Bieber tagged, Bauer sharp in Dodgers debut
Shane Bieber’s final start last season was rough. His first one in 2021 wasn’t too much better.
The AL Cy Young winner gave up four runs and didn’t make it through his scheduled two innings on Monday as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Kansas City Royals 8-6 in Goodyear, Arizona.
But while he wasn’t thrilled with his outing, Bieber wasn’t disappointed either. He committed to throwing certain pitches and working on areas he’d like to improve.
“There’s some positives to take away from today in learning how to shape the slider how I want to,” he said. “I started to figure it out in the second inning. I just got to look at the positives. It’s spring training. Go out there and get the next one.”
Bieber led the majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts last year, completing a rare triple crown during the pandemic while becoming Cleveland’s fifth Cy Young winner since 2007.
The right-hander was dominant until the playoffs, when the New York Yankees tagged him for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings in Game 1 of the wild-card round. The Indians were swept out of the wild-card round the next day.
Bieber’s arrival at camp was delayed after he tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, the 25-year-old said he was feeling fine and eager to build on his strong third season in the majors and erase the “sour taste” left by his postseason flop.
Bieber coasted through the first against Kansas City, retiring the Royals in order with former Indians first baseman Carlos Santana hitting a grounder for the final out with an uncharacteristic first-pitch swing.
From around the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues:
ORIOLES 4, PHILLIES 4 (7) » DJ Stewart homered off Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola. Baltimore leadoff man Austin Hays got two hits.
Well-traveled Matt Joyce homered in his first spring game for the Phillies. ASTROS 7, NATIONALS 6 » Ryan Zimmerman appeared in a game for the first time in almost exactly a year — he sat out the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season because of concerns about his family’s health — and hit one of Washington’s three consecutive homers off Houston righty Steve Cishek in the third inning.
DODGERS 10, ROCKIES 0 (6 INNINGS) » Trevor Bauer, pitching for the first time since signing a $102 million, three-year contract, debuted in Dodger blue with two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit, struck out two, walked none and threw a wild pitch.
ANGELS 4, WHITE SOX 4 (5) » Albert Pujols went 2 for
2 and drove in two runs, Shohei Otani got two hits and scored twice and Mike Trout had a hit and walk for Los Angeles. Angels newcomer Alex Cobb pitched a scoreless first.
BRAVES 5, RED SOX 3 (7 INNINGS) » Atlanta rookie catcher William Contreras, brother of Cubs twotime All-Star catcher Willson Contreras, drove in three runs and Ozzie Albies scored twice.
YANKEES 5, TIGERS 4 (7) » New York catcher Gary Sánchez, a two-time All-Star who batted just .147 last year, hit a long home run over the batter’s eye screen in center field.
TWINS 6, RAYS 5 (6) » Tampa Bay starter Tyler Glasnow gave up two runs on two hits and three walks in 1
2/3 innings.
Brent Rooker homered and drove in two runs for Minnesota.
MARLINS 2, METS 0 (7) » Starter Sandy Alcántara and four Miami relievers combined on a five-hitter. Jesús Aguilar hit a two-run homer.
PIRATES 2, BLUE JAYS 2 (7) » Anthony Alford, claimed by Pittsburgh off waivers from Toronto last August, homered off Robbie Ray.
Rowdy Tellez doubled for the second straight day for the Blue Jays.
ATHLETICS 13, REDS 5 (7) » Matt Olson, Pete Kozma and Buddy Reed each hit two-run homers for Oakland. Nik Turley pitched the last inning for the A’s and allowed three runs.
Scott Heineman and Alfredo Rodriguez connected for Cincinnati.
GIANTS 1, RANGERS 1 (6) » Kyle Gibson pitched a scoreless first inning for Texas. Charlie Culberson got two hits and scored for the Rangers.
CUBS 1, PADRES 0 (7) » Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struck out two in two scoreless innings. Javier Báez had one of the Cubs’ two hits.
San Diego starter Chris Paddack fanned three in two hitless innings. BREWERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 1 (8) » Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta each threw a scoreless inning for Milwaukee before Jordan Zimmermann gave up a run. Manny Pina had two hits, including a homer, and drove in two runs.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly struck out five in two innings.