Rangers’ Lynn stymies Rockies’ in their opener
Muncy goes deep twice to lead Dodgers’ rout
ARLINGTON, Texas — Lance Lynn struck out nine in six sharp innings as Texas inaugurated its new retractable-roof stadium with a 1-0 win over Colorado.
After 48 seasons of playing home games outside in the Texas heat, the Rangers had the roof closed for the first game in their $1.2 billion new home. It was a pleasant 72 degrees at first pitch inside the air-conditioned building — and 94 outside.
The Rangers didn’t get their first hit off Rockies starter German Marquez until after Lynn (1-0) had thrown the last of his 108 pitches in his first opening day start.
Danny Santana had a one-out double in the sixth, and scored on a two-out double by Rougned Odor that chased Marquez (0-1).
DODGERS 9, GIANTS 1: In Los Angeles, Max Muncy homered twice and doubled, and Ross Stripling pitched seven neat innings as Los Angeles defeated San Francisco.
A day after beating the Giants 8-1 on opening day, the NL West champion Dodgers scored in every inning except the third and outhit the Giants 13-4.
NL MVP Cody Bellinger raised his arms as if encouraging the fake crowd cheers when the game ended.
ASTROS 8, MARINERS 2: In Houston, Dusty Baker posted a win in his debut as Houston’s manager as the Astros, playing for the first time since their sign-stealing scandal rocked baseball, opened the season by beating the Seattle.
Hoping to put a turbulent offseason behind them, the Astros started out with a victory at empty Minute Maid Park, the same place that was pulsating last October when they lost Game 7 of the World Series to Washington.
Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer to back Justin Verlander.
PADRES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 2: In San Diego, Eric Hosmer hit three-run doubles in consecutive innings to ruin Madison Bumgarner’s Arizona debut and give San Diego a victory in Jayce Tingler’s first game as manager.
The six RBIs tied Hosmer’s career high and backed 24-year-old righthander Chris Paddack (1-0), who threw six scoreless innings in his first opening day start.
Hosmer doubled off Bumgarner in the sixth and Kevin Ginkel in the seventh, both with two outs.
METS 1, BRAVES 0: In New York, Yoenis Céspedes came back with a bang, taking immediate advantage of the new designated hitter rule in the National League by launching a home run that sent Jacob deGrom and New York past Atlanta.
After five dominant innings from deGrom, Céspedes connected in the seventh off reliever Chris Martin (0-1) for his first long ball since his previous major league game on July 20, 2018.
The slugger missed most of the past two seasons with a string of leg injuries.
Seth Lugo (1-0) tossed two innings, pitching out of trouble in the seventh for New York. Edwin Díaz struck out two in a hitless ninth for the save.
REDS 7, TIGERS 1: In Cincinnati, Mike Moustakas drove in four runs in an emphatic first impression, teaming with fellow Cincinnati newcomers Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos to turn the Reds’ long-delayed opener into a victory over Detroit.
The Reds tried to make themselves relevant again by spending $165 million on free agents in the offseason. Moustakas and Castellanos each got $64 million as cornerstones of the rebuild.
They combined to produce Cincinnati’s first three runs, and Moustakas added a two-run homer as the Reds were off and running.
Sonny Gray (1-0) fanned nine and gave up three hits in six innings.
In Chicago, Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter as Chicago beat Milwaukee.
Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a bigleague manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field.
Showing off an improved curveball, Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.
Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks. opening day in 2018. INDIANS 2, ROYALS 0: In Cleveland, Shane Bieber struck out 14 over six scoreless innings as the Indians, making a statement for minorities by wearing their road jerseys with “Cleveland” on the front, beat Kansas City.
Bieber’s 14 strikeouts set a club record for opening day and are the most in the majors in an opener since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson also fanned 14 on March 31, 1996.
Oscar Mercado and César Hernández drove in runs in the fifth for Cleveland, which was blanked over the first four innings by Royals starter Danny Duffy (0-1). BLUE JAYS 6, RAYS 4: In St. Petersburg, Fla., Cavan Biggio hit a three-run homer and Toronto began its still-inprogress odyssey by topping Tampa Bay.
Earlier the Blue Jays announced they will play the majority of their home games at the stadium of their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, though it’s not certain when the park will be ready.
Biggio singled to begin a three-run fourth inning off 36-year-old Charlie Morton (0-1), who made his first career start on opening day. Randal Grichuk, Rowdy Tellez and Teoscar Hernandez drove in the runs. Biggio also homered in the fifth for a 6-1 lead.
RED SOX 13, ORIOLES 2: In Boston, J.D. Martinez and Kevin Pillar each drove in three runs as the Red Sox rolled past Baltimore.
Jackie Bradley Jr., Jose Peraza, Martinez and Pillar each doubled as part of a four-run third inning. Boston kept it going in the fourth, sending 11 batters to the plate and adding six more runs.
MARLINS 5, PHILLIES 2: In Philadelphia, Jesus Aguilar hit a two-run homer off Aaron Nola and Sandy Alcantara pitched into the seventh as Miami spoiled manager Joe Girardi’s first game in Philadelphia.
Alcantara (1-0) allowed two runs — one earned — and three hits, striking out seven in 6⅔ innings.
Nola (0-1) gave up four runs and five hits, striking out seven in 5⅓ innings.
TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 5: In Chicago, Max Kepler homered against White Sox ace Lucas Giolito in his first two at-bats as Minnesota beat Chicago.
White Sox slugger Yoán Moncada had three hits, including a three-run shot off José Berrios in the second inning that tied the game at 5. CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 4: In St. Louis, ack Flaherty pitched seven solid innings and Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer as St. Louis beat Pittsburgh.
Tyler O’Neill and Dexter Fowler added solo homers for St. Louis.