Bettis returns from cancer

Rockies starter had not pitched in majors since last season.

Chad Bettis had trouble controlling his emotions as he took the mound for the first time since cancer treatment. He had no trouble controlling the Atlanta Braves’ lineup.

Bettis threw seven impressive innings in his season debut Monday, thrilling the crowd as the Rockies won 3-0 on a feel-good night at Coors Field.

Bettis allowed six hits, walked none and struck out two. He hadn’t pitched in the majors since being diagnosed with testicular cancer in November.

“I don’t think I was in tune to what was going on until the fifth,” Bettis said. “So many emotions. I was trying to get them under control.”

Bettis had surgery for the condition, but tests in March showed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. He later underwent chemotherapy.

The 33,641 fans cheered for Bettis before he threw his first major league pitch of 2017. The crowd rose as he walked in from the bullpen before the start, and gave a big cheer as he went out to pitch the first inning.

“You try to get your mind clear because of the task at hand, and then to be hit with that emotion, it was unbelievable,” Bettis said.

The right-hander, 28, left for a pinch hitter in the seventh with the game still scoreless, so he did not figure in the decision.

Astros: Reliever Tyler Clippard was acquired from the White Sox for a player to be named or cash considerations. The right-hander, 32, was traded from the Yankees to Chicago in a seven-player deal July 18.

■ Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, hitting an AL-best .362 coming into Monday’s game at Arizona, had his first three-strikeout game in three years and fourth overall in seven big league seasons in a 2-0 loss. All three strikeouts came against Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke.

Yankees: Rookie right fielder Aaron Judge entered play Tuesday with at least one strike out in 31 consecutive games, five shy of the major league record for a position player set by Adam Dunn during his last four games in 2011 and first 32 the following year.

Red Sox: Infielder Rafael Devers, who is still two months from his 21st birthday, homered twice Monday to become the third-youngest Red Sox player to have a multihomer game. Only Ted Williams and Tony Conigliaro were younger.

Athletics: Oakland drew just 9,848 fans to the Coliseum for Monday night’s game against Kansas City for its second-smallest crowd of the season behind a July 17 game against Tampa Bay that attracted 9,736.

Orioles: Shortstop Tim Beckham, who went 3 for 5 Monday at Seattle, is hitting .500 with four homers and 10 RBIs in the past 14 games. He has at least one hit in 13 of the 14 since being acquired from Tampa Bay at the MLB trade deadline July 31.

Royals: Cam Gallagher’s grand slam Monday was the first by a Royals rookie since Paulo Orlando hit one in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Tampa Bay on July 7, 2015.

Blue Jays: Left-hander Brett Anderson was signed to a minor league deal.

Chad Bettis pitched seven shutout innings Monday.