Arrieta triumphant in his first game back with the Cubs
Jake Arrieta pitched six solid innings in a triumphant return to the Cubs, Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward homered, and Chicago beat the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Saturday.
Arrieta got a warm reception prior to the game at Wrigley Field, then gave up just one run and six hits. The 35-year-old right-hander struck out five and walked one.
Arrieta played 41/2 years for Chicago, winning a Cy Young Award and a World Series, before signing with Philadelphia in March 2018. He returned to the Cubs in February for a $6 million, one-year contract.
TWINS 2, BREWERS 0 >> José Berríos and three relievers combined on a one-hitter with 17 strikeouts, and Minnesota beat Corbin Burnes and visiting Milwaukee.
The Twins held the Brewers hitless until Omar Narváez delivered a one-out single to right off Tyler Duffey in the eighth. Neither team had a hit or walk until Minnesota’s Byron Buxton led off the seventh with a homer off Burnes.
Buxton’s homer came on the 87th and final pitch from Burnes, who recorded 11 strikeouts. Berríos struck out 12, hit a batter and didn’t walk anybody in six innings but left after throwing 84 pitches.
PHILLIES 4, BRAVES 0 >> Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler allowed one hit and struck out 10 in seven innings while going 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
Wheeler retired the final 17 Atlanta hitters he faced after a one-out single to Travis d’Arnaud in the second inning.
REDS 9, CARDINALS 6 >> Tucker Barnhart homered to spark a six-run Cincinnati third inning.
St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright retired his first six batters in order before running into trouble in the third, when the veteran walked Tyler Naquin before allowing Barnhart’s blast.
The Reds followed with six singles in the inning and forced Wainwright’s early exit after Naquin’s two-out, two-run single put them up 6-1.
YANKEES 5,BLUE JAYS 3 >> Corey Kluber navigated through trouble in a successful debut for New York and Gary Sanchez homered for the second straight game at Yankee Stadium.
Limited to one inning last season with the Texas Rangers due to a shoulder injury, Kluber allowed two runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked three in a 74-pitch outing.
ROYALS 11, RANGERS 4 >> Kansas City’s Michael A. Taylor replayed his outstanding Opening Day, homering and driving in three runs for the second straight game.