Nats finally play, top Braves on walk-off
Soto singles in bottom of ninth as Washington earns comeback win
Juan Soto drove in the winning run with a single on a 3-0 pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday, lifting the coronavirus-depleted Washington Nationals to a 6-5 comeback victory over the Atlanta Braves after waiting five days to start their season.
Lefty reliever Will Smith entered for the ninth and promptly gave up a single to new leadoff hitter Victor Robles, then hit Trea Turner with a pitch. That brought up Soto, the 2020 NL batting champion who went into this pivotal at-bat 0 for 4 on Tuesday.
But Soto delivered a line drive to center field, then tossed his red helmet high in the air before
being mobbed by teammates who sprinted from the home dugout to meet him near second base, jumping and shouting and dousing him with water.
Tigers 4, Twins 3 (10): Akil Baddoo added another big hit in this charmed start to his big league career, lining an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Detroit a victory over Minnesota. Baddoo made his debut Sunday and homered on the first pitch thrown to him. Then he hit a grand slam in a 15-6 loss to the Twins on Monday.
Astros 4, Angels 2: Carlos Correa hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth inning and Houston split a short series against AL West rival Los Angeles. Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Diaz hit back-to-back homers in the second inning for the Astros, who went an impressive 5-1 on their six-game road trip to start the season amid the incessant booing and jeering they’ll hear indefinitely as fans react to their signstealing scandal in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Reds 14, Pirates 1: Tyler Naquin homered twice and drove in a careerhigh seven runs, helping Cincinnati pound Pittsburgh for their fourth straight victory.
Rangers 7, Blue Jays 4: Nate Lowe homered twice and padded his franchise record for RBIS to start the season with four more to lead Texas.
Cardinals 4, Marlins 2: Yadier Molina hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly off former batterymate Sandy Alcantara to cap a three-run rally in the sixth inning that sent St. Louis over Miami.
Brewers 4, Cubs 0: Freddy Peralta pitched five sharp innings, Travis Shaw hit a three-run homer and Milwaukee won to stop a three-game slide.
All-star Game: The All-star Game will be played at hitter-friendly Coors Field. MLB officially announced the new venue Tuesday after pulling the Midsummer Classic from Atlanta over objections to extensive changes to Georgia’s voting laws. Coors Field last hosted the All-star Game in 1998. The game will be held July 13.
Notes: The Braves have acquired infielder Orlando Arcia from the Brewers for right-handed pitchers Chad Sobotka and Patrick Weigel . ... The Rays have placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-day injured list with a left quadriceps strain . ... The Nationals placed left fielder Kyle Schwarber, first baseman Josh Bell, second baseman Josh Harrison and catcher Yan Gomes on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday . ... Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. should be able to avoid surgery on his left shoulder, the team said a day after he slightly dislocated it taking a hard swing.