Champion Rangers walk off with win over Cubs

Jonah Heim hit a game-ending RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning as the World Series champion Texas Rangers opened the season with a 4-3 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.

Adolis García and Travis Jankowski homered for the Rangers, who unfurled the franchise’s first World Series championship banner from the rafters high above right field before the dramatic victory.

Drew Smyly walked two to load the bases before Heim lined a sharp hit into right-center field.

PADRES 6, GIANTS 4 » Jake Cronenworth’s two-run double highlighted a four-run seventh inning for host San Diego, which beat San Francisco to spoil Bob Melvin’s return to San Diego. Melvin managed the Padres for the past two seasons before leaving for the Giants with a year left on his contract.

YANKEES 5, ASTROS 4 » Juan Soto threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning of his New York debut as the visiting Yankees came back from a four-run deficit to beat Houston. Oswaldo Cabrera homered and Aaron Judge doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Yankees went ahead.

With two on and one out in the ninth, Kyle Tucker lined a single to right and Soto made a one-hop throw slightly up the third base line. Catcher Jose Trevino made a sweep tag to get Mauricio Dubón.

REDS 8, NATIONALS 2 » Nick Martini homered twice and drove in five runs in his first Opening Day start and Frankie Montas (1-0) pitched six shutout innings for host Cincinnati. Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel was scratched from the lineup after breaking a thumb during batting practice.

YANKEES’ COLE ON 60-DAY IL »

Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation ahead of Thursday’s opener.