Teixeira has 2-run homer, 4 RBI in Braves debut

One game, one curtain call for Mark Teixeira.

Teixeira hit a 3-run homer and drove in 4 runs in his Atlanta debut Wednesday night, leading the host Braves to a 12-3 victory over the Houston Astros.

Teixeira, acquired from Texas in Tuesday's seven-player trade, drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning to drive in a run in his first plate appearance.

After Houston reliever Matt Albers walked Edgar Renteria and Chipper Jones in the sixth inning, Teixeira hit a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center for his first homer with the Braves and his 14th overall.

Teixeira was greeted with high-fives from Jones and Renteria and slaps on his helmet in the dugout, but the fans were not satisfied until he bounced back up the dugout steps and lifted his helmet high in response to the cheers.

"I've had a few curtain calls in my career," Teixeira said. "The fans tell you. After the at-bat, if they're still cheering, they're still yelling, you know they want you to do it. It was fun going out there."

Braves manager Bobby Cox said he enjoyed watching the successful debut.

"The home run looked real good -- opposite-field line drive," Cox said. "He looked good at first, too."

Teixeira said he was aware he was being closely watched in his first game with the Braves.

"The win was definitely more important, but it was fun getting out there and getting the nerves out of the way," he said. "I didn't want to come here the first day and have a disappointment."

The Braves scored a combined 38 runs in 3 straight wins, including 24 in winning two straight over the Astros.

Buddy Carlyle (6-3) gave up 5 hits and 2 runs in 5 innings and left the game when he experienced apparent discomfort while warming up in the sixth. Carlyle, who appeared to wince in pain while swinging and missing a pitch in the bottom of the fifth, is listed as day to day and said he should be able to make his next start.

"It's something I've done in the past hitting," Carlyle said. "It's kind of silly, taking too big a swing at an off-speed pitch. It's going to be fine."

Houston has given up 42 runs in 3 straight losses. On Sunday, Jason Jennings gave up 11 runs in the first inning of an 18-11 loss to San Diego.

"It's a little embarrassing, for the pitching staff and the catchers," Houston catcher Brad Ausmus said.

For the second straight night, Houston's starting pitcher lasted only 4 innings. One night after Chris Sampson gave up 9 hits and 5 runs, Wandy Rodriguez (7-10) gave up 8 runs and 6 hits. He walked four batters and threw 55 pitches in Atlanta's 7-run first inning.

Overall, Houston pitchers issued nine walks, including 5 by Rodriguez.

"I didn't want to hear that number," Astros manager Phil Garner said of the walks.

Rodriguez fell to 1-8 in road games.

"I felt good; I don't know what happened," Rodriguez said

Marlins 4, Rockies 3: Byung-Hyun Kim survived a 37-pitch first inning and had a career-high 10 strikeouts to lead host Florida over Colorado. Kim (6-5) needed 126 pitches to make it through 5ˆº innings. He walked six, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and allowed the Rockies to steal 4 bases.

Pirates 15, Cardinals 1: Ronny Paulino hit a grand slam in the first inning, and Tony Armas won as a starter for the first time in more than 10 months to carry host Pittsburgh over St. Louis. Armas (1-3) limited the Cardinals to Aaron Miles' first home run over 6ˆº innings for his first victory since signing with Pittsburgh last winter.

Nationals 7, Reds 2: John Lannan, ejected from his big-league debut last week in the fifth inning after hitting consecutive batters, took a shutout into the sixth for host Washington in a victory over Cincinnati. Lannan (1-0) went 5ˆ¿ innings, allowing 2 runs and 5 singles.

Mets 8, Brewers 5: New York pounced on Claudio Vargas early, hitting a pair of 3-run homers on the way to a victory over host Milwaukee. Mets left-hander Oliver Perez gave up 5 runs -- 4 earned -- in the first 2 innings, but settled down to record a season-high 11 strikeouts. Perez (10-7) pitched 6 innings, giving up only 2 of his 5 hits after the second.

American League

Athletics 3, Tigers 2: Mark Ellis hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, and host Oakland beat Detroit to hand the defending AL champions their fourth straight series loss. The AL Central-leading Tigers dropped two straight to the A's after winning the series opener. The Tigers have lost six of seven games overall and eight of 11.

Devil Rays 6, Blue Jays 2: Carl Crawford had 3 hits, including a 2-run homer, to lead host Tampa Bay past Toronto. Crawford connected off Josh Towers (5-8) in the sixth to put Tampa Bay up 3-2. Brendan Harris made it 4-2 with an RBI single off Brandon League.

Red Sox 5, Orioles 4: David Ortiz scored the go-ahead run in a 4-run seventh inning that gave host Boston the win over Baltimore in front of Kevin Garnett, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch on his first full day with the Celtics. Kevin Youkilis gave the Red Sox a 4-3 lead with a 2-run double that scored Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz.

Rangers 9, Indians 6: Rookie reliever Jensen Lewis failed to get an out on consecutive bunts by Texas, and the Rangers took advantage with 3 runs in the 10th inning to defeat host Cleveland. The Indians' fourth straight loss and seventh in nine games kept Cleveland a half-game behind Detroit in the AL Central.

Royals 5, Twins 3: After a moment of silence to honor victims of a bridge collapse near the Metrodome, Kansas City defeated Minnesota in 10 innings. Today's game between the teams was called off, but the Twins decided to go ahead with this one instead of sending about 25,000 fans back out onto the congested highways. Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning as the Royals won hours after manager Buddy Bell announced he would resign after the season.