Arrieta off to strong start as Cubs tip Cards
Verlander masterful for Tigers vs. ChiSox Yank's Sabathia Shuts out Rays Padres blank Dodgers
After a long but successful 2016 and a deliberate spring schedule, the Chicago Cubs will settle for quality over quantity from their starting rotation at the start of the 2017 season.
Jake Arrieta provided a blend of dominance and clutch pitching over six innings Tuesday night, and his defense made him look even better as the Cubs held on for a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Second baseman Javier Baez punctuated the victory when he stopped a grounder on the right field grass and kept his composure to nail Kolten Wong at first for the final out.
The biggest play, however, occurred in the seventh when Albert Almora Jr. leaped above the fence in center field to rob Matt Adams of a game-tying home run off reliever Koji Uehara.
“That was a game-saver,” said Arrieta, who added he owed Almora something for preserving his first victory of the season.
Almora didn’t know of Arrieta’s offer but accepted his appreciation in the dugout after the catch.
“A hug was sufficient,” said Almora, who thought Adams’ drive was going to sail well over the fence, but credited coach Brandon Hyde for putting him in position to get to the fence as soon as he did.
Arrieta, 31, who is entering what could be his final season with the Cubs, retired the first nine batters he faced and needed only 44 pitches to get through the first four innings before making his best pitches in tight jams in the fifth and sixth.
Arrieta struck out former teammate Dexter Fowler with the tying run at second to end the fifth, and then induced Randal Grichuk to pop up to short with the bases loaded on his final pitch of the sixth.
The Cubs scored their runs in the fourth inning when Addison Russell doubled, Contreras walked and Heyward singled in Russell. Baez’s squeeze bunt scored Contreras.
(Chicago Tribune/TNS)
Tigers 6, White Sox 3
Justin Verlander struck out 10 over 61/3 innings and Detroit hit three home runs to beat Chicago in the season opener for both teams.
JaCoby Jones, Nick Castellanos and Ian Kinsler hit home runs for the Tigers.
Chicago’s Jose Quintana gave up six runs and five hits in 51/3 innings.
Yankees 5, Rays 0
CC Sabathia allowed three hits in five solid innings as New York blanked Tampa Bay.
Ronald Torreyes and Chase Headley hit home runs for New York. Dellin Betances worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth for the Yankees.
Tampa Bay’s Jake Odorizzi allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings to take the loss.
Astros 2, Mariners 1
Lance McCullers pitched six strong innings and Houston edged Seattle.
Brian McCann and Marwin Gonzalez delivered home runs for the Astros, who are 2-0.
Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.
Rockies 6, Brewers 5
Veterans Gerardo Parra and Mark Reynolds had three hits apiece as Colorado edged Milwaukee.
Parra and Reynolds combined for half of Colorado’s 12 hits while veterans Mike Dunn and Greg Holland pitched perfect innings to preserve the win.
Ryan Braun hit his first home run of the season for Milwaukee while Travis Shaw drove in two runs.
Indians 4, Rangers 3
Carlos Carrasco allowed two runs and struck out seven in 52/3 innings as Cleveland beat Texas.
Carlos Santana hit a leadoff homer and added an RBI single for the Indians. Michael Brantley added an RBI single for Cleveland.
Joey Gallo hit a two-run home run for Texas, which is 0-2 for the first time since 2007.
Left-hander Martin Perez allowed three runs in six innings for the Rangers in a losing cause.
Padres 4, Dodgers 0
Clayton Richard scattered five hits in eight outstanding innings as San Diego blanked Los Angeles.
Richard struck out five and induced three double-play balls. San Diego’s Yangervis Solarte homered and hit an RBI single, and Wil Myers scored a run and added a run-scoring single.
The Dodgers’ Japanese starter Kenta Maeda allowed three runs and six hits in five innings to open his second season in the majors.
Giants 8, Diamondbacks 4
Gorkys Hernandez drove in a careerhigh four runs, and Brandon Crawford hit a solo home run as San Francisco defeated Arizona.
Hernandez hit a two-run single in the second inning and added a two-run double during a five-run fifth.
Johnny Cueto (1-0) went five innings for the win despite giving up home runs to the Diamondbacks’ Jake Lamb and Paul Goldschmidt.
Angels 7, Athletics 6
Danny Espinosa hit a three-run home run off Ryan Dull with one out in the top of the ninth inning as Los Angeles rallied to beat Oakland.
Matt Shoemaker took a no-decision after allowing two runs and four hits in five innings seven months after sustaining a skull fracture when struck by a comebacker.
Ryon Healy and Jed Lowrie hit home runs for the A’s in defeat.