Welcome to Sho! Angels’ Ohtani picks up 1st win
OAKLAND— Shohei Ohtani could exhale, at last having made it through a whirlwind week and not one, but two separate debuts in the big leagues.
He got his first career hit, then three days later earned a win on the mound. Souvenir balls for each occasion.
Impressing manager Mike Scioscia with both his poise and repertoire, the two-way star from Japan won his major league pitching debut Sunday. He threw three-hit ball over six innings and led the Angels past the Oakland Athletics, 7-4.
“Personally I feel like I got off to a good start and obviously the team went 3-1 on the first road trip, so I’m very happy with the results,” Ohtani said through a translator.
TWINS 7, ORIOLES 0: Jose Berrios pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game, and Minnesota got two home runs from Brian Dozier in a rout of Baltimore at Camden Yards. PIRATES 1, TIGERS 0 PIRATES 8, TIGERS 6 Josh Harrison, Starling Marte and David Freese homered as visiting Pittsburgh completed a doubleheader sweep of Detroit.
The Pirates won the opener behind six no-hit innings from Trevor Williams (1-0), then took control of the second game with five runs in the fifth off Buck Farmer (0-1).
Pittsburgh swept the threegame, season-opening series against the rebuilding Tigers. The highlight of the day for Detroit was Miguel Cabrera’s first home run of the season, a solo shot in the second game. TNS
MARINERS 5, INDIANS 4: Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger homered, Mike Leake pitched seven strong innings and host Seattle topped Cleveland.
RED SOX 2, RAYS 1: Hector Velazquez continued a season-opening stretch of strong starting pitching by Boston, working into the sixth inning in St. Petersburg.
The first four Red Sox starters — Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello and Velazquez — combined to give up two runs over 24 innings.
MARLINS 6, CUBS 0: Dillon Peters threw six scoreless innings, Brian Anderson hit a three-run double to highlight a five-run fifth and host Miami split its opening four-game series with Chicago.
ASTROS 8, RANGERS 2: Gerrit Cole struck out 11 over seven innings in his Houston debut, and the defending champion Astros finished a solid opening weekend with a victory over Texas in Arlington.
NATIONALS 6, REDS 5: Bryce Harper hit two home runs, leadoff man Adam Eaton capped his big opening series with a two-run drive and Washington beat host Cincinnati for a three-game sweep under new manager Dave Martinez.
The Nationals are 3-0 for the fourth time in their history. They last swept an opening series in 2014.
DODGERS 9, GIANTS 0: Cody Bellinger hit the Dodgers’ first home run of the season and Rich Hill threw six spotless innings to lead host Los Angeles to a 9-0 victory and a series split with rival San Francisco. —AP