Amid cancer battle, Bettis aces return

Chad Bettis drew a standing ovation when he took the mound for the first time since cancer treatment, then threw seven impressive innings Monday night as the Colorado Rockies beat the Atlanta Braves, 3-0.

Bettis scattered six hits, walked none and struck out two. He hadn’t pitched in the majors since being diagnosed with testicular cancer in November.

Bettis had surgery for the condition, but tests in March showed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. He later underwent chemotherapy.

The crowd at Coors Field gave Bettis a big cheer as he went out to pitch the first inning. The Braves’ best chance to score against him came when Ender Inciarte led off with a triple, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it to an inside-the-park home run. Bettis left for a pinch-hitter in the seventh with the game still scoreless. HOMERS PACE YANKEES >> Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez all homered to lead the Yankees to a 4-2 comeback victory in the opening game of the Subway Series against the Mets at Yankee Stadium. Judge’s sixth-inning shot off of Rafael Montero was his American League-leading 36th.

CUBS CLOBBER REDS >> Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back homers to cap a five-run fourth inning, and the Chicago Cubs continued their recent dominance of the Cincinnati Reds with a 15-5 victory. Bryant went 2 for 4 with a walk and Rizzo was 3 for 5 with a season-high five RBIs.