LA’s Bauer takes no-hitter into seventh before hanging on for win
O’s Means flusters Boston; Rays rally past Marlins
DENVER — Trevor Bauer took a nohit bid into the seventh inning in his Los Angeles debut before allowing a pair of two-run homers, and the Dodgers held on after building a big lead to beat the Colorado Rockies 11-6 on Friday night.
The game had a little bit of everything, from seven of the Dodgers’ 16 hits going for extra bases — no homers, though — to a gray cat making a surprise entrance onto the field in the eighth inning. The furry feline hung out in center with Cody Bellinger for a moment before being picked up and ushered out by stadium personnel.
Bauer (1-0) was purring along through six innings as the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner baffled the Rockies with a dancing slider and nasty four-seam fastball. Then, the seventh rolled around. Trevor Story broke up Bauer’s no-hit bid with a single and Charlie Blackmon ended the shutout with a two-run homer. Ryan McMahon later followed with another two-run homer. David Price eventually replaced Bauer and proceeded to give up back-to-back homers to Dom Nuñez and Sam Hilliard, suddenly turning a 10-0 rout into a 10-6 game.
It was only the second time in Rockies history they homered four times in an inning. The other time was June, 6, 1999.
Wearing his pants pulled up high to reveal those Dodger blue socks, Bauer went 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs while striking out 10.
The 30-year-old righty signed a $102 million, three-year deal as a free agent in February after going 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA last season for Cincinnati.
In spring training, Bauer challenged himself in a start by keeping his right eye closed to get out of a jam.
He probably wanted to close his eyes during that seventh inning. Before then, the only Rockies player to reach base against Bauer was C.J. Cron, who walked in the second inning and reached on third baseman Justin Turner’s error in the fifth.
Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (0-1) uncharacteristically scuffled at home, lasting 3 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs. He entered the game with six wins over his last eight home starts.
The reigning World Series champion Dodgers improved to 23-8 against the Rockies over the last three seasons. They lost the season opener 8-5 on Thursday in a game when Clayton Kershaw struggled and Bellinger had a homer turned into an RBI single and an out for passing Turner on the bases.
ORIOLES 3, RED SOX 0: In Boston, Baltimore left-hander John Means was supposed to start the 2020 opener in Boston before a sore arm landed him on the injured list.
When he got his chance this year, he froze the Red Sox in a frigid Fenway Park.
Means pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, allowing a single to lead off the game and retiring the last 18 batters he faced on Friday to lead Baltimore to a 3-0 victory over Boston in their rain-delayed opener.
“It was a really cool experience. Something I’ll have, to tell my kids forever,” Means said. “It was probably one of the best starts of my career.”
Means struck out five and allowed just two baserunners — the other on an error — earning the win when Ryan Mountcastle doubled in two runs in the sixth to break a scoreless tie. Anthony Santander added an RBI single in the eighth.
Means allowed a single to Boston leadoff hitter Kiké Hernández, then picked him off first. The only other Red Sox baserunner for him came when Xander Bogaerts reached on third baseman Maikel Franco’s error to lead off the second.
RAYS 6, MARLINS 4: In Miami, Joey Wendle hit a three-run homer, highlighting a four-run rally in the ninth inning that sent Tampa Bay over Miami.
Wendle’s one-out shot off closer Anthony Bass (0-1) landed in the upper deck in right field and erased a 4-2 deficit. Manuel Margot then tripled and scored on Francisco Mejia’s sacrifice fly.
Margot also homered and Austin Meadows went deep for the second consecutive game, helping Tampa Bay win its seventh straight in Miami dating to 2019. The Rays edged the Marlins 1-0 on opening day.