Suzuki helps Cubs rout Brewers as benches clear
Seiya Suzuki drove in three runs for his first big league RBI and the host Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-0 Saturday for a testy win during which five batters were hit by pitches and the benches cleared.
The teams exchanged words but no punches in the eighth after Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch from Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson, who was ejected for the first time in his career.
As McCutchen slowly headed to first base while looking at Thompson, players from both bullpens ran onto the field.
Three Cubs were hit by pitches. Ian Happ exited for a pinch-runner in the seventh after he was struck on the knee on a pitch by Trevor Gott. Brandon Woodruff hit Willson Contreras in the fourth and Nick Madrigal in the first. Contreras also was hit by a pitch in Thursday’s season opener.
Ethan Roberts made his major league debut in the ninth for Chicago and hit Christian Yelich with a pitch.
Suzuki, a Japanese outfielder who signed an $85 million, five-year contract as the Cubs’ biggest offseason acquisition, had a sacrifice fly, a bases-loaded walk and a single. Happ and Frank Schwindel added two hits apiece for the Cubs, who began a season 2-0 for the first time since 2016.
Cardinals 6, Pirates 2: Nolan Arenado hit three doubles and a single, Paul DeJong homered and host St. Louis, minus their rookie manager, beat Pittsburgh. Oliver Marmol, a winner in his debut Thursday as a major league manager, was at Busch Stadium before the game and diagnosed with the flu. He tested negative for COVID-19 and left the ballpark, and bench coach Skip Schumaker filled in. Arenado drove in three runs in his second fourhit game since being traded to St. Louis prior to the 2021 season.
AAMERICAN LEAGUE
Yankees 4, Red Sox 2: Giancarlo Stanton became the first player to homer against Boston in six straight games, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run drive in the sixth inning that gave host New York it’s second consecutive win. Anthony Rizzo homered for the second straight day to start New York’s comeback from an early deficit, a tying tworun drive in the fourth. Stanton’s streak of six straight games with home runs against the Red Sox includes a drive in last year’s AL wild card game, a 6-2 Yankees loss.
Thee players had homered in five games in a row against Boston: Mickey Mantle (1954), Ken Griffey Jr. (1996-97) and Jim Thome (1997).
Royals 1, Guardians 0 (10): Prized rookie Bobby Witt Jr. made an eyepopping play at third base to nail a runner at the plate in the top of the 10th inning, then Adalberto Mondesi’s RBI single in the bottom half lifted host Kansas City over Cleveland. With a runner at third and one out in the Cleveland 10th, Oscar Mercado hit a hard grounder down the line that
AAlooked like it might break the scoreless tie. But the 21-year-old Witt, the toprated prospect in the majors, skidded to his knees to the snare the ball. All in one motion, he made an offbalance throw home to catcher Salvador Perez, who tagged out Owen Miller.
Rays 5, Orioles 3: BaltimoreLess than 24 hours after his eighth-inning, pinch-hit sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run against Baltimore on opening day, Francisco Mejia made his first start of the season and delivered again as Tampa Bay beat Baltimore. The 26-year-old is in his second year with the Rays after spending parts of four seasons with Cleveland and the San Diego Padres.
White Sox 5, Tigers 2: Dylan Cease remained unbeaten in 10 career starts against the Tigers and Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run homer that led Chicago at Detroit. Cease (1-0) allowed one run and two hits in five-plus innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. He is 9-0 against the Tigers.
Mariners 4, Twins 3: Ty France had three hits and drove in two runs, including a go-ahead single in the ninth inning that lifted Seattle at Minnesota.
AAABlue Jays 4, Rangers 3: Pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, Bo Bichette singled and homered, and host Toronto beat Texas. Espinal also had a go-ahead RBI double in Friday’s season-opening win.
AINTERLEAGUE
Phillies 4, Athletics 2: Kyle Gibson struck out 10 and tossed two-hit ball over seven shutout innings to lead host Philadelphia
Aover Oakland. Nick Castellanos hit his first home run for the Phillies, and Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura hit back-to-back homers to support Gibson. Gibson threw a tidy 82 pitches and walked none in his fourthcareer double-digit strikeout game.
ELSEWHERE
Guardians: Outfielder Myles Straw and Cleveland have agreed to a $25 million, five-year contract, a deal with two option years
Athat could be worth $39.5 million over seven seasons. Straw, acquired last July from the Houston Astros, has made a quick impact for Cleveland at the top of the order and in center field. His deal includes club options for 2027 and 2028. The 27-year-old Straw batted .285 with two homers and 13 steals in his twomonth stint with Cleveland last season. But he showed more than enough to make the club believe he’s worthy of a long-term investment.