Fans see signs of fun side of Arozarena in Rays’ victory

Randy Arozarena homered and drove in two runs, celebrating his solo shot by signing autographs for fans after returning to the dugout, to lead the host Rays to a 5-1 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

“It makes me happy to be able to sign autographs for the kids because you never know, it could be their dream and they can identify with me there,” the AllStar outfielder said through a translator.

Righthander Zack Littell (1-0) allowed four singles over six scoreless innings for the Rays. He walked two and struck out six while only allowing one runner past second base.

Arozarena had an RBI single off Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) in the third inning, then went deep against the Toronto starter in the fifth.

The game was delayed briefly when benches cleared at the end of the seventh, after Blue Jays reliever Génesis Cabrera exchanged words with Tampa Bay’s José Caballero and shoved the shortstop, who had been tagged out at third base to end the inning. Cabrera was ejected but no punches were thrown.

The Blue Jays had a chance to get back in the game in the seventh, when Daulton Varsho drew a leadoff walk and Ernie Clement singled. Cavan Biggio’s two-out single cut the deficit to 3-1 before Phil Maton came on to get George Springer to fly out.

Yankees pull off another comeback

Oswaldo Cabrera hit a tying two-run homer in the seventh, Juan Soto had a go-ahead drive for his first Yankees homer, and New York rallied for the third straight game in a 5-3 win over the Astros in Houston.

Anthony Volpe gave the Yankees some insurance with a home run with two outs in the eighth as they improved to 3-0 for the first time since opening the 2003 season with four wins.

The Yankees became the ninth team in major league history and first since San Francisco in 1999 to win their first three games of the season after trailing in the sixth inning or later, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Marcus Stroman (1-0) allowed four hits and three unearned runs in six innings to get the win in his Yankees debut. Clay Holmes pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save. New York’s bullpen has allowed no runs while Houston’s has given up 13.

The Astros led, 3-1, when Bryan Abreu made his season debut in the seventh. He walked Austin Wells and Cabrera sent a fastball into the seats in right field. Two batters later, Soto drove a slider on the outside corner to left field for a 4-3 lead.

The Yankees said an MRI showed third baseman DJ LeMahieu, who hasn’t played since fouling a ball off his foot in a spring training game March 16, has a broken right foot and will be sidelined longer than originally anticipated.

Pirates’ Jones fans 10, wins debut

Jared Jones struck out 10 over 5„ innings to win his major league debut and lead the Pirates over the Marlins, 9-3, in Miami.

A 22-year-old righthander taken by Pittsburgh with the 44th pick in the 2020 amateur draft, Jones allowed 3 runs, 3 hits, and 2 walks. He threw 62 of 89 pitches for strikes, including 22 swings and misses. His fastball topped at 99.9 miles per hour and averaged 97.1 miles per hour.

Jones (1-0) kept Miami hitless until Jake Burger’s two-out RBI double in the fourth.

Connor Joe doubled twice, singled, and drove in two runs for the Pirates, who had 16 hits against Ryan Weathers (0-1) and four relievers.

Miami’s Luis Arraez singled to end an 0-for-13 start for the defending NL batting champion.

Kelly’s single lifts Tigers in 10th

Carson Kelly hit run-scoring singles in the seventh inning and 10th innings, helping the Tigers rally for a 7-6 victory over Luis Robert Jr. and the White Sox in Chicago.

Mark Canha and Riley Greene homered for the Tigers, who beat Chicago, 1-0, on Opening Day Thursday. Parker Meadows reached three times from the leadoff spot and robbed Martín Maldonado ofa home run with a leaping grab in center.

Canha was the automatic runner on second in the 10th when Kelly hit a grounder back up the middle against Deivi García (0-1). Kelly also drove in Canha with a two-out single in the seventh, tying it at 6.

Shelby Miller (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings. Robert went 3 for 4 with a pair of two-run homers and a walk, and Braden Shewmake also connected for Chicago, going deep on the first pitch he saw in the second inning in his Chicago debut.

Braves pound out win over Phillies

A year after setting the NL mark for home runs in a season, Atlanta’s sluggers are still mashing the ball.

Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna, and Michael Harris II homered among 19 hits in the Braves’ 12-4 win over the host Phillies.

Atlanta’s Max Fried lasted seven batters, walked three, and got two outs before he left trailing, 3-2.

Aaron Nola was even worse in his first regularseason start since he signed a seven-year, $172 million deal to stay with the Phillies. Nola (0-1) allowed seven runs and surrendered homers to Albies and Olson as part of the 12 hits he gave up in just 4 innings.

Cubs’ Steele out at least a month

The Cubs put lefthander Justin Steele on the 15day IL and expect their Opening Day starter to miss at least a month after straining his left hamstring against the Rangers Thursday when he came off the mound to field a bunt and fell awkwardly.