Jays hit 4 HRs in win
All solo shots vs. Nationals
WASHINGTON — Teoscar Hernández hit two of Toronto’s four solo homers off Aníbal Sánchez (0-1) to account for all the Blue Jays’ scoring in a 4-1 win.
Rowdy Tellez and Danny Jansen also went deep for the Blue Jays, who were without two key players. Closer Ken Giles went on the injured list Monday, and shortstop Bo Bichette was scratched from the lineup about 15 minutes before the first pitch with a tight left hamstring.
Ryan Borucki (1-0) got four outs to earn the win, and Anthony Bass — filling in for Giles — got his first save of the year.
Rays 14, Braves 5 — Hunter Renfroe homered twice and Tampa Bay pitchers set a team nine-inning record with 19 strikeouts in the Rays’ 14-5 romp over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.
Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. The 2018 AllStar was placed on waivers after the game.
Tyler Glasnow struck out nine and allowed one hit over four innings in first start after missing part of summer camp with the Rays after testing positive for the coronavirus. Diego Castillo (1-0) struck out two in a 10-pitch fifth and Jalen Beeks fanned seven over his three innings.
Dansby Swanson and Matt Adams homered for the Braves. Swanson tied a career-high with five RBIs and stopped a 41-game homerless streak in Atlanta’s 14-1 win Sunday night over the New York Mets.
Royals 14, Tigers 6 — Maikel Franco hit two of Kansas City’s six home runs, spoiling Detroit’s fan-free home opener.
Whit Merrifield had three hits and three RBIs, finishing a triple shy of the cycle on a night when the Royals rallied from an early 5-1 deficit. Foster Griffin (1-0) won in relief, but he also had to leave his major league debut with a left forearm strain.
Detroit’s Michael Fulmer allowed three homers in his first start back from Tommy John surgery.
Salvador Perez, Jorge Soler and Brett Phillips also homered for Kansas City. JaCoby Jones and Victor Reyes went deep for Detroit.
Kansas City took the lead for good with a six-run fourth. Kyle Funkhouser (0-1), making his big league debut in relief of Fulmer, allowed a two-run single by Ryan O’Hearn that made it 7-5.
Astros 8, Mariners 5 — Alex Bregman hit his 100th career homer, a three-run shot, and Jose Altuve added a solo drive to give Houston a win over Seattle.
Josh James was not sharp in his return to the rotation after spending last season in the bullpen. He allowed three runs and needed 75 pitches to get through three innings. But Brandon Bielak (1-0) ate up the next 3 1/3 innings to win his major league debut and save Houston’s bullpen.
Roberto Osuna worked a scoreless ninth for his first save.
Mariners starter Kendall Graveman (0-1) yielded six hits, seven runs and struck out seven in four-plus innings in his first game in 807 days after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Athletics 3, Angels 0 —Mark Canha homered for the first time this season, Chris Bassitt (1-0) escaped a big jam and Oakland beat Los Angeles as the teams concluded their season-opening wraparound series.
A’s slugging first baseman Matt Olson began wearing a mask at his position when runners reached amid a coronavirus outbreak among the Miami Marlins that kept the club in Philadelphia. Olson could be seen chatting with Mike Trout — also masked up — in the top of the eighth after the Angels star drew a walk from Jake Diekman.
Joakim Soria allowed a pair of singles before closing it out for his first save, retiring Trout on a 93-mph called third strike that the slugger argued. He removed his batting helmet while speaking to plate umpire Adam Hamari. Manager Joe Maddon also had a word with the umpire.
Right-hander Griffin Canning (0-1) surrendered Canha’s drive to start the fourth just after the Angels’ missed opportunity in the top half of the inning.
Padres 6, Diamondbacks 2 — Fernando Tatis Jr. raced around the bases on a threerun triple that highlighted a five-run rally and Trent Grisham hit his first home run for San Diego, which took three of four games in its opening series.
The Padres, who feel they’re built for success in this pandemic-shortened 60game season, outscored the Diamondbacks 21-9 in the four games.
The Padres scored five runs in the fourth inning before Luke Weaver (0-1) recorded an out.
Cal Quantrill (1-0) allowed one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.
Games postponed
Major League Baseball has already postponed a second scheduled game between Miami and Baltimore after more than a dozen Marlins players and staff tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the club to lock down in Philadelphia. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the soonest the Marlins could resume their schedule is Wednesday, when they are set to play in Baltimore.
“I don’t see it as a nightmare,” Manfred told MLB Network on Monday night. “We built the protocols to allow us to continue to play. That’s why we have the expanded rosters, that’s why we have the pool of additional players. And we think we can keep people safe and continue to play.”
The Yankees and Phillies also postponed their game Monday after the Marlins played in Philadelphia over the weekend. As of Monday night, the teams planned to begin their series Tuesday instead.
Word of multiple positive tests among the Marlins and Reds rosters shook many around the game.
“I’m going to be honest with you: I’m scared,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.
Experts are also concerned.
“Baseball is in huge trouble,” said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto.
“It makes me wonder if they are listening to the advice of experts or whether their experts are giving them good advice. This was not a plan anyone who knows what they are talking about would have conceived. It’s playing out like it was supposed to play out.”