Everyone contributes as Astros smoke Rangers
ASTROS 9, RANGERS 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Carlos Correa thinks Lance McCullers Jr. is headed for a big season. McCullers feels the same way about Correa.
McCullers struck out 10 in 51/3 innings, Correa hit a two-run home run and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 9-3 on Saturday.
“What I’ve seen from Lance in spring training is he’s nasty, he’s just filthy,” Correa said. “I really believe that if he stays healthy for the whole year, he can be in the conversation for a Cy Young Award.”
McCullers volleyed the compliment right back to the star shortstop.
“That was nice of him to say. The same goes for him. I think if it continues to click for him, he’s an MVP-caliber player, obviously,” he said.
Correa and reigning American League MVP Jose Altuve each went 4 for 5 and scored twice for the World Series champions. Jake Marisnick hit a two-run home run, and Marwin Gonzalez also drove in two runs.
“As a team, we’re taking a lot of pride in the pitches we swing at and the pitches we take,” Correa said. “I hope we can stay consistent with that.”
Elvis Andrus had two hits for Texas, including his first home run of the season. He scored each of the Rangers’ three runs.
Matt Moore (0-1) allowed 4 runs and 7 hits in 4 innings in his Texas debut. The left-hander went 6-15 with a 5.52 ERA last season with San Francisco.
Houston opened a 3-0 lead in the second. Evan Gattis led off with a double and scored when Brian McCann’s popup fell in front of right fielder Nomar Mazara for a single. Marisnick followed with his second home run.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 3 Mike Trout had 3 hits and 2 RBI, Zack Cozart also drove in 2 runs and visiting Los Angeles beat Oakland. Los Angeles
finished with 12 hits.
BLUE JAYS 5, YANKEES 3 Yangervis Solarte hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and Kevin Pillar added an insurance run by stealing second, third and home to send host Toronto over New York for its first victory of the season.
INDIANS 6, MARINERS 5 Yonder Alonso hit his third career grand slam in the first inning, Yan Gomes added a two-run shot and visiting Cleveland held on for a victory over Seattle.
RED SOX 3, RAYS 2 Xander Bogaerts homered, Rick Porcello carried a shutout into the sixth inning and Boston beat host Tampa Bay.
TWINS 6, ORIOLES 2 Visiting Minnesota right-hander Kyle Gibson held Baltimore hitless over six innings before being replaced by Ryan Pressly, who kept the no-hitter intact until the eighth in the Twins’ victory. WHITE SOX 4, ROYALS 3 Wellington Castillo delivered a go-ahead two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning, and Chicago rallied to beat host Kansas City.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
METS 6, CARDINALS 2 Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d’Arnaud homered, Todd Frazier drove
in three and New York Mets beat visiting St. Louis.
NATIONALS 13, REDS 7 Adam Eaton had a solo home run among his career-high five hits and Brian Goodwin hit his first career grand slam on Saturday, powering Washington to a victory over host Cincinnati. CUBS 10, MARLINS 6 (10) Ben Zobrist had a tiebreaking RBI single and Kris Bryant followed with a bases-clearing double in a four-run 10th inning for Chicago, who beat Miami after Yu Darvish struggled in his first start for the Cubs.
BRAVES 15, PHILLIES 2 Ender Inciarte drove in four runs with three hits, Ryan Flaherty had four hits and scored four times, and host Atlanta roughed up Vince Velasquez and Philadelphia for a victory.
ROCKIES 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1 Charlie Blackmon homered twice and visiting Colorado salvaged the final game of their season-opening series with a victory over Arizona.
BREWERS 7, PADRES 3 Christian Yelich tied his career high with five hits, and Milwaukee swept host San Diego. DODGERS 5, GIANTS 0 Kenta Maeda struck out 10 over five scoreless innings, and Los Angeles finally found its offense to beat visiting San Francisco for its first victory of the season