AROUND THE HORN
2B Jose Altuve, 3B Alex Bregman, DH Yordan Álvarez, C Martín Maldonado and INF Robel Garcia were placed on the injured list Wednesday because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. GM James Click said he couldn’t say if a player had tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone who had and that the length of each player’s absence would be determined by contract testing that is being performed.
Red Sox: Alex Verdugo had three hits, including a two-run single in a six-run fifth, and the Red Sox extended their winning streak to nine games, beating the host Twins 7-1 to sweep a doubleheader. Eduardo Rodríguez (2-0) pitched five innings and gave up one run on five hits for the Red Sox. Verdugo had five hits in the doubleheader and capped the day with his second HR of the season in the seventh. The Red Sox won the first game 3-2. The Twins have lost five in a row.
Giants: Johnny Cueto pitched neatly into the sixth before exiting with a tight lat muscle, and the Giants finished off the visiting Reds 3-0. Cueto (2-0) surrendered three hits and walked none while striking out four.
Nationals, Cardinals: Joe Ross pitched six sharp innings and the Nationals threw their first regular-season shutout at Busch Stadium, blanking the Cardinals 6-0. Ross (1-0) improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Cards. He allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one. He also singled and scored a run. Four relievers combined to hold the Cards hitless the rest of the way. Ryan Zimmerman hit his first HR of the season, a two-run drive in the third. ... The Cards’ Yadier Molina caught his 2,000th game.
Molina, 38, a nine-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, became just the sixth catcher in MLB history to catch 2,000 career games, and the only one to do so exclusively with one team.
Extra innings: Gregory Polanco homered and the Pirates topped the visiting Padres 5-1, beating Joe Musgrove in his first start since throwing the first no-hitter in Padres history. Polanco hit a solo shot into the right-field stands in the second. That ended a 32-inning scoreless streak by Musgrove that dated to last season when he was still with the Pirates . ... Bo Bichette homered twice, including a game-ending drive leading off the ninth that lifted the Blue Jays over the Yankees 5-4. The Jays, who are playing their first three homestands in Florida because of COVID19 restrictions in Canada, took two of three . ... Salvador Pérez homered and doubled, leading the Royals over the visiting Angels 6-1. The All-Star catcher went 8-for12 with four RBIs in the series as the Royals took two of three . ... David Peterson matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in six dominant innings and batterymate James McCann hit his first HR with the Mets, sending the hosts past the Phillies 5-1 for their third straight win . ... Nate Lowe hit a solo HR against his former team and rookie Kohei Arihara got his first career win, pitching into the sixth as the Rangers beat the host Rays 5-1. Arihara (1-1) spent the last six seasons in Japan’s Pacific League . ... The Braves placed LHP Max Fried on the 10-day IL with a strained right hamstring. ... Reds RHP Sonny Gray is set to make his first start of the season Saturday against the Indians. Gray, 31, experienced back spasms after just one Cactus League start.