Anderson, Almora lift Cubs past Dodgers
CHICAGO — Brett Anderson beat his former team with five solid innings, center fielder Albert Almora Jr. made two outstanding catches against the ivy and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Thursday.
Anderson (1-0) won in his Wrigley Field debut for the Cubs. The lefty lowered his ERA to 0.84 through two starts with his new club.
Anderson, the only member of the Cubs without a
World Series ring after Wednesday’s celebration, allowed three hits but walked four. He stranded seven runners, helped by Almora’s defense.
Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell hit long solo home runs, their first of the season. Both came off Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-2).
Rizzo’s drive to right field in the first inning opened the scoring and sent a fan’s beer all over the bleachers. Russell’s homer to left in the fourth landed on Waveland Avenue.
Twins 11, Tigers 5
DETROIT — Max Kepler, Miguel Sano and Robbie Grossman homered for Minnesota, and the Twins took advantage of an uncharacteristically wild outing by Jordan Zimmermann.
Zimmermann (1-1) allowed five runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings, walking a career-high five. Anibal Sanchez was even worse for the Tigers in relief, allowing six runs in 1 1/3 innings and letting two of Zimmermann’s runners score on Kepler’s threerun homer in the fifth.
Grossman hit a two-run shot in the third, and Sano connected for a three-run homer in the sixth.
Phil Hughes (2-0) allowed four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Justin Haley worked the final 3 1/3 innings to earn his first career save, striking out six.
Miguel Cabrera and Justin Upton each hit their first home run of the season for the Tigers.
Rangers 8, Angels 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yu Darvish pitched seven scoreless innings and Carlos Gomez hit a leadoff homer in Texas’ victory over Los Angeles.
Nomar Mazara also homered and Robinson Chirinos drove in three runs to help the Rangers take two of three from their AL West rivals. Darvish (1-1) struck out 10 and limited the Angels to five singles and two walks, improving to 8-2 in his career against the Angels.
Danny Espinosa hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth for the Angels. Ricky Nolasco (0-2) was the loser.
Red Sox 4, Pirates 3
BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts’ RBI single capped a three-run rally in the eighth inning, lifting Boston past Pittsburgh in a makeup from a rainout in the opening series.
Boston ended up sweeping Pittsburgh in three games after taking the first two games of the season.
Matt Barnes (2-0) worked one inning of hitless relief, and Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his third save. Juan Nicasio (0-2) was the loser. Andrew McCutchen homered for Pittsburgh.