Dodgers post strong opening act
LOS ANGELES — Joc Pederson launched a grand slam and the Dodgers hit a franchise-record four home runs on opening day, leading Clayton Kershaw and Los Angeles over the San Diego Padres 14-3 Monday.
Pederson drove in five runs, Yasmani Grandal homered twice and Corey Seager added a three-run shot.
Kershaw (1-0) allowed two runs — one earned — and two hits in seven innings, struck out eight and walked none in his seventh consecutive opening day start. He tied the team mark for most opening day starts in matching Don Sutton, who started seven straight openers from 1972-78, and Don Drysdale, whose seven weren’t consecutive.
Kershaw’s fifth opening day victory equaled Drysdale for most in franchise history.
Jhoulys Chacin (0-1) gave up nine runs and eight hits in 3⅓ innings in his Padres debut.
Vin Scully wasn’t in the Dodgers booth for the first time since 1950, having retired last season at age 88. His successor, 29-year-old Joe Davis, had plenty to talk about. The Dodgers’ runs fell just short of their 15-0 victory over the Padres on opening day a year ago in San Diego.
ROCKIES 7, BREWERS 5: In Milwaukee, Bud Black won his debut as Colorado manager, and Greg Holland got a save in his first game with the Rockies.
Mark Reynolds homered, had three RBIs and scored the tying run in a two-run seventh following two defensive lapses by Milwaukee.
Tony Wolters scored from third with two outs in the seventh after Jett Bandy threw to second trying to catch Charlie Blackmon stealing. The ball short-hopped second baseman Jonathan Villar and trickled away on the infield dirt, allowing Wolters to go home. METS 6, BRAVES 0: In New York, Noah Syndergaard pitched six sharp innings before leaving with a blister, Asdrubal Cabrera snapped a seventh-inning tie with a single and the Mets broke through following a pivotal replay reversal to beat Atlanta.
Syndergaard struck out seven in his first opening day start for New York, the only blemish a blister on the top of his right middle finger that ended his outing.
NATIONALS 4, MARLINS 2: In Washington, Adam Lind’s first swing as a member of the Nationals resulted in a pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, and Bryce Harper went deep on opening day for the fifth time in his young career, leading Washington.
Stephen Strasburg (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings, pitching out of the stretch the whole way.
PHILLIES 4, REDS 3: In Cincinnati, Cesar Hernandez opened the Phillies’ season with a homer, Jeremy Hellickson drove in a run with his first career triple and Philadelphia beat the Reds in the rain.
ORIOLES 3, BLUE JAYS 2 (11): In Baltimore, Mark Trumbo homered with two outs in the 11th inning, and the Orioles earned their seventh straight opening-day victory.
Trumbo connected off Jason Grilli (0-1) on a 1-2 slider. When he reached the plate, the reigning major league home run king was drenched in water by teammates and cheered those remaining from a sellout crowd of 45,667.
TWINS 7, ROYALS 1: In Minneapolis, Miguel Sano homered and drew the third bases-loaded walk for Minnesota during a dreadful seventh inning for Kansas City’s bullpen as Ervin Santana and the Twins earned their first opening victory in nine years. ASTROS 3, MARINERS 0: In Houston, Dallas Keuchel allowed two hits over seven innings, Luke Gregerson and Ken Giles completed the three-hitter and Houston beat Seattle.
George Springer became Houston’s first player since Terry Puhl in 1980 to lead off the first game with a home run. INDIANS 8, RANGERS 5: In Arlington, Texas, Abraham Almonte hit a tiebreaking single in a threerun ninth inning, and Cleveland opened its American League title defense by rallying for a win over Texas.
Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland’s new slugger, tied the score 5-5 with an eighth-inning homer off Matt Bush, and the Indians went ahead against Sam Dyson, who had 38 saves last season.
RED SOX 5, PIRATES 3: In Boston, rookie Andrew Benintendi hit a three-run homer that capped a five-run fifth inning, and the Red Sox began their post-David Ortiz era by beating Pittsburgh.
Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello (1-0) gave up three runs and six hits in 6⅓ innings while striking out five.
WHITE SOX-TIGERS: The White Sox postponed their season opener against Detroit because of rain in Chicago. With the field drenched and no break in the forecast, the game was called off 101 minutes after the scheduled start. It will be made up today.