A’s win on Olson’s extra-inning slam
BIEBER FANS 14 AS INDIANS TOP ROYALS
>>LOS ANGELES: Oakland became the first team to win a game under Major League Baseball’s new speed-up, extra-innings rules, getting a grand slam from Matt Olson with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat visiting Los Angeles 7-3 on Friday.
The walk-off ending capped a busy night for Joe Maddon, who began his fourth stint as Angels manager — first as the full-time skipper — in a game that ended with the visitors employing a five-man infield after Oakland loaded the bases.
The Angels sent the game into extra innings after Jason Castro bombed a solo home run to right field off Oakland closer Liam Hendriks in the top of the ninth inning, tying the game.
The A’s took advantage of the free inning-opening baserunner by starting Marcus Semien on second base. He was at third while Ramon Laureano, who was hit by a pitch, was at second, and Khris Davis, who had walked, was at first when Maddon brought in left-hander Hoby Milner to replace Hansel Robles (0-1) and he delivered the game-ending pitch to Olson.
Shane Bieber struck out 14 batters to set an Opening Day franchise record and lift the hosts Cleveland Indians to a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Bieber (1-0), who was last year’s AllStar Game Most Valuable Player, scattered four hits over six innings before exiting after 97 pitches. His strike-out total eclipsed the Opening Day club record set by Gary Bell, who fanned 12 against Detroit on April 19, 1960.
Oscar Mercado had a run-scoring single and Cesar Hernandez followed with an RBI double during a two-run fifth inning for the Indians, who won 12 of the 19 meetings against their American League Central rival in 2019.
Danny Duffy (0-1) retired nine in a row at one point before running into trouble in the fifth inning for the Royals, who fell short in the debut of manager Mike Matheny.
Kyle Hendricks became the first Chicago starter in 46 years to go the distance on Opening Night, firing a three-hit shut-out as Chicago held off visiting Milwaukee 3-0.
Hendricks fanned nine and walked none in a 103-pitch masterpiece, not allowing a single runner past first base. No.9 hitter Orlando Arcia accounted for all three hits with singles in the third, sixth and ninth innings.
The dominant outing gave David Ross, who helped the 2016 Cubs snap a 108-year World Series title drought, a win in his debut as the team’s skipper.
Michael Brantley clubbed a threerun home run in support of Justin Verlander, who worked six solid innings to pace Houston past visiting Seattle 8-2.
Brantley drove home Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman by drilling a 2-1 splitter from Seattle’s Zac Grotz into the right field seats with one out in the fifth inning. Grotz entered in relief of Marco Gonzales (0-1), who departed after surrendering an RBI single to Altuve that tied the game 2-2 earlier in the inning.
Verlander (1-0), making his 12th career Opening Day start, proved effective and efficient. He surrendered just three hits to go along with one walk and seven strike-outs.
Eric Hosmer drove in a franchise Opening Day-record six runs with a pair of two-out, three-run doubles to lead San Diego over visiting Arizona 7-2.
Padres starter Chris Paddack (1-0) held Arizona scoreless on four hits over six innings. After getting double plays to escape of jams in each of the first two innings, Paddack retired 12 of the last 13 hitters he faced.
Madison Bumgarner (0-1) ended his Diamondbacks debut allowing three runs on four hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four.
RESULTS (home team in CAPS) METS 1 Braves 0; REDS 7 Tigers 1; Blue Jays 6 RAYS 4; Marlins 5 PHILLIES 2; CUBS 3 Brewers 0; INDIANS 2 Royals 0; RED SOX 13 Orioles 2; RANGERS 1 Rockies 0; Twins 10 WHITE SOX 5; CARDINALS 5 Pirates 4; ASTROS 8 Mariners 2; PADRES 7 Diamondbacks 2; DODGERS 9 Giants 1; ATHLETICS 7 Angels 3