Kingham sets down 1st 20 in debut
PITTSBURGH — Nick Kingham accomplished something Sunday that only one major-league pitcher had achieved in the last century.
In his big-league debut, Kingham carried a perfect game into the seventh inning and led the Pirates to a 5-0 shutout of the Cardinals. He joined Johnny Cueto in 2008 as the only pitchers in the last 100 years allowing one hit with no walks and at least nine strikeouts in his debut.
“That’s how you plan it up, not to let anybody on,” Kingham said. “It’s incredible how it happened.
Yankees: Gary Sanchez hit a two-run homer to fuel a 2-1 victory over the Angels, running the Yanks’ winning streak to nine. CC Sabathia (2-0) gave up one run on five hits in seven innings. The Angels’ Albert Pujols singled for his 2,996th hit.
Red Sox: Sandy Leon’s goahead RBI single with two outs in the eighth provided a 4-3 victory that snapped the Rays’ winning streak at eight. J.D. Martinez had four singles and drove in two runs. Rick Porcello gave up three runs on seven hits in 72⁄ innings, striking out six and walking none.
Angels: Shohei Ohtani’s injured left ankle has improved, but he will not pitch Tuesday against the Orioles. The Angels said the Just kind of starting from the get-go, it went well. It’s corny, but it took everybody. I’m really fortunate and really happy about it.”
The right-hander retired 20 straight batters before Paul DeJong singled down the left-field line with two outs in the seventh. Kingham, 26, finished with nine strikeouts on 98 pitches, 72 for strikes.
More than the numbers, manager Clint Hurdle was pleased with Kingham’s poise.
“Watching him, it was just his next start,” Hurdle said. “It had to be more than that. He compartmentalized very well.” RHP still might start Wednesday’s or Thursday’s games.
Giants: Evan Longoria’s threerun homer lifted the Giants past the Dodgers 4-2 as they took three of four in the series. Dodgers 1B Cody Bellinger was yanked in the fifth for what manager Dave Roberts called a lack of hustle after Bellinger stopped at second on a potential triple, then was picked off base.
Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled twice and reached base four times to cap his first week in the majors, and the Braves crushed the Phillies 10-1. Acuna is hitting .421 (8-for-19). Ozzie Albies drilled the game’s first pitch for a homer, added a two-run double and scored three runs.
Elias Diaz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs as the Pirates won their fifth straight hours after Kingham was recalled from Triple A for a spot start.
Right-hander Luke Weaver (2-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits with six strikeouts in 51⁄ innings.
“(Kingham) obviously was having a good game, so you have to stay with him and put up the zeroes just like you normally would,” Weaver said. “You just try to put that to the side and let him do what he’s doing, and you focus on the task at hand.
“It was just a well-pitched ballgame from him.”
Mariners: Ryon Healy homered twice and had four RBIs, Robinson Cano and Mitch Haniger also went deep and the Mariners defeated the Indians 10-4 to take three of four. Haniger’s home run was his 10th, tied for the major-league lead.
Astros: Gerrit Cole struck out 12 in 62⁄ innings, and George Springer and Jose Altuve each had two RBIs in an 8-4 win over the A’s. Cole has struck out 10 or more in four of his six starts.
Nationals: Gio Gonzalez struck out eight in seven innings, and Matt Wieters and Michael A. Taylor homered to beat the Diamondbacks 3-1. D’backs starter Robbie Ray left in the second with a strained oblique muscle.