Twins’ Berrios shuts out Orioles
One after another, the Twins’ starting pitchers kept getting better and better against Baltimore.
Jose Berrios threw a threehitter in visiting Minnesota’s 7-0 victory Sunday, capping a season-opening series in which Twins starters combined for 21 innings of five-hit ball.
After Jake Odorizzi blanked Baltimore for six innings in the opener, Kyle Gibson tossed six no-hit innings before Berrios rang up his first career complete game.
“Just a lot of positives, getting off to a start like that,” manager Paul Molitor said. “Our starters haven’t given up a run yet.”
Baltimore emerged from the three-game series with a 1-2 record and a .117 batting average.
“When you see that many guys having trouble, you know it’s the pitching,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said.
Only one batter reached against Berrios over the first eight innings — rookie catcher Chance Sisco, whose thirdinning double whisked by the raised glove of left fielder Eddie Rosario at the wall.
Berrios then retired 17 straight before Sisco bunted down the third-base line against the shift for a one-out single in the ninth. A walk and a single loaded the bases before Berrios retired Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones.
Berrios struck out six and walked one in his 40th career start. He threw 107 pitches.
“I felt comfortable all day long,” Berrios said. “I wanted to go out there and keep competing, and that was the end result.”
Brian Dozier homered on the game’s first pitch to launch a four-run first inning and added a solo shot in the sixth for his eighth multihomer game.
Miguel Sano and Eduardo Escobar also connected for the Twins, who hit seven homers over the past two games.
“That puts us on a pretty good pace,” Molitor said with a laugh. Blue Jays 7, Yankees 4: Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth as host Toronto earned a split of the four-game series. Smoak connected against reliever Tommy Kahnle in the seventh, then brought the crowd of 29,091 to its feet with his second career slam, a drive off David Robertson. “He’s one of the best in the game so you know it’s going to be a tough at-bat,” Smoak said of his nine-pitch encounter with Robertson. “I just tried to battle and battle and battle.” Pirates 1-8, Tigers 0-6: Josh Harrison, Starling Marte and David Freese homered as visiting Pittsburgh completed a doubleheader sweep to improve to 3-0. The Pirates won the opener behind six no-hit innings from Trevor Williams, who left after walking five and throwing 84 pitches. “I was playing Russian roulette all day with the walks, so I totally understood the move,” Williams said. “It was 1-0 when I came out and it ended up 1-0, so it worked perfectly.” Nationals 6, Reds 5: Bryce Harper hit two home runs, leadoff man Adam Eaton capped his big opening series with a two-run drive and visiting Washington completed a three-game sweep under new manager Dave Martinez. Eaton returned from injury and was 8-for-13 in the three games. The Reds did not lead in the series. “I know it’s only three games, but I like what I see,” Martinez said. Astros 8, Rangers 2: Gerrit Cole struck out 11 over seven innings in his Houston debut as the visiting Astros won for the third time in four games. The first hit off Cole was Joey Gallo’s opposite-field homer just over the tall wall in left field in the first inning against a four-man outfield. Mariners 5, Indians 4: Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger homered and Mike Leake pitched seven strong innings for host Seattle. Edwin Encarnacion went deep twice for Cleveland, his 29th career multihomer game. Cardinals 5, Mets 1: Paul DeJong hit two home runs and Marcell Ozuna broke out of an 0-for-9 start with three hits, including an RBI double and a run-scoring single, as visiting St. Louis avoided a three-game sweep. Red Sox 2, Rays 1: Hector Velazquez allowed one run and five hits in 52⁄3 innings to help visiting Boston win for the third time in four games. Marlins 6, Cubs 0: Dillon Peters threw six innings and Brian Anderson hit a three-run double to highlight a five-run fifth as host Miami earned a split of the four-game series. Postponed: The White Sox-Royals game in Kansas City was postponed because of cold weather. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader April 28.