Maddux gets win No. 349

Greg Maddux didn't stick around to talk about his 349th career victory. He left the clubhouse right after the final out to catch a plane for Las Vegas, where his family is no doubt planning a celebration for his 42nd birthday.

Maddux allowed 2 hits over 5 innings and combined with four San Diego relievers on the 5-hit shutout, using Paul McAnulty's fourth-inning sacrifice fly to beat the host Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 on Sunday.

"This is a tough loss," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said after his team's fifth defeat in six games. "When you come into the day and know you're going to give up 1 run, you have to feel pretty good about things -- even though you know you are facing Maddux."

The four-time Cy Young winner was exactly what the Padres needed following Saturday night's 11-1 loss and heading into an off day. Maddux (2-0) has made 9 of his 35 career starts against the Dodgers in April, going 8-0 with a 1.11 ERA in that month. He threw 68 pitches in 95-degree heat, striking out two and walking one.

Royals 5, Twins 1: Brian Bannister had a plan against the Minnesota Twins and Francisco Liriano, and it worked out perfectly.

As a result, the Kansas City Royals snapped a three-game losing streak on a frigid Sunday afternoon with a 5-1 victory over the Twins and Liriano, who was making his first major-league appearance in 17 months.

"I knew Liriano was coming back from an injury; he was rehabbing," said Bannister (3-0), who went 9 innings and allowed only 3 hits. "My goal was to get on and off the field as fast as possible and keep him out there, because I knew he was going to get tired. I've been in that situation before."

Performing almost as briskly as the stiff breeze that dropped the wind chill to 29 degrees at game time, Bannister pitched the second complete game of his career, giving up only one walk and one unearned run. He struck out three.

Liriano (0-1), an All-Star as a rookie sensation in 2006 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, gave up 6 hits, walked five and struck out four. Just as Bannister predicted, the big left-hander tired. Nevertheless, his 4¿ innings made for an encouraging day.

"I asked him how he felt after 17 months of being out of the big leagues, and he said, 'Cold. Very cold,' " Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "His velocity was good. His arm was good. And we can build on that."

Liriano threw 90 pitches, 51 for strikes. He admitted to a few butterflies.

"I couldn't establish the fastball. I couldn't throw my fastball," he said. "If I can establish my fastball, I can do better. I was kind of nervous the first couple of innings, but then I got loose."

Bannister, in 3 starts covering 21 innings, has allowed only 2 earned runs for an ERA of 0.86.

Nationals 5, Braves 4: Atlanta starter Tom Glavine left with a strained right hamstring before recording an out, and host Washington ended its nine-game losing streak by beating Atlanta. Glavine let all four batters he faced reach base.

Brewers 9, Mets 7: Gabe Kapler homered for the second straight day, doubled twice and drove in 3 runs to help Milwaukee beat host New York.

Indians 7, Athletics 1: Cliff Lee (2-0) used quick and efficient pitching in the wind and cold (28-degree wind chill at game time) to help host Cleveland end Oakland's five-game winning streak. Lee allowed 1 run and 2 hits over 8 innings.

Astros 5, Marlins 1: Wandy Rodriguez (1-0) struck out seven and allowed 5 hits in 7 strong innings, and J.R. Towles and Michael Bourn homered to lead host Houston past Florida.

Pirates 9, Reds 1: Ryan Doumit, Xavier Nady and Jason Bay homered, and Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) limited Cincinnati to 1 run and 4 hits as host Pittsburgh swept the Reds.

Giants 7, Cardinals 4: Tim Lincecum struck out 11 in six innings, and rookie John Bowker homered for the second straight day and drove in 4 runs for host San Francisco in a win over St. Louis.

Rockies 13, Diamondbacks 5: Clint Barmes, Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins homered, and Colorado snapped host Arizona's eight-game winning streak.

Rays 6, Orioles 2: Jeff Niemann allowed 1 run over 6 innings in his major-league debut, and B.J. Upton hit a 3-run homer during a 6-run fifth as host Tampa Bay beat Baltimore.

Blue Jays 5, Rangers 4 (10): Joe Inglett drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, B.J. Ryan earned his first save in more than a year, and Toronto completed a three-game sweep of host Texas.

Angels 10, Mariners 5: Jeff Mathis hit a 2-run homer to lead a 16-hit attack, and Joe Saunders (2-0) had another strong start (2 runs on 6 hits in 5½ innings) to help Los Angeles avoid a series sweep against host Seattle.