AROUND THE HORN
Braves, Nationals: Monday’s scheduled series opener between the Braves and Nationals was postponed as the Nationals continue to deal with a coronavirus outbreak, according to reports. The hope is that the teams will play Tuesday at Nationals Park. Four Nats players have tested positive for COVID-19 over the Last week and are isolating, while a total of another seven are now under quarantine because contact tracing determined they might have been exposed to the illness. GM Mike Rizzo said earlier Sunday that none of those 11 — a majority of whom, although not all, were supposed to be on the opening day roster — would be available Monday. The Nats have yet to play a game this season; their opening threegame series against the Mets on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday was postponed.
Orioles, Red Sox: The Red Sox dropped to 0-3 at Fenway Park for the first time since 1948 and the second time ever as Trey Mancini and Austin Hays hit two-run doubles during a seven-run third inning to lead the Orioles to an 11-3 victory. Cedric Mullins went 5-for-5 with three doubles and walk for the O’s, collecting four of hits in the initial four innings. Maikel Franco added a first-inning, two-run double, helping the Orioles to their first threegame sweep at Fenway since Aug. 25-27, 2017. O’s LHP Bruce Zimmerman (1-0) gave up three runs and four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and one walk for his first victory.
Phillies: Alec Bohm hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth, Zach Eflin gave the host Phillies another strong start and they completed a three-game sweep of the defending NL East champion Braves with a 2-1 win. The Phillies’ starting trio of
Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Eflin (1-0) surrendered three runs, 11 hits and one walk in 20 ⅔ innings against a Braves lineup that led the majors in 2020 with 556 hits. The Phillies bullpen, which posted a 7.06 ERA in 2020, didn’t yield a run in 7 ⅓ innings in the set.
Reds: Nick Castellanos came out swinging with his bat a day after being ejected for inciting a bench-clearing melee, hitting a three-run HR off Carlos Martinez (0-1) and triple to lead the Reds over the visiting Cardinals 12-3. Castellanos finish the series 6-for-11 with five RBIs. Tyler Naquin also a three-run shot for the Reds, who won two in a row to take the opening matchup of NL Central teams that earned wild-card spots last season. Jeff Hoffman (1-0), acquired from the Rockies, gave up a just run and three hits through five innings with six strikeouts.
Rangers: Nate Lowe three-run HR in the third and set a team-record with nine RBIs in the first three games of the season as the Rangers beat the host Royals 7-3 to avoid a sweep. Isiah Kiner-Falefa also drove in three runs. Jordan Lyles (1-0) gave up two runs in 5 ⅔ innings, struck out eight and allowed five hits.
Extra innings: OF Akil Baddoo homered in his first major league at-bat — on the very first pitch — but the Tigers fell to the visiting Indians 9-3. Baddoo, 22, was drafted by the Twins in 2016, and the Tigers took him with the third pick of the 2020 winter meeting draft of unprotected players . ... The Dodgers placed RHP Tony Gonsolin was put on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, a move retroactive to Thursday . ... The Pirates placed rookie 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured with inflammation in his left wrist.