Isaac Paredes’ grand slam highlighted a six-run second inning, and Tampa Bay homered five times to improve to 7-0 with a 9-5 victory over visiting Oakland in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Harold Ramirez, Manuel Margot, Christian Bethancourt and Wander Franco went deep, while Paredes added two singles for Tampa Bay, which is off to the majors’ best start since Baltimore went 7-0 in 2016.
The Rays have outscored their opponents 53-18, and won each by at least four runs — the first team since the 1884 St. Louis Maroons did so in their first 13 games.
For Tampa Bay, Zach Eflin (2-0) allowed three runs on nine hits, striking out seven without a walk in six innings. Ryan Noda and Shea Langeliers (two hits) each homered and Aledmys Diaz had two hits with an RBI for Oakland. Athletics starter Ken Waldichuk (0-2) yielded eight runs on eight hits, including four homers, in three innings.
Brewers 4, Cardinals 0
Brandon Woodruff and five relievers combined on a five-hitter as Milwaukee extended its winning streak to six with a shutout victory over visiting St. Louis in the opener of the weekend series.
Woodruff (1-0), allowed four hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking two in an 84-pitch outing. Joel Payamps, Gus Varland, Hoby Milner and Matt Bush kept the Cardinals off the board until the ninth, when Bryse Wilson retired three straight to preserve the Brewers’ third shutout.
Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty (1-1) gave up two runs on four hits in five innings and walked six while striking out three.
Mets 9, Marlins 3
Tylor Megill tossed six scoreless innings and host New York took advantage of 12 walks by Miami pitchers to roll to a victory in their home opener.
The Mets, who snapped a three-game losing streak, improved to 41-21 in home openers, including 11-4 since Citi Field opened in 2009. They beat the Marlins for the fourth time in five meetings already this season.
Megill (2-0) allowed three hits and walked two while striking out three in his longest appearance since last Apr. 24. The Mets took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in the third without hitting the ball out of the infield, when Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor began the inning with walks against Edward Cabrera (0-1). After Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil struck out, Mark Canha worked a walk to score Nimmo and chase Cabrera.
Cubs 2, Rangers 0
Marcus Stroman allowed just two hits over six more strong innings, and Cody Bellinger and Ian Happ each delivered two-out RBIs, as Chicago beat visiting Texas.
After Stroman (2-0) struck out eight in six innings of three-hit ball in Chicago’s 4-0 home victory over Milwaukee on Opening Day, the right-hander on Friday fanned six while walking three. Stroman has allowed two runs and 17 hits over 32 innings while winning each of his last five home starts.
The Rangers totaled 27 runs against Philadelphia in its first two games of the season, but have scored just nine in the last five. Texas has already been shut out twice in 2023. The Rangers have lost 15 of their last 19 road games.
Phillies 5, Reds 2
J.T. Realmuto blasted a tape-measure two-run homer to left-center to snap a seventh-inning tie and lead Philadelphia past visiting Cincinnati in the home opener for the defending National League champions.
Trea Turner opened the inning with a single and, one out later, Realmuto crushed a pitch from Derek Law (0-1) 448 feet to left-center for a 4-2 advantage.
Edmundo Sosa added his first homer of the season, a solo shot, in the eighth for insurance. Gregory Soto (1-1) pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn the win and Craig Kimbrel, the active MLB saves leader, earned his 395th career save and first of 2023.
Mariners 5, Guardians 3
Julio Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth to lift Seattle to a victory over host Cleveland.
Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run, while J.P. Crawford went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs for the Mariners, who won for just the second time in their past seven games.
Josh Naylor went 2-for-4 and Josh Bell and Myles Straw each had RBI singles for the Guardians.
Twins 3, Astros 2 (10 innings)
Kyle Farmer drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th inning as Minnesota rallied for a victory over Houston in Minneapolis.
Farmer grounded a 1-1 fastball by Houston reliever Ryne Stanek (1-1) up the middle against a drawn-in infield to drive in Trevor Larnach for his second career walk-off hit and first since 2017.
Miranda finished 3-for-5 with an RBI, Solano and Buxton each had two hits and scored a run, and Michael Taylor had a double among two hits for the Twins. Jorge Lopez (1-0) picked up the win. Mauricio Dubon went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and run scored, and Kyle Tucker also had a double for Houston.
