Olson, Strider power Braves to a road win
Matt Olson hit two of Atlanta's four homers, and Spencer Strider struck out nine batters in six scoreless innings, while consistently reaching 99 mph, leading the visiting Braves to a 7-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Ronald Acuña Jr. and Olson began the game with back-to-back solo shots, and Marcell Ozuna added one later for Atlanta — all off Josiah Gray, who allowed the most homers in the majors last season.
Olson's second drive of the day came in the seventh inning off Thaddeus Ward, a reliever making his major league debut. Olson produced 34 homers and 103 RBIs for NL East champion Atlanta in 2022.
Washington managed just three hits off Strider (1-0).
RANGERS 16, PHILLIES 3 >> Marcus Semien led off with a homer, Mitch Garver hit two and host Texas powered its way past Philadelphia.
Garver ripped a three-run shot over the leftfield fence off Phillies reliever Yunior Marte to extend the Rangers' lead to 7-3 in the fifth inning. Then, Garver sparked what became a six-run seventh with another three-run shot, this time off Seranthony Dominguez.
The Rangers followed their 11-7 victory in the season opener by tying three others teams with 27 runs in two games, second-most since 1900. The 1951 White Sox scored 30.
Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (1-0) earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts over five innings in his debut with the team.
Phillies starter Zack Wheeler (0-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.
CARDINALS 4, BLUE JAYS 1 >> Jack Flaherty survived a career-high seven walks and a hit batter in throwing five no-hit innings, and St. Louis scored three unearned runs in the third on their way to a home victory over Toronto.
The Blue Jays had three hits after getting 16 singles among an opening day, club-record 19 hits on Thursday.
A two-out throwing error by third baseman Matt Chapman led to the three unearned Cardinals runs in the third. Nolan Gorman's tworun single made it 3-0.
BREWERS 3, CUBS 1 >> William Contreras hit a tiebreaking two-run single in Milwaukee's three-run eighth inning at Wrigley Field.
Brandon Woodruff pitched six sharp innings for the Brewers.
Dansby Swanson collected three more hits for Chicago. Justin Steele struck out eight in six innings.
RED SOX 9, ORIOLES 8 >> Adam Duvall ended the game with his second two-run homer, giving Boston a win over Baltimore at Fenway Park. Duvall had four hits and five RBIs.
TWINS 2, ROYALS 0 >> Sonny Gray pitched five scoreless innings in a combined four-hitter as Minnesota won at Kansas City. Gray (1-0) allowed three hits and had a strikeout and four walks.