Blue Jays slip past Yankees in opener
NEW YORK — Randal Grichuk led off the 10th with an RBI double, and the Toronto Blue Jays took advantage of the second year of starting extra innings with a runner on second to beat the New York Yankees 3-2 on Thursday in the major league opener.
Fans returned to Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2019. Capacity was limited to 20 percent because of coronavirus protocols, and the attendance was announced as 10,850.
Jordan Romano escaped trouble in the ninth with the help of third baseman Cavan Biggio. After pinch-runner Michael Tauchman stole two bases, he was thrown out at the plate by Biggio trying to score on a grounder by AL batting champion DJ LeMahieu. Romano then struck out Aaron Judge to strand two runners.
Nick Nelson relieved to begin the 10th and with pinchrunner Jonathan Davis on second, Grichuk lined his second pitch over Judge in right.
Julian Merryweather struck out Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres on 11 pitches for the save.
NATS-METS POSTPONED OVER COVID: Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says the team has three players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and a fourth considered a “likely positive.” The Nationals’ season-opening game against the visiting New York Mets that was scheduled for Thursday night was postponed. Rizzo said it was not known when that game will be made up — other than that it would not be played Friday. He did not identify any of the players involved.
ROCKIES 8, DODGERS 5: On an afternoon Cody Bellinger had a homer negated because of a baserunning mistake, host Colorado played plenty of small ball to beat defending World Series champion Los Angeles. The Rockies scored runs courtesy of a squeeze play, two wild pitches, a groundout, an error and three RBI singles.
TIGERS 3, INDIANS 2: Miguel Cabrera homered through the snow in his first at-bat of the season, then added a sparkling play at first base to lift host Detroit to a victory over Cleveland.
RAYS 1, MARLINS 0: Austin Meadows’ homer in the eighth inning was all Tampa Bay needed, and the reigning AL champion started its season with a win at Miami.
BREWERS 6, TWINS 5: Lorenzo Cain scored the winning run in the 10th after Travis Shaw sparked a ninth-inning comeback, and Milwaukee beat visiting Minnesota.
PIRATES 5, CUBS 3: Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a two-run homer, and Pittsburgh’s relievers dominated in a twohitter, helping the Pirates beat Chicago at Wrigley Field.
PHILLIES 3, BRAVES 2: Jean Segura hit an RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning to lift host Philadelphia to a victory over Atlanta.
ROYALS 14, RANGERS 10: Michael A. Taylor homered, drove in three runs and threw out two players at the plate from center field, leading host Kansas City past Texas in a wild season opener.
PADRES 8, DIAMONDBACKS 7: Eric Hosmer had a homer among his three hits and drove in three runs, newcomer Victor Caratini also had three RBIs, and San Diego gave up four long balls in the fifth inning to blow a five-run lead before beating visiting Arizona.
CARDINALS 11, REDS 6: Paul Goldschmidt and newcomer Nolan Arenado combined for six hits in a boosted St. Louis lineup, and the Cardinals roughed up Luis Castillo for six runs in the first inning to beat host Cincinnati in a chilly opener.
ANGELS 4, WHITE SOX 3: Mike Trout delivered the tying single, and Shohei Ohtani scored the go-ahead run on Albert Pujols’ groundout in the eighth inning, leading Los Angeles’ rally to a win over visiting Chicago.
RED SOX-ORIOLES RAINED OUT:The Boston Red Sox postponed their opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Thursday because of rain. The game will be made up Friday.