Pirates 13, White Sox 9
Bryan Reynolds drove in six runs on a home run and a triple and Pittsburgh rode a five-run fifth inning to win its home opener over Chicago.
Carlos Santana also homered for Pittsburgh. Ji Hwan Bae, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Connor Joe each had an RBI double, and Oneil Cruz and Jason Delay hit RBI singles for the Pirates. Pittsburgh starter Rich Hill allowed seven runs and eight hits in four innings.
Luis Robert Jr. hit a pair of two-run homers and an RBI single, and Jake Burger and Oscar Colas also homered for the White Sox. Chicago starter Lucas Giolito gave up seven runs and 12 hits in four innings.
Royals 3, Giants 1
Salvador Perez belted the 224th home run of his career, Vinnie Pasquantino hit his first of the season and Kansas City opened a six-game trip with a victory, spoiling San Francisco’s home opener.
Nicky Lopez added an RBI single and right-hander Brad Keller (1-1) threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball, helping the Royals snap a three-game losing streak with just their second win of the season.
Alex Cobb (0-1) was the hard-luck loser for the Giants after holding the Royals to two runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out six and didn’t walk a batter.
Orioles 7, Yankees 6
Ramon Urias hit a tiebreaking RBI double with one out in the seventh inning and started a key double play at third base in the eighth to help Baltimore recover from a blown four-run lead and record a victory over New York in its home opener.
The Orioles gave up five straight runs after taking a 4-0 lead through three off New York starter Clarke Schmidt, who allowed four runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings, fanning three and walking three.
Adley Rutschman hit a tying single in the sixth off Ron Marinaccio (0-1) before the Orioles scored twice against Jimmy Cordero.
Padres 5, Braves 4
Xander Bogaerts rolled a single through the right side of the infield to drive home Trent Grisham in the sixth inning, lifting visiting San Diego to a victory over Atlanta.
The Padres’ bullpen held the Braves scoreless over the final 4 1/3 innings with Brent Honeywell (1-0) earning the win and Josh Hader picking up his second save on his 29th birthday, snapping Atlanta’s four-game winning streak.
Grisham walked to open the sixth against Braves reliever Michael Tonkin (0-1). He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jose Azocar and scored when Bogaerts leaned out to punch a hit through the right side.
Nationals 10, Rockies 5
Alex Call and Jeimer Candelario hit back-to-back homers opening the game, CJ Abrams, Victor Robles and Lane Thomas each had three of Washington’s 19 hits in a victory over Colorado in Denver.
MacKenzie Gore tossed six solid innings and Dominic Smith, Keibert Ruiz, Joey Meneses and Luis Garcia had two hits for Washington. Gore (2-0) allowed five hits and two walks while fanning six in his second straight win to open the season.
Ryan McMahon homered and Charlie Blackmon and Yonathan Daza had two hits each for Colorado. Jose Urena (0-2) allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3
Evan Longoria and Corbin Carroll hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to help lift Arizona to a victory over Los Angeles in Phoenix.
Longoria led off the inning with a 398-foot blast to left off Clayton Kershaw to forge a 3-3 tie. Carroll’s solo shot to right-center gave Arizona its first lead. Relievers Drey Jameson (2-0), Miguel Castro and Andrew Chafin took care of the rest, combining for 4 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief.
The strong bullpen effort got Arizona starter Madison Bumgarner off the hook. He went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with six walks and five strikeouts. Kershaw (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked two and fanned four.
Blue Jays 4, Angels 3
Bo Bichette’s two-out, three-run home run in the seventh inning lifted Toronto to a come-from-behind victory over Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.
A Mike Trout home run and six strong innings by Patrick Sandoval helped the Angels to a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh inning. But with Sandoval out of the game, the Blue Jays took advantage of the Angels’ bullpen.
Toronto starter Chris Bassitt (1-1) threw six innings and allowing three runs (two earned). Yimi Garcia, Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano (fourth save) each pitched a scoreless inning to finish it off. Jimmy Herget (0-1) took the loss.
–Field Level Media
