Brantley drives in two in return
CLEVELAND — Michael Brantley singled home two runs in his first at-bat this season and Carlos Carrasco worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 win in their chilly home opener over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
Brantley missed Cleveland's first six games while on the disabled list recovering from offseason ankle surgery. But just hours after being activated, the two-time All-Star delivered in the first inning against Danny Duffy (0-2), who managed to hang around until the sixth.
Following devastating finishes in the past two postseasons, the Indians are hoping this is the year they end their 70-year World Series title drought, baseball's longest.
Brantley is a major part of their plans, but he needs to stay healthy after being limited to 101 games the past two seasons due to injuries.
Carrasco (2-0) gave up two runs in the first inning, but settled in. The right-hander retired 13 straight before running into trouble in the sixth, when the Royals loaded the bases on two singles and a one-out intentional walk.
Nick Goody worked the seventh, Andrew Miller put on two runners then struck out the side in the eighth, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his second save.
BRAVES 8, ROCKIES 3: Brandon McCarthy pitched six solid innings and delivered a two-run double that chased German Marquez in the fifth inning of Atlanta’s win over host Colorado on a frigid night that marked the second-coldest game in Coors Field history.
It was 27 degrees when the Rockies' home opener began after an hour-long delay caused by sleet and snow. That was just 4 degrees warmer than when these teams met in Denver on April 23, 2013, in the coldest first-pitch temperature in major league history.
McCarthy (2-0) allowed three runs and five hits, more than enough for the hot-hitting Braves, who lead the majors with a franchise-best 56 runs through seven games. PIRATES 14, REDS 3: Rookie Colin Moran had four hits and three RBIs, and Starling Marte hit a basesloaded triple to lead streaking Pittsburgh over visiting Cincinnati.
Moran's two-run single with two outs in the third inning just dropped in front of diving center fielder Billy Hamilton and put the Pirates ahead for good at 4-2. ORIOLES 7, YANKEES 4 (14): Pedro Alvarez hit a grand slam in the 14th inning as visiting Baltimore got past New York. BLUE JAYS 8, RANGERS 5: Russell Martin homered and hit a pair of RBI singles to back six solid innings from Marco Estrada as Toronto beat host Texas. BREWERS 5, CUBS 4: Orlando Arcia had a gameending single with one out in the ninth inning, and Milwaukee beat visiting Chicago.