Atlanta sweeps doubleheader
Washington still missing 9 players to COVID-19 protocols
Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg ’s six scoreless innings Wednesday, lifting the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep.
Sandoval drove a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) more than 400 feet following Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning.
Luke Jackson (1-0) earned the win in Game 2, and Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save.
Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled and had a pair of singles as Atlanta won the opener 7-6.
The Braves put up five runs in the second inning off Erick Fedde (0-1), then wound up barely holding on with a save by Will Smith. Andrew Stevenson grounded into a game-ending double play.
Josh Tomlin (1-0) pitched two hitless innings.
Washington is missing nine players because of a coronavirus outbreak that led to the postponement of the team’s first four games. Four players tested positive for COVID -19, and another five who would have been on the 26-man roster are under quarantine.
Reds 11, Pirates 4: Tyler Naquin hit another leadoff homer, this time off Chad Kuhl (0-1), Kyle Farmer added a two-run double in the first, and Cincinnati won its fifth straight. Luis Castillo (1-1) allowed four hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked one. Erik Gonzalez hit his first career grand slam in the Pirates’ ninth off Amir Garrett.
Indians 4, Royals 2: Jose Ramirez’s second two-run homer of the game snapped a tie in the eighth against Greg Holland (0-1). Shane Bieber struck out 12 for the second straight game, allowing two runs and three hits in 6 1⁄3 innings. Emmanuel Clase (1-0) pitched the eighth and Nick Wittgren worked the ninth for his first save since Sept. 4, 2019. Salvador Perez homered for the Royals.
Twins 3, Tigers 2: Jorge Polanco hit a two-run double in the sixth. Kenta Maeda (1-0) pitched six mostly strong innings, allowing two runs and seven hits, and Alex Colome pitched two innings for his second save. Akil Baddoo hit an RBI triple and threw a runner out from left field.
Rangers 2, Blue Jays 1: Kyle Gibson (1-0) struck out eight and allowed six hits over six scoreless innings. Ian Kennedy, the third Texas reliever, struck out three around a hit in the ninth for his second save, both in less than 24 hours. Nick Solak homered off left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu (0-1), who struck out seven without a walk over seven innings.
Brewers 4, Cubs 2: Lorenzo Cain hit his second homer of the game, a three-run shot, in the 10th off Brandon Workman (0-1). Cain also hit a solo homer in the eighth. Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff had a no-hit bid going until Ian Happ led off the seventh with a clean single. Joc Pederson hit his first home run for the Cubs, a tying drive in the eighth.
Athletics 4, Dodgers 3 (10): Mitch Moreland hit an RBI single off Jimmy Nelson (0-1) with one out in the 10th, and the Athletics got their first win after coming within one loss of what would have been their first 0-7 start. Oakland tied it in the ninth off Kenley Jansen when Matt Chapman scored on Elvis Andrus’ sacrifice fly. Chapman hit a solo homer earlier in the game. Yusmerio Petit (1-0) pitched a scoreless 10th. Trevor Bauer allowed two runs and three hits in 6 2⁄3 innings, striking out 10 for the second straight start.
Giants 3, Padres 2: Alex Dickerson scored on Donovan Solano’s sacrifice fly in the 10th off Tim Hill (0-1). San Diego’s Jurickson Profar reached third in the 10th on Kim Ha-seong’s grounder before Wandy Peralta struck out Jorge Mateo and got rookie Tucupita Marcano to fly out to end it for his first career save. San Diego’s Wil Myers tied the game at 2 with a homer in the eighth off Tyler Rogers (1-0).
Cardinals 7, Marlins 0: Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer and Dylan Carlson added a grand slam as St. Louis finished a three-game sweep that dropped the Marlins to 1-5 for the first time since 2015. Jack Flaherty (1-0) allowed one hit in six innings, a leadoff single by Corey Dickerson.
Mariners 8, White Sox 4: Kyle Seager slapped an opposite-field, bases-clearing double for the big blow in Seattle’s seven-run sixth inning, and the Mariners avoided a sweep. Taylor Trammell, J.P. Crawford and Jose Marmolejos all had RBI singles in the inning, and Mitch Haniger added a sacrifice fly. Reliever Matt Foster (0-1) recorded just two outs, and allowed five hits and five earned runs before getting lifted.