AROUND THE HORN
Twins:
The game between Twins and A’s scheduled for Monday night in Oakland, California, was postponed because of the Twins’ continued COVID-19 problems. MLB said Sunday that the delay will allow for continued virus testing and contact tracing. The Twins and A’s are tentatively scheduled for a straight doubleheader Tuesday as a makeup. Games between the Twins and the Angels in Anaheim were postponed Saturday and Sunday. The Twins have had at least four positive coronavirus tests in the last week. There have been six MLB games postponed this year because of the virus, including a season-opening, three-game series between the Nationals and Mets after the Nats’ coronavirus concerns.
Indians:
Shane Bieber kept up his record strikeout run, fanning 13 and pitching the Indians past the host Reds 6-3 on Sunday. Bieber (2-1) become the first pitcher in big league history to begin the season with four straight starts with at least 10 strikeouts. The AL Cy Young Award winner has 48 strikeouts this season, matching Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan for the most through the first four start of a season. Bieber has fanned at least eight in a 16 straight starts, one short of Randy Johnson’s major league mark. Bieber went eight innings, allowing three runs and six hits with two walks. The Indians hit three HRs, all with two outs, to salvage a win in the series.
Phillies:
Aaron Nola struck out 10 and threw a two-hitter for his first nine-inning shutout in the majors, leading the Phillies to a 2-0 win over the visiting Cardinals. Bryce Harper homered and had three hits for the Phillies. Nola (1-1) threw 109 pitches, allowing only two singles and retiring 13 straight going into the eighth. He didn’t walk a batter.
Rays, Yankees:
The lastplace Yankees lost their fifth straight game as Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a tiebreaking double off Gerrit Cole in the seventh that lifted the Rays to a 4-2 win and a three-game sweep. Four pitchers combined on the Rays’ second three-hitter of a series in which the host Yankees had just 11 hits in all.
Padres:
Eric Hosmer delivered the tying and go-ahead RBIs in the seventh and eighth, helping the Padres beat the visiting Dodgers to avoid a sweep in the first series of the year between the NL West rivals. The Padres had lost seven straight in the rivalry, including a threegame sweep in last year’s NL Division Series. The Padres and Dodgers will meet 16 more times this season, starting with a set next weekend in Los Angeles.
Nationals:
RHP Stephen Strasburg was placed on the 10-day IL due to right shoulder inflammation. “There’s going to be no timetable when he comes back. Hopefully ... soon,” manager Dave Martinez said. Strasburg, 32, is 0–1 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts this season. His move to the IL was retroactive to Thursday.
Extra innings:
Alex Wood pitched five innings in his season debut and four relievers completed a three-hitter as the Giants scored an unearned run to beat the host Marlins 1-0 and avert a series sweep. Wood (1-0), returning from a back problem that sidelined him midway through spring training, allowed three hits and walked none. It was the Giants’ third shutout in their last seven games . ... Salvador Perez hit a two-run HR in the seventh to send the Royals to a 2-0 win over the visiting Blue Jays. Brady Singer kept the Blue Jays off the board through six. Kyle Zimmer (1-0) and Josh Staumont each worked a perfect inning, and Greg Holland finished off the two-hitter for his second save. The Royals have won an MLB-best 55 consecutive games when ahead after seven innings . ... Nate Lowe singled with two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th, giving the Rangers a 1-0 victory over the Orioles. The hit ended a five-game home losing streak.