10-3 deficit and avoid a three-game sweep on the day they received their shiny, new rings.

Brian McCann and Jordan Schafer hit two-run homers for the Braves, and Javier Vazquez left with a seven-run lead after pitching six effective innings in his first start with his new team. Blaine Boyer (0-1) issued two of the bases-loaded walks in the seventh and got the loss.

CUBS 11, ASTROS 6: At Houston, Aramis Ramirez and Mike Fontenot drove in four runs apiece to lead Chicago to the victory.

Kosuke Fukudome had four hits and scored a career-high four runs for the Cubs, who won an opening series for the first time since they took two of three from the New York Mets to begin the 2003 season.

Lance Berkman and Ivan Rodriguez connected for Houston, which finished with five homers. Jeff Keppinger, Kaz Matsui and Hunter Pence also went deep.

METS 9, REDS 7: At Cincinnati, Carlos Delgado homered and drove in four runs, getting New York's offense rolling on a clear, cool night that was much more favorable to hitters, and the Mets' rebuilt bullpen barely held on for the win.

PIRATES 7, CARDINALS 4: At St. Louis, Zach Duke beat St. Louis for the first time in nearly three seasons and Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez went 4-for-5 for his third straight multihit game to open the year.

Jack Wilson matched his career best with four hits and two RBIs for the Pirates. Nate McLouth's two-run homer snapped his 0-for-8 start.

MARLINS 6, NATIONALS 4: At Miami, Dan Uggla hit a tiebreaking three-run double, Chris Volstad was almost flawless after a shaky first inning, and Florida completed the three-game sweep.

John Baker added a pair of run-scoring singles for the Marlins, 3-0 for only the second time. The other was in 1997, when Florida won the first of two World Series titles.

ROCKIES 9, DIAMONDBACKS 2: At Phoenix, Dexter Fowler, Yorvit Torrealba and Ian Stewart homered and Colorado won a series against Arizona for the first time in two years.