Marlins end hiatus with shut-out win
LOS ANGELES: Starter Pablo Lopez tossed five scoreless innings, Francisco Cervelli and Jesus Aguilar homered, and the Miami Marlins returned from an eight-day hiatus with a 4-0 shut-out of hosts Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
The game was Miami’s first since July 26 after 18 players tested positive for Covid-19 following a three-game series in Philadelphia to open the season.
Lopez (1-0) allowed just two hits, didn’t issue a walk and matched his career high with seven strikeouts in his season debut. Relievers James Hoyt, Richard Bleier, Brad Boxberger and Brandon Kintzler tossed an inning each for the Marlins, who fanned a seasonhigh 11.
Baltimore’s John Means (0-1) pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits. He struck out four without a walk.
Franmil Reyes hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Shane Bieber pitched into the eighth inning as visiting Cleveland beat Cincinnati 4-2.
Reyes’ first home run of the season went deep into centre field and helped the Indians snap a four-game losing streak. The Reds’ three-game winning streak ended.
Bieber (3-0) yielded solo homers to Nick Castellanos and Eugenio Suarez among five hits while striking out eight and 7 2/3 innings. Bieber, who pitched 14 scoreless innings and struck out 27 while winning his first two starts of the year, walked two on Tuesday.
German Marquez pitched into the eighth inning, Nolan Arenado homered for the second straight game, and
Colorado won 5-2 in Denver.
Charlie Blackmon had two hits, drove in two and scored a run, and Yency Almonte got the last five outs for his first major league save. The Rockies have won eight of their past nine after dropping the opening game of the season.
Marquez (2-1) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out nine in 7 1/3 innings against the Giants, who have dropped three in a row. Colorado native Kevin Gausman (0-1) gave up four runs on five hits and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one.
Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Jose Berrios picked up his first victory of the season as Minnesota topped Pittsburgh 7-3 in Minneapolis for their fifth straight win.
Eddie Rosario had two hits and two RBIs, and Max Kepler walked a careerhigh four times and scored twice for the Twins, who finished their eight-game homestand with a 7-1 mark. Berrios (1-1) allowed one run on four hits and three walks over six innings while striking out six. Trevor May got the final two outs for his first save.
Joe Musgrove (0-3) allowed five runs on six hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings. Erik Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a double and a run, and Phillip Evans had three hits and an RBI for the Pirates.
RESULTS
(home team in CAPS)
TWINS 7 Pirates 3; Indians 4 REDS 2; RAYS 5 Red Sox 1; NATIONALS 5 Mets 3; BRAVES 10 Blue Jays 1; Marlins 4 ORIOLES 0; White Sox 3 BREWERS 2; CUBS 5 Royals 4; ROCKIES 5 Giants 2; Astros 8 DIAMONDBACKS 2; ATHLETICS 5 Rangers 1; Dodgers 5 PADRES 2; Angels 5 MARINERS 3