Brantley returns to spark Indians
Michael Brantley singled home two runs in his first at-bat this season and Carlos Carrasco worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, leading the Indians to a 3-2 win in their chilly home opener over the Kansas City Royals in Cleveland.
Brantley missed the Tribe’s first six games while on the disabled list recovering from offseason ankle surgery. But just hours after being activated, the twotime All-Star delivered in the first inning against Danny Duffy (0-2), who managed to hang around until the sixth.
Carrasco (2-0) gave up two runs in the first inning, but settled in. The righthander retired 13 straight before running into trouble in the sixth, when the Royals loaded the bases on two singles and a one-out intentional walk.
But Carrasco struck out Lucas Duda looking at a 3-2 pitch and retired Cheslor Cuthbert on a liner to left.
Nick Goody worked the seventh, Andrew Miller put on two runners then struck out the side in the eighth, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his second save.
The Indians, who didn’t hit while blowing a 2-0 lead to New York in the AL Division Series last October, came in batting a league-low .161. They only got four hits, but that was enough thanks to Carrasco and their topflight bullpen.
The Royals dropped to 3-16 in Cleveland since May 8, 2016.
National League
Braves 8, Rockies 3 — In Denver, Brandon McCarthy pitched six solid innings and delivered a two-run double as Atlanta rocked Colorado in the second-coldest game in Coors Field history.
It was 27 degrees when the Rockies’ home opener began after an hour-long delay caused by sleet and snow. That was just 4 degrees warmer than when these teams met in Denver on April 23, 2013, in the coldest first-pitch temperature in major league history.
McCarthy (2-0) allowed three runs and five hits, more than enough for the hot-hitting Braves, who lead the majors with a franchisebest 56 runs through seven games.
Colorado’s German Marquez (0-1) gave up seven runs, seven hits and six walks in 42⁄3 innings.
Pirates 14, Reds 3 — Rookie Colin Moran had four hits and three RBI, and Starling Marte hit a bases-loaded triple to lead streaking Pittsburgh over visiting Cincinnati.
Moran’s two-run single with two outs in the third inning just dropped in front of diving center fielder Billy Hamilton and put the Pirates ahead for good at 4-2. Marte’s triple keyed a six-run sixth inning that included Corey Dickerson’s two-run double as Pittsburgh extended its lead to 10-2 while playing through a steady rain.
Pittsburgh is off to a 6-1 start following an offseason in which the Pirates traded five-time All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.
Gregory Polanco hit a two-run double during a four-run seventh that made it 14-2. He has six extra-base hits and 11 RBI in seven games.
Dodgers-Giants, ppd. — The game between Los Angeles and host San Francisco was postponed due to rain. It was rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader on April 28.
Elsewhere in baseball — Milwaukee Brewers AllStar closer Corey Knebel was placed on the 10-day disabled list and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks because of a strained left hamstring.