Arenado a smash hit in home debut

Nolan Arenado hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning of his home debut with the Cardinals, lifting St. Louis over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Thursday as fans returned to Busch Stadium for the first time since 2019.

Arenado, a five-time AllStar acquired from Colorado on Feb. 1 after eight seasons with the Rockies, followed a walk to Austin Dean with the score 1-1. Arenado turned on a first pitch offering from Drew Rasmussen and sent the ball 373 feet to left for his second homer this season.

“Baseball is a magical game, and it was magical today,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “What an amazing moment for a guy who loves to play the game.”

Arenado’s blast sent St. Louis to its fourth win in a row.

“It doesn’t feel very real right now,” Arenado said. “It will sink in. It’s unbelievable.” WHITE SOX 6, MARINERS 0 >> Chicago’s Lance Lynn pitched a five-hitter for the first complete game and shutout in the major leagues this season.

Yermín Mercedes hit a 485foot homer to help give White Sox manager Tony La Russa the win in his first home game on the South Side in 35 years

Lynn (1-0) struck out 11 and walked none in his second shutout in 238 career starts.

ROCKIES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 3 >> Jon Gray took a no-hit bid into the seventh and got his first win of the season, pitching host Colorado over Arizona. David Peralta tripled leading off the seventh, breaking up the no-hitter when he sent a 1-2 slider into the gap in leftcenter field.

Trevor Story had a two-run double and an RBI triple, and Dom Nunez hit a three-run homer for the Rockies.

CUBS 4, PIRATES 2 >> Javier Baez hit a go-ahead tworun home run in the sixth inning, and Chicago’s struggling offense came to life against Pittsburgh with a season-high 11 hits.

METS 3, MARLINS 2 >> Jeff McNeil hit a tying homer in the bottom of the ninth and New York was handed the winning run on a disputed hit by pitch.

With the bases loaded and one out, Michael Conforto appeared to stick out his right elbow pad just enough to get it grazed by a 1-2 breaking ball from closer Anthony Bass that looked to be in the strike zone. Plate umpire and crew chief Ron Kulpa at first signaled strike, then quickly ruled Conforto was hit by the pitch.

Marlins players and manager Don Mattingly argued with Kulpa before a replay review was initiated. The review lasted 58 seconds, and the call was upheld.