Longawaited debut is big relief for Astro

Recent callup Kent Emanuel was preparing to enjoy a cup of coffee in the bullpen in the first inning.

“All of a sudden they were like: ‘Hey, you better start loosening up,’ ” the lefty reliever said.

After seven seasons in the minors, the Houston Astros pitcher made his majorleague debut Saturday at a moment’s notice. And what a moment it was.

Emanuel worked 82 ⁄3 innings in relief, saving the bullpen after Jake Odorizzi left with an injury, and the host Astros routed the Los Angeles Angels 162.

“It’s pretty wild,“Emanuel said. “But I’ve been expecting this moment for quite some time now.”

Emanuel allowed five hits and two runs. The lefty, 28, became the fourth pitcher in the modern era to have a relief outing of 82⁄3 innings or more in his debut, according to STATS, joining Fred Smith (1907), Maury Kent (1912) and John Montefusco (1974).

Alex Bregman hit a threerun homer, Yordan Alvarez had a seasonhigh four RBIs, Carlos Correa had three hits including a homer and Michael Brantley doubled three times for Houston. The Astros had season highs in runs and hits (18) to win their third straight following a threegame skid.

Odorizzi exited with right forearm tightness after retiring leadoff man David Fletcher on five pitches.

The Angels got solo homers from Albert Pujols in the second and Shohei Ohtani in the third.

Dodgers 5, Padres 4: Corey Seager hit a two-run tie-breaking single in the sixth inning for host Los Angeles. San Diego, which threatened in the eighth and ninth innings, got two solo homers from Fernando Tatis Jr.

White Sox 2, Rangers 1: Nick Madrigal doubled home the winning run in the ninth inning for host Chicago after former A’s closer Liam Hendriks allowed a tying homer in the top half.

Phillies 7, Rockies 5: Rhys Hoskins homered twice and drove in five runs to back seven solid innings from Aaron Nola (2-1) to send visiting Philadelphia past Colorado.

Yankees 2, Indians 1: Gerrit Cole was one pitch better than Shane Bieber in a heavyweight matchup of two of baseball’s best and Rougned Odor and Aaron Hicks homered off Cleveland’s Cy Young winner in the fifth inning for visiting New York.

Mariners 8, Red Sox 2: Kyle Seager, Sam Haggerty and Ty France each had three hits, leading Seattle at Fenway Park.

Royals 2, Tigers 1: Brady Singer pitched seven impressive innings, and visiting Kansas City won in 2 hours, 10 minutes — the fastest nine-inning contest in the major leagues this year.

Pirates 6, Twins 2: Michael Perez had three hits and three RBIs to lift visiting Pittsburgh. Trevor Cahill (1-2) permitted one run and two hits in six innings.

Cardinals 2, Reds 0: John Gant earned his first victory as a starter since 2018 by throwing six strong innings and St. Louis sent visiting Cincinnati to its sixth straight loss.

Brewers 4, Cubs 3: Pinch-hitter Manny Piña connected for a tie-breaking two-run homer in the seventh inning for visiting Milwaukee. Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich returned to Milwaukee for an MRI on his strained lower back.

Nationals 7, Mets 1: Joe Ross (O’Dowd-Oakland) tossed six solid innings and hit an RBI single for visiting Washington.

Rays 5, Blue Jays 3: Host Tampa Bay broke an eighth-inning tie when Toronto third baseman Cavan Biggio let a grounder go between his legs. Mike Brosseau and Mike Zunino homered for the Rays, who stopped a four-game losing streak.

Diamondbacks-Braves, postponed: Hail and rain in Atlanta put off the game, which will be made up as part of a traditional doubleheader Sunday starting at 10:20 a.m. PDT.