Marlins drop 9th consecutive game to start season, falling to Cardinals
ST. LOUIS » The winless Miami Marlins, who are off to the worst start in the 33-year history of the franchise, dropped their ninth consecutive game on Saturday, losing 3-1 to Steve Matz and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Iván Herrera and Brendan Donovan each had two hits for St. Louis. Jordan Walker contributed an RBI double.
Matz (2-0) surrendered four hits in five scoreless innings. Ryan Helsley pitched the ninth for his third save.
Miami’s Trevor Rogers (0-1) was charged with three runs, two earned, and five hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked three.
The 0-9 Marlins are the only winless team in baseball. The New York Mets, who dropped their first seven games, beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Thursday for their first win.
Baltimore holds the big league record with 21 losses to start the 1988 season.
Miami has lost 10 consecutive games dating to last season. It has dropped 13 of its last 16 at Busch Stadium.
DODGERS 4, CUBS 1 » Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched out of two early jams in five scoreless innings for his first career major league victory, Max Muncy hit a two-run single and Los Angeles beat Chicago.
Shohei Ohtani had two hits and reached base three times to help the Dodgers improve to 8-3 with their fifth victory in six games.
Yamamoto (1-1) pitched out of a no-outs, bases-loaded jam in the first inning. After allowing a leadoff double to Ian Happ, a walk to Seiya Suzuki, and an infield single to Cody Bellinger. Yamamoto bounced back by striking out the side. He struck out Christopher Morel on three straight curveballs, got Swanson looking on a fastball and Busch looking with a curve on his 27th pitch.
REDS 9, METS 6 » Spencer Steer hit a three-run homer during Cincinnati’s five-run eighth inning, helping the Reds knock off New York.
Cincinnati trailed 5-4 before Elly De La Cruz singled home pinchrunner
Bubba Thompson. Steer followed with a drive to left-center against Yohan Ramírez (0-1) for his third homer of the season.
The Reds sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth. Ramírez threw 53 pitches in two innings.
The Mets used four relievers in Friday’s win, and they were without Edwin Díaz after the closer pitched each of the previous two days. ATHLETICS 4, TIGERS 0 » Brent Rooker homered, Paul Blackburn pitched six sparkling innings and Oakland Athletics earned its second win of the season, beating Detroit.
Zack Gelof walked and scored three times as Oakland (2-7) ended a four-game losing streak. GUARDIANS 3, TWINS 1 » David Fry hit a three-run homer and seven Cleveland pitchers combined on a two-hitter, helping the Guardians beat Minnesota.
On a day when they lost ace Shane Bieber to season-ending elbow surgery, the Guardians showcased their pitching depth while improving to 7-2 this season.
Yankees reliever Loáisiga needs elbow surgery
NEW YORK » With a downcast look and a soft voice, Yankees reliever Jonathan Loáisiga said he needs season-ending elbow surgery and will be sidelined for 10 to 12 months.
A 29-year-old right-hander, Loáisiga said he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing a changeup to Jorge Barrosa, his final batter in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 6-5, 11-inning win at Arizona.
“Very frustrating. Really tough,” Loáisiga said through a translator Saturday in a nearly empty Yankees clubhouse.
Also Saturday, third baseman DJ LeMahieu said he has resumed baseball activities as he recovers from a broken right foot caused by a foul ball on March 16.
Former major league pitcher Pat Zachry dies
Pat Zachry, who won a share of the 1976 National League Rookie of the Year for the World Series champion Reds and was traded to the Mets the following year for Tom Seaver, has died. He was 71.
Zachry died Thursday at son Josh’s home in Austin, Texas, following a lengthy illness, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Saturday. Zachry would have turned 72 on April 24.
A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Zachry was 69-67 with a 3.52 ERA in 10 major league season with the Reds (1976-77), Mets (1977-82), Los Angeles Dodgers (1983-84) and Phillies (1985).